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Start of 1999 Italian Grand Prix. (Image source: atlasf1.com)
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Like we All say each 'N every Day, Where does Thee
Time G-O? Just Ah-Zoom-Zoomin' 'Ah-ways...
Although I still have wonderful thoughts
about my Debutante trip Cross Ye Mighty Puddle as Claire Denotes it - to Europe
now some Twenty years ago, much of them are simply Distant, Fond Memories in
thoust Wayback Machine.
Sadly, I still recall forlorn Championship
Auto Racing Teams (CART) Aspiring Driver Gonzalo Rodriguez for the wrong
reason. Primarily since Bizarrely I'd learn of his Death in Milan, Italy in the
brief company of some Chap named Phil Hill; Momma Mia!
Although I'll confess, I had to look the
race's date up to learn that September 11th, 1999 was a Saturday, which means
I'd just returned from a Full Day's outing at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Hence, I think it's safe to say that I was
simply too surprised over the News, not to mention the throws 'O ecstasy from
the day's Qualie' outing to fortunately Not (stupidly) ask America's first
Formula 1 World champion his thoughts upon a fellow Driver's Death, for which
think of how that conversation possibly would have went; Aye Karumba!
As why is it twenty years later and I'm now
ARSE-Suming that that weekend's tragic events over fifty years ago, on
September 10th probably stayed in Hill's life forever, El Correctomundo?
Not to mention that it's eerily ironic that
upon the same exact Date 17yrs later, Ronnie Peterson Died at Monza
when America's second only F1 World Champion
Mario Andretti won His Crown.
America’s First Formula 1 World Champion – A Half Century Ago
Also, I now know that a Decade ago, I posted
my thoughts upon this by noting it was a Grave Messer Hill whom informed us
over Rodriguez's Death when entering our Hotel's Bar for some fine refreshments
before going out on the town for Dinner the night before the 70O Gran Premio
Campari d'Italia, ergo 70th Italian Grand Prix.
Hence, I'll try
refraining from re-hashing those Fleeting memories over once again, having
already scribbled 'bout some of 'em in another No Fenders tome.
Thus, whilst I sat in thou Dark Saturday
morning wonderin' why I'd Broken My Curfew of getting up at Gory Dark-30 for
Qualie'. Nonetheless the mention of the Tiafosi's passion for all things rosso
made me recall when I'd been covered over with one of those monstrous Red
Ferrari Prancing Horse Banners in those Grandstands!
Not to mention the sheer exuberation of
running along the streets in Modena in hopes of seeing one of the Wailing
Ferrari F399's practicing at Fiorano.
presumably the Shrieking three-litre Normally
Aspirated V-10 we'd heard from the Ferrari Factory was Mika Salo, Deputizing
for the injured Michael Schumacher, who'd Broken his leg that year at
Silverstone - Before an Annoyed Italian Truck Driver Honked at us Stupidio
Touristas to get Off the Bloody road!
Or
Phil Hill Daring our tiny contingent 'O Tour group to try running Up as Far as
possible upon the Monza Banking! Which I did briefly during Friday's practice
session, when one of the Security Guards let us briefly stay there to have our
picture taken, before ordering us to leave.
And
the amazing Blunder of Thee Flying Finn! When Mika Hakkinen comfortably leading
by "A Country Mile!" Inexplicably Spun-off and Handed an unexpected victory
to a surprised Heinz 57', aka Heinz-Harald Frentzen driving for EJ', nee Eddie
Jordan. Behind the Keyboard of his fully emblazoned "Yellow Jacket"
Benson & Hedges Jordan 199-Mugen )Honda) V-10.
For
which I recall my Grand Prix Tours roommate later sent me a VHS video-tape
including when he'd filmed Mika-the-Finn Disgustedly throwing his Gloves onto
the ground in Anger Trackside!
While
everybody went home Delightfully Happy, since the Other Mika, nee Salo had
brought his Scuderia Ferrari home in third place! While Irv-the-Swerve!' Err
Eddie Irvine, now the unlikely Scuderia Ferrari team leader had come level on
points with Hakkinen by finishing P6, with just three rounds remaining in that
year's title fight.
And now I can also recall how every single
spec 'O land was occupied by the ravenous tiafosi! Even standing in the Trees,
not to mention how crowded it felt everywhere I went those three Glorious Days
at Monza!
As Y'all can relive this most enjoyable race in the
following Youtube video, which weighs in just over Nine minutes length
duration...
Magnifio!