Plane crash at Silverstone
Plane crash at Silverstone
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Discussion

stockhatcher

Original Poster:

5,172 posts

252 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
see here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshir...

does anyone know any more, is the circuit shut?

350GT

73,668 posts

284 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
stockhatcher said:
see here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshir...

does anyone know any more, is the circuit shut?
Pilot dies, and you're concerned if the circuit is open? confused

Edited by 350GT on Saturday 22 August 17:42

lewis1

311 posts

217 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
350GT said:
stockhatcher said:
see here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshir...

does anyone know any more, is the circuit shut?
Pilot dies, and you're concerned if the circuit is open? confused

Edited by 350GT on Saturday 22 August 17:42
Sad news, must of been scary for the people at the track!

id like to know its open too

some people are racing tomorrow.

Edited by lewis1 on Saturday 22 August 18:33

350GT

73,668 posts

284 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
lewis1 said:
350GT said:
stockhatcher said:
see here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshir...

does anyone know any more, is the circuit shut?
Pilot dies, and you're concerned if the circuit is open? confused

Edited by 350GT on Saturday 22 August 17:42
some people are racing tomorrow.
My point stands.

Roop

6,018 posts

313 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
This is very sad news. Killed practicing for the World Aerobatics Championships. I am 99.9% sure I know the pilot involved as well. Sad day for her family and friends, the US team and all at Zivko Aeronautics, Guthrie, OK. RIP.

Edited by Roop on Saturday 22 August 18:20

AWRacing

1,746 posts

254 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
Yes the circuit is still open, i should know as i was racing there todsy. I believe it happened over the far side of the circuit, saw her practicing some stunts etc. Not good but racing is still going ahead

Furyous

25,713 posts

250 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
Ive just got home from there today, didnt know anything like that had happened.

Saw a Tv crew outside the main gates, but you often do up there.

Must have been right over the far side of the circuit.

RIP.

Y32

82 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
quotequote all
Wow, what a sad day. Thoughts are with her family and friends.

RIP

Roop

6,018 posts

313 months

Sunday 23rd August 2009
quotequote all
Confirmed yesterday evening as Vicki Cruse frown


Piglet

6,250 posts

284 months

Sunday 23rd August 2009
quotequote all
What a sad event. My thoughts go to her friends and family along with those involved in the incident.

splitpin

2,740 posts

227 months

Sunday 23rd August 2009
quotequote all
I was there at the 750MC on Saturday and I didn't know anything about until I heard it on the car radio on the way home; never saw or heard a thing when it actually happened; the racing was on the National Circuit (which is basically the full circuit less the south circuit) and I gather the crash happened on the south side.

Obviously, deepest commiserations to her family and all involved.

I was also at Silverstone on the GP Circuit last Monday and the planes were practising then; right in the middle of the Full (GP) Circuit!; we were warned in the Driver Briefing not to get distracted by them; it occured to me then, what happens if something goes amiss, particularly as it doesn't come much more dangerous than plane aerobatics? I shrugged it off as me thinking too laterally as usual.

It could so easily have been more than one fatality, rather than solely the death of one brave lady who definitely knew the risks she was taking. I think the owners of Silverstone should have a very careful think before they ever allow planes and racing cars to share the circuit at the same time.


Carnage

889 posts

261 months

Sunday 23rd August 2009
quotequote all
splitpin said:
I was there at the 750MC on Saturday and I didn't know anything about until I heard it on the car radio on the way home; never saw or heard a thing when it actually happened; the racing was on the National Circuit (which is basically the full circuit less the south circuit) and I gather the crash happened on the south side.

Obviously, deepest commiserations to her family and all involved.

I was also at Silverstone on the GP Circuit last Monday and the planes were practising then; right in the middle of the Full (GP) Circuit!; we were warned in the Driver Briefing not to get distracted by them; it occured to me then, what happens if something goes amiss, particularly as it doesn't come much more dangerous than plane aerobatics? I shrugged it off as me thinking too laterally as usual.

It could so easily have been more than one fatality, rather than solely the death of one brave lady who definitely knew the risks she was taking. I think the owners of Silverstone should have a very careful think before they ever allow planes and racing cars to share the circuit at the same time.
I was testing on Friday and, going into Maggots, almost got buzzed by a stunt plane. At the time I thought it was amazing, but I fear you have a point.

