The Jochen Rindt Homepage Appendix - Incoming Mail

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From chrisj@johngalt.iac.net Mon May 22 07:14 CDT 1995
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From: Chris Jacobs 
Date: Mon, 22 May 95 08:19:17 -0700
To: wap@poetz.phy.uic.edu
Subject: Re: Jochen Rindt

Dear Mr. Poetz,

Thanks for the Jochen Rindt homepage! He was one of my first racing heroes.

I still think his most memorable race the year he won Monaco at the wheel of the Lotus 49C. The 72 wasn't ready yet and the 49 hopelessly outclassed at that point in its career. As the race wound down to the end Brabham was comfortably in the lead when Rindt went into "the zone". I still get goosebumps remembering the ABC telecast showing him flinging the car within inches of the walls as he hunted down Black Jack. Brabham went straight on at a turn into some hay bales when he missed his braking point. I never read his explanation of this mistake but I've no doubt in my mind he became very unsettled when Rindt came blasting into his mirrors from nowhere. The flagger at the finish line was so startled that he didn't given Jochen the checker flag! It had to have been Rindt's greatest race and one of the best moments of Formula One ever.

Sincerely,

Chris Jacobs 

From sds@ipl.co.uk Tue May 23 08:19 CDT 1995
From: sds 
Date: Tue, 23 May 95 14:21:12 -700
To: wap@poetz.phy.uic.edu
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Subject: Jochen Rindt

Greetings,I must compliment you on your tribute to Jochen.This is an amazing media that can bring dead heros back to life!! I saw him for the first time at an F2 race at Crystel Palace in England in (I think)1966 with Graham Hill in the Gold Leaf Team Lotus coach. I also had a keen motorsport uncle who asked if I could sit in his Lotus. I was 12 at the time and thought Rindt was how I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember all the fuss when he beat Jackie Stewart, who was an established name then.

I was shocked when he died, but felt frustrated that the truth never seemed to come out...was it a faulty drilling of the front brake shaft? was it a disc brake assembly failure? was Colin Chapman to blame? {the Black badge being his penance?) etc etc was the police report ever released?? Maybe there is someone out there with some answers. 

From: Monika Pfalz 
Date: Wed, 07 Jun 95 17:27:48 000
To: wap@poetz.phy.uic.edu
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Ich habe selten einen so tollen Bericht ueber Jochen Rindt gelesen. Danke! Vor allem gefaellt mir, dass Sie persoenliche Erinnerung haben einfliessen lassen, auch wenn Sie ihn nie per- soenlich kennengelernt haben, aber gerade das macht den Bericht so lebendig. Witzig finde ich auch die Anmerkungen zu Heinz Prueller ("Brueller") - ja ja, was waere der oesterreichische Sportjournalismus ohne ihn, und eine Grand-Prix Uebertragung in unseren Breiten waere ohne seinen Kommentar undenkbar. Ich wuerde mir mehr derart qualitaetsvolle Berichte wie den Ihren im Internet wuenschen.

Viele Gruesse aus Wien!

Monika Pfalz 

From postoffice@bbs.kis.net Sun Sep 17 21:00 CDT 1995
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 95 21:56:40 -0700
From: limey 
Mime-Version: 1.0
To: wap@poetz.phy.uic.edu
Subject: Jochen Rindt

Dear Walter
Such a great job on the details and high lights of such a great driver,
Having been born in England and had the great fortune to see jochen in
action at Crytal palace and Brands Hatch in various races with messrs
Clark, Hill etc he was the most entertaining to watch. once again thanks
for the wonderful memories Good job!!

-:Ian Stagg:- 

I just found your page today. Thank you for such good work.
I remember Jochen as one of those very rare drivers who LIKED DRIVING
(Gilles V. was another). For too many racers, it is a job, etc, but
every time JR drove out to practice, people stood up to watch because
they knew they were going to see a driver enjoying his car at the very
edge. It is a shock to realize that it happened over 25 years ago ---
seems like yesterday.

David Kipling 

Dear Walter,

Thanks for the homepage on Jochen Rindt.

I too remember that day in 1970, it was the day before my
15th birthday. Even know 25years later I remember the shock.

Thanks again.

