I learned from darren galpin's site about the accident of Geki (Giacomo Russo). Could anyone provide more details?
Bizarre and strange accidents...
Started by
Graham Clayton
, Feb 16 2001 05:32
326 replies to this topic
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#52
david_martin
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Posted 04 March 2001 - 10:37
Originally posted by Gary Grant
On a lighter note, didn't someone have an incident relatively recently when a mechanic left a spanner in the footwell of the car, and it became enmeshed in the pedals (Herbert?). Or am I just getting reality and fantasy confused agaian?
It was Herbert, at Monza when he was driver for Sauber. I am not entirely sure of the year but I think it was his last year with the team, 1998. They had set up the T car for him after his race car had problems in the morning warm up... and left a tool in the footwell after they installed his pedalbox.
#53
Dolph
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Posted 04 March 2001 - 16:36
In the early 90's at Le Mans a car broke down and the driver opened up the whole rear of the car to fix the problem and get the car to pits. The repairs took a half an hour and even the team mechanics came to give advice (they were not allowed to touch the car). The driver finally got the car working and started driving off, when the cameramans camera wire got tangled with the cars wheel. The camera got dragged along the racetrack and finally the car stopped with the furious driver jumping out to retire. It's the funniest thing I've seen.
In '94 or '95 Berger crashed and the photographers behind the wall ran for their lives. A Japanese guy tumbled and fell down. His huge foot an a half long cameralens broke to pieces. It was all very funny since the men were in no real danger.
In '94 or '95 Berger crashed and the photographers behind the wall ran for their lives. A Japanese guy tumbled and fell down. His huge foot an a half long cameralens broke to pieces. It was all very funny since the men were in no real danger.
#54
Schummy
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Posted 05 March 2001 - 02:17
Flexy, the LeMans one was funny 
I suppose that talking about bizarre accidents one has to mention the infamous LeMans Flipping Mercedes in 1999. An awesome acrobatic aerial exhibition. Of course it was funny because nobody got hurt...
I suppose that talking about bizarre accidents one has to mention the infamous LeMans Flipping Mercedes in 1999. An awesome acrobatic aerial exhibition. Of course it was funny because nobody got hurt...
#55
Vasco
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Posted 06 March 2001 - 00:42
Good news! I'm able to post images again
So here is the picture of the very first deadly accident of all times (see my earlier post in this thread):
So here is the picture of the very first deadly accident of all times (see my earlier post in this thread):
#56
Graham Clayton
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Posted 06 March 2001 - 01:49
Originally posted by Gary Grant
Clark was hit by a bird in practice for the 1966 French Grand Prix (looked that up just now). He was injured enough to miss the race, but was back a few weeks later.
The great pre-WW2 German driver Rudi Carraciola was hit in
the face by a bird when he attempted to qualify for the
1946 Indy 500. Did he manage to qualify for the race?
#57
fines
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Posted 06 March 2001 - 19:27
No , he crashed quite badly and didn't race again until 1952, IIRC.
#58
f li
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Posted 06 March 2001 - 20:38
On a happier note - has everyone else forgotten Johnny Hebert's "World's Fastest Accelerating Jack"?
#59
fines
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Posted 06 March 2001 - 21:23
You mean Barcelona '95? Well, it was a bit frightening IMHO!
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#60
Ray Bell
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Posted 07 March 2001 - 01:16
Originally posted by Vasco
Good news! I'm able to post images again
So here is the picture of the very first deadly accident of all times (see my earlier post in this thread):
http://fp.geocities....l/accident2.jpg
That looks better! ... or worse, actually.... ...check the posts and see what I did... little trick somebody told me about.
And the airlines etc out of the McLaren garage last year were pretty funny.
#61
Barry Lake
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 03:40
I just read that Kimi Raikkonen's reason for crashing out of the San Marino GP 2001 was that the steering wheel came off in his hands.
Unfortunately for him, the car turned left and crashed. Mika Hakkinen had his steering wheel come off in Phoenix once, in a Lotus, but managed to get it back on again and continue.
I once had all the spokes bar one break on my steering wheel during a race at Warwick Farm (all had previously been broken in the former driver's hands and cracked again alongside the welds). After this episode I made myself a new wheel from high-tensile aluminium.
Can anyone add any other "lost steering wheel" stories.
Unfortunately for him, the car turned left and crashed. Mika Hakkinen had his steering wheel come off in Phoenix once, in a Lotus, but managed to get it back on again and continue.
I once had all the spokes bar one break on my steering wheel during a race at Warwick Farm (all had previously been broken in the former driver's hands and cracked again alongside the welds). After this episode I made myself a new wheel from high-tensile aluminium.
Can anyone add any other "lost steering wheel" stories.
#62
Bernd
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 04:16
Back to the Pryce incident. From what I believe the fatal injuries to Pryce were caused by the above mentioned fire extinguisher, at impact the bottle went through Tom's visor and basically smashed his head to pulp inside the helmet, very nasty 
As for the poor Marshall only divine intervention could have done anything for him.
