Ayrton Senna - My Childhood Hero, and a Brief Overview of Brazil in F1

"André - Volvo4Life" (Volvo-4-life) 02/07/2014 at 10:44 • Filed to: None

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Many petrolheads and Formula 1 enthusiasts who grew up watching the sport in the late 80s and early 90s claim Ayrton Senna as their childhood hero. Of course, the man was a Legend. I have been enjoying F1 since 1986, when I would wake up every Sunday morning and watch races with my Father. Luckily, dad is still around and healthy, but I know many years from now, when he is no longer with us, those are the memories I will cherish the most. And in our house in Brazil, on those Sunday mornings, there was only one name we cared about, and it was usually yelled something like this:

"AYRTON, AYRTON, AYRTON SENNA DO BRASIIIIIIIIL"

In the unmistakable voice of the voice of Brazilian sports on TV since the 80s: Galvão Bueno.

Now Oppo, there is no denying that the fact that I am Brazilian, Ayrton's country, amplifies my love for the man, but I want to try to explain to you just how crazy our Country was for it's favorite son. Sundays were almost a religious experience, Brazil's time zone is favored when it comes to showing races on Sunday, they usually fall right around 10-11 AM, right as families are preparing for their traditional Sunday "Churrascos" (Barbeques) needless to say, this is a factor in Brazil's love of Formula 1.

Another deciding and more important factor, is the history of drivers the country has produced, many of them Champions. The first Brazilian WDC was Emerson Fittipaldi, a man who paved the way for Brazilian and other South American drivers to head to Europe. Fittipaldi was Champion in 1972 and 1974. Later, came Nelson Piquet, a great driver who was known to speak his mind regardless of the situation and of who it might offend. He was champion with Brabham twice, and Williams once, thus becoming the first Brazilian Triple World Champion.

Fittipaldi, a man of great talent, and even greater Side burns.

Other drivers have not been able to achieve a world title, such as Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa. Barrichello achieved a prestigious career in F1, but he suffered in Brazil by being mocked as Schumacher's puppet and second-driver. But to those who know, the record-holder for most F1 races was a genius at setting up cars, and a great racer. Massa is still racing, this year with the promising Williams, equipped with the so-far very reliable Mercedes powerplant.

Back to Senna, surely millions of Brazilians had the same experiences that I had growing up, and undoubtedly all of them can take you back to the exact spot they were standing in on that May 1st 1994. I remember clearly watching the race with my Dad, and my mom heading to the market next door to buy some things for lunch, Senna crashed while she was gone, I remember telling her "Senna crashed..." My dad, like millions of Brazilians around the country, was already crying.

This experience is one of the only very clear moments I remember of my childhood. It was, without a doubt, the biggest loss that Brazil has ever suffered. Shops were closed that Monday, people walked the streets quietly, there were less cars on the streets, the busses were silent. Brazil had lost it's National Hero.

You've all seen pictures of the funeral, Millions lining the streets of São Paulo as Ayrton's body was taken from the airport to the State building, where he lay in state draped under the Brazilian flag and his typical yellow helmet. He was buried with full military honors which were normally reserved to Presidents.

F1 hasn't been the same since then to most Brazilians, what once was a national passion in the 70s 80s and 90s, is now an enthusiast sport. The races are still shown on National TV on Sundays just like they were in the victorious days of Fittipaldi, Piquet, and Senna. However, the domination of Schumacher in the 2000s and the lack of a prominent Brazilian really pushed down audience levels.

But deep down, everyone knows, the real reason is that Sunday mornings are never the same.

Thanks for reading!

Pedro Rafael > André - Volvo4Life 02/07/2014 at 11:45

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Nice article. Senna was really awesome, a true legend. It's just too sad that things ended up the way they did.

André - Volvo4Life > Pedro Rafael 02/07/2014 at 12:11

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Agreed. Thanks for the kind words!!

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > André - Volvo4Life 02/07/2014 at 12:40

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"a great driver who was known to speak his mind regardless of the situation and of who it might offend."

Speaking his mind =/= being a dick. Which honestly, was what Piquet actually was:
Senna, on the other side, was a great driver and a great man. F1 became much poorer the moment he died. Good piece btw.

JACU - I've got bonifides. > André - Volvo4Life 02/07/2014 at 13:12

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I have always reserved the word "hero" for someone who has either intentionally or spontaneously put themselves in danger for somebody else or the greater good, but aside from that, Senna was, IMO as close as it gets to being a "heroic" driver. His passionate following was well deserved. I was a fan when he was with Toleman, and I remain a fan today.

Lyn Dromey > André - Volvo4Life 02/07/2014 at 13:44

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Hi, great article!! Hard to believe that it's almost 20 years since we lost Ayrton at Tamburello! from my experience, here in Europe, Senna is still hugely popular with a massive genuine fanbase!!
Doubtless he is still held in the same very regard in Brazil!!
Thanks for sharing, saudade Ayrton

André - Volvo4Life > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 02/07/2014 at 15:37

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Oh yes, he was definetly a dick. As all the stories from the paddock relate.

Come to think of it, he still is a dick today!

André - Volvo4Life > JACU - I've got bonifides. 02/07/2014 at 15:38

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Agreed. I also don't use the word lightly!

Surely, to all the kids that his Foundation saves and gives an opportunity to today, he is a hero.

The Ayrton Senna Institute is taking kids from the roughest and most infested parts of Rio and giving them education.

