A Formula One for Safety

Sure, you have to be careful when drawing parallels between “now” and “then”—but that doesn’t mean history doesn’t have important lessons for statesmen and sportsmen alike.

The nine deaths (and many more injuries) that occurred this week at the Reno National Championship Air Races were only the latest in a string of barnstorming tragedies; several other stunt pilots have died in the United States just this summer. The governing body of National Championship Air Races would do well to look to other dangerous sports for advice on improving safety while maintaining the excitement of its events.

And they wouldn't have to look far. Senna, an ESPN documentary about the Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, is in theaters right now. It's no spoiler to let on that Senna dies in a race-car crash; he's discussed in the past tense from minute zero of the film, which makes fantastic use of old racing footage and is accessible for even those who, like me, don't know a pit stop from a piston.



But more to the point, Senna's crash in 1994 was the last time a Formula One driver ever died during a race. His death inspired the international federation of automobile racing to institute new requirements for cars and tracks alike, and it worked -- without compromising the fun.

Certainly there's inherent risk in racing, whether the vehicle is a stock car or a biplane. That's kind of the whole point, so some air racing devotees (if this New York Times article is any indication) seem to be wary of ruining the sport through safety regulations. But the thrill of speed and danger relies on getting as close as possible to the edge without stumbling over it. It may be exciting to watch a friend taunt the junk-yard dog and possibly even get a scratch to show for his troubles; it's not exciting to watch him get eaten. So you better make sure the dog's chain is as strong as possible.

Fans and administrators of air racing and air shows should use the history of Formula One for a primer in safety regulations. More vroom and less doom is just as important in the air as on the road.