Jo Schlesser Fatal Crash

[destruktor1996]

Yeah, he had a magnesium compound and fuel for 60 laps. In that crash all fuel was ignited and the help was unable to get to his car because of temperature of that fire.

[kzbxvz]

No red flag and the race still goes on WTF!!! The dark ages of Formula One.

[MrGospelMan]

Quick, someone spray more water on that magnesium fire!

[94Lechu]

It was his debut in F1....

[djalexext]

Кто смотрит с ссылки на ЧемпионатCom палец Вверх

[hotbananas]

To clear up the "Magnesium" Issue, it is doubtful it was the cause of death. Assuming the crash itself didn't kill him, then the 60 laps of fuel igniting did. Magnesium is very hard to ignite when not in power or shaving form, but hard to extinguish if ignited. The burning fuel ignited the magnesium, which could not have been put out with water or carbon dioxide extinguishers as they merely provide more fuel to the fire. The burning magnesium is then a danger to the marshalls and other drivers.

[MissEgasMoniz]

Magnesium in a race car - not a great idea!

[gcmc2]

@MissEgasMoniz The mag isn't usually used in the frame -just for suspension uprights & wheels as well as engine & gearbox castings etc. It doesn't generally present danger to drivers from . One car that did have a lot of mag in its construction was the Williams De Thomaso that Piers Courage died in. The car was revised with mag to address its weight problem. More drivers have been hurt or killed by mag components failing due to improper early manufacture or its degrading with age.

[njdoughboy]

Ooof, i hadn't seen this before. Terrible. Amazing to see drivers punch through the flames.

[psalmtone2008]

Didn't help the car was made of magnesium...

[F1V1]

Hey chill guys no violence, this is intended to be a sad video show respect.

[international153]

Is there any version of this with color?

[F1V1]

@international153 Not that I know of, sorry.

[whithouse]

@F1V1

Yes there is. In a BBC documentary about the deadly age of Formula one there's colour footage of this incident, albeit only the burning of the wreck. It's in Youtube clip "-N9-QrRl1Uk". Copy and past the code in the address bar. Move to 34'12" to see the whole ordeal. But better still, watch the whole documentary. It's highly recomended by me.

[F1V1]

@whithouse Thanks bro I haven't seen this yet but it looks interesting.

[buzzzz1964]

Tragic.

R.I.P.

[clfros]

Crispy.

[international153]

@clfros Fuck u i hope you will be a pizza topping

[malthuswasright]

So given the big Merc accident at Le Mans in 55, what on earth made Honda think that a magnesium bodied car would be any safer some 15 years later?

[iFrontX]

RIP

[ma55aracin9]

CORRECTION

that sister car was built for Surtees -under the iconic Mr. Honda's supervision- to race @ Monza, but Big John refused once again; with that, Honda went into obscurity.....

[ma55aracin9]

FINAL OF PREVOUS COMMENT

when the team debuted his machine @ Rouen -which is shown here, of course-, they recruited the srvices of Jo Schlesser at the very last second, as Surtees was about leave the team -despite having built a "sister" car for him to race there-; sadly, "Big John"'s fears came true, as Schlesser lost control at the downhill sweepers, crashed and overturned, with the grim consequences seen here.

[ma55aracin9]

2nd PART OF PREVIOUS COMMENT

by the end of that short-lived test session, a massive oil leak was discovered and fixed by the team's engineers, but at the expense of severe cooling issues. that prompted Surtees to declare the car as uneasy, unstable and -therefore- unsafe. (he even sugugested the team to replace the highly flammable magnesium monocoque chassis with aluminum)

[potato6666666]

Even now this is terribly sad

[rodentcafeteria]

Obviously, safety wasn't a big issue during this time.

[arena2101]

Thats what happens when you make your cars out of magneseum - a flamable material

[gorecraz]

This crash couples with commercial difficulty caused Honda to stay out of racing for a whole year.

[Claro1993]

Burning Magnesium+Fuel+ Water= GREATER FIRE!

[FloormanUK]

I wasn't alive in those days, but from what I've gathered he was actually a bloody good driver

[rva1945]

In such a fireball, oxygen is quickly depleted, I don't think he was conscious for more than a few seconds if he survived the initial impact. I wish that was the case.

[flipsidedogchop]

nowadays that'd have to be a safety car

[Genners111]

...and they were trying to put it out with water!!! what's worse is they let burning magnesium spray onto the other drivers (in an open vehicle) as they went by!!! dumbasses....

[methanolpower]

He was probably dead before the car ignited.

[F1V1]

@methanolpower I would assume the same. An impact back in those days that could ignite the car in the first place would more than likely have killed the driver.

