The world's most dangerous sporting event.
from Automotive (1640 articles)
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Image Gallery ( 22 images )Four wheel brakes was the latest fad at the time. Think about that - very large, heavy cars travelling at probably 120kmh WITHOUT brakes on all four wheels. With brakes just on the front wheels of many of these vehicles, retardation under brakes would have been mild at best, and would have resulted in a stopping distance similar to an oil tanker. Yet they raced on public roads without safety fences, or track marshals or corner stewards.
Eight deaths proved the vehicles had become too fast for the environment and a massive outcry from a rightfully indignant public resulted in a ban on racing on public roads in France. The first of several bans as automotive industry forces rallied to save their sport.
Every time in history it has ended exactly the same way. The Targa Florio and Mille Miglia both withstood several attempts to close them down before succumbing to public pressure.
It didn't help though that Stirling Moss averaged 97.96 mph in the 1955 Mille Miglia, the same year a car ploughed into the crowd at Le Mans. Just two years later the Marchese de Portago was killed during the Mille Miglia and the event was stopped.
Perhaps it's time to move on.
Motor racing is one of man's great love affairs.
But it's not okay to keep killing people.
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