John Fitch - RIP

[Chris24]

Sad to hear today that racing legend John Fitch has passed away at the age of 95. John had an 18 year racing career mainly in sports cars racing at Le Mans and Sebring for the likes of Corvette. John was also Corvette racing's first team manager. During WW2 John was a P-51 Mustang pilot and was shot down and saw out the war as a POW.

R.I.P John Fitch

[Grand_Fromage]

I had the privilege of interviewing John Fitch a few years ago regarding his WW2 exploits and his experience in the tragic circumstances at Le Mans in 1955 ( he was the other driver in the ill-fated Mercedes with Pierre Levegh ). He was a thoroughly good chap, and since that terrible day in '55 he has been responsible for many safety innovations both on the track and public roads.

[Snoring Rhino]

Was he not responsible for the development of Amarco Barriers? Saw him at St Saturnin in 2010 (?), clearly a very well respected man.

[Andy Zarse]

A true gent.

And yes he worked on crash barriers, many owe him their lives.

RIP

[Boorish Grobian]

Agreed, fascinating and innovative man.  Have always found his condemnation of Mike Hawthorn a bit harsh though.  Perhaps more than anyone he layed the blame for the '55 LM crash squarely at Hawthorn's feet.  I always thought it more of a "perfect storm" of circumstances that led to the tragedy, but Fitch always maintained that, no doubt about it, Hawthorn caused the accident.
Fax

[Chris24]

Fax, I guess everyone is entitled to their opinions whether right or wrong who is to say, so John was only statiing his opinions on the LM55 crash.

[Jules G]

A very nice obituary in the telegraph about John

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/9654484/John-Fitch.html

RIP