[mouloudo]

@F1V1 not really the fuel tank in those cars wasn't protected at all, you see small crashes resluting in massive fire, plus the fact that they used magnesium in the building of the monocoque at that time, wih is highly flamable as you cans see sparks at 17 secs

[SaintBEEP]

@F1V1 He died from the smoke.

[F1V1]

@SaintBEEP He essentially burnt to death, it was much more than just smoke inhalation.

[Agriendt85]

@methanolpower

Could be, however Jo was racing in an experimental Honda that day, one almost completely built out of Magnesium, that is why the fire couldn't be put out...

[lkaasikmae]

@Agriendt85 The Honda works driver had told Honda it was not ready for racing and a deathtrap, he then refused to drive it in a race. Honda "bravely" decided to let the local hero drive it and voila the consequences. They had been warned...

[JohnTheHater]

Sad, but racing back then was just crazy period. I love watching races from back in the 60's. Yes the sport is dangerous and always will be, but those cars were just insane. The drivers knew the risk, as did the fans, but the drivers still pushed as hard as they could and it was awesome. No sane person today would drive one of those cars like they did.

[amokachi31]

@JohnTheHater so true. what I call those days' cars is a bathtube with 4 wheels, lots of hp and lots of flammable liquid inside. (not even petroleum. more flammable mixtures)

[patukka24]

was he just burned alive?

[JamesTKirkCobain]

Freakin dude drives a car with a body made out of magnesium, the same shit they use in flash bulbs for cameras. Not too swift there pal. I mean WTF, why not drive a car with a body made out of nitroglycerin? Same thing! They were freakin nuts back then. They use to actually dip rags in liquid asbestos and place it over their mouths! That's what killed actor Steve McQueen.

[holyfuckjustsignmeup]

@JamesTKirkCobain Actually, he blamed it on exposure during his service in the Marines.

[indigoblue555]

This footage gives a harsh picture of what car racing could be back then:all another stuff from today's,and a wide difference as well is in the way we looked at it. I recall we were upset by Schlesser's tragedy,but that was seen just as one side of sport motoring which was to be accepted by drivers.The same could be told of several fatal F1 accidents:Bandini,Courage,Will­iamson, not to talk of frequent deadly events in F2 and F3.

[1882mick]

shocking footage, not much protectionfor the drivers back then

[MissEgasMoniz]

Magnesium car construction and frail safety regs = the gladiatorial era of racing, esp. in open wheel.

[sennaf1god94]

Marshalls treating his body like a lost dog after being hit by a roadcar:

Applauses please.... those were good old days!

Mode ironic OFF.

[MrGrego77]

remember the days when car racing was dangerous and sex was safe?

[TheCandygod]

Apparently the engine cut-out and thats what caused the crash innthe first place.

The stupid thing was that they would have never built that car had it not been ordered by mr honda himself...

[SoilentGr33n]

Man, he was still on fire when they dragged him away....

[medexamtoolsdotcom]

Well this lowers my opinion of Honda. Actually building a race car out of magnesium! They should have learned a lesson from history, namely the Hindenburg disaster, not to construct vehicles out of explosively flammable substances. What wonders could the future hold? Hey, I have an idea! Let's build a space ship out of C4 plastic explosives! And the landing pods will be constructed entirely of Claymore antipersonnel mines. And the walls studded with ball bearings. That sounds like a swell idea!

[DaiJonesful]

@medexamtoolsdotcom Hindsight is a great thing to be cocky about. We know better now, and expect more. Otherwise, we can just criticize EVERYONE in history, and that is not fair.

History is always better understood from the persepective of when the events happened, not from the perspective of where we are today.

[MargusKiistheCritic]

The crash itself was fatal, even without fire. In another video Schlesser`s `s body under the car seems to be unmoving, one marshall tries to pull it out but without success although fire is not very near.

Those days driving out the track in top speed was almost fatal.

[MargusKiistheCritic]

These kind of crashes (driving out the way with top speed) were fatal those days anyway, even without fire.

[F1carlo]

I know that any death is horrible, but death in the fire - the most painful. It's terrible. R.I.P

[rotterdam1953]

@F1carlo , The more water they poursed onto the burning car, the more the magnesium flared up. The manner in which the dragged poor Schlesser's body away from the wreck indicates just how these matters were dealt with back in the 60s.

[F1carlo]

@rotterdam1953 I did not know. We should thank Stewart and Rindt, because they are forced to think about security. Otherwise, manufacturers would continue to introduce new items like without thinking about security.

[MeMeMeMeMeMeMeMeAndU]

this guy was burned, a FUCKIN BIG MAC. overcooked.

