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...