The story behind the picture....?

[xb-60]

Came across this picture of a Cooper-Maserati driving - as you can see - on a public road.




I think the pilote is Maurice Trintignant (only because of the unusual headgear/beanie), so because of car and driver, it's possibly related to the US GP at Riverside in 1960.
Please correct me if you think you know better

Was this normal practice for GP cars to be driven on a public highway for a 'shakedown' run?

Anybody older than me know the story?

Cheers,
Glen


edit: if you have other weird/interesting pics, please post 'em

[Jaydee]

Maybe cops were more tolerant back then.
I have a friend who drove his paramotor trike from the airstrip to the local shop down the main road in Thailand. When he left the shop, a cop came over, and he thought he pushed his luck to far, but the cop kept the crowd back as he started the engine and blew everyone of as he left.
JD

[HealeyRick]

Cool picture. You're probably right, Trintignant's Cooper-Maserati did wear #18 at the Riverside GP - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_U...tes_Grand_Prix

[t walgamuth]

It was pretty common in the fifties and sixties to drive race cars to the track from remote garage locations both here and in Europe.

[Alfa02]

Back in the day Glen, Only "Rich guy's" hauled their race cars on trailer's. This was when my Dad raced in the late 50's-early 60's. I remember "My Job" was pulling off hubcaps & taping the headlights, while Dad changed plugs, richen the SU's, etc. All great fun for a 6-8 year old boy, that got to watch his Dad, (My Hero) race a sports car, (Volvo 444, 544, and the fast car a New 1962 P-1800) Cheers Tom.

[Blacklemming]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

Back in the day Glen, Only "Rich guy's" hauled their race cars on trailer's. This was when my Dad raced in the late 50's-early 60's. I remember "My Job" was pulling off hubcaps & taping the headlights, while Dad changed plugs, richen the SU's, etc. All great fun for a 6-8 year old boy, that got to watch his Dad, (My Hero) race a sports car, (Volvo 444, 544, and the fast car a New 1962 P-1800) Cheers Tom.

The “saint’s” car

[xb-60]

Roger Moore (aka Simon Templer) driving a P1800....the definition of "cool"

Back to Trintignant and the beanie....not what I would call a good look, but hey, he drove Grand Prix cars, so definitely a cool guy

[xb-60]

I don't know the "story" reason behind this incident, but it's certainly spectacular.

This is Hans Hermann, who is (or more correctly, was) driving the flying BRM in the German GP of 1959 at the Avus circuit....




He survived the accident, and currently he's aged 90 years old.


Cheers,
Glen

[t walgamuth]

Wow! That is terrifying.

[MOTORHEAD]

Must have hit that wet spot in the background.

[Alfa02]

If I remember the story correctly Glen. Hans "flying BRM" lost it brakes, and the Hay Bales sent it up in the air. After this picture came out, for a few years this was the "Poster Child" for not belting up Some people thought it was better to be thrown clear. Crazy as that sounds. This photo was also on the back page "PS" of a early Road & Track. Thanks buddy for posting this, Cheers Tom.

[Snake2998]

Given the lack of rollover cages at the time with heads sticking up in the air it could maybe be better not to belt up????

[t walgamuth]

Without roll over protection a lap belt probably still is a bit better than nothing as you could be thrown out and injured without the car going over. Often people are killed by their own car running over them when thrown out.

[Alfa02]

You know boy's, remembering back in the day. Even in club racing, "The Men" thought only "little girl's" put lap belt's in they car's, let alone a "Roll over bar", with those installed there was no danger left in racing!. Another job of mine was, tightening the 3-point belt's, even "Standard equipment" on the ol'444. Dad said he get on the job of driving, rather then hanging on the wheel for support. All good fun. Cheers Tom.

[Michael C Henry]

I may have caused a stir several years ago when I had to move my replica from Tacoma to Fife on I5 at nigh,t in traffic, no windshield, so I had my helmet on.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Michael C Henry

I may have caused a stir several years ago when I had to move my replica from Tacoma to Fife on I5 at nigh,t in traffic, no windshield, so I had my helmet on.

Ha ha....I like that!

[xb-60]

Doing some late night time-wasting, and came across this 'interesting' picture taken at Snetterton in 1963:




The driver of the Ace had nothing more than "severe bruising" and "walked away". Looks like the crash blew his socks off as well as his shoes
That's one lucky punter! I wonder if he was another one who wouldn't wear a seat belt?

Cheers,
Glen

[Ron61]

Wow, now that is some crash and a very lucky driver.

Ron

[Moto One]

As far as driving to and from events, when I got my SCCA Lic, I drove my Austin Healy form our home (East Bay) to Cotati for the school, and also to Laguna for my first regional. In fact the Healy was my daily. As for surveying crashes with out belts, look at what Moto GP riders survive (most of the time). Love my Cage now.

Mark.

[t walgamuth]

Well, as mentioned above the damage often comes by being run over by your own car. Getting run over by a moto gp might hurt but not as bad as a car.