[Moltixar]

he looked like an over cooked french fry from burger king

[tarjr94]

the F1 car he drove had a magnesium compound in it and combusted on impact with 60 laps worth of fuel

[iutuber1]

wow his hands stayed stiff after they pulled him out of the car.*shivers*

[rva1945]

In forensic investigations, it's call the boxer's position, the muscles shrink due to roasting and the arms take that position. Somehow it gives you an idea about the victim being burned alive or already dead (or unconscious) when burned. Finding the arms in such position, more probably he collapsed (due to the crash or smoke inhalation) instead of sustaining an agonizing death. But only God knows the truth.

[Troylito]

There is another video on youtube called Sadness in F1 where different angles and times of his crash are shown. The marshalls arrive on the scene and try their best to pull Schlesser away from the car, but they can't. His legs appear to be trapped under the car, but his torso (on his back) is clearly visible with his arms already in that "boxer's" position, before the flames have engulfed him. Sad video.

[Sensenbernd]

@Troylito I also saw this video but don`t find it now. I think I saw his arms moving. I´m not sure. Horribele crash.

[hellspreetube]

@Sensenbernd watch?v=y6UufxBWMDw

[thehistorywatcher]

The car was made, in large part, out of magnesium. Magnesium burns. Very bad idea done only to save weight.

[fearbeforefearbefore]

I often wonder how you could possibly get back into a race car as another driver, after seeing that happen to a brother. They truly were a breed apart.

RIP Jo.

[hoogestefan]

Well, no matter how sad it is, to say it in Stewarts' words: "Death was written in our contracts."

With which he means to say it wasn't such a rare occurrence to be really shocked by. You knew it could happen, also that it could happen to you.

[ratmotor396]

In those days Honda F1 was extremely high-tech, extremely complicated, very powerful, but too heavy. Hence, the ratcheting up to a car that burns like the head of a match.

[Lukeno52]

Weight doesn't actually affect how something burns, nor does complexity. It wasn't very heavy as it had a magnesium body, but this caused the enormous fire.

[FTECmotorsports]

The judgment of Honda was mistake at that time.

A lot of Japanese want to apologize to him.

[marcingrychtol]

they estinguish gas with water?

[T1carus]

lucky there was a fire team there at all at that time

[unwindout]

Not to diminish the tragedy, but I'd expect that a driver trapped in fire will asphyxiate in less than a minute (hot fumes). I doubt its the same as being roasted alive by the Inquisition or the Iriquois.

[kzbxvz]

A magnesium bodied F1 car fully loaded with gasoline WTF!!! What were they thinking back then???

[kappaguy187]

damn thats some grimy shit...rip

[oflodoriksenok]

who have heard, seen, felt a world war few years before didn't realize how precious is a life, nor even today some people think about that.

The show (war) must go on!!!

[fabsternyc]

What is stunning is that the race goes on while a driver is being drugged on the tarmac literally roasted by the fire

[F1V1]

The simple times of racing. They didn't really know any better.

[MonacoLager1]

@F1V1 It was more exciting though. The added risk level made for exciting racing. None of that now.

[F1V1]

@MonacoLager1 Oh I definitely agree on that. Racing is dangerous business, and I believe that's one reason why it's so enjoyable. I was just saying back then they really didn't know how to be safe even if they wanted to.

[bluv6]

That's how it was done in F1, and in all of European racing, in those days. No such thing as a full-course yellow or safety cars, and certainly no red flag like there undoubtedly would be today for such an incident. Back then the race went on no matter what.

[270kphT5]

@fabsternyc No the stunning thing is that they kept pouring water on burning magnesium (mags) which kept the fire going. Fucking idiots helped kill the driver.

[jerryaltman]

@270kphT5 They did not had extinguisher of chemical powder or CO2 in this race, just a water fire engine. Can you imagine if they would just stay look withou do nothing?

[1doc1savage1]

I believe that Ferrari were the first ti use magnesium in F1 cars.....

[imydaking]

thought japs were clever... magnesium in a car with a hot engine thats american thinking...

[F1V1]

So true lol

[rehcamuhs]

British thinking would is cast iron body and wood dash.

[RCWorks]

A wood stove?

[mhy249]

Had to be a typical yank who have no sense of humer and talk shite just like you ,you bloody prick,only yanks like you could put up a reply like that,tit...

[bebeinpa]

A typical yank? Would that be anything like a typical Limey mate?

[ProffesorChaosesFile]

@imydaking It wasnt just magnesium in a car the whole body was magnesium because it is so light, but the honda driver who typically raced said it was a deathtrap and refused to drive it Honda didn't put out a F1 team until 2006

[saulocpp]

@imydaking: see how USF1 ended... wait, what USF1? LOL

[bnmcmhn]

@imydaking

I don't see the point of your comment; magnesium was used by cars from around the whole, the mercedes in le mans 1955 crash had maganesium bodywork, which may have caused more injuires from the fireball that ensued

The decision to use maganesium came from the fact that it was faster, not that it was safer, the universal approach at the time

[mickyhunt]

water on magnesium.. that is like put water on hot oil.

