Remembering Colin Mcrae

[Eli]

7 years on from his helicopter crash, may he rest in peace, and may Kris Meeke make him proud up there.

[spyros]

Cant believe he's gone,i m very sad

[Eli]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex6Vufkr2l0 in case you haven't watched it..although i doubt it

[Eli]

R.I.P Colin, 8 years now...

[Rally Power]

Good job Eli. WRC hugely misses a driver like McRae!

[janvanvurpa]

Good job Eli. WRC hugely misses a driver like McRae!

As I am sure the wife and parents of the innocent people he killed show-boating miss them even more.

Good car driver but good people ought to have some restraint when others are involved.
They did not ask to die.

Anybody ever bother to read the official crash investigation?

[Rally Power]

Please janvanvurpa, let's not confuse personal griefs with McRae rally path and legacy.

Drivers with generous, flamboyant and risky driving styles like McRae, Vatanen, Toivonen or Solberg, will always provide those unique and unforgettable rushes that makes this sport fascinating and attracts so many fans around the world!

With nowadays faultless, almost robotic, driving styles, WRC is losing its magic and one or two McRae's would be highly welcome.

Thank you Colin, for moments like these! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAbQ5wRr0o

[janvanvurpa]

Please janvanvurpa, let's not confuse personal griefs with McRae rally path and legacy.

Drivers with generous, flamboyant and risky driving styles like McRae, Vatanen, Toivonen or Solberg, will always provide those unique and unforgettable rushes that makes this sport fascinating and attracts so many fans around the world!

With nowadays faultless, almost robotic, driving styles, WRC is losing its magic and one or two McRae's would be highly welcome.

Thank you Colin, for moments like these! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAbQ5wRr0o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAbQ5wRr0o)

Yes I know he had a flamboyant style and i said he drove rally good, but a person can do things that overshadow and dilute other thiings..
Maybe because I have lost friends in motorsport , maybe because I have children , but killing his neighbor, and the neighbor kid and his own son just to show off to them is a shame and it splashes shit all over whatever brief excitement I had watching him..

A person is not free from all judgement for eternity just because he drive a car excitingly--and McRae certainly did that。
But that same flamboyance and indeed arrogance led to him killing 3 innocent people..people that knew him --who he did not have to show off for....and that lack of maturity, and arrognace that led to so many crashes in a NICE SAFE CAR---in a lightly built heliocopter, with zero safety gear, is nothing short of monstrous.

In a way its kind of like this guy Ogier. Yes he's quick and the best for now--by a tiny tiny almost immeasurable degree....but he is a whining, constantly complaining jerk--did you see his "what I do today is an amazing thing and all the teams know this blah blah"

So his person or personality what he does when not on a SS, his menschlichkeit
sucks.

[Grundo Farb]

My Brother knew Colin when he drove for Ford. Nice guy, he drove cars - quite fast, in fact he won a World Championship, then he died through a lack of judgement.

My Brother knows Stig Blomqvuist (also from when he drove for Ford) nice guy, he drove cars - quite fast, in fact he won a World Championship, he isn't dead.

Why do we always remember the ones that die yet not the ones that live?

[Mintexmemory]

My Brother knew Colin when he drove for Ford. Nice guy, he drove cars - quite fast, in fact he won a World Championship, then he died through a lack of judgement.

My Brother knows Stig Blomqvuist (also from when he drove for Ford) nice guy, he drove cars - quite fast, in fact he won a World Championship, he isn't dead.

Why do we always remember the ones that die yet not the ones that live?

Because people have short memories and the majority of McRae fans never saw Mikkola, Waldegaard, Blomqvist, Alen, Rohrl and Munari anyway.
In an era where mechanical sympathy as well as extreme car control was necessary I feel C McR would have had a huge DNF list against his name.
I wouldn't phrase my opinions as 'forthrightly' as JVV but people's achievements can never be viewed in isolation from their failings.
I'm sure that Ogier and Loeb would have adapted to be successful had they lived in the 2wd era but it was a far more competitive time and neither would have dominated back then.

