Spa F1 Tribute Vid

[Jack_Bauer]

Well, as people were having a heated debate in the racing forums about Formula 1 and Spa etc, I went on Youtube to try and dig out a vid or two to back up some of the posts people were making.

I came across this superbly put together 10 minute vid about Formula 1 at Spa and thought it deserved a thread of its own.

It covers the period from '92 to '01 and has as its centre piece the epic rain affected 1998 race. There is also a little montage of some of the big accidents from that period, finishing with Luciano Burti's horrific accident in 2001. That was probably the most fearful I've ever been watching a race live apart from Imola '94, I was convinced he had been killed. Logically there seemed no way he could've survived it, yet he was relatively unscathed!

Anyways, it's well worth a look if you've got a spare 10 minutes. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Rj4...ch=spa%20f-one

[Mustang]

Nice

anyone know what the song is that starts 7 minbs 13 secs in ?

[Ferrer]

Seeing the video, it's a shame that Spa is not in the calendar this year...

[NSXType-R]

It might be a stupid question but what's the difference between SPA and F1?

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

It might be a stupid question but what's the difference between SPA and F1?

SPA is a race-track in Belgium. It was a part of the Formula 1 Circuit, but was left off this year for financial issues. Officially known as Spa Francorchamps.

[NSXType-R]

So is there any difference between the cars they use in SPA and the ones in F1?

Also is it just one track or a larger track just split into smaller sections (something like Tsukaba Circuit comes to mind in GT4 with different sections and stuff).

[Jack_Bauer]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

So is there any difference between the cars they use in SPA and the ones in F1?

Also is it just one track or a larger track just split into smaller sections (something like Tsukaba Circuit comes to mind in GT4 with different sections and stuff).

Spa is not a race series, it's a town in Belgium which is home to the race track Spa-Francorchamps. It is the home of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. The cars are just the 'usual' F1 cars, and it is just a normal race on the F1 calendar (when it's not in financial difficulties that is ).

As far as I know there is just one track configuration, although the Grand Prixs use a different start/finish line and pit exit to sportscar races held at Spa. The track used to be MUCH longer and more twisty using more of the public road, quite similar to the Nurburgring Nordschleife. However that was all shut down many years ago for safety reasons.

It holds a special place in the hearts of motorsports fans because it's just a fantastic track. It winds through the forests and hills of rural Belgium and has some of the most spectacular corners in world motorsport like Eau Rouge, Blanchimont and Pouhon. It is also notorious for its unpredictable weather, which is what the video was trying to show.

[adamfraser]

Amaazing video. I still remember to this day, watching the Luciano Burti crash. I was 100% sure he was dead. Amazed that he wasnt !

EDIT : Wrong Dead person. -.-

[NSXType-R]

Thx Jack and Rock for explaining everything to me.

[motorsportnerd]

Hopefully, Spa will get back on the calender. One of the 5 greatest racing tracks (excluding ovals) in the world in my opinion. The others being the original Nurburgring, Monza, Le Mans and Bathurst.

[drakkie]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

Spa is not a race series, it's a town in Belgium which is home to the race track Spa-Francorchamps. It is the home of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. The cars are just the 'usual' F1 cars, and it is just a normal race on the F1 calendar (when it's not in financial difficulties that is ).

As far as I know there is just one track configuration, although the Grand Prixs use a different start/finish line and pit exit to sportscar races held at Spa. The track used to be MUCH longer and more twisty using more of the public road, quite similar to the Nurburgring Nordschleife. However that was all shut down many years ago for safety reasons.

It holds a special place in the hearts of motorsports fans because it's just a fantastic track. It winds through the forests and hills of rural Belgium and has some of the most spectacular corners in world motorsport like Eau Rouge, Blanchimont and Pouhon. It is also notorious for its unpredictable weather, which is what the video was trying to show.

Until a few years ago it was possible to drive over the circuit in your normal car. The main strait (except bus stop chicane) was part of the public road. My dad teested his Citroen BX there once until he got pulled over for speeding (nearly lost license ). ironic huh,speeding on a race track It is a pity it ain't raced anymore cos the lay-out was very unique and only the best were fast there(witthout balls you could lose seconds a lap).

[drakkie]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

There is also a little montage of some of the big accidents from that period, finishing with Luciano Burti's horrific accident in 2001. That was probably the most fearful I've ever been watching a race live apart from Imola '94, I was convinced he had been killed. Logically there seemed no way he could've survived it, yet he was relatively unscathed!

Didnt you forgot the Jos Verstappen crash in Hungary (in 1995 ?). as only team on the grid they had raised cockpit sides,which saved his life. Doctors said afterwards he could not have survived it.. bu he is still active as a driver.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

There is also a little montage of some of the big accidents from that period, finishing with Luciano Burti's horrific accident in 2001. That was probably the most fearful I've ever been watching a race live apart from Imola '94, I was convinced he had been killed. Logically there seemed no way he could've survived it, yet he was relatively unscathed!

Is that the one in the video were someone stops and gets out and runs over to the car in the middle of the track

[Jack_Bauer]

Originally Posted by 2ndclasscitizen

Is that the one in the video were someone stops and gets out and runs over to the car in the middle of the track

No that first one is Ayrton Senna stopping during qualifying to tend to Erik Comas after he'd hit the wall at Blanchimont. He was motionless in the car and Senna realised that the nearest marshalls were about 100-150yards away so Senna got out to help him. Pretty noble stuff, although not entirely sensible as he nearly got run-over!

The one I meant was the last one in the montage (about 6 mins50s) where Burti (blue car) tangles with Irvine and goes head on into the wall at about 150mph. The problem with that crash is that the car basically speared straight underneath tyre walls and into the armco. It looked as though if the tyre walls didn't decapitate him the impact with the armco would. Plus he was completely buried inside tha wall and it took them forever to get him out, so they were extremely anxious moment to watch live.

[Sauc3]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

No that first one is Ayrton Senna stopping during qualifying to tend to Erik Comas after he'd hit the wall at Blanchimont. He was motionless in the car and Senna realised that the nearest marshalls were about 100-150yards away so Senna got out to help him. Pretty noble stuff, although not entirely sensible as he nearly got run-over!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZfd_7MQNLI
That's this one by itself.

I think that it's a showing of how truly great Ayrton Senna was, and with the safety of the cars taken into account (as was shown, very unfortunately, later on in his own accident), running out on the track to help a fellow enthusiast is no more dangerous than driving one of the machines. It's one of the best gestures I've ever seen, and found new appreciation/sadness for Senna.