Post by Chris K. Hale on Jun 17, 2013 19:43:06 GMT -8
On the weekend of April 23-24 1983 I took the old dodge van to Riverside Raceway for the IMSA 6Hr. race as I did every year, this year was to be special as I wanted to meet my latest Hero Rolf Stommelen.
On Sat. the 23 I went to the pits and hungout talking to life long family friend Dan Gurney, Dan introduced me to some important people, Al Holbert, Derek Bell, Gene Hackman (driving for Dan in a Toyota) A. J. Foyt, Teddy Yip( the richest man in the world then) and then my new Hero Rolf Stommelen, who escorted me to the Dick Fitzpatrick garage for a walk around of his mount for the big race a Porsche 935K Moby Dick,
beautiful in its white and multi hue blue stripes and J. Davis sponsorship, it was a work of art, gleaming in all its pre-race glory. Rolf had driven in 63 F1 races, won the 67 Targa Florio and 4 times at the Daytona 24hr. He was humble but nice man, not one to stand on his accomplishments, knowledgeable and courteous, talking to him just fortified every thing I had read and assumed about the man. He was to share the driving duties with the legendary Derek Bell. We camped that night in the van at the track and woke the next morning roaring to go. A quick trip to the pits to wish Dan and others, inc Rolf Good Luck" then back to my favorite viewing spot, the esses grandstand, against the fence, where you could see the cars enter turn 9, exit tiurn ! and then up the esses to turn 6, almost a half of the track. The race began and we watched lap after lap, cheering our favorites and paying close attention the the J. Davis 935. I dont remember exactly when , but I was watching the J. Davis enter turn 9, using Binoculars, I could suddenly see something amiss, the rear wind departed from the car as it decelerated from nearly 200mph to about 120mph entering the turn, I knew this would not be good. As I watched the car, suddenly it launched straight into the air what appeared to be about 20 feet,and came back down on the tail with extreme violence, I could see the engine and rear end push forward into the cockpit, my heart dropped, I was sick as I know by what I had seen, Rolf Stommelen had certainly died right in front of my eyes. The race was stopped and the emergency crew began to work on getting him out of the severely damaged Porsche. it seemed all in slow motion to me the accident and the rescue attempt , I was surprised because it appeared the rescue workers were not in a big hurry to get him out and then I knew my worst fears were true... the violent accident had left my new hero deceased. It was true, I just sat there in shock I had seen the whole incident and there in the esses I felt helpless and inadequate, surely there could have been a slim chance that someone could have saved him.. I dont remember who won that balmy April day and really.. I didnt care. After the race I went to the pits and saw the car and cried..
I went back to the van and just sat head in hands, in shock not aware of anything going on around.. finally around 9pm many hours after the end of the race I drove the 150 miles home.
From time to time this incident flashes through my mind, I can still see it in quite clear detail and I remember this Hero. This was a very important event in my life that has only been surpassed by the Death of Ayrton Senna and the passing of my Brother. Chris
On Sat. the 23 I went to the pits and hungout talking to life long family friend Dan Gurney, Dan introduced me to some important people, Al Holbert, Derek Bell, Gene Hackman (driving for Dan in a Toyota) A. J. Foyt, Teddy Yip( the richest man in the world then) and then my new Hero Rolf Stommelen, who escorted me to the Dick Fitzpatrick garage for a walk around of his mount for the big race a Porsche 935K Moby Dick,
beautiful in its white and multi hue blue stripes and J. Davis sponsorship, it was a work of art, gleaming in all its pre-race glory. Rolf had driven in 63 F1 races, won the 67 Targa Florio and 4 times at the Daytona 24hr. He was humble but nice man, not one to stand on his accomplishments, knowledgeable and courteous, talking to him just fortified every thing I had read and assumed about the man. He was to share the driving duties with the legendary Derek Bell. We camped that night in the van at the track and woke the next morning roaring to go. A quick trip to the pits to wish Dan and others, inc Rolf Good Luck" then back to my favorite viewing spot, the esses grandstand, against the fence, where you could see the cars enter turn 9, exit tiurn ! and then up the esses to turn 6, almost a half of the track. The race began and we watched lap after lap, cheering our favorites and paying close attention the the J. Davis 935. I dont remember exactly when , but I was watching the J. Davis enter turn 9, using Binoculars, I could suddenly see something amiss, the rear wind departed from the car as it decelerated from nearly 200mph to about 120mph entering the turn, I knew this would not be good. As I watched the car, suddenly it launched straight into the air what appeared to be about 20 feet,and came back down on the tail with extreme violence, I could see the engine and rear end push forward into the cockpit, my heart dropped, I was sick as I know by what I had seen, Rolf Stommelen had certainly died right in front of my eyes. The race was stopped and the emergency crew began to work on getting him out of the severely damaged Porsche. it seemed all in slow motion to me the accident and the rescue attempt , I was surprised because it appeared the rescue workers were not in a big hurry to get him out and then I knew my worst fears were true... the violent accident had left my new hero deceased. It was true, I just sat there in shock I had seen the whole incident and there in the esses I felt helpless and inadequate, surely there could have been a slim chance that someone could have saved him.. I dont remember who won that balmy April day and really.. I didnt care. After the race I went to the pits and saw the car and cried.. I went back to the van and just sat head in hands, in shock not aware of anything going on around.. finally around 9pm many hours after the end of the race I drove the 150 miles home.
From time to time this incident flashes through my mind, I can still see it in quite clear detail and I remember this Hero. This was a very important event in my life that has only been surpassed by the Death of Ayrton Senna and the passing of my Brother. Chris
that's about as bad as it gets.
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