Mike Ragan 

Dear Walter

I am enjoying your Jochen Rindt page very much. I thought you might enjoy my reminisces (no pictures, though). I'm also plan on enjoying the remedial courses in motorsports physics. I wish I had this available when I argued with my physics prof in college (1970) that it was possible for a racing car to exceed 1G cornering force.

I first saw Rindt at Watkins Glen in the Cooper Maserati. Not a great car but he did push pretty hard to keep near the front.

I, as do other of your correspondents, vividly remember those last 5 laps at Monaco in 1970. Quite possibly the best piece of racing film / driving ever. There is a great photograph in Automobile Year (1970-71) of him going round Station Hairpin only about 2 1/2 carlengths behind Brabham... the fantastic part about the photo, if you stare at it as long as I have, is that entering the corner he is almost at right angles to the direction of the track. This amazing car control is accomplished with literally (only) his fingertips on the wheel.

I was at the British GP (Brands Hatch) later that year. History repeated when at the end of the last lap Brabham (his car out of fuel) was passed in the last corner by Rindt. What I haven't seen recorded was the sight I saw (at the start/finish) of Rindt, as he won the race, slapping his hand to his forehead in disbelief. A great moment!

I was at the Glen again that year, and even though the Lotus team was resuscitated by Fittipaldi's win, there was still a definite lingering sadness of the loss of the Lotus leader. Thanks again for a web site that revels in many aspects of a great driver.

Keith Crossley

Webster, NY 

Walter:

Here are two shots of Jochen Rindt that I took at the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix, which was his first win in the Lotus 72.

Walter... The image "AUSTRIA" is more a shot of Bandini but Rindt can be seen in car #12 in the background. This was the first Austrian championship race and he qualified in a Brabham-BRM 13th out of 20 cars. On lap 59 (out of 105) the car's steering failed; only 9 of the starters finished on the bumpy Zeltweg "course". The Monaco shot was during qualifying as he is exiting the old Station hairpin. He didn't make the grid and it was discovered later that the throttle slides were not opening fully. Hope you can use these images; all I ask is photo credit. Soon I hope to have my web-site online illustrating some of my photos. Best wishes... Gary Bramstedt GB Foto Regards,

Michael Keyser 

Dear Sir:

I enjoyed your homepage on Jochen Rindt.I have read a little about him most notably in Peter Manso's book on Jackie Stewart.It contains anecdotes about Jochen and Jackie and is quite interesting.I think the best thing that can be said of Jochen Rindt was he paved the way for one of the sports all time greatest drivers Niki Lauda,Lauda in his autobiography fully explains how he tried to pattern himself as a driver around Jochen.And in large part Lauda believes his F1 success was attributable directly to his early carrer influence by Jochen.I hope to hear your reply and congratulate you on your homepage.

God Bless

Tim Hollamby a fellow f1 history fan 

Kevin Rodgers wrote:

I live a few miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and remembered a radio interview with him after what I remember to be his first appearance in Indy. After the race was over, he was interviewed by the radio network for his impressions about the race. It is an understatement to say that he was unimpressed with the race or perhaps angry about something. He answered every question with a "one word" answer such as "yes" or "no" and there was an awkward silence after each answer as the interviewer waited for him to elaborate...which he did not. I remember the interviewer ending the exchange by asking him if he planned to return to Indy with his answer being a stern emphatic "no" or "never" and then abruptly departing to end the interview. It was such an unusual exchange that I'll never forget it; I was in my early teenage years as I remember. I always thought it interesting that he reacted to Indy in such a negative contrast to Jim Clark's positive encounter with Indy and the fact that Clark really seemed to enjoy returning to the Speedway each year. I enjoyed your homepage; it brought back many memories for me as I was able to spend time by the pits and see Clark, Hill, Stewart and other legends. Clark and Donohue were always my favorites. 

Hello Walter...

The image "AUSTRIA"

is more a shot of Bandini but Rindt can be seen in car #12 in the background. This was the first Austrian championship race and he qualified in a Brabham-BRM 13th out of 20 cars. On lap 59 (out of 105) the car's steering failed; only 9 of the starters finished on the bumpy Zeltweg "course".

The Monaco shot

was during qualifying as he is exiting the old Station hairpin. He didn't make the grid and it was discovered later that the throttle slides were not opening fully.

Hope you can use these images; all I ask is photo credit. Soon I hope to have my web-site online illustrating some of my photos.

Best wishes...