On a lighter note I remember a really strange shunt that occured to me at a Kart track a few years ago I was going through a near flat right hand bend when the front right wheel snapped clean off with no warning. Both myself and the errant wheel continued at a rate of knots clean into the barriers resulting in knackered Kart and broken ribs/severe bruising for me (I can still remember the pain ouch!) The funny thing was that the somehow the bloody wheel after impact bounced back and fell into my lap giving me one hell of a 'kick to the goolies' for want of a better expression. In a haze of pain I went to remove the wheel, forgot I had removed my gloves and promptly burned my hands on the bloody rubber! What fun Motorsport can be
**ATT Barry Lake**
Barry if you could please have a peep at the Longford thread and tell me what you think of my early draft layout of the circuit. Any critiques more than welcome I want it perfect!
As for the poor Marshall only divine intervention could have done anything for him.On a lighter note I remember a really strange shunt that occured to me at a Kart track a few years ago I was going through a near flat right hand bend when the front right wheel snapped clean off with no warning. Both myself and the errant wheel continued at a rate of knots clean into the barriers resulting in knackered Kart and broken ribs/severe bruising for me (I can still remember the pain ouch!) The funny thing was that the somehow the bloody wheel after impact bounced back and fell into my lap giving me one hell of a 'kick to the goolies' for want of a better expression. In a haze of pain I went to remove the wheel, forgot I had removed my gloves and promptly burned my hands on the bloody rubber! What fun Motorsport can be
**ATT Barry Lake**
Barry if you could please have a peep at the Longford thread and tell me what you think of my early draft layout of the circuit. Any critiques more than welcome I want it perfect!
#63
Chris Bloom
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 17:25
Originally posted by FlagMan
[
Silverstone is famous for its hares - Jochen Mass once hit one (again at Club) in a 956 - without apparent damage to the car but a women in the crowd was not too amused to have her white outfit covered in diced hare....
[/B]
I think I was at Club corner for that incident. It was 1985 I think and a Porsche 956 hit a Hare which must have gone a good 50ft up in the air. I was the other end of the corner so I didn't actually see where the poor animal landed but I do believe it was on the outside of the corner (spectator side).
Chris
#64
Chris Bloom
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 17:34
Originally posted by LB
Actually that reminds me didn't Kevin Cogan wipe out the front row at Indy one year on the warm up laps. Roberto Guerrero spun from pole too as far as I can remember - bare in mind my memory is not 100% lucid at the best of times!
How about Coulthard leading the field round on the parade lap at Monza in 1995 and throwing the Williams in the Sand at Ascari. Prost also crashed in a simialr fashion just before the wet 1991 San Marino GP.
Chris
#65
Frank de Jong
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 19:51
This may have been in another thread already, but what about Alexander Wurz at the Norisring F3 race (in 1995 I think), passing a safety car, breaking for the next corner - and being rammed in the rear by that same safety car, which brakes (and weight) were incompatible with F3 decelaration standards.
Or how about Dieter Quester finishing a DTM race at the Avus - on his roof, getting a podium place 93rd) nontheless?
The (dutch) Magane driver in Macao was Frans Verschuur, by the way.
Or how about Dieter Quester finishing a DTM race at the Avus - on his roof, getting a podium place 93rd) nontheless?
The (dutch) Magane driver in Macao was Frans Verschuur, by the way.
#66
Speed Demon
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 20:26
I remember the Quester incident - have it on video. It was in 1990, and I think he had a tyre blow out on the last corner, hit the barriers, flipped and careered onwards down the track on his roof. But unless he had it happen to him again another year (which would be extremely unlucky!), he definately didn't finish third. He got out of the car and commented that it didn't steer very well on the roof...
Incidentally, anyone else remember the Darth Vader-style helmet that Quester was so fond of wearing?
Incidentally, anyone else remember the Darth Vader-style helmet that Quester was so fond of wearing?
#67
Frank de Jong
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 21:00
Well, Speed Demon, I hate to correct you but he finished third indeed (race 7 Avus 1990), I have it on video as well, so thanks to your information about the year I could find the video quickly.
The race (which was the last lap anyway) was red flagged.
The race (which was the last lap anyway) was red flagged.
#68
Barry Boor
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Posted 19 April 2001 - 22:05
As a couple of people have posted personal accidents on this thread, I do not feel too bad about posting a few that I witnessed first-hand.
I say a few, because they all happened within the space of about 15 minutes in October 1972. (Apologies to those who have read my Connew story and have seen all this before!)
When David Purley came along to drive the Connew in the end of season race at Brands Hatch, having paid for the rebuild of the engine that failed the previous August, we had only experienced Francois Migault as a driver up to that point. Francois was (is) a man who was quite gentle on the car, from what we had seen - Purley was not. IIRC the sequence of events went like this:
1. He kept catching the toe of his driving boot on the cross member above the pedals so without a word, he ripped the sole off his boot.
2. Then, driving the car out of the paddock down to the pits before practice, he misjudged the rear track width and punctured a rear tyre on one of the scaffold poles that held up the corrugated iron rooves in parts of the tatty old paddock area.
3. After that was changed, he went out but came in shortly after with the gear lever knob in his hand. Apparently, it just 'came off!'
4 Either then, or shortly after, he came in waving a screwdriver around that he found down amongst the pedals.
This last incident reflected very badly on us - and I got the blame for that one, although I am adamant to this day that it wasn't me who left it there.
