Death Anniversary Thread

[time 7,968]

Fifty-six years since the death of British racing driver & engineer Ken Miles. 

 

 

He's particularly remembered for his working relationship with Carroll Shelby, which produced the Ford GT Mk II and resulted in victory over Ferrari in the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour, though he was denied victory himself because of Ford's desire to see their three cars cross the line together; thus, as Bruce McLaren's car started further back, he was deemed the winner by virtue of the fact that he'd covered more distance. Victory would have given Miles the unique distinction of having won the Daytona 24-hour, the Sebring 12-hour and the Le Mans 24-hour in the same season.

 

Following the success of the MkII, he was testing its planned successor, the J-Car, at Riverside International Raceway, California, when at the end of a 200mph downhill section the car suddenly lifted, overturned and ejected Miles, killing him instantly. He was 47.

 

This was the second fatality (Walt Hansgen beaming the first) caused by the J-Car, and it was much modified, becoming eventually the Mk IV, which won the only two races in which it was entered., the 1967 Sebring & Le Mans.

[One shot Paddy 1,141]

1 hour ago, time said:

Fifty-six years since the death of British racing driver & engineer Ken Miles. 

 

 

He's particularly remembered for his working relationship with Carroll Shelby, which produced the Ford GT Mk II and resulted in victory over Ferrari in the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour, though he was denied victory himself because of Ford's desire to see their three cars cross the line together; thus, as Bruce McLaren's car started further back, he was deemed the winner by virtue of the fact that he'd covered more distance. Victory would have given Miles the unique distinction of having won the Daytona 24-hour, the Sebring 12-hour and the Le Mans 24-hour in the same season.

 

Following the success of the MkII, he was testing its planned successor, the J-Car, at Riverside International Raceway, California, when at the end of a 200mph downhill section the car suddenly lifted, overturned and ejected Miles, killing him instantly. He was 47.

 

This was the second fatality (Walt Hansgen beaming the first) caused by the J-Car, and it was much modified, becoming eventually the Mk IV, which won the only two races in which it was entered., the 1967 Sebring & Le Mans.

 

AHH the great myth of the 66 Le Mans, Amon and McLaren won because Amon crossed the line in front of Miles not because of how far they had driven.

 

Amon car no.2, Miles behind in car no.1.

 

 

[time 7,968]

30 minutes ago, One shot Paddy said:

 

AHH the great myth of the 66 Le Mans, Amon and McLaren won because Amon crossed the line in front of Miles not because of how far they had driven.

 

Amon car no.2, Miles behind in car no.1.

 

 

No, the winner in a 24 hour race is the car that drives the furthest in 24 hours, is it not?

[One shot Paddy 1,141]

If a car does more laps yes but if like that race they are on the same lap whichever crosses the line first wins no matter where on the grid they started, races are measured from the start line to the finish line (normally the same but not always) not grid position. 

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American film, television and radio actor Barney Phillips died on this day 40 years ago, aged 68.

 

[time 7,968]

1 hour ago, One shot Paddy said:

If a car does more laps yes but if like that race they are on the same lap whichever crosses the line first wins no matter where on the grid they started, races are measured from the start line to the finish line (normally the same but not always) not grid position. 

 

Was this the case for the 1966 Le Mans? You may have to make that argument with Ford, who are also of the opinion that McLaren won by virtue of his starting position on the grid.

 

The following from Ford's website explains the photograph.

Quote

During the final lap, the three Ford cars rode in tandem with Miles and McLaren crossing the finish line in a dead heat with Hutcherson close behind in 3rd place. Photos at the time appear to show McLaren surging ahead at the final moment, but the checkered flag is actually waved some distance from the final finish line, which was being monitored by newly installed IBM electronic time keeping devices. The photo finish was intact.

 

[One shot Paddy 1,141]

OOO would probably have heard more inside information about it, but even the photo finish on the Ford page the no.2 car is ahead (and no finish line), is the myth to cover that Ford in Miles own words fucked him and pass the blame on to the French? Chris Amon has also said that they crossed the line first. 

With the tragic death of Miles 2 months later has the 8 meters become a "fact", has any other race ever been decided by where you start compared to the car in front? Could you imagine someone from the 3rd or 4th row winning because they were 30 feet behind the leader?

Like I said OOO has probably spoken to some of those involved and could give us better insight.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,211]

 

On this day in the year 2000 Jack Walker british industrialist, businessman  and latterly owner of Blackburn Rovers who  won the FA Premier league in the 1994-1995 season under his ownership , died aged 71 from cancer. 

