To: X Y Zebra who wrote (697 ) 11/19/2009 5:51:42 AM From: X Y Zebra Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 764 Die Silberpfeilegrandprixhistory.org the cars...grandprixhistory.org the drivers...grandprixhistory.org Rudolf Caracciola grandprixhistory.org Louis Chiron grandprixhistory.org Rene Dreyfus grandprixhistory.org Luigi Faglioli grandprixhistory.org Herman Lang grandprixhistory.org Tazio Nuvolari grandprixhistory.org Hans Stuck Sr. grandprixhistory.org Bern Rosemayer grandprixhistory.org Richard Seaman grandprixhistory.org Achille Varzi grandprixhistory.org MAnfred von Brauchitsch grandprixhistory.org and others..... Brivio, Etancelin, Farina, Moll, Summer, Trossigrandprixhistory.org Caracciola... According to the legendary Mercedes team manager Alfred Neubauer, with who he had a long and close relationship, " ... of all the great drivers I have known - Nuvolari, Rosemeyer, Lang, Moss or Fangio - Caracciola was the greatest of them all." --- Nuvolari... ... He continued to win but age and sickness from acute asthma, the result of years of inhaling exhaust fumes would finally take their toll. His last Mille Miglia, in 1948, was a defining moment in his illustrious career. Driving as if possessed, his car taking a terrible beating, speeding along, the bonnet somehow became unfastened, and a gust of wind blew it over Nuvolari's head and down the mountainside. "That's better," shouted Tazio to his terrified mechanic, "The engine will cool more easily." Crossing the Futa ands Raticosa passes his seat had started to come adrift. Nuvolari could feel himself sliding which brought along a feeling of sea-sickness. Tossing the seat out he used a bag of lemons and oranges as a cushion. With his car literally falling apart under his super human effort the team advised him to quit the race at Bologna fore it was folly to continue under such circumstances and if anyone, Nuvolari had nothing to prove. Nuvolari answered with a derisive gesture, putting his fut down hard and shot away along the Via Emilia. At Modena Enzo Ferrari tried to beg has old friend to retire with dignity and could only weep as he realized that the remains of the car could not possibly hold out. Disaster disaster finally struck on the next leg and all three leading cars were out of the race including Nuvolari who damaged his rear suspension at Leghorn when his brakes failed. Stopping at Villa Ospizio Nuvolari either went or was carried to a nearby church we he asked the local priest if he could rest while his mechanic phoned through that the great Nuvolari had retired and ordered a touring car to take him home. After the retirement, Ferrari wrote later, he tried to console his driver. "I said to him, cheer up Tazio, the race will be yours next year". He replied: "Ferrari, at our age there aren't many more days like this; remember it and try to enjoy it to the full, if you can".