Finally, of course, the ultimate 'accident' was the wire pulling out of the steering-wheel mounted kill button during the parade lap on the Sunday, which killed the engine, and sadly, killed the Connew F1 car too!
I say a few, because they all happened within the space of about 15 minutes in October 1972. (Apologies to those who have read my Connew story and have seen all this before!)
When David Purley came along to drive the Connew in the end of season race at Brands Hatch, having paid for the rebuild of the engine that failed the previous August, we had only experienced Francois Migault as a driver up to that point. Francois was (is) a man who was quite gentle on the car, from what we had seen - Purley was not. IIRC the sequence of events went like this:
1. He kept catching the toe of his driving boot on the cross member above the pedals so without a word, he ripped the sole off his boot.
2. Then, driving the car out of the paddock down to the pits before practice, he misjudged the rear track width and punctured a rear tyre on one of the scaffold poles that held up the corrugated iron rooves in parts of the tatty old paddock area.
3. After that was changed, he went out but came in shortly after with the gear lever knob in his hand. Apparently, it just 'came off!'
4 Either then, or shortly after, he came in waving a screwdriver around that he found down amongst the pedals.
This last incident reflected very badly on us - and I got the blame for that one, although I am adamant to this day that it wasn't me who left it there.
Finally, of course, the ultimate 'accident' was the wire pulling out of the steering-wheel mounted kill button during the parade lap on the Sunday, which killed the engine, and sadly, killed the Connew F1 car too!
#69
pancho
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Posted 20 April 2001 - 08:05
during the 1960 Belgian GP, Innes Ireland lost it approaching Blanchimont and spun along the track, eventually coming to rest sideways on. He dropped the clutch, but the car didn't move. Assuming he had clutch slip, he fumbled around in the cockpit. In fact, the wheels had been spinning furiously, and when they suddenly gripped, the Lotus shot straight off the road into a ditch!
Also, I suppose those 'deja vu' incidents could be considered bizzare. At Indy in 1961, Jack Turner got involved in a big shunt and flipped end over end down the front stretch. The next year he did the same thing in the exact same place. At the 1971 '500, Mike Mosley slammed the wall on the exit of turn two, and the following year, while leading, he hit the wall in precisely the same spot! I'll never forget the sight of Mike trying to lever himself from the car as it slewed toward the wall for a second bite.
Also, I suppose those 'deja vu' incidents could be considered bizzare. At Indy in 1961, Jack Turner got involved in a big shunt and flipped end over end down the front stretch. The next year he did the same thing in the exact same place. At the 1971 '500, Mike Mosley slammed the wall on the exit of turn two, and the following year, while leading, he hit the wall in precisely the same spot! I'll never forget the sight of Mike trying to lever himself from the car as it slewed toward the wall for a second bite.
#70
fines
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Posted 20 April 2001 - 19:04
IIRC, this incident happened also at the AVUS, rather than the Norisring, and Wurz was leading the race! The car was a breakdown truck, not a safety car, so he was allowed to pass it.Originally posted by Frank de Jong
This may have been in another thread already, but what about Alexander Wurz at the Norisring F3 race (in 1995 I think), passing a safety car, breaking for the next corner - and being rammed in the rear by that same safety car, which brakes (and weight) were incompatible with F3 decelaration standards.
#71
Speed Demon
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Posted 20 April 2001 - 19:18
Originally posted by Frank de Jong
Well, Speed Demon, I hate to correct you but he finished third indeed (race 7 Avus 1990), I have it on video as well, so thanks to your information about the year I could find the video quickly.
The race (which was the last lap anyway) was red flagged.
I stand corrected!! Gives me an excuse to dig out the video, as I obviously wasn't paying close enough attention last time I watched it...
#72
Frank de Jong
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Posted 20 April 2001 - 19:27
Originally posted by fines
IIRC, this incident happened also at the AVUS, rather than the Norisring, and Wurz was leading the race! The car was a breakdown truck, not a safety car, so he was allowed to pass it.
Well Fines,
I'd better stick to touring cars, where my memory seems a bit more accurate. Or do a little research...
#73
Buford
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Posted 21 April 2001 - 06:00
"There was another parade lap crash, at Indy in 1957, involving Eddie Russo and Elmer George, father of Tony. BTW, does anyone know what exactly happened to George? I only know that he was shot on the eve of the 1976 500."
Elmer George caught his wife Mari Hulman George (Tony George's mother) in bed with a farm hand at one of the family properties. He was killed in a shootout. The farm hand was aquitted of a murder charge on self defense. As of two years ago anyway, the farm hand was still a "good friend" of Mari Hulman, more than 25 years later!
The Jack Turner story was even more weird than mentioned above. He actually flipped not two years in a row, but THREE !!! on the main straight at Indy. The first year 1961, he was involved in a multi car crash in the race at the end of the pit lane near turn 1, started when Don Davis crashed, and being stunned, he staggered slowly across the track, causing cars behind to pile up. Turner flipped but was not hurt. In 1962 he again flipped in a multicar crash in the race, this time just out of turn 4 in the same place as the Sachs-MacDonald crash 2 years later. Again he was not hurt. In 1963, in practice he got sideways again in the same place as 1962 and the car began flipping side over side. It flipped at least 11 times (an amazing film exists of the accident) and then slid upside down grinding through his helmet to the scalp and ripping a lot of skin from his shoulder and causing other damage. It was not quite life threatening injuries, but close.
