Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Infographic: Fatalities at the 24 Hours of Le Mans [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/14/infographic-fatalities-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/14/infographic-fatalities-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/14/infographic-fatalities-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

1955 Le Mans crash featured in a BBC documentary - Click above to watch the video

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a much, much faster and much, much safer race today than it was back when it created the reputations of legends. In fact, the 1955 running was the single deadliest event in motorsports history. In a debacle near the pit straight that involved a backmarker, a swerving Jaguar braking for the pits, and two speeding Mercedes-Benz racers, it was Pierre Levegh's car that was launched into the crowd. It disintegrated as it flew on to catch fire, killing the driver and 77 onlookers, as well as injuring another 120.

Since then, the issue of safer racing was put on the boil, with Levegh's own co-driver for the 1955 race, John Fitch, inventing the Fitch Barrier. Fast forward 55 years and there hasn't been a fatality at Le Mans since 1997, when Sebastian Enjolras died during practice. There have been no racing deaths at Le Mans since 1986, even though three Mercedes sports cars flipped at high speed in one weekend in 1999.

A BBC documentary called "Deadliest Crash" takes a look at the accident that helped bring about new rules and new safety. Thankfully, it's an event we can still leave in the long ago past - every driver in this past weekend's race made it to the finish unscathed. Can't say the same about a bunch of the cars, though. Follow the jump for a teaser vid of "Deadliest Crash," complete with truly unnerving period footage.

[Sources: AOL Autos, BBC]

Continue reading Infographic: Fatalities at the 24 Hours of Le Mans [w/video]

Infographic: Fatalities at the 24 Hours of Le Mans [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of Le Mans24HoursOfLeMansaccidentbbcCrashdeadliest crashDeadliestCrashfitch barrierFitchBarrierle mansLeMansmotorsports disastersMotorsportsDisasterspierre leveghPierreLeveghMon, 14 Jun 2010 14:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19514474/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/14/infographic-fatalities-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-w-video/19514474/article-detail.xml 19514474 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lemansfatalities_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lemansfatalities.jpg <![CDATA[At 89, John Fitch still has the itch]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/07/at-89-john-fitch-still-has-the-itch/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/07/at-89-john-fitch-still-has-the-itch/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/07/at-89-john-fitch-still-has-the-itch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

John Fitch at Bonneville, 2005

We should all lead lives as full as John Fitch.

Fitch, 89 years young, is preparing for an attempt at the land speed record for the F/GT class (2.01L to 3.0L grand touring sport) at Bonneville this October. He first tried to set the record during Speed Week last August, an effort that, though unsuccessful, was captured in the acclaimed documentary, A Gullwing at Twilight: The Bonneville Ride of John Fitch.

Now, just over a year later, Fitch and the 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing owned by Detroit businessman Robert Surna will return to the salt in the hopes of besting the record of 168.721 mph set by Bob Norwood's Ferrari 308 back in 1985. In this weekend's New York Times profile on Fitch, he states that they'd like to set the mark at around 175 mph.

We wouldn't bet against him. It seems that in life, John Fitch only knows how to succeed.

(Continues after the jump. More pics follow as well.)

[Sources: New York Times, RaceSafety.com, Szwedo Productions, Southern California Timing Assoc.]

Continue reading At 89, John Fitch still has the itch

At 89, John Fitch still has the itch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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