Gary Bramstedt
GB Foto

[See, Oesterreichring ] 

From: Anthony Adamowitz 
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: wap@phy.uic.edu
Subject: RE: Jochen Rindt input
Dear Walter,

Allow me to introduce myself to you, my name is Tony Adamowicz, and I drove with Bob Tullius in the Dodge Dart at the first Trans Am race in Sebring March 25, 1966. We had just come from winning the Marlboro 12 hr race together in the Dart, and felt as though we were quite invinceable at the time. It wasn't til we arrived at Sebring, that we realized the strength and reliability in the Alfa Romeo with Jochen driving. As you know he rolled the car in practice, and it looked a sight compared to the prestine white Group 44 Dart. This did not seem to bother Jochen in the least bit, as he drove the Alfa with reckless abandon. One wondered, as I'm sure he did, whether or not the wrinkled car would finish. Nothing seem to bother him in his quest for this race, it was his way of making an impact within the motorsports community. His skill and tenacity, allowed him to win the race covinceably with an Under 2-liter car, against the V-8 giants. He became an model to pattern after, as I won the 1968 under 2 liter trans-am championship in a Porsche 911, in the style that Jochen would have been proud of. Jochen loved to be a Giant Killer, a statement of his time!

I hope that you will accept this first hand account, to add to your tribute to a controversial racer.

I wanted to let you know that I've listed your site on my A-Z market- ing Motorsports links page at:

http://platz.com/wma/a-z/links.html

I'd greatly appreciate it if you could link your page to my A-Z Marketing site. I'll be expanding my motorsports photo gallery and adding some interesting features as well in the near future.

Right now I'm working on a story about my 1970 drive at the 24 Hours of LeMans with Chuck Parsons in a N.A.R.T. Ferrari 312P.

Thanks for your time and I'd appreciate a link when you have the time.

Best Regards,

Tony Adamowicz
A-Z Marketing Group
655 Baker St. Suite Q 209
Costa Mesa, Ca 92626-4457
Tel 714 - 550 - 2655
Fax 714 - 546 - 9133
e-mail tntaz@writeme.com
http://platz.com/wma/a-z/a-z.html
http://platz.com/wma/extremedeals/extremedeals.html 

From spelberg@cww.de Fri Mar 20 19:03:43 1998 Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 02:17:52 +0100 From: Richard Spelberg MIME-Version: 1.0 To: wap@phy.uic.edu Subject: Jochen Rindt, Lotus 59+69 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by mail.cww.de id CAA04468

Sehr geehrter Walter Pötz,
durch Zufall stieß ich heute auf Ihre Jochen Rindt Seite im Internet Ich besitze eine Reihe von s/w Fotos von Jochen Rindt in seinem F II Lotus 59 von 1969, sowie Aufnahmen in seinem Lotus 69 F II aus 1970. Was ich such ist eine gute Farbaufnahme dex Lotus 59 F II Ende 1969. Grund: ich besitze einen solchen Wagen und benötige die möglichst exakten Farben fpr die Restsaurierung des Wagens. Er fuhr in 1969 für das Winkelmann Team. Anfangs waren die Wagen grün mit einem gelben Stern. Später wurden sie grün mit silbernem Streiufen lackiert. WELCHES GRÜN WAR DAS??:
Der Lotus 59 F II wurde später völlig umgebaut zum Lotus 69. Der 69 existiert noch. Ich habe ihn vor einiger Zeit gesehen.
Richard Spelberg, LOTUSBOOKS, Bodinusstrasse 9, D-40239 Duesseldorf, Phone: +49 / 211 / 681766. Fax: +49 / 211 / 6914423, Germany

From spelberg@cww.de Thu Mar 26 11:01:41 1998 Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 18:16:06 +0100 From: Richard Spelberg MIME-Version: 1.0 To: wap@phy.uic.edu Subject: Re: Jochen Rindt, Lotus 59+69 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by mail.cww.de id SAA12979