He was in the hospital and I, who had seen all three crashes (or part of them) was among a group of young teenage track rats who hung out together at the track during May. Sons and daughters of race people who had the run of the place and who all the guards knew, and let us run around without hassling us much. We decided to go see Jack Turner in the hospital, about 10 or 11 of us, both boys and girls. I don't recall how we got a ride down to Methodist Hospital because none of us were old enough to drive, but somehow we got there. The desk said we could not see him because he was in serious condition and could not have visitors and anyway, we were too young and had no "adult supervision".
But that wasn't going to stop us. His room number had been in the paper so we snuck aroung to the back to a service elevator and giggling and acting like typical early teenagers, we piled on the elevator. We went up a few floors undetected until the door opened and an old nurse came on pushing a cart full of pills. I stupidly asked, "Are those pills for me?" and she answered without cracking a smile, "They are if you breast feed."
So that cracked us all up. She said "breast"! So we were laughing and making a lot of rowdy noise going down this quiet hospital hall and finally we found the room and walked in still laughing about the "breast" thing. So there was Jack Turner all banaged up just lying there staring at the ceiling, alone. Suddenly in comes this
loud, rowdy much of teenagers he did not know and we said, "Hi Jack, we came to see how you are doing." He perked right up and seemed overwhelmed we had made the effort. We told him how we snuck in through the service elevator because they wouldn't let us up and we told him the breast joke and now the whole bunch of us were laughing our butts off and he was really cheered up. We got thrown out before long but Jack said to let us stay but they wouldn't.
He recovered quickly though it was the end of his racing career. At some later date I heard that he had said the main factor in his speedy recovery from quite serious injuries was that a group of kids had come to see him in the hospital, and that cheered him up and he decided he had to get out of his depression and feeling the pain and sorry for himself, and get back to living.
Elmer George caught his wife Mari Hulman George (Tony George's mother) in bed with a farm hand at one of the family properties. He was killed in a shootout. The farm hand was aquitted of a murder charge on self defense. As of two years ago anyway, the farm hand was still a "good friend" of Mari Hulman, more than 25 years later!
The Jack Turner story was even more weird than mentioned above. He actually flipped not two years in a row, but THREE !!! on the main straight at Indy. The first year 1961, he was involved in a multi car crash in the race at the end of the pit lane near turn 1, started when Don Davis crashed, and being stunned, he staggered slowly across the track, causing cars behind to pile up. Turner flipped but was not hurt. In 1962 he again flipped in a multicar crash in the race, this time just out of turn 4 in the same place as the Sachs-MacDonald crash 2 years later. Again he was not hurt. In 1963, in practice he got sideways again in the same place as 1962 and the car began flipping side over side. It flipped at least 11 times (an amazing film exists of the accident) and then slid upside down grinding through his helmet to the scalp and ripping a lot of skin from his shoulder and causing other damage. It was not quite life threatening injuries, but close.
He was in the hospital and I, who had seen all three crashes (or part of them) was among a group of young teenage track rats who hung out together at the track during May. Sons and daughters of race people who had the run of the place and who all the guards knew, and let us run around without hassling us much. We decided to go see Jack Turner in the hospital, about 10 or 11 of us, both boys and girls. I don't recall how we got a ride down to Methodist Hospital because none of us were old enough to drive, but somehow we got there. The desk said we could not see him because he was in serious condition and could not have visitors and anyway, we were too young and had no "adult supervision".
But that wasn't going to stop us. His room number had been in the paper so we snuck aroung to the back to a service elevator and giggling and acting like typical early teenagers, we piled on the elevator. We went up a few floors undetected until the door opened and an old nurse came on pushing a cart full of pills. I stupidly asked, "Are those pills for me?" and she answered without cracking a smile, "They are if you breast feed."
So that cracked us all up. She said "breast"! So we were laughing and making a lot of rowdy noise going down this quiet hospital hall and finally we found the room and walked in still laughing about the "breast" thing. So there was Jack Turner all banaged up just lying there staring at the ceiling, alone. Suddenly in comes this
loud, rowdy much of teenagers he did not know and we said, "Hi Jack, we came to see how you are doing." He perked right up and seemed overwhelmed we had made the effort. We told him how we snuck in through the service elevator because they wouldn't let us up and we told him the breast joke and now the whole bunch of us were laughing our butts off and he was really cheered up. We got thrown out before long but Jack said to let us stay but they wouldn't.
He recovered quickly though it was the end of his racing career. At some later date I heard that he had said the main factor in his speedy recovery from quite serious injuries was that a group of kids had come to see him in the hospital, and that cheered him up and he decided he had to get out of his depression and feeling the pain and sorry for himself, and get back to living.
#74
Leif Snellman
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Posted 21 April 2001 - 08:58
Nuvolari hit a deer during practice for the Donington GP 1938. An accident very similar to Stefan Johansson in Austria 1987.