His family have been heavily criticised  by many including northern  English mps like Tim Farron for mishandling and squandering his legacy-eg selling Blackburn Rovers to 'unsuitable owners'.

However the bulk of his  vast fortune  came via steel.

[Drewsky1211 4,078]

Bruce Forsyth died on this day 5 years ago, aged 89.

Forsyth got his start as a singer and actor. In 1971, Bruce hosted his first game show, The Generation Game, with his tenure lasting until 1977- he would return in the 1990 revival, and hosted it until 1998. Some of Bruce's most well-known catchphrases originated on the show, such as "Didn't they do well?" and "Nice to see you, to see you nice".

 

Forsyth would later host shows such as Play Your Cards Right, Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak, and was also the host of the British version of The Price is Right from 1995 to 2001. Forsyth continued his popularity into the new millennium, co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing, and also appeared on the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?. He was knighted in 2011.

 

Did you also know that he was also a Neopet? When the website launched in 1999, one of the selectable pets was an image of Bruce. This was later changed to a cartoon caricature of him, and finally, in November of 2000, was changed to a penguin (the game is a virtual pet game, so it only makes sense).

 

Forsyth first appeared on the DeathList in 1995 for reasons I do not know. His health began to decline in 2015, and was chosen for the next two years, before dying of pneumonia.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,211]

 

 

On this day in 1990  Danish singer  Grethe Ingmann died  of cancer aged 52. 

Grethe along with her guitarist husband Jorgen Ingmann won the Eurovision  song contest  for Denmark in 1963.

She was the first winner of any Eurovision song contest to  die.

 

 

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Its 24 years since the death of Indian model and actress Persis Khambatta.

 

She achieved success as a model while still a teenager, for brands including Revlon & Air India, which lead to appearances in Bollywood films. After a few small Hollywood roles she came to prominence in the west when she appeared as shaven-headed Lieutenant Ilia in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

  

Reportedly a heavy smoker, in 1983 had bypass surgery, and in 1998, suffering chest pains she was admitted to Mumbai's Marine Hospital where she died of a massive heart attack, aged 49.

 

Or did she.... Ex-boyfriend Edward Lozzi claims she was murdered because of her support and admiration for Indira Gandhi. 

[time 7,968]

14 hours ago, One shot Paddy said:

OOO would probably have heard more inside information about it, but even the photo finish on the Ford page the no.2 car is ahead (and no finish line), is the myth to cover that Ford in Miles own words fucked him and pass the blame on to the French? Chris Amon has also said that they crossed the line first. 

With the tragic death of Miles 2 months later has the 8 meters become a "fact", has any other race ever been decided by where you start compared to the car in front? Could you imagine someone from the 3rd or 4th row winning because they were 30 feet behind the leader?

Like I said OOO has probably spoken to some of those involved and could give us better insight.

There is much about the finish of the race which will never be known for certain as all the participants are dead, but Amon has also said that no-one knew who'd won, initially. The British newspapers of the time were reporting that McLaren/Amon won by virtue of starting further back. "Motor" magazine reported it thus - the report is reproduced on McLaren's website. Unfortunately, the only contemporary sources I can find online are British; it would be interesting to see how the French, US and NZ papers of the time reported it.

[Hell 1,327]

American psychologist, behaviorist, author, inventor, and social philosopher B. F. Skinner died on this day 32 years ago, aged 86.

 

 

8th president of South Korea Kim Dae-jung died on this day 13 years ago, aged 85.

 

 

7th Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan died on this day 4 years ago, aged 80.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American film director John Sturges died on this day 30 years ago, aged 82.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,211]

 

On this day in 2001  Internationally recognised  british toxicologist  David  Peakall died aged 70

 He did an awful lot of research on the effects of pollution on wildlife, most notable on  the effects of  DDE and  DDTs  on birds eggshells- showing that they worringly thinned   birds eggshells and posed a real danger to the health and survival of numerous bird species. His research was extensive and rigorous and despite much pushback from the chemical industry  his findings lead to the banning of   the use of DDTs in the US.

 

Other research includes the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) on birds   and the capacity of some chemical compounds pumped out of factories in their effluence to harm  the fertility  of some  birds.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,211]

 

On this day in 1980 German  businessman Otto Frank,  father of Anne Frank who was famously killed  by the nazis , died aged 91.

[Drewsky1211 4,078]

Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, died on this day 2008 years ago, aged 75.

