A tribute to the greatest ever 15 years on

Ramos · 05-01-2009, 05:07 PM

Can't believe it's been 15 years, I remember that day very clearly, remember crying and being in shock for days as my idol was gone... Remember how my dad did not even know who he was, and my mom took the time to learn about who this guy was whose death would devastate her 15 year old son to this point

He streaked through the sport like a comet, an other-worldly superstar whose brilliance as a driver was matched by a dazzling intellect and coruscating charisma that illuminated Formula One racing as never before. No one tried harder or pushed himself further, nor did anyone shed so much light on the extremes to which only the greatest drivers go. Intensely introspective and passionate in the extreme, Ayrton Senna endlessly sought to extend his limits, to go faster than himself, a quest that ultimately made him a martyr but did not diminish his mystique.

Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on March 21, 1960, into a wealthy Brazilian family where, with his brother and sister, he enjoyed a privileged upbringing. He never needed to race for money but his deep need for racing began with an infatuation for a miniature go-kart his father gave him when he was four years old. As a boy the highlights of Ayrton's life were Grand Prix mornings when he awoke trembling with anticipation at the prospect of watching his Formula One heroes in action on television. At 13 he raced a kart for the first time and immediately won. Eight years later he went single-seater racing in Britain, where in three years he won five championships, by which time he had divorced his young wife and forsaken a future in his father's businesses in favour of pursuing success in Formula One racing, where he made his debut with Toleman in 1984. At Monaco (a race he would win six times), his sensational second to Alain Prost's McLaren - in torrential rain - was confirmation of the phenomenal talent that would take the sport by storm.

Deciding Toleman's limited resources were inadequate for his towering ambition, Senna bought out his contract and in 1985 moved to Lotus, where in three seasons he started from pole 16 times (he eventually won a record 65) and won six races. Having reached the limits of Lotus he decided the fastest way forward would be with McLaren, where he went in 1988 and stayed for six seasons, winning 35 races and three world championships.

In 1988, when McLaren-Honda won 15 of the 16 races, Senna beat his team mate Alain Prost eight wins to seven to take his first driving title. Thereafter two of the greatest drivers became protagonists in one of the most infamous feuds. In 1989 Prost took the title by taking Senna out at the Suzuka chicane. In 1990 Senna extracted revenge at Suzuka's first corner, winning his second championship by taking out Prost's Ferrari at Suzuka's first corner. Senna's third title, in 1991, was straightforward as his domination as a driver became even more pronounced, as did his obsession with becoming better still. Some of his greatest performances came in his final year with McLaren, following which he moved to Williams for the ill-fated 1994 season.

Beyond his driving genius Senna was one of the sport's most compelling personalities. Though slight in stature he possessed a powerful physical presence, and when he spoke, with his warm brown eyes sparkling and his voice quavering with intensity, his eloquence was spellbinding. Even the most jaded members of the Formula One fraternity were mesmerised by his passionate soliloquies and in his press conferences you could hear a pin drop as he spoke with such hypnotic effect. His command performances were captured by the media and the world at large became aware of Senna's magnetic appeal.

Everyone marvelled at how he put so much of himself, his very soul, into everything he did, not just his driving but into life itself. Behind the wheel the depth of his commitment was there for all to see and the thrilling spectacle of Senna on an all-out qualifying lap or a relentless charge through the field evoked an uneasy combination of both admiration for his superlative skill and fear for his future.

He drove like a man possessed - some thought by demons. His ruthless ambition provoked condemnation from critics, among them Prost who accused him of caring more about winning than living. When Senna revealed he had discovered religion Prost and others suggested he was a dangerous madman who thought God was his co-pilot. "Senna is a genius," Martin Brundle said. "I define genius as just the right side of imbalance. He is so highly developed to the point that he's almost over the edge. It's a close call."

Even Senna confessed he occasionally went too far, as was the case in qualifying for the 1988 Monaco Grand Prix, where he became a passenger on a surreal ride into the unknown. Already on pole, he went faster and faster and was eventually over two seconds quicker than Prost in an identical McLaren. "Suddenly, it frightened me," Ayrton said, "because I realised I was well beyond my conscious understanding. I drove back slowly to the pits and did not go out anymore that day."