#75
bobbo
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Posted 21 April 2001 - 13:21
. . . Somehow, I seem to remember an incident (Early '60s??) when someone had an "incident" with a skunk at Watkins Glen. Any one know about it? Was it F1 or another race? Or am I just imagining it? Any way you look at it, it's funny. Imagine this: Coming down the back straight (or wherever) and this skunk waddles out in front of you . . .
#76
fines
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Posted 21 April 2001 - 15:16
I loved your story, Buford! A dry joke of an unsuspecting nurse saving a former racing driver from depressions, now that's something!
#77
Gary Davies
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Posted 21 April 2001 - 15:45
There is a not so bizarre accident that did, though, provide one of motor racing's more spectacular photographs. In Heat 2 of the 1959 German Grand Prix at Avus, the brakes on Hans Herrman's BRM expired on approach to the Sudkehre. Herrman was thrown out, suffering but slight damage whilst the BRM continued on crashing and banging end over end. The photograph (which I no longer have) captures HH in a kneeling position in the middle of the track looking at his fast departing BRM upside down in mid-air.
#78
Buford
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Posted 22 April 2001 - 01:51
"I loved your story, Buford! A dry joke of an unsuspecting nurse saving a former racing driver from depressions, now that's something"
Thanks but I need to start using the spell checker. I think the irony of the story though is a bunch of crazy kids who were real full of themselves and totally obnoxious, used to having their own way, not taking no for an answer, and with total disregard for the seriousness of the situation, flaunting authority and doing what they damn well pleased, actually made a difference! We didn't do it for any grand purpose. We did it just to kind of raise hell in our early 60's way. It was the outrageousness of the situation with the pissed off hospital authorities and the "ah shucks, we're just having fun" innocence of our group that reminded Jack there was a reason to live. We had no idea that would be the result. We just did it because the 'adults" told us we couldn't.
Thanks but I need to start using the spell checker. I think the irony of the story though is a bunch of crazy kids who were real full of themselves and totally obnoxious, used to having their own way, not taking no for an answer, and with total disregard for the seriousness of the situation, flaunting authority and doing what they damn well pleased, actually made a difference! We didn't do it for any grand purpose. We did it just to kind of raise hell in our early 60's way. It was the outrageousness of the situation with the pissed off hospital authorities and the "ah shucks, we're just having fun" innocence of our group that reminded Jack there was a reason to live. We had no idea that would be the result. We just did it because the 'adults" told us we couldn't.
#79
Flicker
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Posted 22 April 2001 - 11:02
As far as concerned Austrian'1987 Johansson accident...
... towards the end of Friday morning's session, a deer found itself out on the circuit, crossing the track just when Stefan Johansson's McLaren crested a brow at nearly 180 mph (290 kph). Johansson hit the deer which was killed instantly. The McLaren slid along the track, demolishing the barrier. Johansson was bruised but unhurt.
... towards the end of Friday morning's session, a deer found itself out on the circuit, crossing the track just when Stefan Johansson's McLaren crested a brow at nearly 180 mph (290 kph). Johansson hit the deer which was killed instantly. The McLaren slid along the track, demolishing the barrier. Johansson was bruised but unhurt.
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#80
GunStar
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Posted 22 April 2001 - 18:57
As a corner worker...I've had plenty of strange incidents. The worst was the Formula Atlantic car flying over my head in Portland. That was a very "interesting" view.
If any of you know of the old Westwood track in British Columbia, then I bring attention to Deer's Leap. The sports racers would make a sound just like a doe and every once in a while, a buck would jump onto the track at that point...and once, a Sports 2000 just happened to be taking the leap at that time.
Venison anybody?
If any of you know of the old Westwood track in British Columbia, then I bring attention to Deer's Leap. The sports racers would make a sound just like a doe and every once in a while, a buck would jump onto the track at that point...and once, a Sports 2000 just happened to be taking the leap at that time.
Venison anybody?
#81
Ray Bell
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Posted 23 April 2001 - 15:17
Who else wants to be at the bar when Buford strikes up a conversations with Mike Argetsinger?
#82
AcidIce
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Posted 23 April 2001 - 15:41
Some bizarre accidents:
A Mercedes taking off during LeMans '99 practice.
Carlos Sainz running over a sheep...1991 I think; in the onboard video you can hear "****, the sheep!"
Carlos Sainz being stopped because a cow was lying on the track...
Carlos Sainz stopping within 400m from the end of the last ss in the RAC Rally'98, losing the WC.
Sainz had some really stupid accidents.
A Mercedes taking off during LeMans '99 practice.
Carlos Sainz running over a sheep...1991 I think; in the onboard video you can hear "****, the sheep!"
Carlos Sainz being stopped because a cow was lying on the track...
Carlos Sainz stopping within 400m from the end of the last ss in the RAC Rally'98, losing the WC.
Sainz had some really stupid accidents.
#83
bobbo
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Posted 23 April 2001 - 17:13
"Who else wants to be at the bar when Buford strikes up a conversations with Mike Argetsinger?"
Ray:
Just the thought boggles the mind . . .
Bobbo
Ray:
Just the thought boggles the mind . . .
