Senna
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:51 am
On Tuesday evening Amy, Jack and I went to see 'Senna' the biographic film made totally from film of his life. As Amy said, the in-car footage was frightening as you 'felt' the vibration of the high downforce cars with the Dolby and widescreen enhancing the experience as it was not shot with electronic gizmos that take out the shudder.
I commented on the lack of input to the film from Gerhardt Berger who was seen as the lead bearer of Senna's coffin. I recalled the day when sitting on Trever Spero's yacht in Antibes we received a sat phone call. It was the captain of Berger's yacht that was tied up just across from us. The captain who had his own yacht close to Trevor's and was a friend had invited us aboard. We had to take our shoes off and put on white socks when boarding. I was shown around the engine room by Berger's race mechanic who explained the immense power and drinking capacity of the engines. 40000 litres for a day trip springs to mind.
Our white socks were still white. We then were shown the bridge full of electronics and the living quarters. Amazingly we were taken in the bedroom used by Senna (Gerhardt was probably Ayrton’s best racing friend). The floor was covered in deep sheepskin and I was allowed to flip through the wardrobe of tee-shirts used by Ayrton. It was explained that Ayrton spent hours on the sat phone to his family in Brazil which was reinforced during the film showing Senna's deep love for family, country and God.
Having followed most of the F1 career of Senna, the controversies and politics were familiar. But the more personal episodes in the film with Syd Watkins and Alain Prost were quite revealing. Interestingly Alain Prost is now the trustee of Senna’s foundation. Read into that what you will.
Huge changes to safety followed the two deaths that weekend at San Marino. Cars too went through significant development. Comparing racing in 1994 to 2011 or even with 1954 is really impossible as the tools and risks are so different. However, compare the yearly fatalities in the sport and you get an indication of the mentality of those who took part in each decade.
Would Schumacher have ever won a title if Senna was still with us?
Could Button drive the Williams Renault FW16 as fast as Senna?
Could Senna drive theMcLaren MP4-26 as fast as Hamilton in the wet?
Who would win driving the Red Bull RB7 or the FW 16, Senna or Vetel, both cars designed by Newey and using Renault engines?
I managed to find my contemporary Williams Renault tee shirt and wore it to the screening in memory of an idol.
Further reading
I commented on the lack of input to the film from Gerhardt Berger who was seen as the lead bearer of Senna's coffin. I recalled the day when sitting on Trever Spero's yacht in Antibes we received a sat phone call. It was the captain of Berger's yacht that was tied up just across from us. The captain who had his own yacht close to Trevor's and was a friend had invited us aboard. We had to take our shoes off and put on white socks when boarding. I was shown around the engine room by Berger's race mechanic who explained the immense power and drinking capacity of the engines. 40000 litres for a day trip springs to mind.
Our white socks were still white. We then were shown the bridge full of electronics and the living quarters. Amazingly we were taken in the bedroom used by Senna (Gerhardt was probably Ayrton’s best racing friend). The floor was covered in deep sheepskin and I was allowed to flip through the wardrobe of tee-shirts used by Ayrton. It was explained that Ayrton spent hours on the sat phone to his family in Brazil which was reinforced during the film showing Senna's deep love for family, country and God.
Having followed most of the F1 career of Senna, the controversies and politics were familiar. But the more personal episodes in the film with Syd Watkins and Alain Prost were quite revealing. Interestingly Alain Prost is now the trustee of Senna’s foundation. Read into that what you will.
Huge changes to safety followed the two deaths that weekend at San Marino. Cars too went through significant development. Comparing racing in 1994 to 2011 or even with 1954 is really impossible as the tools and risks are so different. However, compare the yearly fatalities in the sport and you get an indication of the mentality of those who took part in each decade.
Would Schumacher have ever won a title if Senna was still with us?
Could Button drive the Williams Renault FW16 as fast as Senna?
Could Senna drive theMcLaren MP4-26 as fast as Hamilton in the wet?
Who would win driving the Red Bull RB7 or the FW 16, Senna or Vetel, both cars designed by Newey and using Renault engines?
I managed to find my contemporary Williams Renault tee shirt and wore it to the screening in memory of an idol.
Further reading