Canadian practice

(7 Oct 1977) notes: col print
location: mosport, ontario canada
title: canadian practice
serviced date: 10/08/77
no: lnc 87004
date shot: 10/07/77
length: 69 ft
seconds: 1:50
sound: natsof
date of arrival:
film shows: highlights of first day's qualifying at canadian grand prix / shots of leading drivers in pits and on track / shots of jochen mass after crash / shots of ian ashley being flown away by helicopter after crash
lead in: mario andretti drove his lotus around the twisting four-kilometre mosport track faster than any man before, to set the pace in the first day's qualifying for the canadian grand prix friday (7 october 77).
andretti, who has won the pole position in five of this year's 15 grand prix races, is second in the world championship, behind niki lauda of austria, who has already clinched the title. lauda, who is leaving ferrarri after this season, has refused to enter the canadian event.
second-faster of friday's racers was james hunt of britain, in his mc laren, followed by sweden's ronnie peterson, in a tyrrell.
the qualifying day was marred by three accidents, one of which was serious.
commentary: behind andretti, hunt, and peterson was sweden's ginnar nilsson in another lotus. germany's jochen mass, driving a mclaren, was fifth, and partick depailler of france, driving yet another lotus, rounded out the top six. the final order for sunday's reace will be determined after saturday (8 oct 77) qualifying runs.
hunt had held the previous qualifying record at mosport, and he also managed to beat that mark on friday, though not as convincingly as andretti.
lauda, who announced his switch to brabham, which will happen after this year's season, complained that ferarri would not give him complete support, because of his decision to quit.
mass managed his time despite a minor accident which damaged his car's suspension, but he will be ready to race on sunday. canada's gilles villeneuve also suffered minor damage in an accident.
britain's ian ashely, however, suffered a major accident, when his hesketh was demolished earlier in the day. the car became air-borne at 290 kph, flipping over twice in mid-air, bouncing off the track, and finally crashing into a scaffold set up for a television camera. ashely was trapped in the car for 45 minutes before being freed and rushed by helicopter to a hospital in toronto. he suffered broken wrists and logs, as well as a mild concussion. he was accompanied to hospital by a neurosurgeon, who reported him in "good condition". it was a dramatic beginning to what could be a surprising canadian grand prix.
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[@davemckiernan]

I met Ian about 5 years ago. We chatted all evening about his very interesting experiences. Lovely person, and he still likes to race!

[@Crash-yp7ll]

Unfortunately, appears no footage of the accident is or was available - I happened to be standing in the infield at 'that' corner when it happened... Car flew off the driver's left side of the road, hitting an unoccupied TV tower, and rolled-up into a ball, with the four tires and the engine tucked under the tub - Ian was slumped-forward towards the steering wheel when it all came to rest - I ran into Ian years later at Mid Ohio for a Barber Saab race - He seemed REAL keen to get back up the latter (!)

[@vectro4284]

Did he lose the rear or something? Such a shame there’s no footage

[@Crash-yp7ll]

@@vectro4284 - Believe the verdict was the front end got too light over the last 'hump' on the long straight ...