Betrifft: Jochen Rindt im Lotus Typ 59, Formel 2

Sehr geehrter Herr Pötz,
ich möchte noch einiges nachtragen, aber mit der verdammten Technik...
Die Geschichte meines Wagens: Lotus baute im Jahre 1969 eine ganze Reihe von MK 59 Wagen als Formel 3, einige wenige auch als Formel Ford und Formel B (für die USA mit dem TC Lotus Doppelnockenwellenmotor) und nur 3 Exemplare als Formel II mit dem 1.600er Cosworth FVA Motor.
Lotus 59 F II, Chassis Nummer 59 / F 2 / 19, Team Winkelmann 1969, Jochen Rindt Lotus 59 F II, Chassis Nummer 59 / F 2 / 20, Team Winkelmann 1969, Graham Hill Lotus 59 F II, Chassis Nummer 59 / F 2 / 21, Team Len Street London 1969, Mosley
Gleich bei seinem 1. Einsatz am 27.4.1969 beim 32. ADAC Eifelrennen, flog Max Mosley mit seinem neuen Wagen beim Training von der Strecke am Nürburgring.
>ie englischen Wochenzeitung Motoring News schrieb damals: ... and Mosley's Lotus 59 came a real cropper when the nut which holds the bottom of the lower front wisbone to the upright came undone and sent him off into the countryside at nearly 100 mph. Had it been dry Mosley would have been doing 40 or 50 mph more and the accident might well have been more serious. As it was, the driver stepped out without injury, but the car was badly damaged and very much a nonstarter. ..
Später wurde der beschädigte Lotus 59 dann von seinem Besitzer, der Firma Len Street London an das Team Winkelmann verkauft. Nach erfolgter Reparatur im Werk bestritt Ronnie Peterson 1969 in Albi ein Rennen ( 5. Platz ) und John Miles erreichte in Vallelunga den 3. Rang in diesem Wagen. Nachdem er nun nicht mehr wie 3 Rennen in der Saison 1969 gelaufen hatte, wurde er an den Engländer Jonny Blades verkauft. Die beiden anderen Team Winkelmann Wagen,
# 59 F2 19, Jochen Rindt, und # 59 F2 20, Graham Hill,
wurden im Werk zu Lotus MK 69 F II Wagen modifiziert, indem man das Mittelstück heraussägte und ein Monocoque implantierte. Später, in der Saison 1970 liefen beide unter dem Bewerber Team Rindt mit mehreren verschiedenen Fahrern, u.a. natürlich auch mit Jochen Rindt und Graham Hill.
Auch Jonny Blades ließ seinen Lotus 59 spaceframe (ex Max Mosley) Anfang 1970 zum Lotus Typ 69 Monocoque umbauen. Er bestritt dann 1970 und 1971 einige Formel II Rennen mit diesem Wagen, bevor er ihn nach Holland an den Formel Ford Champion Ton Strauss verkaufte. Über eine vielzahl weitere Stationen gelangte dann der Wagen aus Holland an mich.
Von den beiden 1970er Modellen des Lotus 69 F II monocoque existiert übrigens heute noch der Hill Wagen bei seinem 2. Besitzer, Pete Lovely, in Californien; der Rindt Wagen war lange verschollen , lebt aber noch.. Weitere 1970er Modelle fuhren in dieser Saison E. Fittipaldi, Ikuzawa, Potocki, und wie gesagt Hill und Rindt. Ein Jahr später, 1971, baute Lotus noch einmal 5 Lotus 69 F II, einige wahrscheinlich aus Teilen der 1970er Wagen. Die Fahrer waren wiederum Ikuzawa, Rollinson, Birell, Team Lira und wieder E. Fittipaldi, dessen Bruder übrigens ebenfalls einen Lotus 69 der vorjährigen Saison bewegte. Das nur zur Geschichte der Autos.

Lotus 59 B F II today first race last race 59 / F 2 / 19 Team Winkelmann, Jochen Rindt converted to # 69 / 2 / 4 06. 04. 69 Thruxton 12. 10. 69 Vallelunga 59 / F 2 / 20 Team Winkelmann, Graham Hill converted to # 69 / 2 / 5 06. 04. 69 Thruxton 12. 10. 69 Vallelunga 59 / F 2 / 21 Team Len Street, Mosley, Spelberg, Germany 27. 04. 69 Nürburgring 12.10.1969 Vallelunga Mein Problem: Ich besitze den Lotus 59 F II, Chassis Nummer 59 / F 2 / 21, Team Len Street London 1969, Fahrer Max Mosley, Peterson, Miles aus der Saison 1969. Der Wagen befindet sich in ziemlich desolater Verfassung. Für seine Restaurierung, zurück in den Zustand seines erstenberreuter, Wien 1970 Hinrichtung eines Champion, Helmut Zwickl, Verlag Dichand & Falk, Wien Einer von Ihnen, Jochen Rindt, Heinz Prüller, Verlag Orac, Wien, Jochen Rindt, Tribut an einen Weltmeister, Verlag Orac, Wien Jochen Rindt, Friedel Schnitzler, Neue Schweizer Bibliothek 1970 Sowie das komplette Bildarchiv der Zeitung Motor Sport/ Motoring News, London Tabelle der von einem Lotus 59 Formel 2 gefahrenen Renn in 1969.