[Grundo Farb]

Because people have short memories and the majority of McRae fans never saw Mikkola, Waldegaard, Blomqvist, Alen, Rohrl and Munari anyway.
In an era where mechanical sympathy as well as extreme car control was necessary I feel C McR would have had a huge DNF list against his name.
I wouldn't phrase my opinions as 'forthrightly' as JVV but people's achievements can never be viewed in isolation from their failings.
I'm sure that Ogier and Loeb would have adapted to be successful had they lived in the 2wd era but it was a far more competitive time and neither would have dominated back then.

Yes its funny, maybe because I am a bit older and it all wasn't plastered on the internet or TV when I was younger (and impressionable) but when you watch those older generation guys that you mention flinging cars around the hills and see the conditions in which they did it I have a lot of respect for them. You hear them describe cars like the Lancia Stratos and the technique required to drive that fast and it sounds very frightening!

[Eli]

9 Years today, R.I.P Colin

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsX4okZXgAEiNFX.jpg

Great McRae Onboard:

https://youtu.be/1sAbQ5wRr0o

[itix]

My Brother knew Colin when he drove for Ford. Nice guy, he drove cars - quite fast, in fact he won a World Championship, then he died through a lack of judgement.
My Brother knows Stig Blomqvuist (also from when he drove for Ford) nice guy, he drove cars - quite fast, in fact he won a World Championship, he isn't dead.

Why do we always remember the ones that die yet not the ones that live?

Because as soon as someone dies, they become holy in people's eyes. It is basic human psychology. You may never say bad things about someone that died and all their faults are forgotten. The dead are always remembered more than the living. Wanna become eternal? Do something really big and then die...

Why?
Now that's an interesting question...


(I should add that I liked McRae so I don't mean anything negative about him personally)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

McRae was idolised by rally fans for his driving style while he was still driving and then when he retired, not just after his death.

His attitude, his speed, his crashes, even the computer games... they all contributed to his image and made him special.

Other great drivers are respected, McRae was loved.

[N.O.T]

I wonder how the families of those that he killed feel each year when they read about how great he was.

[Simmi]

McRae was idolised by rally fans for his driving style while he was still driving and then when he retired, not just after his death.

His attitude, his speed, his crashes, even the computer games... they all contributed to his image and made him special.

Other great drivers are respected, McRae was loved.

That pretty much sums it up.

In a recent issue of Motorsport News they asked drivers past and present to list their top five rally drivers of all time. McRae came out second to Loeb in the list. Undoubtedly there are drivers with better stats, who achieved more in their careers than Colin. What people respected above all else was his commitment behind the wheel.

I was 7 when he won the title and happily I was at the RAC that year. I look back on him now and the best way I can describe him is 'flawed brilliance'.

[spyros]

I wonder how the families of those that he killed feel each year when they read about how great he was.

wtf are you serius?It was an accident even his son was killed.

[N.O.T]

wtf are you serius?It was an accident even his son was killed.

Really ? was the fact that he was flying too low, doing dangerous manoeuvres and without a licence an accident too ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-14803595

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2229460/Colin-McRae-helicopter-crash-report.html

[tomhlord]

Really ? was the fact that he was flying too low, doing dangerous manoeuvres and without a licence an accident too ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-14803595

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2229460/Colin-McRae-helicopter-crash-report.html

The crash was invistagated by experts and relevant parties, all I'm sure are better at it than you are. This is meant to be a nice thread to remember a lost hero and families. Apologies on my behalf to other forum members for feeding the troll by reponding.


Let's please move on and look fondly dirving exploits and let those who have left us in peace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYFWf_thxUY

[N.O.T]

I agree lets move on and glorify Colin, the rest that took with him are not important since they could not drive a rally car as fast.

[tomhlord]

This is meant to be a nice thread to remember a lost hero and families.

You missed my point or didn't read. Lovely.