We actually saw the plane going down on Saturday, but given that we didn't see or hear an impact, had no idea it had crashed. When we heard the sirens and saw the job chopper up, genuinely shocked.

crossle

1,520 posts

280 months

Monday 24th August 2009
quotequote all
splitpin said:
I think the owners of Silverstone should have a very careful think before they ever allow planes and racing cars to share the circuit at the same time.
We had a Tiger Moth land on the long straight of the old Silverstone Club circuit during a Formula Ford test session once...

That was quite scary. And Biggles calmly climbed out and politely enquired if anyone had a jerry can of five-star he could borrow...

sperminator

750 posts

208 months

Monday 24th August 2009
quotequote all
That's very sad news. I'm going to the WAC at Silverstone on Saturday. I hope they have some sort of small tribute (a minutes silence perhaps) before the event.

lord summerisle

8,174 posts

254 months

Monday 24th August 2009
quotequote all
crossle said:
splitpin said:
I think the owners of Silverstone should have a very careful think before they ever allow planes and racing cars to share the circuit at the same time.
We had a Tiger Moth land on the long straight of the old Silverstone Club circuit during a Formula Ford test session once...

That was quite scary. And Biggles calmly climbed out and politely enquired if anyone had a jerry can of five-star he could borrow...
not the first time its happened.





Small Canadian club circuit close to Winnipeg, based around the perimeter roads and runway of an abandoned RCAF airbase. Has seen plenty of action since the 1960s but none more dramatic than the day in 1983 when an out-of-fuel Boeing 767 airliner made an emergency landing - while a race was in progress!

Known now as the Gimli Glider incident, how total carnage was avoided remains one of life's great mysteries. However, after a short rebuild, the Air Canada plane returned to service. In fact it still graces the skies across the world to this day...

Nick M

3,632 posts

252 months

Monday 24th August 2009
quotequote all
sperminator said:
That's very sad news. I'm going to the WAC at Silverstone on Saturday. I hope they have some sort of small tribute (a minutes silence perhaps) before the event.
At the risk of being flamed to hell and back for this, I disagree.

Yes, acknowledge the sad event, but a minutes silence is wholly inappropriate. Save that for something significant, like a sign of respect for all our servicemen killed in conflicts over the years, that sort of thing.

But not for someone who was pursuing their chosen sport. Otherwise we'd be having minutes silences for everything, and that massively devalues their relevance.

splitpin

2,740 posts

227 months

Monday 24th August 2009
quotequote all
Nick, perhaps ease back on the other Nick? ............. it's no crime for someone to be moved by tragedy/fate whatever you want to call it and wanting to physically express it in some small social way. I know what you mean, but I don't think the idea/thought of a momentary quiet pause at 12.20pm this coming Saturday should or would be an issue for anyone. I suspect from most of the Silverstone guys 'n gals I know that we'd do it for a fellow racer, irrespective of how and why it happened

Nick M

3,632 posts

252 months

Monday 24th August 2009
quotequote all

Fair dos, and wasn't meant to show any disrespect to the pilot or her family.

Just a personal bug-bear with me that people call for a minutes silence at the drop of a hat, and don't always stop to think whether it's really appropriate.

I'm sure all of the 'paddock' at the WAC and a good proportion of the spectators will be aware of the incident and will have their own little moment to reflect on what happened.

RobM77

35,349 posts

263 months

Tuesday 25th August 2009
quotequote all
I love the picture above. It looks like the drivers have followed the red flag procedure and re-assembled on the grid for a restart!

I think a minute's silence is wholly appropriate. If something like that happened to someone in my championship or even in the club I race with I would expect it, and I don't see why aerobatics should be any different. Yes, people who partake in risky sports understand the risk, but that doesn't for one minute mean that they accept it. I've raced for 8/9 years now and I hate the idea of even the slightest danger in anything I do, but race simply because I love it, and I expect that's the case for aerobatics pilots too.

sperminator

750 posts

208 months

Tuesday 25th August 2009
quotequote all
You have to remember she was in fact a US national Aerobatic champion and well regarded in the aero sport world. Not an unknown who had an unfortunate accident. Not that that would make a hapeth of difference as they would both deserve respect.