Bobbo
#84
David Hyland
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 03:07
I can also visualise a photograph of Rosberg in a McLaren (which makes it 1986) holding a large, very shiny, spanner, which I believe had been left in his footwell.Originally posted by david_martin
It was Herbert, at Monza when he was driver for Sauber. I am not entirely sure of the year but I think it was his last year with the team, 1998. They had set up the T car for him after his race car had problems in the morning warm up... and left a tool in the footwell after they installed his pedalbox.
#85
Chevy II Nova
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- 1,940 posts
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 03:27
Two BAR's, two crashes, one spot. Luckily, this was only in testing.
http://www.slownova....videos/BAR.mpeg
Not sure what race, but a nasty blowover.
http://www.slownova....takesflight.mpg
Poor front jackman.
http://www.slownova....os/ferrari.mpeg
Scary NASCAR wrecks.
http://www.slownova....deos/nascar.avi
http://www.slownova....nascarcrash.asf
One of them jackrabbit inicidents durring a touring car race.
http://www.slownova....eos/rabbit.mpeg
Enjoy.
http://www.slownova....videos/BAR.mpeg
Not sure what race, but a nasty blowover.
http://www.slownova....takesflight.mpg
Poor front jackman.
http://www.slownova....os/ferrari.mpeg
Scary NASCAR wrecks.
http://www.slownova....deos/nascar.avi
http://www.slownova....nascarcrash.asf
One of them jackrabbit inicidents durring a touring car race.
http://www.slownova....eos/rabbit.mpeg
Enjoy.
#86
antonvrs
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- 500 posts
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 04:19
Riverside Raceway, CA circa 1966(?) CanAm race. At the beginning of the warmup lap somebody blows an oil line dumping a large quantity of oil on the grid and into turn 1. Start is delayed while the cleanup crew dumps large quantities of white powder(!) on track.
Course workers with brooms and then motorised track sweepers try to clean it up. It's a huge mess, the cars are sent around again and the pilot of a small helicopter that is parked about 50 yards away (news? private? I don't remember) decides to help by hovering a few feet off the track to blow it away.
Meanwhile the cars are heading into the last turn before the start-finish straight and everybody is frantically waving off the helicopter, the pilot finally realises what's going on and pulls up- forgetting that he'd had to go in very low under the telephone wires that ran across the track- and catches the tail rotor in the wires and dumps the 'copter right on the middle of the track directly in front of the starting line.
By the time the 'copter was dragged off of the track etc.etc. the race got a very late start and was nearly anti-climactic. I don't remember who won but I'm sure that helicopter pilot was the day's big loser!
Anton
Course workers with brooms and then motorised track sweepers try to clean it up. It's a huge mess, the cars are sent around again and the pilot of a small helicopter that is parked about 50 yards away (news? private? I don't remember) decides to help by hovering a few feet off the track to blow it away.
Meanwhile the cars are heading into the last turn before the start-finish straight and everybody is frantically waving off the helicopter, the pilot finally realises what's going on and pulls up- forgetting that he'd had to go in very low under the telephone wires that ran across the track- and catches the tail rotor in the wires and dumps the 'copter right on the middle of the track directly in front of the starting line.
By the time the 'copter was dragged off of the track etc.etc. the race got a very late start and was nearly anti-climactic. I don't remember who won but I'm sure that helicopter pilot was the day's big loser!
Anton
#87
WDH74
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- 1,360 posts
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 04:27
Didn't John Fitch hit a vulture with his Mercedes during one of the Carreras? I seem to remember reading about the horrid stink in his car after that.
-William
-William
#88
2F-001
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 06:38
Back in the more glorious days of the RAC Rally, a ''spectators-day'' stage was sometimes run through a Safari Park (Longleat House I think). One year England's favourite, Tony Pond, went off through the high fencing into a Lion enclosure, and put the front of his Triumph under the feeding trough!
#89
Vitesse2
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 09:59
Originally posted by WDH74
Didn't John Fitch hit a vulture with his Mercedes during one of the Carreras? I seem to remember reading about the horrid stink in his car after that.
-William
Right race, right car, wrong driver: it was Karl Kling.
#90
Rob G
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 13:21
IIRC that was Yannick Dalmas at Road Atlanta several years back.Originally posted by Chevy II Nova
Not sure what race, but a nasty blowover.
http://www.slownova....takesflight.mpg
#91
fines
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- 9,647 posts
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 15:53
Originally posted by WDH74
Didn't John Fitch hit a vulture with his Mercedes during one of the Carreras? I seem to remember reading about the horrid stink in his car after that.
-William
Actually, the vulture hit co-driver Hans Klenk right in the face! He gained the nickname "Geier-Klenk" for that...!Originally posted by Vitesse2
Right race, right car, wrong driver: it was Karl Kling.
(Geier = vulture in German)
#92
Breadmaster
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- 2,512 posts
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 16:29
Originally posted by Chevy II Nova
Scary NASCAR wrecks.
http://www.slownova....deos/nascar.avi
http://www.slownova....nascarcrash.asf
i'm not a nascar fan but bloody hell!
i take it bodine survived...?
the other...well schumacher had a similar crash in 99 didn't he?....and he certainly didn't walk away - tough things those nascars!
#93
WDH74
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 18:04
Well I was close.... 
