Win Percy paralysed
Discussion
Win Percy has been permanently paralysed from the waist down after a gardening accident. It's on DSC, don't know if its up anywhere else. Terrible news. He's one of the nicest blokes in racing, as well as being bloody quick. Awful day, with Tony Renna getting killed as well. Terrible 
If Graham reads this, I know DSC is a subscription site and I'll take this off if you ask, but Win is an absolute legend and I think everyone would want to know about this.
Taken from dailysportscar.com
We are disturbed to discover that as a result of a gardening accident, Le Mans hero and all-round good bloke Win Percy is confined to a wheelchair: just to write the words “permanently paraplegic, paralysed from the waist down” sounds so harsh. It’s a cruel world, isn’t it?
The dear man stepped out of the Jaguar at Le Mans in 1987, after sliding down the Mulsanne Straight upside down, and then suffers unbelievably cruel misfortune – in his garden.
Win was actually the first driver I ever interviewed, and his charm and good manners – and that lovely accent – encouraged me to pursue this ‘profession’. He really is one of the best, and although we don’t know whether we’ll still have the pleasure of seeing him opposite-locking some marvellous piece of machinery around the race tracks of the UK – he is determined to return to driving (on the road) using a hand-control converted car.
Alex Zanardi has shown what can be done.
Win has apparently received tremendous encouragement from Sir Frank Williams and Gordon Cruickshank of 'Motor Sport' magazine, who both live with similar injuries, and we’re delighted to hear that he has been overwhelmed by good wishes and support from his many friends around the world.
“If anybody can hack it Win will” – and we couldn’t agree more. A multiple British Touring Car Champion, a huge talent in historic cars, a winner in British GTs, in the TWR Jaguars, a man who has conquered the Mountain at Bathurst in 1990 – and one who has raced with grace and charm throughout a very long career.
Good luck Winston.
Taken from dailysportscar.com
We are disturbed to discover that as a result of a gardening accident, Le Mans hero and all-round good bloke Win Percy is confined to a wheelchair: just to write the words “permanently paraplegic, paralysed from the waist down” sounds so harsh. It’s a cruel world, isn’t it?
The dear man stepped out of the Jaguar at Le Mans in 1987, after sliding down the Mulsanne Straight upside down, and then suffers unbelievably cruel misfortune – in his garden.
Win was actually the first driver I ever interviewed, and his charm and good manners – and that lovely accent – encouraged me to pursue this ‘profession’. He really is one of the best, and although we don’t know whether we’ll still have the pleasure of seeing him opposite-locking some marvellous piece of machinery around the race tracks of the UK – he is determined to return to driving (on the road) using a hand-control converted car.
Alex Zanardi has shown what can be done.
Win has apparently received tremendous encouragement from Sir Frank Williams and Gordon Cruickshank of 'Motor Sport' magazine, who both live with similar injuries, and we’re delighted to hear that he has been overwhelmed by good wishes and support from his many friends around the world.
“If anybody can hack it Win will” – and we couldn’t agree more. A multiple British Touring Car Champion, a huge talent in historic cars, a winner in British GTs, in the TWR Jaguars, a man who has conquered the Mountain at Bathurst in 1990 – and one who has raced with grace and charm throughout a very long career.
Good luck Winston.
This is terrible news. Win Percy is one of a handful of my Touring Car heroes alongside the likes of Andy Rouse and Peter Brock. I've never actually met the bloke. Saw him out at the Nurburgring a few years back in the Chrysler tent but was somewhat starstruck and didn't have the bottle to go up and say hello.
Bah, that really sucks. Thoughts and best wishes for a speedy return to health. Never say never.
Roop
Edited for Typo
>> Edited by roop on Wednesday 22 October 21:23
Bah, that really sucks. Thoughts and best wishes for a speedy return to health. Never say never.
Roop
Edited for Typo
>> Edited by roop on Wednesday 22 October 21:23
What a shame.
A great driver and bloke. At Brands one year he was racing the 1955 le Mans winnign D-type. I asked him if I could have a closer look, and he let me sit in the car, and he took the photo!!!
Great bloke. My thoughts are with you and your family. Its not going to be easy...
A great driver and bloke. At Brands one year he was racing the 1955 le Mans winnign D-type. I asked him if I could have a closer look, and he let me sit in the car, and he took the photo!!!
Great bloke. My thoughts are with you and your family. Its not going to be easy...
Terrible news
I was at Le Mans in - was it '87? When his Jag suffered a puncture on the Mulsanne straight at night. I clearly recall listening to Radio Le Mans, Sunday morning, when the commentator interupted himself to say that someone he is very glad to see has just walked into the studio. I'm sure I detected some emotion in his voice, 'cos by all rights Win should have been dead. It was great (if that's the right word) to hear about the accident from the horses mouth. He described how he knew he was high in the air, that he was waiting for the car to come down so he could get it over with, how he got over the car, flung himself over the barrier and lay there to get his breath back, and when he sat up he saw that the marshals were searching up in the trees with powerful searchlights - then he realised it was him they were looking for!
