Lotus Elan crash, Masters Series Gentleman Drivers
Lotus Elan crash, Masters Series Gentleman Drivers
Author
Discussion

Gizmo!

Original Poster:

18,150 posts

238 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
Just got back from the Masters Series at Brands; went yesterday too. Two fantastic days of great machinery, great racing, and great noise. (Will post my photos in GG when I've sorted them out).

Sadly, was standing at Paddock Hill bend earlier this evening and saw the Lotus Elan crash that caused the Gentlemen Drivers race to be red-flagged. Pretty nasty smash; the car went wide, dug into the gravel trap and rolled a couple of times ending upside down.

Just wanted to know if there was any news on the driver? He was moving before they put him in the ambulance.

Motorsport's dangerous, people. Take care.

bodysnatcher

243 posts

279 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
I too was fairly close to that accident.
As the day finished there was an announcement over the PA that the driver was basically OK but was off to hospital for a full check.

RobboC

1,764 posts

290 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
Yep, according to chap in safety car he probably has some broken ribs etc

I was standing right where it happened as was eating some chips, scary crash one of the worst in a while!

speedychrissie

2,994 posts

268 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
I dont know about the crash in question but I wish the driver a speedy recovery.

My father had a minor incident at spa last autumn in his elan. The engine blew up causing him to spin on the fluid and he was collected at very high speed by an e-type. He got out with quite a bit of bruising and a broken collarbone but was otherwise ok and has had no problems re-starting racing this season.

The car however didnt get off so lightly:



It just goes to show how much of a good job proper safety equipment can do!

Drive safely everyone!

zac510

5,546 posts

235 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
I was around the back on the GP loop so missed it, can you explain how it happened?

Commendations on how quickly he was recovered and the mess cleared up by the team.

Piglet

6,250 posts

284 months

Tuesday 26th May 2009
quotequote all
He ran wide going into Paddock, went into the gravel, wheels dug in and the car flipped sideways.

There wasn't anyone else involved.


Gizmo!

Original Poster:

18,150 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
Yes, I was a bit concerned that they didn't red-flag immediately when he was trapped in a car that was upside down and on fire, but they obviously knew what they were doing.
Good to hear the chap's going to be all right; someone's going to have a job rebuilding that Elan though!

scotal

8,751 posts

308 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
Gizmo! said:
Yes, I was a bit concerned that they didn't red-flag immediately when he was trapped in a car that was upside down and on fire, but they obviously knew what they were doing.
Good to hear the chap's going to be all right; someone's going to have a job rebuilding that Elan though!
They didn't red flag at all. The safety car also buggered up the procedure, with some drivers heading in to the pits, and others heading for the grid (which they then had to rebuilt for the restart.)
There were a number of worried faces in the pits when the car was on fire.
They pushed the Brands hatch noise curfew as well to get a decent stint for the second drivers in the race.

Monty_M100

103 posts

262 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
Glad to hear that the driver is ok, found this footage on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pw_kIBWaLI

trophies

239 posts

221 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
You really have to say well done to the marshalls!They put the car out straight away, then one of them was straight inder the car to talk to the driver. Brave work and panic free!

Well done all marshalls!

Lew

scotal

8,751 posts

308 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
http://www.snappyracers.com/album/250509Brands/

No connection, but 4th row of photo's up from the bottom show the Elan as they moved it out.
One very lucky man.


Edited by scotal on Wednesday 27th May 14:49

speedychrissie

2,994 posts

268 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
I do hope he is ok. In that video it really doesnt look like there is a lot of room between the ground and where the driver should be.

From the pictures it looks like the car only had a rear roll-over hoop with side impact bars. Personally I am quite glad that the car I am going to start racing in has a full roll-cage.

Does anyone know which country that car is from? The number plate isnt a format I recognise and it is left hand drive.

scotal

8,751 posts

308 months

Wednesday 27th May 2009
quotequote all
He was French I think, and he was meant to be ok, but going to hospital for a full check up.
He outght to be making a pretty large donation to the marshals Xmas party fund.

scotal

8,751 posts

308 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
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speedychrissie

2,994 posts

268 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
quotequote all
yikes those pictures!

good to hear of another source saying he got away with just bruises and cracked ribs.

Roop

6,018 posts

313 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
quotequote all
I love the way he's accepting the applause from the spectators before the accident has even finished. Fantastic showmanship...! hehe


Neil G60

697 posts

253 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
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Wow! What a shot.

Some of my pics of the day:


















Brabus Jord

1,589 posts

236 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
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^^ that bad boy isnt getting over a speed bump :P

Neil G60

697 posts

253 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
quotequote all
biggrin It is under heavy braking but even so, the nations supermarkets must be out of bounds! There was a classic re-pro Lola T70 on display and it had leather interior and door cards under the pre-tense of it being a road car eek

zac510

5,546 posts

235 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
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Edited by zac510 on Thursday 28th May 14:27