Thruxton 07. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 1 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Thruxton 07. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Hockenheim, 13. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 10 Roy Pike, Team Winkelmann Hockenheim, 13. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 11 Allan Rollinson Team Winkelmann Pau 20. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Pau 20. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 4 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Nürburgring 27. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 1 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Nürburgring 27. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Nürburgring 27. 04. 1969 Start Nr. 21 Max Mosley Team Len Street Unfall/Training Jarama 11. 05. 1969 Start Nr. 20 John Miles Team Winkelmann Jarama 11. 05. 1969 Start Nr. 21 Allan Rollinson Team Winkelmann Zolder 08. 06. 1969 Start Nr. 1 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Zolder 08. 06. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Hockenheim, 15. 06. 1969 Start Nr. 5 Roy Pike, Team Winkelmann Hockenheim, 15. 06. 1969 Start Nr. 6 John Miles, Team Winkelmann Monza 22. 06. 1969 kein Start Reims 29. 06. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Reims 29. 06. 1969 Start Nr. 4 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Tulln, Flugpl. 13. 07. 1969 Start Nr. 1 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Tulln, Flugpl 13. 07. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Nürburgring 03. 08. 1969 Start Nr. 22 Rolf Stommelen Team Winkelmann zusammen mit F1 Nürburgring 03. 08. 1969 Start Nr. 21 Hans Herrmann Team Winkelmann zusammen mit F1 Pergusa 24. 08. 1969 Start Nr. 26 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Pergusa 24. 08. 1969 Start Nr. 28 John Miles Team Winkelmann Albi 14. 09. 1969 Start Nr. 2 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Albi 14. 09. 1969 Start Nr. 6 Graham Hill Team Winkelmann Albi 14. 09. 1969 Start Nr. 40 Ronnie Peterson Team Winkelmann Vallelunga 12. 10. 1969 Start Nr. 32 Jochen Rindt Team Winkelmann Vallelunga 12. 10. 1969 Start Nr. 34 John Miles Team Winkelmann Vallelunga 12. 10. 1969 Start Nr. 32 Andrea de Adamich Team Winkelmann München Flugpl. 26. 10. 1969 kein Start

grüße

Richard Spelberg

Bodinusstraße 9 D-40239

Düsseldorf 

If you have or know a source for JR posters please contact Stephan Sommerlik:

From: "Stephan Sommerlik" <stesolik@hotmail.com>
To: wap@schubert.phy.uic.edu
Subject: Jochen Rindt
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 08:04:45 PDT
Mime-Version: 1.0

Sehr geehrter Herr Poetz !

