Chris Amon, RIP
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- Lt. Drebin
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Chris Amon, RIP
http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/36961899
A class act man from the era long ago, died of cancer, age 73. He was well known by the lack of luck he experienced in F1, which denied him some sure victories in F1. RIP, Chris Amon.
A class act man from the era long ago, died of cancer, age 73. He was well known by the lack of luck he experienced in F1, which denied him some sure victories in F1. RIP, Chris Amon.
The end is near
Re: Chris Amon, RIP
Sad news. RIP
Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity.
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- POBRatings
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Re: Chris Amon, RIP
Sad news. Amon had so much talent at a young age. Mario Andretti and Chris shared a flat in Modena in 1971 when driving sports cars for Ferrari. They were good friends and Mario said 'he was a fantastic driver.'
Amon's first full season was 1964 when paired with Hailwood in Lotus-BRM 25s, Amon was much faster, by over 0.5%; same cars in 1965 and Amon was faster than Hailwood, Ireland and Attwood; 1966 saw only a couple of one-off drives in slow cars.
Joined Ferrari in 1967 and had to carry the team after Bandiin's fiery fatal crash at Monaco; much faster than Parkes and Scarfiotti; At Ferrari in 1968 Amon was much faster than Ickx; in 1969 at Ferrari Amon was much faster than Pedro Rodriguez;
In 1970 Amon drove a March-Cosworth and for the whole season-average speed was beaten only by the the Stewart Tyrrell-run March; Amon was faster than the other Marches of Andretti, Cevert, Peterson, SIffert, Servoz-Gavin.
With Matra in 1971 Amon was faster than Beltoise. Chris drove solo in Matra's last season 1972 and was going for his first win at Clermont-Ferrand when a tyre punctured.
Hereafter he drove one-offs, raced his own car but was never full-time.
The 'name' drivers whom Chris beat 1964-1971 was formidable. Ferrari's chief engineer Forghieri reckoned "Amon is Clark's equal."
(Excuse repeated use of word 'faster'; I use on-track speed differentials for rating drivers. Race wins, places, WDC points are not counted. All the above comments are for team-mate 'package' comparisons ie car-and driver combined.)
Amon's first full season was 1964 when paired with Hailwood in Lotus-BRM 25s, Amon was much faster, by over 0.5%; same cars in 1965 and Amon was faster than Hailwood, Ireland and Attwood; 1966 saw only a couple of one-off drives in slow cars.
Joined Ferrari in 1967 and had to carry the team after Bandiin's fiery fatal crash at Monaco; much faster than Parkes and Scarfiotti; At Ferrari in 1968 Amon was much faster than Ickx; in 1969 at Ferrari Amon was much faster than Pedro Rodriguez;
In 1970 Amon drove a March-Cosworth and for the whole season-average speed was beaten only by the the Stewart Tyrrell-run March; Amon was faster than the other Marches of Andretti, Cevert, Peterson, SIffert, Servoz-Gavin.
With Matra in 1971 Amon was faster than Beltoise. Chris drove solo in Matra's last season 1972 and was going for his first win at Clermont-Ferrand when a tyre punctured.
Hereafter he drove one-offs, raced his own car but was never full-time.
The 'name' drivers whom Chris beat 1964-1971 was formidable. Ferrari's chief engineer Forghieri reckoned "Amon is Clark's equal."
(Excuse repeated use of word 'faster'; I use on-track speed differentials for rating drivers. Race wins, places, WDC points are not counted. All the above comments are for team-mate 'package' comparisons ie car-and driver combined.)
Last edited by POBRatings on Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Chris Amon, RIP
Heard that this morning, RIP
When I was kid I used to read up on all the drivers from decades gone by. I used to love telling my friends about this one guy who was leading a Grand Prix, reached for a visor strip and ripped the whole visor off! Lady Luck never really shone on him during his time in F1
At least he always had Le Mans
When I was kid I used to read up on all the drivers from decades gone by. I used to love telling my friends about this one guy who was leading a Grand Prix, reached for a visor strip and ripped the whole visor off! Lady Luck never really shone on him during his time in F1
At least he always had Le Mans

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Re: Chris Amon, RIP
I think it was Mario Andretti who said of him "He is so unlucky if Chris became an undertaker people would stop dying"mcdo wrote: Lady Luck never really shone on him during his time in F1
Sad news.
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Re: Chris Amon, RIP
thanks for the link, great write-ups.Argentum wrote:http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon
Re: Chris Amon, RIP
Great read Patrick! So undeniably the best driver never to win a race. Sounds like he could even been a WDC as Clark is one of the greats!POBRatings wrote:Sad news. Amon had so much talent at a young age. Mario Andretti and Chris shared a flat in Modena in 1971 when driving sports cars for Ferrari. They were good friends and Mario said 'he was a fantastic driver.'
Amon's first full season was 1964 when paired with Hailwood in Lotus-BRM 25s, Amon was much faster, by over 0.5%; same cars in 1965 and Amon was faster than Hailwood, Ireland and Attwood; 1966 saw only a couple of one-off drives in slow cars.
Joined Ferrari in 1967 and had to carry the team after Bandiin's fiery fatal crash at Monaco; much faster than Parkes and Scarfiotti; At Ferrari in 1968 Amon was much faster than Ickx; in 1969 at Ferrari Amon was much faster than Pedro Rodriguez;
In 1970 Amon drove a March-Cosworth and for the whole season-average speed was beaten only by the the Stewart Tyrrell-run March; Amon was faster than the other Marches of Andretti, Cevert, Peterson, SIffert, Servoz-Gavin.
With Matra in 1971 Amon was faster than Beltoise. Chris drove solo in Matra's last season 1972 and was going for his first win at Clermont-Ferrand when a tyre punctured.
Hereafter he drove one-offs, raced his own car but was never full-time.
The 'name' drivers whom Chris beat 1964-1971 was formidable. Ferrari's chief engineer Forghieri reckoned "Amon is Clark's equal."
(Excuse repeated use of word 'faster'; I use on-track speed differentials for rating drivers. Race wins, places, WDC points are not counted. All the above comments are for team-mate 'package' comparisons ie car-and driver combined.)
F1 fan since 1989


Re: Chris Amon, RIP
Thanks. I wonder however if there was always something breaking while being comfortably in the lead was he maybe too hard on his equipment?Argentum wrote:http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon
F1 fan since 1989


Re: Chris Amon, RIP
Amon wrote:Thanks. I wonder however if there was always something breaking while being comfortably in the lead was he maybe too hard on his equipment?Argentum wrote:http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon
It's possible, but I don't recall him having a reputation for being hard on cars. He did well in other race series, and he did, of course, win Le Mans, which I'm sure would have shown up any tendency to be a car breaker. Just seemed to be in F1 that his luck was the worst.
Re: Chris Amon, RIP
My go to answer in any topic about unlucky drivers.
RIP fella.
RIP fella.
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