He said he was acutely aware of his own mortality and used fear to control the extent of the boundaries he felt compelled to explore. Indeed, he regarded racing as a metaphor for life and he used driving as a means of self-discovery. "For me, this research is fascinating. Every time I push, I find something more, again and again. But there is a contradiction. The same moment that you become the fastest, you are enormously fragile. Because in a split-second, it can be gone. All of it. These two extremes contribute to knowing yourself, deeper and deeper."

His self-absorption did not preclude deep feelings for humanity and he despaired over the world's ills. He loved children and gave millions of his personal fortune (estimated at $400 million when he died) to help provide a better future for the underprivileged in Brazil. Early in 1994 he spoke about his own future. "I want to live fully, very intensely. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant."

And so it did, on May 1, 1994, in the San Marino Grand Prix, where his race-leading Williams inexplicably speared off the Imola track and hit the concrete wall at Tamburello corner. Millions saw it happen on television, the world mourned his passing and his state funeral in Sao Paulo was attended by many members of the shocked Formula One community. Among the several drivers escorting the coffin was Alain Prost. Among the sad mourners was Frank Williams, who said: "Ayrton was no ordinary person. He was actually a greater man out of the car than in it."

http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_dr...ll_of_fame/45/

I think it would be nice for all of us to post memories about where you were and what you were doing on this day 15 years ago, along with any pictures, articles or stories to commemorate this day and celebrate the life of the greatest ever.

E90SLAM · 05-01-2009, 05:27 PM

I was only 12 years old.....I watched the race....and even tho I don't understand much about Formula 1 and all the drivers....but i can tell it was a sad moment...

Greatest Driver of all times.....

Mazen · 05-01-2009, 05:42 PM

I was 5 at the time, all i remember was my dad hearing the confirmation of his death and just sitting there goin: "May he rest in peace".

Great OP we should always remember a great man like Ayrton Senna.

Ramos · 05-06-2009, 01:09 PM

To all of you who read this thread and did not post a tirbute, you are not worthy of being F1 fans, let alone anything to do with cars or sports in general.
Go watch the Food network or something... Major fail

xbook · 05-06-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramos

To all of you who read this thread and did not post a tirbute, you are not worthy of being F1 fans, let alone anything to do with cars or sports in general.
Go watch the Food network or something... Major fail

We were talking about him in another thread. Remember, you were there...

Now pardon me, I am going back to FoodTV to stare @ Giada's cleavage.

Ramos · 05-06-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbook

We were talking about him in another thread. Remember, you were there...

Now pardon me, I am going back to FoodTV to stare @ Giada's cleavage.

yeah yeah I know, but still 2 responses only to this thread pissed me off

TK-421 · 05-06-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbook

We were talking about him in another thread. Remember, you were there...

Now pardon me, I am going back to FoodTV to stare @ Giada's cleavage.

Looks like she has hair between her tits

bim14 · 05-06-2009, 10:35 PM

...I was 2, so I didn't have control over what I was able to watch, all jokes beside...I respect what i've heard about him.

RavenE90 · 05-06-2009, 10:46 PM

I was 14 and idolized this man to no end because he was such a beast on the track. I don't know if anyone here remembers playing his sega genesis games from the 90's or not but I wore this game out to no end playing it so much, and I think i'll break it out later to play it for old times sake in tribute.....for those who don't know...this is The Late Great Mr. Senna da Silva below

josephr25 · 05-06-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramos

To all of you who read this thread and did not post a tirbute, you are not worthy of being F1 fans, let alone anything to do with cars or sports in general.
Go watch the Food network or something... Major fail

What's a real F1 fan? My friends who just got into F1 (they track a lot too and are way better drivers than me) don't know anything about the sport, other than the fact that the cars cost the most money. They don't understand that if you drive a sh*tty car, your race (and probably career) was over before it started. They don't know ANYTHING about the politics or the past or any of the technical development that has gone through since the days of Farina, Fangio, and the like. They hype it up like no other... yet I don't follow the sport as much anymore (because the racing has been sh*tty for a while) and still know TONS more than they do.

Ayrton Senna was a great driver but when he ran into Prost's Ferrari in 1990 I lost all respect for him. I've heard some people think that he was crazy because he thought it was his God-given right to drive ruthlessly. And guess what - there's going to be more people who don't like him either, for the same reasons.

