Fast Cars

There's a cute story in the news today about Formula One racing star Michael Schumacher. He was being driven by a cab-driver in Germany who star struck by his passenger and became confused, making several driving errors. In frustration, Schumacher asked the cabbie if he could take the wheel. Apparently - taking the turns at full speed - he left the driver further gobsmacked by giving him 100 euros on a 60 euro fare.

I used to love Formula One years ago, until the death of the death of Elio de Angelis cured me of it permanently. That was May 1986. De Angelis, who had fared so well on the Lotus team, was now on the Brabham team, and died unneccessarily during a test run in his car. When it caught fire, a lack of officials and stand-by aid was blamed for his death as it took apparently took a very long time to free him from his smoke-filled car. The Roman-born De Angelis (below) was an elegant man, dubbed the last gentleman player of the sport, and a very talented, classically-trained pianist.



It was John Frankenheimer's movie Grand Prix (1966) that got me hooked on racing. I saw it one summer in my teens on tv. Great cast, including the old French smoothie, Yves Montand. I think it's time to see it again.