I have admired Pedro since I can remember. Then of Ricardo as I knew more of both of them. There will never be a pair like them again. Thank you for the video and the stories!!! By the way, Greta chive of music!!!
Rodriguez had the skill, the character and the balls to be an F1 champion. Sadly Rodriguez lost his life doing what he loved most...racing cars. I would love to see Pedro competing against Max Vesrtappen, with all due respect to our beloved "Checo Perez". Of course, my fantasy. Greetings from Mexico.
Best formula 1 driver (and sports car driver) EVER. Together with his brother Ricardo, pedro are the best drivers in the history of the sport. They had the most NATURAL TALENT THAN ANY OTHER DRIVER IN HISTORY.
'Ojos de gato' was the nickname of Ricardo Rodriguez. After the 1960 Le Mans 24H podium ceremony, winner Gendebien (with Paul Frère) said to Ricardo (finished 2nd with André Pilette) that he was a real champion, that his pure driving style during the night under the appalling conditions was extraordinary and that his eyes were as good as an extra pair of ‘Marchals’ (high beam headlights used on most cars in period). There lies the origin of Ricardo’s nickname ‘cat eyes’ (ojos de gato) as the logo of (SEV) Marchal is a cat with eyes wide open. The Rodriguez family took it with pride, especially coming from Gendebien and the French press took note and wrote about the 'cat eyes'.
Monsieur Mairesse (I suppose it is Willy) not giving a Centimes about probable structural damage to his delicate chariot ... like steering, front axle, hub or anything .. he proved to be the same all the way to the door incident with that beautiful yellow GT40 . totally absorbed by racing those chaps 😰
The BBC coverage actually showed the one mistake when Rodriguez slid wide at the hairpin. IIRC that week's "Autosport" had a picture of Pedro talking to Raymond Mays or Sir Alfred Owen, I forget which, claiming that he is explaining his off to the boss. BTW, the commentary here is wrong. Rodriguez did not win another Grand Prix before his death. His two wins were Kyalami, 1967 and Spa 1970.
This was an era when racers raced! It didn’t matter too much about car or weather they just did it. Yes too many died and I wished that hadn’t happened but you weren’t going to stop them so just admire the sheer skill of people at the top of their game!
It's a shame that the camera man/editor missed Pedro doing a 360° spin out of Druids, selecting 1st gear and steaming off at unabated speed. Neither did the commentator mention that Rodriguez and Kinnunen won by 5 LAPS!
I was there with my Dad when I was 21 bless him. You could still walk around the Paddock for an extra £10 (I think) and chat with drivers and team members!
RIP Pedro Rodriguez. What a wonderfully talented driver he was, particularly in the wet - someone I knew witnessed his famous victory at Brands the previous year, and said it was the finest drive he ever saw. A great, if dangerous, era.
The 56 was tested in March 1968 at Indy by JIM CLARK - By far the greatest driver ever - no doubt. He is and was the Best of the Best. No other driver in history until today was so superior as Clark.This man is the Olymp of driving - the Michelangelo of racing - a dynamic art at the highest level. So smooth, so precise, so fast....simply out of this world. One, who won in Spa by 5 minutes (!) in monsoon rain...One, who takes back a complete lap (!) in Monza and back into the lead... One, who took pole on the original 22,8 km Nürburgring track by 9 (!) seconds and more....One who won Indy by 2 whole (!) laps...For eternity and by lightyears unmatched in the sport. That`s just four examples of his mesmeric unique genius...
Mi Papa me cuenta que conocio a los hermanos Rodriguez. Entre muchas cosas mi Papa Oyo del Papa que despues de la muerte de Ricardo...Pedro le prometio a su Papa que jamas correria. Pedro volvio y........murio haciendo lo que amaba mas en su vida. Descansen en paz mis paisanos y A Checo que siga triunfando en la F-1
Pedro Rodriguez was a masterful driver and in the rain he was unbeatable. His exploits in the Porsche 917 at Spa are the stuff of legend. He is missed…. R.I.P. Pedro.