Old Crocks Crash!

[Lordbenny]

Earlier today up the road from me in Reigate.

2 people in the vintage car seriously injured

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-418793...

[mac96]

I hope they make a good recovery.

I also hope this is not used as an excuse to restrict the London/Brighton run in any way. It's a great event that gets people out all along the route.

[beerok]

How sad!! Hope they are ok!

[Drive Blind]

fortunately, another car had dashcams fitted

[cuprabob]

Drive Blind said:

fortunately, another car had dashcams fitted

[mybrainhurts]

That looks nasty, but I don't think any crocodlies were involved

[Dogwatch]

Perhaps Reigate Hill and 115 year old braking systems are not compatible? is there an alternative route with a lesser gradient?

[MrBrianNorris]

Very sad to read about this, watching the veterans has been an annual highlight for me since I was four years old. I would imagine that there was a road on Reigate Hill that cars used in 1902, and since the rest of the 450+ cars made it through Reigate with incident, I wouldn't have said that the hill was the problem in and of itself.

The difference with Reigate Hill then and now is that in 1902 you didn't have all the sodding traffic getting in the way and creating a hazard. It's very easy to imagine one of Surrey's moronic motoring marvels completely failing to consider that 1902 cars may need to be given a bit more space than, say, the Range Rovers and German SUVs with which they are more familiar, and thereby allowing, if not causing, an accident that might have been easily avoided.

It's a shame that this should have tainted what is otherwise a widely enjoyed event and I hope the injured parties get better. As for the car - presuming the engine and chassis can be repaired, surely it's not a total loss?

[saaby93]

Doesnt look good if it was open top and passengers



Is that where it happened or after everything taken to one side

[MrBrianNorris]

It was open top - this is what it should look like:


1902 Benz by Zack's Motor Photos, on Flickr

[The Wookie]

Saw the hill was shut on my way back to the midlands and feared the worst

Hope all involved recover fully

[don'tbesilly]

Dogwatch said:

Perhaps Reigate Hill and 115 year old braking systems are not compatible? is there an alternative route with a lesser gradient?

Rather tragically the brakes on the 115 yr old car failed which resulted in the unfortunate accident.

Today was the first time the event used Reigate Hill and passed through Reigate, apparently as a result of roadworks in Brixton.

The crazy decision failed to take into account the fact that the southbound side of the road (going down the hill into the town centre) of Reigate Hill is closed, and all the traffic coming down the hill from the M25/A217 is diverted down Raglan Road (first on the left past the garage and the Yew Tree pub) and onto the Croydon Road on Wray Common.

The normal route (as previous years) goes through Redhill on the A23 and doesn't go anywhere near Reigate Hill, crazy decision (alternative route) even with the roadworks in Brixton.

[probably chalk]

don'tbesilly said:

Dogwatch said:

Perhaps Reigate Hill and 115 year old braking systems are not compatible? is there an alternative route with a lesser gradient?

Rather tragically the brakes on the 115 yr old car failed which resulted in the unfortunate accident.

Today was the first time the event used Reigate Hill and passed through Reigate, apparently as a result of roadworks in Brixton.

The crazy decision failed to take into account the fact that the southbound side of the road (going down the hill into the town centre) of Reigate Hill is closed, and all the traffic coming down the hill from the M25/A217 is diverted down Raglan Road (first on the left past the garage and the Yew Tree pub) and onto the Croydon Road on Wray Common.

The normal route (as previous years) goes through Redhill on the A23 and doesn't go anywhere near Reigate Hill, crazy decision (alternative route) even with the roadworks in Brixton.

That's very interesting, thank you.
I was stood at the top of Reigate Hill having managed to spectate for the first time after years of trying. I found it a hugely enjoyable experience. I made friends in the crowd with whom I will stay in touch and the sheer joi de vivre of the drivers and crews was infectious. I don't recall another motoring/motorsport event that involved more smiling.
I left about half an hour before the accident and have been telling people what fun I had. I read the BBC story in the afternoon and have been upset since. I sincerely hope everyone pulls through.
A poster on a FB classic car group believed the Benz was stationary at the time and the Ford had run into the back of it. As always, don't believe everything you read on the internet...

[john2443]

don'tbesilly said:

Rather tragically the brakes on the 115 yr old car failed which resulted in the unfortunate accident.

Source? I cant see anything on the web that says it was brake failure.

don'tbesilly said:

..crazy decision...diverted down Raglan Road .....

The crash appears to have been going down Reigate Hill, are you saying is was caused by the turn into Raglan Road?

[MrBrianNorris]

Some slightly positive news, this report from today is reporting of only one with serious injuries: http://www.veterancarrun.com/media/345/accident-on...

[don'tbesilly]

john2443 said:

Source? I cant see anything on the web that says it was brake failure.

The source of the info was from someone who attended the scene in an official capacity.

john2443 said:

The crash appears to have been going down Reigate Hill, are you saying is was caused by the turn into Raglan Road?

The crash was north of the Yew Tree pub (so yes coming down the hill) so quite some distance from the left hand turn into Raglan Road off of Reigate Hill.

So no I am not suggesting the crash had anything to do with the diversion down Raglan Road.
.

[john2443]

don'tbesilly said:

Stuff

OK

[MrBrianNorris]

According to one witness, the car "had been coming down the hill and was just out of control, there was a man hanging off the back trying to slow it down". The report also contains some information about safety measures from an event spokesman.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/london...

[saaby93]

MrBrianNorris said:

According to one witness, the car "had been coming down the hill and was just out of control, there was a man hanging off the back trying to slow it down". The report also contains some information about safety measures from an event spokesman.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/london...

That report is contradictory

report said:

A spokesman for the car run, sponsored by Bonhams, said: "Before it was approved, the route was carefully assessed by a team of experts, including a test run with veteran cars in damp conditions earlier this year.

report said:

The spokesman continued: "We can confirm Reigate Hill was a marshalled part of the route at the top of the hill and at the bottom to assist with the detour as a result of the burst water mains just south of Reigate station.

So did they check this part of the route down the hill or not?

[MrBrianNorris]

Yes, they did check it. The route was supposed to cover the entirety of Reigate Hill, coming out in Reigate town centre and following the one-way system round to the left to get to Redhill. Since the accident happened on Reigate Hill, it was on the intended route and therefore would have been checked.