And, if you like the jumping into danger bit, there's this:

André - Volvo4Life > Lyn Dromey 02/07/2014 at 15:39

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Thank you for the words!

Bueller > André - Volvo4Life 02/13/2014 at 21:46

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Ayrton was truly inspiring, a genius of the wheel. He gave of himself a lot, piping many of the millions he'd make in a season to charities, feeding, educating and teaching children a trade. He made himself available to children in need generously. Even his former girlfriends had nothing but things to say about him.

When the accident happened, all that I could muster when I picked my jaw from the floor was to think that it wasn't good crashing at such speed, which then turned into the realization that he had probably been fatally injured given the time they were taking.

As André said, it was a somber week, which culminated in the translation of his body across Sao Paulo, businesses closed and people lined the streets to bid their last farewell to the last great Brazilian. His body was carried by the crème de la crème in racing, for one them had raced the race and crossed the finish line.

Godspeed, Ayrton.

My Kids Have Four...Wheels (And Paws) > André - Volvo4Life 02/13/2014 at 22:33

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Thanks for the article. I was only 11 when he died and it's kind of poignant for me that, although I had only begun watching F1 a year and a half earlier, in 1992, it hasn't been the same since. Senna has always epitomized that true and pure spirit of a Driver - even if, many years down the road, I would find myself disagreeing with his religious views, not the least bit of which because even then, as a child, I knew of his faith and his death to me was (insert deity here)'s ultimate betrayal. I definitely remember the day of the crash, as well as the next morning when I found out he was no longer with us (living in Russia, obviously no Internet and very few TV channels that carried racing news = some delay in the bad news arriving)...even my dad (who had always regarded my fascination with F1 with some disdain) was moved.

Too bad I never got to see him race and I'm that much more thankful now that I caught Schumacher two years ago at Hockenheim...

Lillee > André - Volvo4Life 02/14/2014 at 00:12

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I remember the exact moment when I saw the crash. It was very early morning in Australia and I cried all morning. I piece of my childhood died that day. I will never call anyone my hero ever again. To this day, speaking about him or reading about him stirs emotions that I can almost not contain...

RSanthony > André - Volvo4Life 02/14/2014 at 04:47

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Luckily, dad is still around and healthy, but I know many years from now, when he is no longer with us, those are the memories I will cherish the most.

Oh man. This particular sentence got me very deeply moved. If you care to know why, please let me explain.

I was born in Madagascar and my Belgian adoptive Dad, my mom and I arrived in Europe in 1989. I was only 4 years old but the memories I have from that period are quite extensive and vivid. Among those memories, I remember seeing the famous colors of Marlboro/Honda/McLaren on postcards and posters that seemed to be everywhere in Brussels back then. At tobacconists. At bus stops. Everywhere. My parents and I would go for long walks in the city, and either Dad or Mom would enter a café and pick up a few of those postcards for me. The late 80s and early 90s, as well as Senna and Prost are still the moments of F1 that are the closest to my heart. I learnt to see the other side of Senna. Senna the merciless racing driver. Senna the human being with qualities and flaws. Not just Senna the Saint. But the initial impact of those 1989 moments will never fade.

Now a couple days ago I watched the recent "Sound of Senna" video again. Just stumbled on it really. It made me remember those early moments of childhood. Brussels. And sadly that my Dad died of lung cancer 12 years ago. All that is left now is memories of those kind, innocent moments. To which Senna and Prost will always be linked in my mind.

Thanks for your article man. Spend as much time with your Dad as you can.

Menebrio > André - Volvo4Life 02/14/2014 at 09:22

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I still remember I was at my grandmothers place watching the race with my cousin while we played with our toy F1 cars,coincidentally one ones a 1/18 scale of Senna's championship winning McLaren. The power cut off when Senna hit the wall. It took about 10 to 20 minutes for it to be reinstated, and all the announcer were talking about was of the likeliness of his passing, as they re-showed the footage of the accident and crash scene. I was 8 at the time.

I guess we can say his greatest legacy to the sport was the massive safety overhaul the sport got in the following years. And to Brazil, it was probably the generations he has inspired and will continue to do so.

André - Volvo4Life > RSanthony 02/14/2014 at 12:00

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Thanks for sharing my friend! And don't worry, I plan on enjoying my parent's company. Have a good weekend.

stevestamop > André - Volvo4Life 02/16/2014 at 07:42

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Man.. Senna hey. I have nothing but admiration, respect and love for him, his dedication, his work ethic and even though he broke them from time to time, his morals. He always fought (silverstone 93) no matter what, and he was just better than everyone else, because he worked at it. I am no race-car driver, but I like to think about these qualities when I am working in my profession, and try to apply them in my day to day life. He is truly a hero.

Gabriel Stürmer > JACU - I've got bonifides. 02/20/2014 at 15:28

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Late 80's and early 90's were tough for Brazil. The country was just coming out of military dictatorship and there wasn't much to be proud of. To many, Senna was the reason to carry on with life and something to be happy with.

My earliest childhood memory, around 4YO, is that I was watching a pre F1 race, the reporter interviewed Senna and he replied in Portuguese. I asked my grandfather, with which I used to watch F1, "Is Senna Brazilian?". He said yes. I felt proud. That wasn't something you used to see from a Brazilian.

Senna new about it and it was important to him to show his country. Not so much for Piquet, though.