Trivia (F-1):
Weird, but true #1
Two time World Driving Champion Alberto Ascari was killed at the Monza Autodroma in May 1955. His father Antonio Ascari was killed in an accident during the 1925 French Grand Prix. Both died on the 25th day of the month, four days after another frightening accident. Each was 37 years old at the time. The accidents were on left hand turns, each was ejected from his car (no seat belts then) and each left behind a wife, a son and a daughter.
Wierd, but true #2
Italy's Giulio Cabianca died at the wheel of a Ferrari engined Cooper in June of 1961. He was testing the car at the Monza Autodromo when either the throttle stuck open or the brakes failed. The car went thru an open gate onto the street outside of the Autodromo. It hit a taxi and killed three people in the cab as well as Cabianca.
Wierd, but true #3
German touring car driver Hans Hyer did not qualify in a Penske-Ford entered in the 1977 Hockenheim G-P by the ATS team. When the 24 qualifiers started, Heyer joined them. He was the only illegal starter in the history of the World Championship. He retired with a broken shifter before he could be black flagged.
Wierd, but true #4
In 1981 there was the distinct possibility that there would be two different Formula 1 championships. The Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) was unhappy with FISA's (FIA's predecessor) operating methods. FOCA's Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley created the World Federation of Motor Sport. In November of 1980 WFMS announced that it was the only official sanctioning body for F-1 and all the British teams concurred. The continental manufacturers (Renault, Ferrari and ALFA-Romeo) supported FISA. FOCA had a race in South Africa and after four months the "Concorde Agreement" was signed. It recognized the FISA/FIA as the owner of the F-1 World Championship and FOCA as the owner of the TV rights. The rest as they say, is history. During that same period a similar disagreement was brewing between FISA/FIA and the Automobile Club d' Ouest (ACO), the organizers of the 24hrs of LeMans.