He died yesterday at age 84 Dr. Sid Watkins, my former boss in Formula 1. When he invited me to fly the Medical Car of Formula 1, I never imagined that I would become the right man in the right place at the right time for such a mission tailored, specific and unique: From potential victim of a sport that killed a pilot every 10 accidents, I became part of the "team of guardian angels" of F1 under the command of Prof.. Watkins. At the wheel of Medical Car I could bring salvation to the body and soul of those who make their living on the edge in a context divorced from values of God's Kingdom.
After three years with three wheels on hand: the Athletes of Christ, the International Coalition of Ministries of Sport and Mercedes C55T in all of F1 GPs. I was exhausted from giving so many tours around the world but it was worth it because I learned to argue the logic of my faith and an audience with sarcastic and very smart. A kind of people that is not within the churches, as both this story of a magazine:
Bernie Ecclestone asked Prof. Watkins:
- Because Alex agreed to do this job without earning a penny?
- Because he is hoping to convert me to Christianity.
- Then give a 10-year contract for him. I bet that before the end of the contract, the Alex will be smoking cigars and drinking whiskey and you will not have taken way ...
Every weekend of Grand Prix I spent almost eleven in training at the Medical Car, ratings and F1 racing and preliminary. Living so long with people as smart, educated and refined sense of humor, I learned a lot about medicine, first aid, politics and how life can be better if we do not we take very seriously ...
Considered one of the best neurosurgeons in the world and also professor in the subject, Sid created a brilliant system of emergency care to riders. His performance in this area was so effective that he was appointed chairman of the security committee of F1.
Bernie Ecclestone gave him carte blanche to demand political power and the construction of medical centers equipped with helipads, helicopters and medical teams specialized in ransom for all courses. Require the construction of safer cars and circuits. Enter the Medical Car fast riders to meet with cardiorespiratory arrest before the occurrence of brain death. And to hire who he wanted for his team. Including me.
As a result the F1, which killed more than one pilot per year, drastically reduced the number of deaths becoming the risky sport safer world. Since the tragedy of Ayrton in 1994 until today, no pilot died in F1.
Thanks to a neurosurgeon who found the meaning of his existence breaking paradigms of safety standards and made history saving lives not only pilots but of thousands of citizens worldwide through safety devices developed on the track and built into cars street.
Twenty years older than me, Sid used to introduce me to his guests as his son and confessed in one of his books that he was a convinced agnostic but if someone someday be able to convert him to Christianity that someone would Alex Ribeiro. The best thing I learned from him was the art of aging well and found meaning to his life.
Together we participated in 48 starts closing the grid of 48 GPs driving a fantastic car that was carrying a medical team fastest in the world. The most dramatic rescues were: Michael Schumacher at Silverstone, Luciano Burti in SPA, Pedro Paulo Diniz in Hockenheim, Henry Bernoldi at Interlagos, when Nick Heidfeld took off the door and the Medical Car almost took me along. And Monza where the wheel loose from one of eight cars involved in an accident on the first lap struck a firefighter who died in our hands as we tried to save him. .
Along with my duties as a minister of the gospel and sports bureaucrat, God allowed me to fly back. This time of great joy and adrenaline rush was a gift of great value for the healing of traumas of the heart with the closing of an open cycle in my past, through a decent burial for my career. This process added a extraordinary meaning to my existence, an enormous gratitude to God and to one of the most extraordinary people I've ever met: Professor Sid Watkins.
I would parabenisar everything the English Sid Watkins did, but the season Senna's death, I think it should have an easy construction apparatus that would have saved Senna, and never got the idea to offer this aperelho medical team hope to give this porder own idea before I die is easy and simple and can save the life of pilot too .. I'm still available for urgent clarification.
Lionel
email lelof1@yahoo.com.br
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