Motor Racing Two Drivers Die In Belgian Grand Prix

Press, Issue 29236, 21 June 1960, Page 7

Motor Racing Two Drivers Die In Belgian Grand Prix

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, June 19. . The two death smashes in the Belgian Grand Prix at Francorchamps have raised again the question—is big motor racing worth the cost in lives and broken men?

Tw’o young British racing drivers crashed to their deaths and two lay seriously hurt in hospital today after motor racing’s blackest week-end for years.

The crashes happened both in practice laps and in the Grand Prix.

During the gruelling 315-mile race, Alan Stacey, aged 26, was hit in the face by a low-flying bird.

His Lotus car spun out of control, then roUed over and caught fire with Stacey trapped unconscious inside. He died immediately. Chris Bristow, aged 22, misjudged a corner, skidded on a grass verge, was thrown out of his Cooper car and hit an obstacle with his head.

Only six of 17 starters finished, four of them driving Coopers. Stirling Moss is in hospital near Francorchamps with two broken legs in plaster, three cracked ribs, and a broken nose after crashing yesterday during practice. A few minutes later, Mike Taylor, also British, was injured when his car rolled over. He is in hospital with cracked ribs. The world champion, Jack Brabham, of Australia, won the race at an average speed of 138.89 miles an hour, after leading all the way on the Francorchamps track—the fastest road circuit in Europe. Bruce McLaren, of New Zealand, was second, and Olivier Gendebien, of Belgium, third. All three drove British Coopers. McLaren retained his leading position in this year’s world championship. Tonight motoring circles buzzed again with the same controversy that raged in Paris last year after the death of French driver Jean Behra. Motoring sources said today’s deaths would increase the demands for cutting down the present Formula I (big engine) races to lower-powered events next year.

The International Automobile Sports Commission has promised limits next year, but some manufacturers want to keep the big cars.

Brabham said after he won: “It was a terribly dangerous race.” the “Daily Express” reported. “Not only were the speeds so high and the hazards along the circuit so great, but we all narrowly escaped disaster from low-flying birds. “I just managed to miss two. and I finished with one stuck to my radiator,” he said. Mr Jean Bovy. of Francorchamps, a high official of the circuit organisation, told Reuters there were no eye-witnesses of the two fatal crashes, which both happened on parts of the course where spectators had been banned because of danger. But, he said, officials had been able to reconstruct the scenes partly. “Bristow was projected from his car and his body shot through a row of bushes and small trees screening off a wire fence. His neck hit a wire and he was al-

most decapitated,” Mr Bovy said. Mr Bovy said Stacey died in the ambulance, “only 200 metres from the stand to which he was being brought.” He confirmed earlier reports that a bird hit his face and smashed his goggles. “He lost control of his car which overturned several times and caught fire,” he said. 1316 result was:

Belgian Grand Prix: Jack Brabham (Australia, Cooper), 2hr 21min 36.35ec, average 133.89 m.p.h., 1; Bruce McLaren (New Zealand, Cooper), 2hr 22min 40.6 sec, 132.63 m.p.h.. 2; Olivier Gendebien (Belgium, Cooper), one lap behind; Phil Hill (United States of America, Ferrari), two laps behind; J. Clarke (Britain, Lotus), two laps behind; L. Biachi (Belgium, Cooper). Fastest lap—Brabham, 3min 5.9 sec at average of 136.01 m.p.h. Leaders in the drivers’ championship after today’s race are: McLaren 20 points, Brabham 16, Moss 11.