Aryton Senna

9 May 2024, a date of no particular significance? 

I'm sure if you were to google search 9 May, a lot of events would had taken place all over the world. Even historic events. In fact even today, 9 May 2024 lots of events would have happened all around the world. Maybe, even something significant. 

But to me TODAY, somehow after finishing work and chores, I unwind on YouTube. I saw my Hero's video and the memories came pouring in. I was filled with emotion and it was not easy to hold back. I don't know why but it was like some cosmic interference and somehow it manifested through YouTube. The year was 1994. Lots happened that year. We lost Kurt.

It was also the year we lost 3 Times World F1 Champion, Ayrton Senna da Silva. Born in Santana, São Paulo, Brazil on 21 Mac 1960. Died on 1 May 1994, San Marino Grand Prix Circuit, Imola, Italy. 

In Brazil, his home country, it was a national tragedy and government declared 3 days of national mourning. The Brazilian flag was placed over his coffin and was carried by Military Police Academy Mounted Guards for the 32.2km's journey to the city. The motorcade was led by 17 Police motorcycles and 2500 Policemen lined the route to keep the crowds at bay.

It is believed over 500,000 people lined the streets to offer him their last salute.

After the public viewing, a 21 gun salute was fired by the 2nd Artillery Brigade and 7 Brazilian Air Force jets in a diamond formation as the funeral precession proceeded to Morumbi Cemetery, Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

Senna's championship car, chassis no MP4-8/6 was designed by Steve Nicholas, Ron Dennis and Gordon Murray. Power was derived from Honda's 1.5 litre V6 RA168E turbo engine. Producing 675hp at 12,000rpm. Weighing in at only 540kg. The weight to power ratio made it a monster. Manual transmission.

Not to be confused with the above car, the car that took Senna's life was a Williams FW16 Renault powered RS6 3.5 litre V10. Producing 830hp at 14,300 rpm.   

Senna's iconic helmet was inspired by the Brazilian flag. His last helmet worn during that tragic day was Bell (M3 Kevlar). 

Why Senna's death hit me so badly that even in 2024, I tear up?

I was very close to my late grandmother. Back then my late father was an Immigration Officer attached to the Immigration office in Johor Bahru. Needless to say we regularly watched Singapore channels. We stayed in the Government quarters and due to my father's rank we got a nice house. Me and my grandmother shared the room together. She had an old National transistor coloured TV. The ones with the knob to change channel and volume. With the build in antenna at its back. It had a funky orange silhouette. 

She watched her favourite shows, Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote and etc. 

I on the other hand was obsessed with F1, 500cc Moto Grand Prix Racing, Miami Vice and etc. 

I was a big fan of F1 back then. I watched the greats Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher battling it out. Race after Race. It was pure adrenaline. It was nail biting. It was pure excitement. Week after week, I would look forward to the races on TV.   

It was never the same after Senna died. I just lost interest in the sports and just like that I rarely saw F1 thereafter. Within a few weeks after Senna death, I stopped watching F1 altogether. I never saw a complete race from start to finish. And it has remained so. Occasionally I may catch bits and pieces on YouTube of current races but that's about it. I just lost interest. 

Seeing Senna drive was magical. He defied physics. He was brilliant. He was extraordinary. He made his car dance in corners. He took corners at breakneck speed. He gave his all for the thing he loved to do.

Never again will I watch F1 races from start to finish. I guess it was meant to be. 

The tears today when I was watching Senna on YouTube was not only remembering the Greatest Driver in the World but the memories of yesteryears in the room watching that TV at night with my grandmother nearby.

To add salt to injury, it was also today that I found out that on 1 March 2024 Lego had released its Lego Icons set (no. 10330) MP4/4 as a tribute to Senna. Immediately I checked all local outlets, only to find that it is completely sold out. 

God Speed Senna I love U Amamma. 

He was a master of the rain. Although he hated racing in the rain. He was noted saying this to his trainer that he could not see anything in the rain only the previous car's tire lines. The difference between him and the other drivers was that he never let go his throttle. He kept pushing it even in the rain.  

Seeing him driving in the rain was truly astonishing. 

Now when I see rain, I think of Senna. As a tribute.

By the way, every 1st May is Malaysian's Labour Day.