[macebig]

9 years already...Time flies....You are still being missed...God rest your Soul..

[Eli]

10 years now, may he continue to rest in peace...

[Simmi]

I know this thread turns fairly sour every time it gets bumped - but this is quite interesting about McRae's 2008 plans.

I think it's been widely reported he was probably going to be in a Subaru. I think this is new info that Robert Reid was likely going to be his co-driver: https://www.motorsport-news.co.uk/news/rallying-news/wrc/mcrae-was-set-for-2008-subaru-reunion/

[macebig]

A freaking decade latter.Colin is sorely missed.Rallying needs him.Fans need him.Kris Meeke needs him.Hope he is pretty good Up There... God is witnessing the finest motorsport battles in history....

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Nice feature... Colin McRae - 10 Best Drives:

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/131816/colin-mcrae-10-best-drives

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJuJVWpXkAENdmf.jpg:large

[KiwiWRCfan]

A tribute from Travis Pastrama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjelJeCjHKU

[Jarek Z]

Alex Lukyanuk remembers Colin McRae:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc-winner-lukyanuk-pays-tribute-to-mcrae-10-years-on/

[cancan]

I agree lets move on and glorify Colin, the rest that took with him are not important since they could not drive a rally car as fast.

10 years after your demise there wont be too many threads missing you N.O.T.
Nearly 20 thousand posts each as pitiful as the last...
You are a sad human and a deficient being.
May you have the day you deserve.

[N.O.T]

10 years after your demise there wont be too many threads missing you N.O.T.
Nearly 20 thousand posts each as pitiful as the last...
You are a sad human and a deficient being.
May you have the day you deserve.

as long as i have not killed any children due to my incompetence or stupidity.... i am happy to be forgotten....

[Rally Power]

For the talent, passion and commitment Colin showed through his career, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest of our sport. His rally legacy should be praised by all, no matter how regrettably his life ended.

[mknight]

True, but while his rally legacy is for sure impressive I think it's a bit out of place to name him one of the top 3-5 greatest rally drivers of all time like British fans and journalists like to do.

[Norm75]

True, but while his rally legacy is for sure impressive I think it's a bit out of place to name him one of the top 3-5 greatest rally drivers of all time like British fans and journalists like to do.
I think it's a bit more widespread than British fans and journalists.
How many rally drivers has everyone heard of? Not many I doubt.
On statistics alone, Colin may not be the greatest, but stats never tell the whole story.
In fact, Motorsport in general there are only a handful of people that most people have heard of, the likes of Sterling Moss, Barry Sheene, Micheal Schumacher, Valentino Rossi, Ayrton Senna and of course Colin.

For this reason, it is no surprise that Colin's life is celebrated. He is not only one of rallyings greats, but motorsports in general. He died, and tragically, so did other people due to an accident. They happen, and Colin certainly wouldn't have intended it to.

[car]

True, but while his rally legacy is for sure impressive I think it's a bit out of place to name him one of the top 3-5 greatest rally drivers of all time like British fans and journalists like to do.

Do you not think he is in the top 3, or do you think it is inappropriate to say so, given the nature of his death?

[Simmi]

True, but while his rally legacy is for sure impressive I think it's a bit out of place to name him one of the top 3-5 greatest rally drivers of all time like British fans and journalists like to do.

Pretty b.s. statement to claim it's only the Brits that do that. I guess it's the Brits that go and paint his name on the road in Fafe each year...


The irony is that as a Brit he wouldn't be in my top five. But I'll re-purpose a post of mine from last year in this same thread.


In a 2016 issue of Motorsport News they asked WRC drivers past and present to list their top five rally drivers of all time. McRae came out second to Loeb in the list. Undoubtedly there are drivers with better stats, who achieved more in their careers than Colin. What people respected above all else was his commitment behind the wheel.

[mknight]

Talking just about his performance and "fame". Keeping his death completely out of it.

From results the top for the last 40 years are obviously Loeb, Makkinen, Kankkunen, Ogier, Gronholm, Sainz, Biasion, Rohl.

