Nice story
Lauda's certainly an acquired taste, funnily enough I find his directness and honesty appealing. Really good series of interviews with him on YouTube, the first I saw was this one "I have no friends" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_H05gpykGQ
One of the other drivers that helped pull him out from the flames was Guy Edwards, he got a QGM for trying. Random TZ-UK connection being I nearly bought a car from him a few years ago (Lotus Carlton).