THREE PERISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 259, 2 November 1933, Page 22

THREE PERISH.

MONZA GRAND PRIX.

FAMOUS DRIVERS KILLED.

KOBXUFTBD SPECTATORS.

Three of the -world's most famous racing motorists —two Italians and a Pole —perished in two accidents which marred the Monza Grand Prix in September.. They were: —Borzacchini, winner of last year's Mille Miglia; Campari, victor in many international races; Count Czaykowski, holder of tlio world's hour record. There were two distinct accidents. In the first, Campari, travelling at 106 miles an hour, skidded on some oil that had been spilled on the course. He was spinning wildly round and round and making frantic efforts to steady his car when Borzacchini dashed up in his Maserati car and crashed into him. For a while the two cars seemed poised in mid-air —so terr ific had been the impact with which they met. Then they dropped over the bank. Campari was picked up dead. Borzacchini was fatally injured, and died a few minutes later without regaining consciousness. Prince Umberto an Eye-witness. Among those who witnessed the accident was Prince Umberto. He drove off to see Campari's body and to condole with the motorist's mother, who also had witnessed the tragedy. On his way back he heard that Borzacchini had died, and immediately said to his aide-de-camp: "I think the race should be stopped, but if the committee decide to carry on, get somebody else to start the third race." He himself had started the Becond.

Terror-Stricken Spectators. The third race was started by Sig. Starace. For a while all went smoothly. The spectators had temporarily forgotten tho previous tragedy when, suddenly, shouts of terror and cries of "Fire, fire," rang out. • , , \ Count Czaykowski's car was on fire in the middle of the course. A tongue of flame had leaped from tho engine; the next instant the vehicle had overturned and was burning furiously. Spectators near the scene could hear the unfortunate man shouting. Many tried to reach him, but tho flames beat them back. Rescue was impossible, and he perished with his car. Countess Czaykowski was among those who saw the tragedy, but was led away by friends before Bhe had had time to realise its gravity. This last tragedy was too much for the already over-strained crowd. While some stood still, as if hypnotised by the horror of it all, others hurried away. Race Suspended. This time the committee dccided to suspend the race. Apart from the tragedies, a number of other drivers had narrow escapes. Barbieri's car somersaulted three times, ending up in a field. To the amazement of the spectators Barbieri crawled from under the machine, suffering only from slight bruises. Castelbarco was also involved in an accident. Apparently ho applied his brakes too suddenly, and this caused his car to skid off the track. He was badly injured. Campari's Ambition. At one blow death swept from the arena three of • the greatest figures in European motor racing. Campari had probably raced more often than any man living—although his greatest ambition was to sing in opera! A grim-visaged, determined and powerful driver, he had a strange record in British races.

He took part in three R.A.C. tourist trophy races in Ulster, and was twice placed second—in 1929 behind Caracciola, the German champion, and in 1930 behind Nuvolari, his compatriot. That same year he also finished second in the Irish Grand Prix at Dublin, beaten by the late Sir Henry Birkin after a stone thrown up by the latter's wheel had cut his eyeball. For that courageous effort Signor Mussolini created Campari a Cavaliere. B. Borzacchini first won fame in the Ulster T.T. race of 1931, when, after his team-mates, Nuvolari and Campari, had failed, he was dispatched in pursuit of the two leaders on tiny British cars, and kfter a magnificent effort got second place literally on the post. Borzacchini was the winner of the Italian Mille Miglia and was latterjy regarded as second only to Nuvolari among the Italians. Count Czaykowski, a Pole domiciled in" France, was one of the very small class of men who, like Earl Howe, race as an amateur for the love of the sport. He had two striking successes this year.