Walk Slow

It’s Sunday June 14, 1969 and approximately 400,000 people are spectating at the start of the 37th Le Mans 24 hours race. Drivers are set off running so they can jump into their cars as quickly as possible in order to get underway as fast as they could. Everyone is rushing except for a Belgian named Jacky Ickx who walks over to his Ford GT40. This is his protest to this type of start, as drivers begin racing without properly putting on their helmets or safety belts in order to gain a few seconds. Once he got in his car, Ickx put on his helmet, securely fastened his safety belt and started the race last. Jacky Ickx ultimately won the race and his protest did not go unnoticed and the rules were changed for 1970 so that all drivers started the race sitting in their cars with all the needed safety equipment in place. The slow walk of Ickx brought an end to the “Le Mans Start” and the risks associated with it.