[jraybay]

that's what I hate about our e volution in racing. There are so many tragedies that occurred due to our evolution. We didn't know that a simple hans device could really save a drivers life until now. We didn't make a gas tank strong enough to hold up against a crash until it was to late. I'm saying this because I just watched a video with an f1 car around the same year and a rock punctured the tank and the car just explode :\ . I wish we could have been safe like now, but back in the old days .

[Syrophrenikan]

Burning is possibly the most fearsome way to die. Very unfortunate. You can see the magnesium flaring up as the fire-fighter sprays water on it.

[rva1945]

I hope he was already dead before the fire.

[KC8YOQ]

I agree with you on hopeing he was dead before he burned! I have see people burn to death with nothing I could do about it and it is a horrible thing to see!

[rva1945]

Excuse me, but, are you a firefighter?

[KC8YOQ]

Was ! Now Retired !

[rva1945]

I love races, specially NASCAR (sad we don't have oval tracks in Argentina), but I can't understand how a guy is capable of sitting inside those firebombs surrounded by gallons of fuel, just inches from the ground, at those high speeds. Money, fame, girls? All of that can in a sudden be reduced to ashes, not to mention the fear of being burned death, as it did happen many times...

[F1V1]

That's what the love of racing has done for many drivers. All the drivers of this time knew exactly what could happen to them, but unlike these days, they didn't have a choice if they wanted to race. Racing is just one of those things where you're either willing to die doing it because you love it, or you're not.

[rva1945]

And I remember Fangio saying "the death is an always present copilot" when commenting Bandini's horrible crash and death.

[gdgdgfdggfdfg]

the late francois cevert once said 'death is written in our contract' shows how the drivers years ago fully accepted the risk of death.

[indigoblue555]

to rva1945 -.Yes,..,, but you're watching at this with today's eyes and standards.

By those days ( alas I was already there)

it was fully accepted as inside into car racing.

I was managing to get a F3 drive for in the late 70es and I still feel scared when thinking back to such a deadly trap.

But I could'nt wait to get a sponsor and go....eventhough its body and tank were made of Coke can stuff .

[WhiteKnightDubstep]

@rva1945 its worth it, think of the life they have its the life of a modern day god. i wouldnt care if i died young if i had done some of the things in my life that they have.

[Waitingforriki]

Hope you enjoy your retirement..Thanx for a fantastic service...hope you came out of it okay? Saving life's for a living, not half bad my good man! All the best for the future..Ttfn.

[arena2101]

@rva1945: He wasn't.  Search for the documentary: "Formula 1: The Killer Years"

[BorlandRIP7]

It was his 1st and last F1 race..RIP

[TheDarthnick]

really? omg...

[TJallen101]

actually he had 2 races before this, in 66 and 67, coming 10th and retiring.

[HoskieDC]

And that children is why we don't build Formula 1 cars out of magnesium...

RIP Jo Schlesser

Honda should never have raced that car

[shazmeister2005]

you think they would have banned using magnesium after the mercedes crash at le mans in 1955

[ma55aracin9]

@HoskieDC `that's right; As per most official accounts, former world champion John Surtees was racing for Honda back in 1967 with some success - won 4 GP's that year includindg Monza '67- finishing 2nd (despite having serious reliability issues); when Surtees test driven the brand new RA302 @ Silverstone, it didn't last for long......

[showtimethemusic]

I have got the same video , but without sound , he was one of the best drivers of the 60s (in other categories)

RIP.

[serengiv]

Not only water can' t be of any use, but it

give strength for the magnesium to burn .The only thing would have been a big amount of powder falling very fast from the sky, but the result would be the same for the driver that

couldn 't breathe.

[sahlgren]

Holy shit...

RIP Jo

[F1V1]

That's very disrespectful.

[F1V1]

You're not wrong, one wrong move in racing can lead to this kind of accident, but to say "Charred" or "Extra crispy" to the death of a REAL person, that's not even right.

[SomeguyX]

...why? And he is wrong too, the last death in Formula 1 was 14 years ago.

[jerryaltman]

In the end it's tragic to see thye marshals and firemans pulling his dead body through the ground, fo finally put the fire out. This was worth than you imagine guys. The car had magnesium chassis. Magnesium is flamable, and when ignited burn much more hotter than gasoline. Human body in a huge magnesim fire don't only burns, but got incinerated quite fast.Water couldn't extinguisher magnesium fire alone. Poor guy. RIP brave racer.