Ich habe mit großem Interesse Ihre Jochen Rindt Homepage gelesen, die
mir viele neue Informationen über eines meiner Idole aus dem Grand
Prix Sport der 60er und 70er Jahre geliefert hat. Vielleicht können
Sie mir auch eventuell bei meiner Suche nach Jochen Rindt Postern
behilflich sein. Bisher habe ich lediglich beim imd-versand (inter
media distribution) in Deutschland Kunstdrucke mit dem Konterfei
Rindts entdecken können. Da diese aber für mich als angehenden
und noch nicht großverdienenden Juristen außerhalb meines Budgets
liegen, bin ich auf den Gedanken gekommen, mich an Sie als Kenner und
Landsmann Rindts zu wenden. In erster Linie bin ich an Reprints alter
Poster interessiert z.B. vom österreichischen Fotografen Hruby.
Denkbar wäre auch, daß anläßlich der am 30.04.1999 beginnenden
Motorsportausstellung (mit Schwerpunktthema Jochen Rindt) in Seckau
Nachdrucke alter Poster herausgebracht werden. Sollte Ihnen oder
einem/einer Leser/Leserin Ihrer Homepage eine Adresse bekannt sein,
unter der man solche Poster beziehen kann, wäre es schön, wenn Sie mir
diese mitteilen könnten. Außerdem würde ich gerne wissen, wieviele
Fernsehdokumentationen es über Jochen Rindt gibt. Nach zähem
Überwinden konnte ich für einen nicht geringen Betrag beim ORF eine
Dokumentation von Alfred Jungreithmaier ??? bestellen, die aber dem
Abspann zufolge offensichtlich eine Produktion des deutschen
Fernsehens (Hessischer Rundfunk)ist. In dem großartigen Buch "Jochen
Rindt - der James Dean der Formel 1" von Heinz Prüller konnte ich
allerdings lesen, daß Heinz Prüller selbst eine Dokumentation über
Rindt für das ORF gedreht hat. Ich gehe stark davon aus, daß der Film
von Heinz Prüller wesentlich neueren Datums ist. Sofern die
Möglichkeit besteht, würde ich gerne gegen Entgelt eine Videokopie
bestellen.
Es bleibt schließlich zu hoffen, daß der ORF im Jahr 2000 zum Gedenken
an den 30. Todestag (05.09.)Jochen Rindts weiteres (bisher
unveröffentlichtes) Bildmaterial sendet.

Vielen Dank für Ihre Bemühungen im voraus !

Mit freundlichen Grüßen : Stephan Sommerlik, Münster, Deutschland/
stesolik@hotmail.com

From: Ray_Burr@biocompatibles.co.uk
X-Lotus-FromDomain: BIOCOMPATIBLES LTD
To: wap@schubert.phy.uic.edu
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 10:45:01 +0100
Subject: Jochen Rindt and skiing
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Disposition: inline
 
 

Walter

Read your 'Jochen Rindt' homepage with interest.  Afraid I can't say I'm
the most informed F1 fan - but I did live for skiing in my earlier years.
I'm sure I remember Jochen Rindt being mentioned in the Austrian ski squad
- though I can't remember at which level.  I'm also sure he was great
friends with Ann Marie Proel (or Moser-Proel as she became later) and that
she kept a memento of him when she raced - I can't remember what it was
though I do beleive it was something to do with her crash helmet.  Can you
confirm any of this or am I getting a bit deranged in my old age ?

Yours faithfully

Ray Burr

Hello Walter, whilst killing time I stumbled on your home page for 'the
fastest driver of his era'.
I was fortunate to meet him in Oct. 1968 at the USGP.  The circumstances are
weird enough, that I thought you'd appreciate hearing about it.  I was a
freshman at Alfred U.; a small school 75 miles
or so from the 'Glen'.  I'd had a passing interest motor sports until seeing
the Belgian Grand Prix on
television in 1966.  I just couldn't believe any human being could spin a
car that number of times,
at that speed; not even pause; spin it again in place, and take off like
nothing had happened. He was one of my boyhood heroes from that moment on. I
subsequently read somewhere that Brabham (half jokingly) said that had it
been him, he would have stepped out of the car and quit right there.  Anyway
I hitch hiked to the Glen.. no where to stay..don't know anyone..bought a
general admission ticket..froze my butt off....but nothing was going to keep
out of the pits.
By climbing a few fences; making sure the powers to be were facing the wrong
direction; I made it
onto the starting grid....headed straight for the 6th qualifier in car #4.
He was so kind... answered
a couple questions..signed an autograph.. and posed for pictures that I
treasure to this day.
The following year when he finally won; there I was again..got to him before
anyone else...gave him
a pat on the back as he got out of the Lotus...he gave me a quizzical look
like he remembered me;
I nodded and he headed for the podium.  God, what a day!!  I was crushed
after Monza in 1970.
Like so many others I remember exactly where I was/what I was doing.   I
promised myself that I'd pay my respects; and visited your beautiful Graz a
couple of years later.  " Vo ist Jochen" was all I
could get out in German... but everyone knew what I was after...and happy to
send me in the right
direction.  I've never been able to 'let go of him'...and like so many
others truly believe had he continued, he would be mentioned in the breath
as Clark and Senna. This past summer I swung
through the Glen on a trip back east.  The motor racing library there now
has memorial stone
commemorating his first win..cost me a fortune..but it was best money I ever
spent.  In closing
this already long winded essay.... thx. on behalf of the many Jochen
fanatics still roaming
around reminiscing about him... for having this page.
Best Regards
Rob

Hi Walter,

I really enjoyed your Jochen Rindt page.   I can't  really contribute
anything personally but can recommend Nigel Roebuck's book 'Grand Prix
Greats' which contains a very interesting  chapter on Rindt including a
great anecdote about the author getting involved in a race on public roads
with Rindt when they were both driving Lotus Elans!