Combining results and "other factors" you still end up with most of these on top, then you get some "2nd line" drivers that for different reasons are more remembered, ex. Vatanen due to among others Pikes Peak, Argentina crash and Dakar, Mouton for being on top in male-dominated sport, Toivonen, Solberg, Burns... and also McRae, for him the big factors are the first good rallygame and how he ended. Off course this is highly subjective but for me it's not enough for top 3, especially if keeping his end out of it.



Pretty b.s. statement to claim it's only the Brits that do that. I guess it's the Brits that go and paint his name on the road in Fafe each year...
The irony is that as a Brit he wouldn't be in my top five. But I'll re-purpose a post of mine from last year in this same thread.
In a 2016 issue of Motorsport News they asked WRC drivers past and present to list their top five rally drivers of all time. McRae came out second to Loeb in the list. Undoubtedly
there are drivers with better stats, who achieved more in their careers than Colin. What people respected above all else was his commitment behind the wheel.

2016 issue of the British Motorsport News, case in point? Also I'd guess most of the drivers asked knew him in one way or another and it was also after his death.

Anyway when you don't look at results it clearly becomes very subjective, which is why Colin is not a clear top 3 from me. Call it what you want.

[BigWorm]

The most popular and recognizable - undoubtedly. One of the fastest in raw pace too. But is he among the top 5? Not in my eyes.

People say he should have more than 1 title, but I don't think so. Yes, he could have, but in the end he got beaten to it.

[AL14]

True, but while his rally legacy is for sure impressive I think it's a bit out of place to name him one of the top 3-5 greatest rally drivers of all time like British fans and journalists like to do.

I don't agree with the british part: a lot of people in all Europe affirm that. But me too I don't think he was a legend. An icon for sure but not among the top5 of all times.

[AndyRAC]

I don't know what it says about him or the sport, but he's still the biggest name in UK rallying. It might not mean much to non Brits, but he placed 3rd in 1995, in the BBC's Sport Personality of the Year; for a niche/ minority sport which was hardly on TV was incredible.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKP9fT4WkAEhsWi.jpg:large

[Eli]

15 years to this day since that helicopter crash that took away Colin's life, his son's and two family friends. May they Rest in Peace.

[Jarek Z]

Good to see that McRae family is still involved in rallying. 18-year-old Max McRae, son of Alister and nephew of the famous Colin, would like to run a Junior WRC campaign in 2023:
https://www.wrc.com/en/news/2022/junior-wrc/teenager-mcrae-eyes-junior-wrc-in-2023/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Enjoyed a great session on Dirt 2.0 yesterday in remembrance...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FctXtwoWYAQ6BlV?format=jpg&name=large

[seb_sh]

Enjoyed a great session on Dirt 2.0 yesterday in remembrance...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FctXtwoWYAQ6BlV?format=jpg&name=large

Didn't have time yesterday but I plan to do the same on the weekend.

[Eli]

16 years today.
May they Rest in Peace.

[macebig]

Gone but not forgotten...
Sadly, Colin welcomed some good company up there this year....
Have fun rallying the Kielder forests in your MK2 Escorts, guys...

[Norm75]

I still remember the shock of hearing about it standing in my kitchen 16 years ago. I’d been to that years festival of speed at goodwood, and watched Colin driving around the rally stage in an Impreza and his own r4. I had photos, I’d borrowed my wife’s digital camera. Before I got the chance to upload them to the laptop a friend borrowed the camera and wiped all the photos!

A few years back I went again and had a good chat with Jimmy. I’m terrible at chatting to people and even worse with people I don’t know and have some fame or notability about them. Jimmy probably thought I was just another Colin fan boy, but what I neglected to tell him was my favourite driver when I was a lad was actually Jimmy himself, until a young lad called Colin came along and started smashing it.

Caught up with him again later in the day, this time with my wife by my side who just struck up conversation and a rapport with Jimmy in a way I never can.