Stirling Moss Writes From Hospital Bed

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29251, 8 July 1960, Page 17

Stirling Moss Writes From Hospital Bed

T HTUB did I think Out, in the middle at this motor-racing mmob, I would he writing propped up in a hospital bed. Yet here I am in my Utile room in

St Thoma*'*, with a wall at. flower* on one aide at me, a i mountain of fruit on th* other and in front of me so many letten and “get-we U-soon message* that they must almost haw caused a crisis at the Poet Office. May I BY a heartfelt “than* you" to *M those kind people who have wftttenT Their thought* and good wiriwa will help me to get back on my feet Main all the more quickly. Big QuouHcn ■ The accidents which happened to Michael Taylor and myself, and the tragic death* which followed in the Belgian Grand Prix, haw again raised the question of whether motor racing today is too dangerous. Frankly, I don't think so. Motor racing is bound to bea wry dangerous game, and where there is great danger, in any sport, the risk of accident* 1* always present Personally I wouldn’t want it to be otherwise. Without the danger it simply wouldn't be motor racing. But that is not to say that certain totally unnecessary hazards should not be eradicated. For example I would like to see a great deal less mechanical failure in the cars and less oil spilt on the track. Those are two prime cause* of accidents about which a driver can do little or nothing, no matter how experienced he is. Experience in motor racing means being able to drive fait safely, and it counts most when an accident is imminent and when a driver has to get himself out of

trouble In a hurry. If I hadn’t been able to cut my speed by about *> mjtdL before hitting the bank at Spa, I dread to think what the result might have been. For this reason I think it is quite pmsibij true that some drivers at present taking part- are too inexperienced for modern Grand Mr racing. They ace being pushed too fhr too fast particufkriy by this new evil of having to qualify during practice. There, guts counts for rather mote than ability, which is quite wrong. . On the other hand, it is almost impossible to suggest how driven might gain more experience before entering die grand prix field. Although I am against Setting definite limits, it would be very desirable to control their progress to some extent—to make them do a certain number of seasons of sports oar. Formula Junior and Formula 1 racing. But fids would be quite impracticable. I was extremely lucky to have had six years’ experience before I drove my first full-blown grand prix car, but these days such long periods of training are just not possible. All one can hope is that each driver will be conscious of his own limitations,'and win admit at once if he is scared of ahy particular race or circuit He will te a bigger man if he does so. . With possibly a single exception, I don’t think the grand prix circuits are too fast for the ears driven on them today. I am even still very much in favour of Spa, although I an afraid the

Belgian race may never be held there again. A Formula I grand prix circuit should be fast, difficult and dangerous. You can’t expect to be mollycoddled if you aspire to reach the pinnacle of your sport. Higher Speeda On the other hand, I certainly disagree with the practice of making circuits faster and faster, and duller and duller. There is no point in pushing up the speed for its own sake alone. This has happened at Rheims, which used to be interesting when it was a real road circuit running through through the village of Gueux at one point. Now it’s just a tailored, hand-made speed track, where 170 miles per hour is neither frightening nor exhilarating.

The one circuit to which I do take great exception is Monza, with the bankings. As a road circuit only, this Italian venue gives excellent racing. But with the “wall ot death” section added, all it gives is double loading on the car’s suspension, a succession of horrifying bumps and a great deal of added, unnecessary danger.

It has been suggested that modern Grand Prix cars are too light and flimsy in their construction. I don’t want to appear facetious, but I believe they’re only too light where they break. In other words, the cars are basically strong enough, but certain important components are not, to my mind, tested sufficiently thoroughly. For instance, a firstclass crack-testing device should be in every workshop to ensure that steering and brakes are perfect and that wheels are not going to fall off. Proving the whole car to its limits is also a big problem. —(By arrangement with the “Sunday Times.”)