Ronnie Peterson

[bogaTYR]

for elderly people who know F1 the name ronnie peterson might ring a bell. ronnie was one of the true greats of F1 racing in the seventies and met a pretty gruesome and pointless end.

in his hometown a ronnie peterson museum was set up. but unfortunately had to close. but our friends at pitpass have put a ronnie peterson gallery in this article. some great memories there. and also bewilderment how those guys could drive those wild machines! cos boy, did they look outlandish.

enjoy

the article
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ ... t_id=39540

the gallery
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ ... al_id=1056

 

[Speshal]

Such a sad loss, how come Finns can drive and Swedes don't seem to be able to rise to the top, I livd in Sweden for a while and they are excellent drivers on and off road

 

[Muddytalker]

It may be that the answer is in the article - Is it the case that Sweden doesn't invest in motorsport as a whole, and so there is no real infrastructure, support and/or incentive to progress?

The only Swedes I can remember over the last 25 years are Stefan Johansson, Kenny Brack and Rickard Rydell. All 3 did well at F3 level, but little in F1 (Acknowledging success for Kenny Brack in IRL/CART, Rickard Rydell in touring cars)

Success also tends to breed success, so when Keke Rosberg won that brought opportunities for the 2 Mikas, and Mika Hakkinen winning helped Kimi. In the space of 6 weeks in 1978 Sweden lost Gunnar Nilsson and Ronnie, so maybe that hurt them a little, and as a nation the Swedes have turned away from F1?