I could scan the article for you if you want.  Let me know

Regards,
 

Matthew Middleton

Sir:
I am delighted to have come across your web site devoted to my favorite
race driver, Jochen Rindt.
I am an American, a 50-ish journalist who grew up in Indianapolis. I was
a Rindt fan from the time he won Le Mans. I followed his career closely
and was excited when he came to Indianapolis. I was living in a town
about 90 miles from Indianapolis in 1968 and could only watch him on TV
as he qualified for that year's 500. I do remember it was on a damp
afternoon and he was the only driver who attempted a qualification run
that day. No one else would test such a treacherous track.
I only saw him in person once, through binoculars the morning of the
1968 Indianapolis 500. I spied him from my paddock seat across the
track. He was sitting on the pit wall, helmet in his lap, about 45
minutes before the start of the race. While everyone else was keyed up
and excited, Rindt looked for all the world as if he was waiting for a
bus. This was just another race to him, I'm sure, albeit one with an
especially large paycheck.
I too remember where I was when I learned of his death. I was in the
Navy, a crewman on an aircraft carrier. We were in port in San Diego and
it was, I believe, a Friday evening. I went to the naval base store and
bought the late edition of the afternoon newspaper. I took it back to
the ship, went into my office, sat down, opened it to the sports page
and read the news. I just must have re-read the story five times. I
could not believe what I was seeing.
Like so many others, I have never formed as strong a "fan" attachment to
a race driver since, even though I have come to know a few of them
personally.
There will never be another driver with the combination of skill,
bravery, arrogance and competitive fire that Rindt had.
I commend you for your tribute to his memory.

Sincerely, Mike Perkins

Using your Jochen Rindt tribute page brought back many pleasurable memories.
 

I stopped following racing for years after the twin tragedies of Jim Clark
and Rindt.  In some respects that was a simpler and more enjoyable era for
Formula One racing, too bad they can't go back to those days when the cars
were built for the courses and not the other way around.

 Thank you.

Sehr gehrter Herr Pötz !
Als Jochen Rindt - Fan besuche ich selbstverständlich regelmäßig auch
Ihre Seite. Ich möchte Sie hier kurz von drei für Rindt-Fans besonders
interessanten Neuerscheinungen informieren :

1) Ein österreichischer Bildband über Jochen Rindt (s.Bild) (einfach
großartig !)

2) CD mit dem Originalkommentar von Robert Seeger vom 5.9.70 mit einem
kurzen Interview mit Rindt (Gesamtdauer jedoch nur 5:36 Min., und
lediglich in Papierhülle verpackt, aber dafür relativ teuer: ATS 98,-)

3) Ein englisches Buch über den Lotus 49, das auch einige sehr schöne
Bilder von Jochen Rindt enthält.

Vielleicht ist die eine oder andere dieser Neuerscheinungen wert, auf
Ihrer Seite Eingang zu finden ?

Mit besten Grüßen
Eduard VÖLKER
Kleinengersdorferstraße 26
A-2100 KORNEUBURG

Walter......enjoyed your website. I have many unpublished pictures of
Jochen, from Oulton Park 1965, Cooper Maserati in 1966, spinning into ditch
at Thruxton in Brabham and duel with Brabham at British GP plus many more
including good portraits.  Look forward to hearing from you,  Mike Hayward.
Have a look at www.carjam.net/hayward

ich bin maler aus nö und stiftete mein rindt-portrait der st-anna kinderkrebsforschung,
welches es natürlich auch als auftragsarbeit gibt.

www.gorx4.net

ist meine site, würde mich über einen link freuen.
sollten sie fragen haben,
artcore@gorx4.net
mail.

frohe festtage

gorx!
 

Note:  Due to my recent move from the U.S. to Austria not all the mail that reached me during that period has been posted here.
There were some nice comments which I will add as soon as I am able to load my backup tapes.  I apologize.