Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Niki Lauda crosses Finish line at Age 70



And another chapter of McLaren International closes...

Know Thars' absolutely No Co-Inky-dense', but for some strange reason, when I heard the news late Monday night that Niki Lauda had taken his last breath. And on the heels of Fernando Alonso failing to qualify at Indianapolis. Weirdly I heard the soundtrack to Maxwell Smart's opening theme when the Doors Slam Shut behind him...

As many racing Fans will know of Niki "the Rat" Lauda's life in Formula 1 from that brilliant 'lil Ronnie Howard 2013 movie simply titled RUSH. Recounting the epic Duel for the 1976 F1 World Championship vs. James Hunt.


Whilst Lauda would ultimately claim the Formula 1 World Championship three times, twice for Ferrari in 1975 & 1977, and then winning by a scant half-point over rival McLaren team-mate "The Professor," aka Alain Prost in '84.

Yet Niki was also a Businessman who started at least two Airlines in-between his motor racing stints, before having Lung transplant surgery last year. Certainly a bi-product of his Horrendous, near Fatal Fiery Crash at the Nurburgring in the summer of '76...

As I'll let F1 Grizzled Journo' Joe Saward do the Heavy lifting recapping Niki's accomplishments...