The safety cars were out for hours after that, so we got bladdered. I staggered back to my tent after I'd had enough, and came across the truck with what was left of the Jag on the back. 'Cept I didn't know it was the Jag. It was just a tub with a big engine block bolted onto the back of it. All blackened, IIRC, certainly no sponsor logos visible to identify the car. Everything had gone. No bodywork other than the basic tub, and an engine block.
I enjoyed watching Win in the D-Types at Goodwood. Those cars are a handful there.
What a shame. Could do with knowing what happened, to avoid the same happening to me. Wifey has me spending too much time in the garden as it is, just to earn sufficient brownie points.
I was at Le Mans in - was it '87? When his Jag suffered a puncture on the Mulsanne straight at night. I clearly recall listening to Radio Le Mans, Sunday morning, when the commentator interupted himself to say that someone he is very glad to see has just walked into the studio. I'm sure I detected some emotion in his voice, 'cos by all rights Win should have been dead. It was great (if that's the right word) to hear about the accident from the horses mouth. He described how he knew he was high in the air, that he was waiting for the car to come down so he could get it over with, how he got over the car, flung himself over the barrier and lay there to get his breath back, and when he sat up he saw that the marshals were searching up in the trees with powerful searchlights - then he realised it was him they were looking for!
The safety cars were out for hours after that, so we got bladdered. I staggered back to my tent after I'd had enough, and came across the truck with what was left of the Jag on the back. 'Cept I didn't know it was the Jag. It was just a tub with a big engine block bolted onto the back of it. All blackened, IIRC, certainly no sponsor logos visible to identify the car. Everything had gone. No bodywork other than the basic tub, and an engine block.
I enjoyed watching Win in the D-Types at Goodwood. Those cars are a handful there.
What a shame. Could do with knowing what happened, to avoid the same happening to me. Wifey has me spending too much time in the garden as it is, just to earn sufficient brownie points.
Didn't realise that Win was this well known, I've just purchased his car, the reason he was selling was of course because of this news, but although he is paralised it may not be permanant according to one of his close friends, so fingers crossed.
Although it was a gardening accident that led to him going to hospital it was'nt the cause of him being paralised, apparently.
Nik
>> Edited by pvapour on Thursday 23 October 18:40
Although it was a gardening accident that led to him going to hospital it was'nt the cause of him being paralised, apparently.
Nik
>> Edited by pvapour on Thursday 23 October 18:40
There was an update on Win's condition in my local paper at the weekend.
Having been diagnosed as suffering from a prolapsed disc, Win was told that he would need 6 months rehabilitation, he was in fact able to leave Odstock hospital in Salisbury after only 8 weeks and is now driving again in a modified BMW. Win said that he hoped to be racing again by the middle of summer 2004.
According to the article there have been many offers of race cars converted to hand controls including a 1955 Jaguar D-type, a Lotus 15, a Camaro and a Sunbeam Tiger.
Doctors have said that there is a possibility of regaining some feeling in the legs.
Great news - good luck fella.
Having been diagnosed as suffering from a prolapsed disc, Win was told that he would need 6 months rehabilitation, he was in fact able to leave Odstock hospital in Salisbury after only 8 weeks and is now driving again in a modified BMW. Win said that he hoped to be racing again by the middle of summer 2004.
According to the article there have been many offers of race cars converted to hand controls including a 1955 Jaguar D-type, a Lotus 15, a Camaro and a Sunbeam Tiger.
Doctors have said that there is a possibility of regaining some feeling in the legs.
Great news - good luck fella.
Having met Win many years ago at Brands Hatch and then again whilst I was testing at Snetterton some years later I was saddened to learn of his accident at home and the unfortunate outcome. One could not wish meet a more friendly and affable man than Win with his lovely accent. I am, at present on holiday in Spain and I had an invitation to take part in a local rally organised by The Classic Car Club of Andalucia. We all gathered at the start and to my shock and amazement there was Win Percy sitting in the sunshine and enjoying the chat from his fellow members. I can report that the man has lost none of his natural charm and wit and continues to impress us all with his tales of yesteryear. I can also report that he has lost none of his competitive spirit as he piloted his ex-police Daimler Dart SP 250 670 ELL through the Spanish countryside, it was a tough job to keep up with him most of the time!! Win is now a Driving Standards Officer at Goodwood and will soon be making a film of his past career. There is another rally planned for next weekend in Gibraltar in which Win will be competing but I have just learned that our car has developed an engine problem that precludes us from entering. It would have been good to be in his company again! Good Luck Win!!
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