Jochen Rindt: Uncrowned King [Hardcover]

The year of 1970 was tragic in the world of Formula 1, having 3 of its most popular drivers loose their lives. Bruce Mclaren during testing at Goodwood, Piers Courage during the Dutch GP at Zandvoort and one of its biggest stars, Jochen Rindt in Qualifying for the Italian GP at Monza. Seen as a successor to the crown relinquished by the untimely death of Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt is said to be one of, if not the fastest drivers of his era, comparable in speed to the other great speed kings of Peterson, Villeneuve and Senna, Tremayne sets out to show a man for who he was. Often seen as arrogant by those that didn't know him well enough, sometimes rude to those he didn't like, but also a warm and humane person to his family and closest friends & Colleagues.

Having reading this books predecessor, "The Lost Generation", David Tremayne goes about this book with such care and respect that its a fitting tribute to a man who sadly died 40 years ago who, to what I can tell, has had little literature written about him.

The format of the book is done chronologically, starting with Rindt's early life where his parents were killed during a bombing raid by the RAF in WW2 to being raised by his grandparents and his early adventures into racing through to F1. The chapters for his F1 & F2 career are separate to each other and cover that year's season. Further chapters cover other parts of his racing career, such as a complete one on his 1965 win at Le Man (and I'll add this is my favourite chapter in the book) and another on his years competing at the Indy 500. Other individual chapters of course include the Grand Prix in which Jochen Rindt would loose his life at Monza (also covering the aftermath) and a very well handled postscript. Throughout the book, there are numerous anecdotes and contributions by many famous names like Jackie Stewart, Jacky Ickx, Bernie Ecclestone and Helmut Marko. Along side these are some excellent pictures that go with the text, some in Black & White, some in colour and of various sizes.

If your of an age where you remember Jochen Rindt & his era or a young person (such as myself) with an interest of a time in the sport where drivers lives would end all to often, then you will enjoy this book. A Fantastic and insightful read into the fasinating & tragic life of Jochen Rindt, Formula 1's uncrowned King.

This is a great tribute to a largely forgotten F1 ace of the sixties who tragically became the sport's only posthumous world champion in 1970. David Tremayne has researched this book extraordinarily well and it includes stories of Rindt's early days along with his forays in Argentina and the Tasman Cup races in Australia and New Zealand in 1969 not just his European racing exploits. A thoroughly well written and researched book into one of the best drivers who lived and whose exploits rivalled and possibly exceeded that of Villeneuve.

The other reviews and one in particular have essentially said it all. We had to wait an awful long time for such an 'obvious' book to be published but my goodness was it worth the wait.

To add just a few more comments to compliment the other reviews.

It is all beautifully produced and presented on large, high gloss quality pages with a fantastic array of photographs in colour and B&W. I was ever so slightly disappointed with the jacket portrait as I feel it does not quite 'capture' Jochen as I remember. A wonderful study of him in an old book called 'Photo F1' sat in his Lotus 72, hands clasped whilst stationary in the pits would have been in my humble opinion the ideal choice however this is just a minute personal quibble. Perhaps it was 'not available'? I almost feel a tad 'guilty' for even mentioning this for it is such a truly wonderful book which serves as an eminently suitable 'tribute'. Well done 'DT'. (N.B. Minor error by 'Amazon': Yes, the foreword is by 'JYS', the author is David Tremayne).

Moving on, I knew someone who knew him, not a close friend I hasten to add, but he has passed down several snippets to me over the years. Outwardly Jochen may have appeared arrogant to some but 'underneath' I am resolutely assured he was not. After his wing failed at Silvestone in '69 whilst battling for the lead with 'JYS' he forlornly commented to my friend: 'P. I don't think that I will ever win a Grand Prix'. Watkins Glen was not that far away, sadly neither too was Monza in the late summer of 1970.

After having read and talked about the Monza accident down the years one cannot help feeling that to some degree poor Jochen contributed to his own fate regardless of what did or did not 'break', or the ambulance fiasco, or the incorrectly installed barrier: Running without either front and/or rear wings, tyres not up to full and 'balanced' working temperature and perhaps most crucially an unfastened seatbelt crotch strap?

Looking at the remains of his car; the rearward 50% of the cockpit area (apprx) is relatively intact. Yes he would have possibly suffered severe foot/leg injuries but he would not have 'submarined' thus inflicting consequential fatal injuries. Others have alluded to these thoughts too. For one 'more recent' telling public example on the 'whole' scenario was a brief passing remark in Christopher Hilton's bio' on Clay Regazzoni, 'Regga' where Clay commented upon how Jochen was focusing on how fast the car was rather than how close it was to its limits.

Jochen had of course made the somewhat agonised choice to stay with Lotus for the 1970 season despite some serious well documented reservations. More specifically on that fateful Saturday afternoon at Monza in his quest to finally lay both hands on the 'Crown' the heightened feelings and emotions of an already tragic year no doubt to some degree influenced the situation which resulted in the disaster that ensued. Circumstances would combine to push himself and the car beyond their limits with tragic results.

I was a great fan and this long awaited book finally offers a definitive and touching account of this often overlooked 'King' of our sport. I think it was 'Motor Sport' magazine that printed that it had never before received so many letters, particularly from younger readers on his passing. I was one such devastated sixteen year old. At the time I was involved in karting, a community where he was without any doubt whatsoever considered the 'number one'.

Had he survived I think that today we might be watching 'The Jochen & Bernie Show'!