Wonderful story from Goodwood FoS
Discussion
Most of you know we recently supplied one of our Trekinetic K-2 wheelchairs to Le Mans and Bathurst 1000 Legend Win Percy.
Well yesterday, I caught up with Win at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Win told me this lovely story that's worth repeating.
When he was in his heyday, dominating the gruelling Bathurst 1000, driving the TWR works Holdens in Australia, this little boy would often come down and sit down on the pit wall during practice. Win took a liking to this little chap, who was always asking lots of questions, so he used to give him the odd used spark plug as a present.
This weekend was Win's first visit to Goodwood and he was treated like royalty, even picked up at the airport in Lord March's personal RR Phantom.
Then on Saturday, at the drivers club this young man strides up to him and says
"It's wonderful to see you Win. My names Mark Webber and I'm now an F1 driver. You might like to know, I've still got all those spark plugs......."
Well yesterday, I caught up with Win at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Win told me this lovely story that's worth repeating.
When he was in his heyday, dominating the gruelling Bathurst 1000, driving the TWR works Holdens in Australia, this little boy would often come down and sit down on the pit wall during practice. Win took a liking to this little chap, who was always asking lots of questions, so he used to give him the odd used spark plug as a present.
This weekend was Win's first visit to Goodwood and he was treated like royalty, even picked up at the airport in Lord March's personal RR Phantom.
Then on Saturday, at the drivers club this young man strides up to him and says
"It's wonderful to see you Win. My names Mark Webber and I'm now an F1 driver. You might like to know, I've still got all those spark plugs......."
Defcon5 said:
Nice story, but what does you selling him a wheelchair have to do with it?
My sole reason for being at the FoS, was that I was there delivering his new wheelchair (that he had ordered)so he could get around.Although he walks just about okay with sticks, that 240mph cartwheel in the Silk Cut Jaguar that he walked away from, is now sadly taking it's toll.
Is that a satisfactory enough answer for you?
crbox said:
Defcon5 said:
Nice story, but what does you selling him a wheelchair have to do with it?
My sole reason for being at the FoS, was that I was there delivering his new wheelchair (that he had ordered)so he could get around.Although he walks just about okay with sticks, that 240mph cartwheel in the Silk Cut Jaguar that he walked away from, is now sadly taking it's toll.
Is that a satisfactory enough answer for you?
Or am I thinking about someone else...
GarrettMacD said:
crbox said:
Defcon5 said:
Nice story, but what does you selling him a wheelchair have to do with it?
My sole reason for being at the FoS, was that I was there delivering his new wheelchair (that he had ordered)so he could get around.Although he walks just about okay with sticks, that 240mph cartwheel in the Silk Cut Jaguar that he walked away from, is now sadly taking it's toll.
Is that a satisfactory enough answer for you?
Or am I thinking about someone else...
IIRC, he was at home simply lifting a paving stone and something in his back went wrong.
To remedy it he was prescribed a surgical procedure. They cocked up the surgery, which resulted in far worse damage to him than the original injury.
flemke said:
Indeed.
IIRC, he was at home simply lifting a paving stone and something in his back went wrong.
To remedy it he was prescribed a surgical procedure. They cocked up the surgery, which resulted in far worse damage to him than the original injury.
really sad...IIRC, he was at home simply lifting a paving stone and something in his back went wrong.
To remedy it he was prescribed a surgical procedure. They cocked up the surgery, which resulted in far worse damage to him than the original injury.
He really is one of the most genuine people I have ever meet in racing, he really did not deserve that.
flemke said:
GarrettMacD said:
crbox said:
Defcon5 said:
Nice story, but what does you selling him a wheelchair have to do with it?
My sole reason for being at the FoS, was that I was there delivering his new wheelchair (that he had ordered)so he could get around.Although he walks just about okay with sticks, that 240mph cartwheel in the Silk Cut Jaguar that he walked away from, is now sadly taking it's toll.
Is that a satisfactory enough answer for you?
Or am I thinking about someone else...
IIRC, he was at home simply lifting a paving stone and something in his back went wrong.
To remedy it he was prescribed a surgical procedure. They cocked up the surgery, which resulted in far worse damage to him than the original injury.
flemke said:
IIRC, he was at home simply lifting a paving stone and something in his back went wrong.
To remedy it he was prescribed a surgical procedure. They cocked up the surgery, which resulted in far worse damage to him than the original injury.
Very sad story To remedy it he was prescribed a surgical procedure. They cocked up the surgery, which resulted in far worse damage to him than the original injury.
I met Win a number of years ago at Brands hatch as he used to race a car owned by a friend of my parents, very nice guy to talk to and passionate about motorsport.
I saw him a couple of years ago at the festival of speed managing to walk with the sticks, which sounded like a real achievement following the cock up during surgery
That's great. MW has his critics, and it's fair to say he's not the best driver on the grid, but he's got himself into the right car at the right time and I wish him well. He's handled his recent controversial incidents with tact, diplomacy and good nature.
Of all the curent F1 drivers, he's the one I'd most like to have a beer and a chat with.
And Win, of course, is a legend.
Of all the curent F1 drivers, he's the one I'd most like to have a beer and a chat with.
And Win, of course, is a legend.
These early experiences can often commit you for life. I met Stirling Moss when I was 14 or 15. He was on his way to Brands for a big sports car race - BOAC 500? - and my dad saw him in a pub car park and rode his motorcycle combination into it for me to get a better look. He'd built his own chair and Moss came up to him and said how much he liked it and for 10 minutes, before the biggest sports car race of the year in Britain, chatted to my dad about how he made it.
He then said he'd tell the bloke on the gate of the paddock allow us in. And he did. The chap said: Are, you're the chap with the nice motorbike. Mr Moss told me to let you in.
Still remember it like it was just a few weeks ago.
I wonder how many others WP treated with kindness and made them fans or participants for life. I wonder if they realise what a boost it gives us.
He then said he'd tell the bloke on the gate of the paddock allow us in. And he did. The chap said: Are, you're the chap with the nice motorbike. Mr Moss told me to let you in.
Still remember it like it was just a few weeks ago.
I wonder how many others WP treated with kindness and made them fans or participants for life. I wonder if they realise what a boost it gives us.
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