Man.
Looking at these photos of the young Rodríguez brothers reminds me that I should stop bitching about how sterile and safe racing has become. Ricardo died at 20, Pedro at 31.
Just ridiculously young.
It’s strange to me that when I look at these photos, I don’t feel the same way I did about a similar juxtaposition of photos from de Portago’s career. Looking at the de Portago photos, I felt a certain, well not joy exactly, but they felt right. Young de Portago playing racing driver in a kiddie car somehow proved that he died doing what he loved.
These photos, however, give me a different feeling, even though the comparison is almost exactly the same. The photo of the young Rodríguez brothers in racing helmets might give me the same feeling, but I can’t help but think of what Pedro must have felt like getting back into a car after Ricardo’s death. How difficult it must have been to climb back into the racing car, but not being able not to. The idea of racing as a passion appeals to me, but in this light it’s more racing as obsession—as addiction—and while I can understand that, it makes these photos feel more heartbreaking.
0 replies on “Los Hermanos Rodríguez”
I agree with all your sentiments, but don’t forget – racing was a career as well for those boys. Pedro would have climbed in and got on with it because it was what he did.
Many a racing driver’s memoirs have commented on their careers having started with passion and ending as a job. Just like the rest of us. I still think racing today is sterile, but it hasn’t been made that way because of safety – I think its been made that way as a means for the greater corporate gain.