As a humanitarian however, not many people can do what he did.

xbook · 05-07-2009, 12:18 AM

So way back in like '93 or '94, I went to a party with a bunch of buddies up in Bel Air. I want to say it was maybe within 6 weeks of Senna's death. As my buddy Timmy and I were walking to the house, we saw this bad ass late 80s/early 90s Honda Prelude. The CA. license plate read SENNAF1. My buddy and I were in awe.

Ramos · 05-07-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RavenE90

I was 14 and idolized this man to no end because he was such a beast on the track. I don't know if anyone here remembers playing his sega genesis games from the 90's or not but I wore this game out to no end playing it so much, and I think i'll break it out later to play it for old times sake in tribute.....for those who don't know...this is The Late Great Mr. Senna da Silva below

I had that game... Good times

Glad to see respect for the man and the humanitarian above all.

05-01-2009, 05:07 PM	#1
Ramos Colonel 876 Rep 2,908 Posts Drives: G20 2020 M340 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: So-Cal iTrader: (7)	A tribute to the greatest ever 15 years on Can't believe it's been 15 years, I remember that day very clearly, remember crying and being in shock for days as my idol was gone... Remember how my dad did not even know who he was, and my mom took the time to learn about who this guy was whose death would devastate her 15 year old son to this point He streaked through the sport like a comet, an other-worldly superstar whose brilliance as a driver was matched by a dazzling intellect and coruscating charisma that illuminated Formula One racing as never before. No one tried harder or pushed himself further, nor did anyone shed so much light on the extremes to which only the greatest drivers go. Intensely introspective and passionate in the extreme, Ayrton Senna endlessly sought to extend his limits, to go faster than himself, a quest that ultimately made him a martyr but did not diminish his mystique. Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on March 21, 1960, into a wealthy Brazilian family where, with his brother and sister, he enjoyed a privileged upbringing. He never needed to race for money but his deep need for racing began with an infatuation for a miniature go-kart his father gave him when he was four years old. As a boy the highlights of Ayrton's life were Grand Prix mornings when he awoke trembling with anticipation at the prospect of watching his Formula One heroes in action on television. At 13 he raced a kart for the first time and immediately won. Eight years later he went single-seater racing in Britain, where in three years he won five championships, by which time he had divorced his young wife and forsaken a future in his father's businesses in favour of pursuing success in Formula One racing, where he made his debut with Toleman in 1984. At Monaco (a race he would win six times), his sensational second to Alain Prost's McLaren - in torrential rain - was confirmation of the phenomenal talent that would take the sport by storm. Deciding Toleman's limited resources were inadequate for his towering ambition, Senna bought out his contract and in 1985 moved to Lotus, where in three seasons he started from pole 16 times (he eventually won a record 65) and won six races. Having reached the limits of Lotus he decided the fastest way forward would be with McLaren, where he went in 1988 and stayed for six seasons, winning 35 races and three world championships. In 1988, when McLaren-Honda won 15 of the 16 races, Senna beat his team mate Alain Prost eight wins to seven to take his first driving title. Thereafter two of the greatest drivers became protagonists in one of the most infamous feuds. In 1989 Prost took the title by taking Senna out at the Suzuka chicane. In 1990 Senna extracted revenge at Suzuka's first corner, winning his second championship by taking out Prost's Ferrari at Suzuka's first corner. Senna's third title, in 1991, was straightforward as his domination as a driver became even more pronounced, as did his obsession with becoming better still. Some of his greatest performances came in his final year with McLaren, following which he moved to Williams for the ill-fated 1994 season. Beyond his driving genius Senna was one of the sport's most compelling personalities. Though slight in stature he possessed a powerful physical presence, and when he spoke, with his warm brown eyes sparkling and his voice quavering with intensity, his eloquence was spellbinding. Even the most jaded members of the Formula One fraternity were mesmerised by his passionate soliloquies and in his press conferences you could hear a pin drop as he spoke with such hypnotic effect. His command performances were captured by the media and the world at large became aware of Senna's magnetic appeal. Everyone marvelled at how he put so much of himself, his very soul, into everything he did, not just his driving but into life itself. Behind the wheel the depth of his commitment was there for all to see and the thrilling spectacle of Senna on an all-out qualifying lap or a relentless charge through the field evoked an uneasy combination of both admiration for his superlative skill and fear for his future. He drove like a man possessed - some thought by demons. His ruthless ambition provoked condemnation from critics, among them Prost who accused him of caring more about winning than living. When Senna revealed he had discovered religion Prost and others suggested he was a dangerous madman who thought God was his co-pilot. "Senna is a