Topic: This is actually kind of depressing

[gpw11]

The Purley/Williamson video

[Antares]

KIND of depressing?

[WindAndConfusion]

Aren't fiery deaths the entire point of Formula 1 racing?

[Quemaqua]

Yeah, that's pretty awful.  That stuff must have been awfully hot, and that guy's padding and such probably made the heat easier to bear, but still, you'd think some fucking help would have gotten out there before the other poor bastard quietly burned to death.

Aren't fiery deaths the entire point of Formula 1 racing?

Nicely played, dick.

[Cobra951]

Jesus.  That's horrible.

[WindAndConfusion]

Nicely played, dick.

Well I'm sorry, but humor is an important part of the grieving process. If you had any heart at all, you would show more respect to those who are still in mourning over the loss of Roger Williamson 35 years ago.

[Ghandi]

Aren't fiery deaths the entire point of Formula 1 racing?

Well you know what they say - if the crash doesn't kill you, it's the horrible 2 and a half minute long exposure to the fire that will.

That's a terrible story, though. Luckily I didn't get to watch the video because youtube only works half the time with my great internet connection, but I read the little blurb. Sounds like a stellar group of firefighters.

[gpw11]

From what I understand there was nothing they could do. F1 had horrible safety standards at that time and these guys didn't even have flame retardant uniforms.  The other explanation I heard is that while the two guys on the ground tried to help but couldn't get close enough, eveyone else thought that Purley was trying to right his own car rather than save Williamson. Fuck ups across the board.