Roland Ratzenberger/Simtek

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well while surfing the net looking for pictures of Simtek....I found a picture that really shook me emotionally....and kind of made me mad! Being a tech fan and financial fan also I look for info about teams that have gone bankrupt since 1990....to find out the do's and not do's in F1 management.....but when looking for simtek information I found a picture of Roland...after the accident! He was being taken to the ambulance with a neck colar pouring blood from his mouth and nose....and paramedics doing CPR! What outrages me is that why the hell on the world would someone take a picture like this? If it was taken I can understand that no one knew his state.....but if it was taken and he later died...why would someone publish this picture? whay would after 10 years someone still keep it on the web? Can't people respect Roland?

Off topic....the same question about Princess Dianas accident!!!!

[Steven]

hmmm kind of a difficult topic really, but anyway, pictures are about emotions and to invoke emotions. If so that makes it a good picture, and if someone would be looking the net for information about accidents in f1, he might appreciate the pic. I think it is needed for people to remember how dangerous it can be...

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well Tomba I agree with you but....showing a picture of an accident where someone survives is diferent from showing a picture of someone that is fighting for life! It's completly diferent to show a pic of Panis in underwear....when he broke his legs then a pic of Roland "dead". You (not you tomba...but everyone in general) should show respect for someone how is dead or fighting for life!

[McLaurin]

He wasn't death on the picture. Perhaps u could give the link to the photo? But I agree wit Tomba that we need to be reminded at the risks of F1, even death. So I think the photograph could stay

[Monstrobolaxa]

Actually Roland wasn't considered dead on the site...but later the autopsy revealed that he was killed on impact, with basal skull fracture.....

About being dead or not I've read in a few places he was dead on the site (Sid Watkins has said it and some internet sites also say it) and in some sites it says the oposite.

[Monstrobolaxa]

I've also found some info consernig Ayrtons' cause of death:

shrapnel penetration of the brain

This is what is listed in the autopsy!

[Monstrobolaxa]

The release by the Italian authorities of the results of Ayrton Senna's autopsy, revealing that the driver had died instantaneously during the race at Imola, ignited still more controversy.

Now there were questions about the reactions of the race director and the medical authorities. Although spokespersons for the hospital had stated that Senna was still breathing on arrival in Bologna, the autopsy on Ratzenberger indicated that death had been instantaneous.

"The autopsy showed that the crash caused multiple fractures at the base of the cranium, crushing the forehead and rupturing the temporal artery with hammerhead in the respiratory passages. It is possible to resuscitate a dead person immediately after the heart stops through cardio-respiratory processes."
"The procedure is known as putting the patient on the machine. From the medical-legal viewpoint, in Ayrton's case, there is a subtle point: resuscitation measures were implemented....Resuscitation did in fact take place, with the tracheotomy performed, while the activity of the heart was restored with the assistance of cardio-respiratory devices."

"The people who conducted the autopsy stated that, on the evidence of his injuries, Senna was dead. They could not say that. He had injuries which lead to his death, but at that point the heart may still have been functioning."

All about Senna....you can find it in the "Senna-Files" (website)

[Steven]

pff sad history

From what I know Roland was killed because a smash to the steering wheel and against the sides of his cockpit.

About Ayrton, his car left the road because a steering problem, probably because of a bump in the road and loss of ground effect. I don't know specifically if he got steering back a little, but if not I'd have to go with the broken steering. Ayrton got killed by a piece of his car that protruded through his helmet visor. Many say he would have survived if not that unlucky.
However when I look at Roland, I would doubth that, it was really hiigh speed.

This Senna thing is still fresh in my mind I was totally shocked about it

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well I also go with the "ground effect" theory....according to the Williams telemetry there was a read-out from the steering colum sensor...and if it had broken before impact the read-out would show a zero! In fact the "ground effect" theory shows that the back end slightly slid after a bump and that Senna compensated with the steering wheel...and with the front pointing into the wall the car veered straight on....into the wall. Later I'll post the read-outs from the steering before the bump, bump, after bump and before impact!

[Monstrobolaxa]

From what I know Roland was killed because a smash to the steering wheel and against the sides of his cockpit.

Actually what killed Roland was the whiplash (fast forward movement of the head, which did the basal skull fracture...hitting his head on the steering wheel was a cause of the whiplash! Same thing with Dale Earnhardt the whiplash killed him...with the same kind of fracture as Roland.....Probably Roland would be alive if the HANS already existed and was compulsory at the time!

[Guest]

in effect roland and Ayrton were declared death only at hospital because of legislation issues in italy.....if they were officially ded on the track the whole venue would have to be closed with immediate effect as a potential crime scene.
So in italy nobody dies on track,a bit sarcastic but there you go.
roland was a great guy who died doing what he wanted to do at all costs.
Simtek was not a car or team doing justice to his ability.

[stevegek]

I don't exactly know what pieces went trough their heads, what impacts they had etc, it happend and its awefull...

About the guy who made the pic, I'm a fanatic photographer (hobbiist) myself and im always focussing to take pics you can only take one time. In a situation like he was, I can imagine he was shocked by the vieuw so much he just took a picture out of responce, altough he lateron might not have liked it.

Then it IS strange he posted it at the internet... on the otherhad we may not forget Razenberger. He died on the same day as Senna in an terrible way, but still it's Senna this Senna that etc. (dont get me wrong about Senna now) He was a big fan of senna, but I think Razenberger didnt get the attention he might have deserved...

my 2 cents.

[Monstrobolaxa]

Then it IS strange he posted it at the internet... on the otherhad we may not forget Razenberger. He died on the same day as Senna in an terrible way....

Well he actually died on the day before Ayrton.

I do agree that the picture was a one in a life time oportunity.....but probably the photographer didn't feel that bad about the picture....because it's rights were sold to a german magazine (if I'm not mistaken)....so it only shows he was interested in the money!

Well I've never been in his situtation....but probably I'd keep the picture to myself.....

[stevegek]

well I raced at a track on a go kart (125 CC not the average thing) and a guy in front of me crashed realy hard, rear weel broke in a full speed corner, I saw him having the impact etc. I remembered the only thing I concerned was is he ok and I emmediately parked my kart next to him to help. Indeed I didnt even think of "damn now I needed my camera!"...

But when he saw it did he thought lets make a pic to sell or as a responce of confusion, and lateron as let's make money out of this.

He should have given it away btw to show drama and respect, in that case its a very sick picture, but with other intentions. Not just sensation... more a drama pic.

BUT if he sold it then he saw it as sensation...