genius," Martin Brundle said. "I define genius as just the right side of imbalance. He is so highly developed to the point that he's almost over the edge. It's a close call." Even Senna confessed he occasionally went too far, as was the case in qualifying for the 1988 Monaco Grand Prix, where he became a passenger on a surreal ride into the unknown. Already on pole, he went faster and faster and was eventually over two seconds quicker than Prost in an identical McLaren. "Suddenly, it frightened me," Ayrton said, "because I realised I was well beyond my conscious understanding. I drove back slowly to the pits and did not go out anymore that day." He said he was acutely aware of his own mortality and used fear to control the extent of the boundaries he felt compelled to explore. Indeed, he regarded racing as a metaphor for life and he used driving as a means of self-discovery. "For me, this research is fascinating. Every time I push, I find something more, again and again. But there is a contradiction. The same moment that you become the fastest, you are enormously fragile. Because in a split-second, it can be gone. All of it. These two extremes contribute to knowing yourself, deeper and deeper." His self-absorption did not preclude deep feelings for humanity and he despaired over the world's ills. He loved children and gave millions of his personal fortune (estimated at $400 million when he died) to help provide a better future for the underprivileged in Brazil. Early in 1994 he spoke about his own future. "I want to live fully, very intensely. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant." And so it did, on May 1, 1994, in the San Marino Grand Prix, where his race-leading Williams inexplicably speared off the Imola track and hit the concrete wall at Tamburello corner. Millions saw it happen on television, the world mourned his passing and his state funeral in Sao Paulo was attended by many members of the shocked Formula One community. Among the several drivers escorting the coffin was Alain Prost. Among the sad mourners was Frank Williams, who said: "Ayrton was no ordinary person. He was actually a greater man out of the car than in it." http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_dr...ll_of_fame/45/ I think it would be nice for all of us to post memories about where you were and what you were doing on this day 15 years ago, along with any pictures, articles or stories to commemorate this day and celebrate the life of the greatest ever.
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05-01-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
E90SLAM Supreme Allied Commander 2016 Rep 61,781 Posts Drives: A BBS WHORE Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: . iTrader: (6) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 sDrive30i [0.00]	I was only 12 years old.....I watched the race....and even tho I don't understand much about Formula 1 and all the drivers....but i can tell it was a sad moment... Greatest Driver of all times..... __________________
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05-01-2009, 05:42 PM	#3
Mazen First Lieutenant 8 Rep 380 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fort Lee, NJ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I was 5 at the time, all i remember was my dad hearing the confirmation of his death and just sitting there goin: "May he rest in peace". Great OP we should always remember a great man like Ayrton Senna.
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05-06-2009, 01:09 PM	#4
Ramos Colonel 876 Rep 2,908 Posts Drives: G20 2020 M340 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: So-Cal iTrader: (7)	To all of you who read this thread and did not post a tirbute, you are not worthy of being F1 fans, let alone anything to do with cars or sports in general. Go watch the Food network or something... Major fail
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05-06-2009, 10:35 PM	#8
bim14 BIMMM3R 79 Rep 494 Posts Drives: '14 M5 6MT AW/SO Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	...I was 2, so I didn't have control over what I was able to watch, all jokes beside...I respect what i've heard about him.
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05-06-2009, 10:46 PM	#9
RavenE90 Private First Class 1 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 06 E90 Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: California's Central Coast iTrader: (0)	Sad day this was when he passed I was 14 and idolized this man to no end because he was such a beast on the track. I don't know if anyone here remembers playing his sega genesis games from the 90's or not but I wore this game out to no end playing it so much, and I think i'll break it out later to play it for old times sake in tribute.....for those who don't know...this is The Late Great Mr. Senna da Silva below
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05-07-2009, 12:18 AM	#11
xbook Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,540 Posts Drives: '14 EBII M235i & '06 R53 GP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northridge, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 MINI Cooper S GP [0.00] 2014 BMW M235i [0.00] 2008 E82 [0.00]	So way back in like '93 or '94, I went to a party with a bunch of buddies up in Bel Air. I want to say it was maybe within 6 weeks of Senna's death. As my buddy Timmy and I were walking to the house, we saw this bad ass late 80s/early 90s Honda Prelude. The CA. license plate read SENNAF1. My buddy and I were in awe. __________________
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