Born as Gaius Octavius, he was a great-nephew of Julius Caesar. After his father died in 59 BC, and his stepfather had no interest in raising him, he was raised by his grandmother Julia (Julius' sister) until she died when he was 12- his parents then took him back in.

 

After his great-uncle was assassinated in 44 BC, Octavius was listed as Caesar's adoptive son in his will (Caesarion, his only male child, was out of wedlock with Cleopatra and thus not recognized by Roman law). He took the family name, and used his old one as his personal name- "Octavian". Before becoming emperor, Octavian conquered Armenia (34 BC)- and after finding out that his top general Mark Antony would give away Roman territory for his own sons to rule, he declared war on Egypt, conquering it in 30 BC.

 

On January 16, 27 BC, Octavian was given the title "Augustus" ("illustrious") by the senate, which is seen as the beginning of his reign. He was named "father of the country" in 2 BC.

 

Towards the end of his reign, in 9 AD, The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest against the Cherusci Germans was fought, with a massive Roman defeat. Augustus dissolved the legions that fought the battle.

 

Augustus allegedly died as the result of eating a fig poisoned by his wife Livia- modern historians believe that it could have been a possibility, and do not rule out assisted suicide (his health was in decline at that point). His adoptive son Tiberius was then named by the senate as the "princeps".

[Summer in Transylvania 1,618]

Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx died on this day in 1977, aged 86. The cause of death was given as pneumonia. 

 

At some point either before or during (but more likely before) 1949, Marx was invited to join the Delaney Club (disputed; numerous names have been given over the years), but immediately declined, famously stating "I do not want to belong to a club that would accept me as one of its members". 

 

Marx was also noted for his distinctive look, which led to the manufacturing of Groucho Glasses, modeled after his appearance. What is less known is that the moustache was fake until his retirement, when he decided to grow one for a laugh. 

 

Marx's death was overshadowed by that of Elvis Presley, which occurred 3 days earlier. 

 

 

 

"I would like to thank you for all the enjoyment you have brought to the world." - Anonymous Clergyman. 

"And I would like to thank you for all the enjoyment you have taken out of the world." - Groucho Marx

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American olympian boxer Norvel Lee died on this day 30 years ago, aged 67.

 

[Hell 1,327]

3rd president of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa died on this day 14 years ago, aged 59.

 

 

American comedian, civil rights leader and vegetarian activist Dick Gregory died on this day 5 years ago, aged 84.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,211]

 

On this day in 1976 International  New Zealand  Cricketer  Ken Wadsworth  died months after  being diagnosed with a highly aggressive  skin cancer.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,211]

 

On this day ten years ago in 2012  Phyliss Diller  one of the first  female comedians  in America to become a household  name died aged 95. She had a hugely successful career as a stand up comedienne  and was cited by numerous  younger females in comedy as an inspiration  including  Joan Rivers and Roseanne Barr .

 

 

[msc 17,762]

10 minutes ago, Gooseberry Crumble said:

 

On this day ten years ago in 2012  Phyliss Diller  one of the first  female comedians  in America to become a household  name died aged 95. She had a hugely successful career as a stand up comedienne  and was cited by numerous  younger females in comedy as an inspiration  including  Joan Rivers and Roseanne Barr .

 

 

She had a line or two you'd like. 

 

"Billy Graham made me what I am today. Alcoholic."

 

And when she was asked about her toyboy when she was very old: "ninety is the new thirty!"

[Drewsky1211 4,078]

Pope John XIV died on this day 1038 years ago, aged 44.

 

John's birth name was Pietro Canepanova. Upon the death of Pope Benedict VII in 983, the mother and wife of the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto II, wished for Majolus, the bishop of Cluny, to be elected pope- Majolus declined the nomination, and Pietro was elected. Pietro took the name "John" in order to not confuse himself with Saint Peter (if he used his birth name, he would've been Pope Peter II).

 

Otto II died a month into John's papacy, and the new emperor, Otto III, was a 3-year old toddler. At the time, an anti-imperialist faction of Catholics was led by Antipope Boniface VII. In 984, Boniface returned to Rome and had John imprisoned, where he was either poisoned or starved to death.

[Hell 1,327]

Head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in 1914 Pope Pius X died on this day 108 years ago, aged 79.

 

 

American actress Kim Stanley died on this day 21 years ago, aged 76.

 

 

8th Prime Minister of Malta Dom Mintoff died on this day 10 years ago, aged 96.

 

 

American comedian, actor, singer, director, producer, writer, and humanitarian Jerry Lewis died on this day 5 years ago, aged 91.