'The hood decapitated tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine': Le Mans '55 and the worst disaster in motorsports history

Tragedy At Le Mans; The gutted wreckage of the Mercedes driven by Pierre Levegh burns on the shoulder of the Le Mans 24-hour track after hurtling through the crowd of spectators, leaving a toll of 83 dead. (Photo by Bettmann via Getty Images)

The images may be black and white but even the faded frames of a tragedy 65 years ago still pack a powerful punch.