Motorsport is Dangerous
Discussion
Lost count of the number of times i have been pelted with gravel. I think I'm two lens filters down so far as well, and it has to travel at a fair whack to smash those. Usually have at least one "F***me that was close" every year or two.
Nearly got wiped out by one of the Jones Brothers back in the old Porsche Cup days when their 928 vaulted the armco at Druids, Oulton. First corner at Croft is always interesting.
Only real injury (other than a few cuts and bruises) was many moons ago when Keith Odor went over the fencing at Donnington. I was there on a jolly that day and my back was half turned but my then g/f had a full view. As she was kissing me. Nearly ended up tongue less
Nearly got wiped out by one of the Jones Brothers back in the old Porsche Cup days when their 928 vaulted the armco at Druids, Oulton. First corner at Croft is always interesting.
Only real injury (other than a few cuts and bruises) was many moons ago when Keith Odor went over the fencing at Donnington. I was there on a jolly that day and my back was half turned but my then g/f had a full view. As she was kissing me. Nearly ended up tongue less
I only had a couple of offs in the Tuscan Challenge, one was into the wall at Oulton's Druids, the other at the Russell Chicane at Snetterton (the race after Oulton).
I'd found a good line through Druids and I was being pursued by Steve Sutcliffe. I seemed to get away from him at Druids and was getting quicker through there by the lap until.... the inevitable happened.
The rear got away from me, I tried opposite lock but it was too late so I spun the wheel the other way and clogged it to arrest the momentum but by now I'd touched the grass. Lost 12 places, split radiator but finished - pretty lucky for an off at Druids.
The Snetterton incident was stupidity really. Amongst Tuscan testing, I did a session in a Marcos Challenge car. The Marcos was slower, had wider tyres and wings - it was easy to drive. After the Marcos I went straight back out in the Tuscan ....but still had my braking points calibrated for the Marcos. As I came careering around Coram, my technician said to my girlfriend "Blimey this will be a quick lap". And then I disappeared. A couple of minutes later I limped up the pit lane with my newly painted bonnet crumpled again.
The weird thing about the Oulton smash was how I remember the incident as a number of stages/choices - like in slow motion. When I watched it on Sky Sports, it happened very quickly: screech, wallop.
I'd found a good line through Druids and I was being pursued by Steve Sutcliffe. I seemed to get away from him at Druids and was getting quicker through there by the lap until.... the inevitable happened.
The rear got away from me, I tried opposite lock but it was too late so I spun the wheel the other way and clogged it to arrest the momentum but by now I'd touched the grass. Lost 12 places, split radiator but finished - pretty lucky for an off at Druids. The Snetterton incident was stupidity really. Amongst Tuscan testing, I did a session in a Marcos Challenge car. The Marcos was slower, had wider tyres and wings - it was easy to drive. After the Marcos I went straight back out in the Tuscan ....but still had my braking points calibrated for the Marcos. As I came careering around Coram, my technician said to my girlfriend "Blimey this will be a quick lap". And then I disappeared. A couple of minutes later I limped up the pit lane with my newly painted bonnet crumpled again.
The weird thing about the Oulton smash was how I remember the incident as a number of stages/choices - like in slow motion. When I watched it on Sky Sports, it happened very quickly: screech, wallop.
bosscerbera said:
The weird thing about the Oulton smash was how I remember the incident as a number of stages/choices - like in slow motion. When I watched it on Sky Sports, it happened very quickly: screech, wallop.
Chances are that I was the one behind the camera as that is one of my regular spots, although i can't remember your acciden t as it was a number of years ago and many TVRs off at Druids ago!From behind the lens, provided you are 'on it' rather than blind to the start of the accident, you can usually tell who is likely to be ending their race in tears, who should get away with it, and where the cars and bits will end up. When it is all happening in front of you time does slow many times. Also the closer it is the slower it tends to all happen for you!!!
Oh and as well as try to shoot the incident making sure it is correctly framed, exposed and focused (as well as looking to see if anyone else is about to join the party) you have to allow time to think if you need to run so it's kinda hand for things to slow down a little
rude-boy said:
Oh and as well as try to shoot the incident making sure it is correctly framed, exposed and focused (as well as looking to see if anyone else is about to join the party) you have to allow time to think if you need to run so it's kinda hand for things to slow down a little
Yeah, I guess incidents present challenges for snappers too! The incident in question was in 2000 - it made the end of year crash video. 
Again at Oulton (1998), there was carnage in a race on the way to Cascades. I've got a Mary Harvey photo taken from the [safe!!] other side of the circuit. There had been an incident and I was being chased by Alex Garner. As we came around Old Hall, I assessed the directions of the spinning cars and headed for a gap. As I momentarily lifted, Alex took his chance to overtake and ploughed through the other cars, flat knacker. In Mary's photo I'm in the foreground with total bedlam behind me - the photo always reminds me of Mr Magoo for some reason.
