Gilles Villeneuve died 25 years ago today

RIP Gilles

Damn. R.I.P

Makes me feel bloody old. It seems like only yesterday I was climbing out of my Van Deimen RF82 and you could tell something was badly wrong by my mechanic's expression. He lent into my cockpit and just said, "It's Gilles. It's bad".

Sometimes I'm glad my motor racing days are gone.

Was that back in those days when people actually watched F1?

I miss the true loons...

Luckily, he survived this one (Imola '80).

I think the most memorable moment for me, was when Nigel Mansel was trying to get past Senna. He got so worked up he threw up in his helmet, but never managed to overtake...

Rest in peace crazy dude
[img]http://www.sempregilles.com/img/vozaci/helikopter/gv.jpg[/img]

I would have thought that the Canadians might have said something. Maybe they've all forgotten.

For those of you who don't know about him.

You don't have to be Canadian to mark with sadness the anniversary of Villeneuve's death.

Personally I've never seen the point of auto racing, but then again I'm sure there are many more who can't figure out why we're crazy about hockey, either. (Ice hockey)

no, it was in the newspaper online and in www.cbc.ca yesterday, but its hockey playoff time and my home province is going into an election, so, priorities are not the same.

That's a shame, Carm, because Gilles was undoubtedly the greatest sportsman ever to have come from Canada. What he could do with a car was sublime. The fact that the car was several hundred horsepower made it even more amazing, and watching him live was mesmerising. Then there was his will to win... every lap.

But, to be fair to you, you have probably never drifted a powerful car balanced on opposite lock. So you probably can't comprehend. Gilles was to racing drivers what Jimi was to guitarists: something very, very different.

I do appreciate the skill he had, not that I was a formal 1 watcher, but he was headlines, and its always great to see one of your own excel at something. But the day did not go unmarked, it was remembered, but with current events, most likely not the way you would have wished/hoped for.
I remember the day he died, they did fly the flag at half mast in the Parliment.

Please, Gilles Villeneuve was a great automobile driver, and I'm not discounting the athletic ability needed to drive Formula 1, but there are many, many more athletes from Canada who overshadow him.

z.B:
Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest hockey player who ever lived, unless you're from Russia, the Czech Republic or Quebec.

...

damn, that's about it. Right. Carry on.

It's difficult to explain how, above any other driver in history Gilles was, without you knowing about the detail. I've talked this kind of thing over with guitarists about Jimi, and for the most part, they get it, because they knew what he was doing and how he was playing was off this planet. Many have tried to emulate him, many give the impression of being close, but you can always pick out which one is Jimi. Gilles was also extraordinary. Ask racing drivers who the best was and I'll bet more than 75% say Gilles. Even Senna said, "Gilles".

It's just a shame that his son turned out to be such an arrogant twat

perhaps as a final note on gilles villeneuve.
while the english part of canada has barely recognized the 25th anniversary of gilles' passing in belgium, that can't be said in quebec where villedneuve (obviously of frfench-canadian extraction) was a hero.
all of the papers and broadcasting outlets (english and french) paid tribute to the driver Jackie Stewart called the "greatest of his time".

for those who didn't follow his career Villedneuve started racing snowmobiles in the winter around his home in Berthierville, Quebec (halfway between montreal and Quebec city). He eventually became a world champion. With nothing to do in the summertime and needing a speed fix he persuaded the SkiRoule snowmobile company to sponsor him iin Formula Ford racing. he moved on from there to the highly-regarded Formula Atlantic series where he was a two-time champion. the second championship was rfemarkable. he went found himself behind Bobby Rahal in series points and needing to win the final 3 raceds of the year. In he course of qualifying for the pole in all three races Gilles wrote off the tubs (monocoque) of 6 cars. he then won all three races to edge out rahal for the championship. along with rahal and villeneuve the series featured future fomula one champion keke rosberg and indianapolis 500 winner danny sullivan.

villeneuve's finish to that season got him his first ride in formula one racing.

in 1977 on a bitterly cold day on Ile Notre Dame in Montreal Gilles won his first formula one race---the onnly Canadian driver to win his own national championship. the circuitg in montreal where he won that championship is now named after him and continues to host the Canadiian Grand Prix as well as, this year for the first time, a Nascar Busch-series race in August.

Gilles was the perfect driver for his time. He was very quick. He was agressive. his timing was superb and he was absolutely without fear. It is sad that he failed to win a world championship before his death. many think his intra-Ferrari feud with driver didier pironi caused him to take extra chances in qualifying for the 1982 gran d prix of belgium which in turn led to his death when he touched the wheel of a back marker and was catapulted across the track.

since then his son has gone on to win a world championship for Williams and then disappear from sight with some ill-advised career choices that have taken him right out racing. he now lives in montreal and is a major shareholder in a nightclub. he's also hoping for singing career (he's not very good).

Sorry to be so long winded. I'm hard to stop once I get going.

His son is not completely out of racing, he should be driving for Peugeot in their new Diesel powered sports car at the Le Mans 24 hour race.

Sorry, doradoblue, but you need to understand the man, his honour and the betrayal to understand what happened. Gilles could easily have been world champion in 1979, all he had to do was to overtake his teammate (Jody Scheckter). He was way faster than Scheckter, but they were teammates in a team where Scheckter was No.1. Gilles honoured this fact and dutifully sat behind Scheckter on the run to the chequered flag at Monza.

For the '82 season Gilles was Driver No.1 and that Frenchman was No.2. At Imola Gilles was way out in front, and after the risk of both Renault turbos had retired, The Scuderia signalled Gilles to "SLOW", thereby conserving fuel and guaranteeing a Ferrari 1-2 in front of the home crowd. Gilles slowed a massive 5 seconds a lap, but that Frenchman disobeyed team orders and overtook. Gilles went after him at full racing speed and re-took the lead before bringing the pace back down to conserve fuel and guarantee the 1-2. But on the very last lap that Frenchman overtook again and Gilles didn't have enough road to take the lead by the end of the lap.

When Gilles got out of the car, he went directly to team manager Marco Piccini in shock that the Frenchman had broken team orders and stolen Gilles obvious win. Piccini, being the double-dealing piece of shit he is (and yes, I have met him) replied, "What team orders?". Many people spoke to Gilles in the thirteen days between Imola and his death, so we know what his mind-set was. However, I believe his death was a total accident. Jochen Mass was cruising in on an 'In' lap during qualifying. He saw Gilles in his mirrors and presumed he would go by to the left, so he jinked right. Gilles had committed right, caught the back of the ATS and...

Anyway, about my comments regarding that arrogant twat of a son of his:

Villeneuve attacks Hamilton's driving style