-William
-William
#94
Tim Murray
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 18:05
So Mercedes driver Hanns Geier, who had that dreadful accident at Bremgarten in 1935, is really 'Johnny Vulture' in english???? :Originally posted by fines
(Geier = vulture in German)
#95
fullcourseyellow
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- 835 posts
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Posted 15 September 2003 - 18:47
1996 US 500 --- The first time they tried a three-abreast "Indy 500" style start at the Michigan Speedway. The front row (Vasser, Fernandez, Herta) got too close to one another at the start and tangled, wiping out almost the entire field. The race was, not surprisingly, red-flagged... 
#96
Manfred Cubenoggin
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Posted 16 September 2003 - 01:47
I hesitate to write this post as it does not involve a shunt of any kind but certainly belongs in the bizarre occurence file. Further, I hesitate posting for fear of somehow knuckling under to some craving to see my experiences in print - tooting one's own horn, as it were. I offer the story here as merely one of goofy things that can happen in a motor race. It might be worth a hoot.
Back in 1983, I was competing in a regional FF race at Mosport in my 1969 Hawke DL2. The car was hopelessly outclassed against the new aero-slim cars and down on power to boot. However, the car handled superbly and could outbrake anything on the track with its big Girling calipers. Mid race, I had just exited corner 8, the near-flat right hander at the end of the back straight and was just setting up for corner 9 immediately following. I touched the brakes to knock off a little speed, down to about 90-95 mph and reached for the gear lever to change down to third just prior to the turn in point for 9. As I completed the change, I brought my right hand back up to the wheel. Or at least tried to. My arm was paralyzed. My hand would not come back to wheel. I started the turn with left hand only on the wheel. Again I tried to raise my right hand to the steering wheel and again it refused to oblige. Again. Again. Doubtless with eyes as big as plates, I managed to survive the pass through corner 9 and was obliged to get set for the right-handed corner 10 shortly to follow. The brief moment provided on the run up to corner 10 allowed me the chance to glance down at my right arm to see WTF was going on. Incredibly, the rather stiff, semi-opaque oil pressure sensing line to the instrument panel guage running along the upper frame tube on the right side had sprung out into the cockpit area. The tie wraps that I used to secure the line had migrated along the frame tube due to vibration and had collected in a nice little group far from there intended position. This allowed the oil line to spring out into the cockpit and when I made the gear change, in bringing my hand back to wheel, the line got snagged in the web of my hand between thumb and index finger. After recovering from the drama, I spent the rest of the race on every available straight trying to jimmy the tie wraps back along the frame tube to secure the line enough so that it wouldn't cause a further problem.
Manfred = 1; Grim Reeper = 0.
Back in 1983, I was competing in a regional FF race at Mosport in my 1969 Hawke DL2. The car was hopelessly outclassed against the new aero-slim cars and down on power to boot. However, the car handled superbly and could outbrake anything on the track with its big Girling calipers. Mid race, I had just exited corner 8, the near-flat right hander at the end of the back straight and was just setting up for corner 9 immediately following. I touched the brakes to knock off a little speed, down to about 90-95 mph and reached for the gear lever to change down to third just prior to the turn in point for 9. As I completed the change, I brought my right hand back up to the wheel. Or at least tried to. My arm was paralyzed. My hand would not come back to wheel. I started the turn with left hand only on the wheel. Again I tried to raise my right hand to the steering wheel and again it refused to oblige. Again. Again. Doubtless with eyes as big as plates, I managed to survive the pass through corner 9 and was obliged to get set for the right-handed corner 10 shortly to follow. The brief moment provided on the run up to corner 10 allowed me the chance to glance down at my right arm to see WTF was going on. Incredibly, the rather stiff, semi-opaque oil pressure sensing line to the instrument panel guage running along the upper frame tube on the right side had sprung out into the cockpit area. The tie wraps that I used to secure the line had migrated along the frame tube due to vibration and had collected in a nice little group far from there intended position. This allowed the oil line to spring out into the cockpit and when I made the gear change, in bringing my hand back to wheel, the line got snagged in the web of my hand between thumb and index finger. After recovering from the drama, I spent the rest of the race on every available straight trying to jimmy the tie wraps back along the frame tube to secure the line enough so that it wouldn't cause a further problem.
Manfred = 1; Grim Reeper = 0.
#97
LB
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Posted 16 September 2003 - 04:43
Going back to animal murder on the roads from the first page I have a impressive death toll of 2 deer, a fox, a snake ( no not in Scotland though I did get a grass snake with the mower once) a couple of birds too and countless rabbits. and I wrote a car off successfully missing a sheep once.
Its fairly common up here in the highlands as the roads are largely unfenced and the animals largely stupid also we have neverheard of traffic jams so we tend to hit them at slightly more than 2mph 
Ok few stories. Firstly my Dads ex boss, Duncan, hit a deer with his Volvo on the road down from Aviemore to Fort William. Lot of damage to the front end of course and the deer seemed pretty second hand. Never one to shirk an oppertunity he slung the carcass in the estates boot and carried on looking forward to some venison to make up for the repair bill that was sure to follow.
