A costly last lap fumble from Black Jack in Monaco

©TheCahierArchive

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©TheCahierArchive

On this day in 1970, in the prestigious Principality of Monaco, Jack Brabham was setting himself up for his 15th Grand Prix win.

After the Aussie had led the grueling race for 67 laps, a thrilling finale saw Lotus' Jochen Rindt hunt down Brabham, but it looked like the Austrian would come up short as the pair raced towards the checkered flag on the ultimate round.

With just a few hundred meters and one corner to go, Brabham threw it all away.

Braking late on the dirty part of the track on his approach to Gazomètre, he veered off course and straight into the hay bales while Rindt cruised past on his way to an unexpected win.

Brabham put it in reverse and managed to salvage second place, but it was a meager consolation for the F1 veteran.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.