Chris Amon, RIP

[Lt. Drebin]

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.

[Fiki]

Sad news. RIP

[POBRatings]

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.)

[mcdo]

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

[Warheart01]

Rest in peace.

[painless]

Lady Luck never really shone on him during his time in F1

I think it was Mario Andretti who said of him "He is so unlucky if Chris became an undertaker people would stop dying"
Sad news.

[Argentum]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon

[POBRatings]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon

thanks for the link, great write-ups.

[Amon]

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.)

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!

[Amon]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon

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]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opini ... chris-amon

Thanks. I wonder however if there was always something breaking while being comfortably in the lead was he maybe too hard on his equipment?

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.

[Flash2k11]

My go to answer in any topic about unlucky drivers.

RIP fella.