3 miles down the road the deer woke up. It was more than a bit peeved at being inside a Volvo ( who wouldn't be ;)) and it kicked, bit and chewed at everything it could see. It smashed windows wrecked the seats, needless to say Duncan had bailed out and was frantically opening the boot at this point. Once the boot was open he found that the deer was rearranging his dashboard having thrashed its way to the front of the car. Eventually it got out and disappeared leaving a crestfallen Duncan trying to think of a way to explain this one to the insurers. I think the total was in the thousands and this was the 80's
Secondly and even longer ago when I was at primary school I was told a story by a fellow classmate which has stuck with me since. His family were travelling through Glencoe at the standard speed of a couple of thousand mph (that place is like a drag strip until you run over a tourist in a campervan). they came through one of the corners to be confronted with a nicely placed sheep. They hit it at some speed - so much infact it slid up the bonnet, bounced off the windscreen ( shattering it ), it then flew over the roof and crash landed in the road behind. The kids in the backseat immediately turned around fascinated by seeing a dead animal (as you do). Unfortunately for them the sheep got up brushed itself off and with a look of defiance walked to the verge.
One of the guys at work once hit a deer with his girlfriend in a Suzuki Vitara ( complete with bull bars so it was undamaged). She was quite distraught and kept asking if it was alright for the next few miles. He didn't have the heart to tell her that the thing that went flying over the top of the car was its leg. So thats a score of animals 1-2 cars with a further draw on my trip to the GP last year which is posted in RC somewhere.
Its fairly common up here in the highlands as the roads are largely unfenced and the animals largely stupid
also we have neverheard of traffic jams so we tend to hit them at slightly more than 2mph Ok few stories. Firstly my Dads ex boss, Duncan, hit a deer with his Volvo on the road down from Aviemore to Fort William. Lot of damage to the front end of course and the deer seemed pretty second hand. Never one to shirk an oppertunity he slung the carcass in the estates boot and carried on looking forward to some venison to make up for the repair bill that was sure to follow.
3 miles down the road the deer woke up. It was more than a bit peeved at being inside a Volvo ( who wouldn't be ;)) and it kicked, bit and chewed at everything it could see. It smashed windows wrecked the seats, needless to say Duncan had bailed out and was frantically opening the boot at this point. Once the boot was open he found that the deer was rearranging his dashboard having thrashed its way to the front of the car. Eventually it got out and disappeared leaving a crestfallen Duncan trying to think of a way to explain this one to the insurers. I think the total was in the thousands and this was the 80's
Secondly and even longer ago when I was at primary school I was told a story by a fellow classmate which has stuck with me since. His family were travelling through Glencoe at the standard speed of a couple of thousand mph (that place is like a drag strip until you run over a tourist in a campervan). they came through one of the corners to be confronted with a nicely placed sheep. They hit it at some speed - so much infact it slid up the bonnet, bounced off the windscreen ( shattering it ), it then flew over the roof and crash landed in the road behind. The kids in the backseat immediately turned around fascinated by seeing a dead animal (as you do). Unfortunately for them the sheep got up brushed itself off and with a look of defiance walked to the verge.
One of the guys at work once hit a deer with his girlfriend in a Suzuki Vitara ( complete with bull bars so it was undamaged). She was quite distraught and kept asking if it was alright for the next few miles. He didn't have the heart to tell her that the thing that went flying over the top of the car was its leg. So thats a score of animals 1-2 cars with a further draw on my trip to the GP last year which is posted in RC somewhere.
#98
Rob G
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Posted 16 September 2003 - 05:07
Yes, amazingly not only did he survive, but he raced again. What's even more amazing was that nobody in the stands was injured. It was among the most frightening accidents I've ever seen.Originally posted by Breadmaster
i'm not a nascar fan but bloody hell!
i take it bodine survived...?
#99
Pikachu Racing
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Posted 16 September 2003 - 06:11
Mike Harmon at Bristol. He hit a gate which was unsecure and rips half of the car. As he slides down the track, Johnny Sauter nails the car showering the debris. Harmon gets out the car on his own and started the race the next day.
You wonder why there is a chainlinked fence at Talledega on the backstretch? Jimmy Horton got caught up in a huge crash and ends up flying out of the track. It was installed the following year and it would take a few years to be tested. In another big one (1996, I think), Ricky Craven car was sent to the fence and kept him back on the track.
You wonder why there is a chainlinked fence at Talledega on the backstretch? Jimmy Horton got caught up in a huge crash and ends up flying out of the track. It was installed the following year and it would take a few years to be tested. In another big one (1996, I think), Ricky Craven car was sent to the fence and kept him back on the track.
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#100
dbltop
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Posted 16 September 2003 - 08:00
re Bodines crash at Daytona, there were people injured in the stands but not seriously. A friend of mine was sitting nearby but further up from the fence and he said that he sure felt the heat.
re LBs story of the road from Aviemore to Ft. William. My dad grew up in Aviemore in the 20s and 30s, but he has been in Canada since 1950. His cousin still owns Granish farm just on the outskirts. We visited in the summer of 01 and had a few pints in the Winking Owl!
re LBs story of the road from Aviemore to Ft. William. My dad grew up in Aviemore in the 20s and 30s, but he has been in Canada since 1950. His cousin still owns Granish farm just on the outskirts. We visited in the summer of 01 and had a few pints in the Winking Owl!