Had a big one at Snetterton. Was in 4th going into Riches, a competitor tried a ludicrous outbraking manouver, understeered into me, span me so that I was facing a field of 20 or so cars bearing down on me. The inevitable 'wallop' came, car hit me on the drivers side rear (thankfully the wheel/axle took the moajority of the impact as I was in a Seven at the time), bounced up and over me - tyre marks on my helmet! Broken ribs from that one.
Had another at Cadwell, competitor lost it coming out of Charlies onto Park straight, fishtailed, went onto the grass and the came back on straight into me - ouch.
Had another at Cadwell, competitor lost it coming out of Charlies onto Park straight, fishtailed, went onto the grass and the came back on straight into me - ouch.
2 crashes as a phoographer:
1st, Bruno Senna, first ever car race, everyone crowded the first corner expecting a crash, I was waiting at the 3rd, I got lucky.
2nd, Genitta series, think it was the first race of the season, got a bit wide at Woodcote at Silverstone. I believe the driver hung up his overals after this crash, IIRC Sam Maddison.
1st, Bruno Senna, first ever car race, everyone crowded the first corner expecting a crash, I was waiting at the 3rd, I got lucky.
2nd, Genitta series, think it was the first race of the season, got a bit wide at Woodcote at Silverstone. I believe the driver hung up his overals after this crash, IIRC Sam Maddison.
See lots while marshalling, but aren't allowed a camera on post so only get to post other people's videos/photos.
Do remember walking quickly towards this one though (Round 2 of the British F3 at Oulton Park - where three cars come together and Costa's flips over Meadows' car)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDxUlErq9c (3 minutes in)
I've also been at Lakeside when Tom Onslow-Cole decided he wanted to join us and drove straight at us as fast as he could - luckily he reversed it in at the last minute so we couldn't see the look on his face - that and the fact that we'd jumped down into the reed bed to get out of the way of flying bodywork and tyre-wall.
Do remember walking quickly towards this one though (Round 2 of the British F3 at Oulton Park - where three cars come together and Costa's flips over Meadows' car)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDxUlErq9c (3 minutes in)
I've also been at Lakeside when Tom Onslow-Cole decided he wanted to join us and drove straight at us as fast as he could - luckily he reversed it in at the last minute so we couldn't see the look on his face - that and the fact that we'd jumped down into the reed bed to get out of the way of flying bodywork and tyre-wall.
My pics of this incident are at home and not on the web, but because my car wasn't ready in time I spectated at the first race this season of the championship I've just moved to. I was stood watching at Luffield when a car did a multiple barrel roll and a few others crashed. Strangely, I had my camera set to take rapid fire photos and was already pointing at the right place!
Also, whilst I was considering which championship to enter during last season there was a huge smash at Combe. Type "caterham crash combe" into You Tube to see it. Nasty..
Strangely, neither of these incidents put me off, much to the confusion of my girlfriend!
Also, whilst I was considering which championship to enter during last season there was a huge smash at Combe. Type "caterham crash combe" into You Tube to see it. Nasty..
Strangely, neither of these incidents put me off, much to the confusion of my girlfriend!
I saw this one from the inside of the circuit. Put him in a coma for a few days I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HlEvg9m1AA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HlEvg9m1AA
This is the one RobM77 was referring to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzmp56YPY0
and this was from earlier this year. Thank god the pitwall was upgraded over the winter
ETA Can't find a picture but I was marshalling Tower corner at Combe a couple of seasons ago when someone tried to join us on post, problem being he was in a Ferrari, travelling backwards in the air at about 90mph. Managed to wipe out the corner board which is a good 12ft up next to the post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzmp56YPY0
and this was from earlier this year. Thank god the pitwall was upgraded over the winter
ETA Can't find a picture but I was marshalling Tower corner at Combe a couple of seasons ago when someone tried to join us on post, problem being he was in a Ferrari, travelling backwards in the air at about 90mph. Managed to wipe out the corner board which is a good 12ft up next to the post.
Edited by dougc on Wednesday 12th December 16:26
I went to the Caterham dinner this year, which is a big event where all the drivers bring their partners for an eating, drinking and dancing session 
. They showed a video montage of all the accidents from this year on a big screen 
That's just what I wanted with my girlfriend sat there!!! 
. They showed a video montage of all the accidents from this year on a big screen That's just what I wanted with my girlfriend sat there!!! RobM77 said:
I went to the Caterham dinner this year, which is a big event where all the drivers bring their partners for an eating, drinking and dancing session . They showed a video montage of all the accidents from this year on a big screen That's just what I wanted with my girlfriend sat there!!!
yep - that's a good video . They showed a video montage of all the accidents from this year on a big screen That's just what I wanted with my girlfriend sat there!!! 
Everyone giving ooohs and arghs - LOL
Combe crash is huge - and the fireball at Paddock is good - mine at combe isnt' shown - but that was huge and scary
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