I was at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve a few days ago and I remembered the unusual circumstances that brought to a halt the 1990 round of the WSC at the same track. This was the first appearance of the Peugeot 905 driven by Keke Rosberg and Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
The race ended prematurely when a man-hole cover was sucked up by a car and both Brun Porsches ( Hyusman & Pareja ) crashed into it. The Pareja car burst into flames and came to halt in the run-off area. The race was immediately red-flagged while the mess was cleared. It could not be restarted because the shattered man-hole cover could not be replaced in time.
Since then all the man-hole covers at the track have been bolted down to ensure the same thing doesn`t happen again
Do you know of any other strange circumstances like this ?
Unusual shortened races
Started by
cheesy poofs
, May 13 2004 13:14
60 replies to this topic
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#2
bigears
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 14:39
Also I can think of the Monza 1000kms race in 1983 (I think)
The race was stopped after a tree fell into the armco and blocking a part of the track, presumbly near the first Lesmos.
But then after a delay as the organisers removed the tree and fixed the armco. The race was resumed afterwards.
The race was stopped after a tree fell into the armco and blocking a part of the track, presumbly near the first Lesmos.
But then after a delay as the organisers removed the tree and fixed the armco. The race was resumed afterwards.
#3
Rob Semmeling
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 15:45
The 500cc motorcycle race during the 1968 Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring Südschleife was ended prematurely because of a forest fire in the woods near the track. A part of the track was covered in smoke, which made it impossible to continue the race.
#4
KWSN - DSM
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 17:12
Spa 1983 (or was it 1984) F1 race called of during training due to newly laid track breaking up. Think was in May, and the race eventually took place in September.
#5
cheesy poofs
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 17:15
Originally posted by KWSN - DSM
Spa 1983 (or was it 1984) F1 race called of during training due to newly laid track breaking up. Think was in May, and the race eventually took place in September.
I think that was in 1985. A race which was won by Senna.
#6
bigears
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 17:25
Yes it is correct as the F3000 support race took over the F1 race slot on that Sunday.
#7
D-Type
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 17:44
Then there were the races in Angola and at Clermont Ferrand that were stopped when bridges over the track collapsed.
#8
cheesy poofs
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 17:46
Originally posted by D-Type
Then there were the races in Angola and at Clermont Ferrand that were stopped when bridges over the track collapsed.
How on earth did that happen ??
#9
bigears
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 19:05
Ah yes, at the Nova Lisboa in Angola for a sportscar race (probably a 1000kms race) in 1972
When the pace car was running at the front of the field full of sportscar.
it was approaching a spectator bridge and then suddenly it collapsed at the front of the pace car. I have seen footage of it from a DVD. Some people claim it was a terrorist plan to loosen up the bridge and to collapse it during a race. Some say that there was too many people on the bridge and the structures can't hold on to it and finally collapsed.
Mario Carbal was being interviewed about the incident shortly afterwards but as I am deaf so I don't understand what he was saying.
When the pace car was running at the front of the field full of sportscar.
it was approaching a spectator bridge and then suddenly it collapsed at the front of the pace car. I have seen footage of it from a DVD. Some people claim it was a terrorist plan to loosen up the bridge and to collapse it during a race. Some say that there was too many people on the bridge and the structures can't hold on to it and finally collapsed.
Mario Carbal was being interviewed about the incident shortly afterwards but as I am deaf so I don't understand what he was saying.
#10
Rob29
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 19:25
What happened at Charade? don't seem to remember that one. I do have a photo of a start at Rouen where the bridge has no visable means of access,stairs had dissapeared,but I d'ont think the race was delayed!Originally posted by D-Type
Then there were the races in Angola and at Clermont Ferrand that were stopped when bridges over the track collapsed.
Funniest incident I recall,though it could have been serious,was when the power supply failed at Snetterton at the start of an F3 race. Man appears on startline at end of lap one with red flag.Bev Bond ,leading,folows the correct proceedure for a 'complete and imediate stop' by the flag man leaving the rest of the field with nowhere to go...
#11
gdecarli
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 19:28
Originally it was scheduled on June 2 1985, but after saturday morning free practice it was canceled.Originally posted by cheesy poofs
I think that was in 1985. A race which was won by Senna.
On Saturday morning, best time was scored by De Angelis , 2'19"892, 23 seconds (!) slower than best lap on friday, scored by Alboreto.
GP was raced on September 15th 1985, won by Senna.
Monza 1000 km, April 28th 1985. Race was stopped after 139 laps, rather than 172.Originally posted by bigears
Also I can think of the Monza 1000kms race in 1983 (I think)
Race was won by Mafred Winkelhock-Marc Surer (Porsche 962 Kremer).
Ciao,
Guido
#12
Ray Bell
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Posted 13 May 2004 - 23:47
Can someone post a photo of Graeme McRae (?), Max Stewart and Vern Schuppan standing waist deep in water at Surfers Paradise the day of the Tasman round?
#13
Buford
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 01:23
A was at a SCCA race one time at Meadowdale near Chicago when the races had to be stopped because a guy who was owed money for building a bridge over the track pulled a tractor out onto the front straight during a race. He wouldn't leave and I guess nobody wanted to take it upon themself to beat him up. I think that was the last time they ever ran at Meadowdale.
#14
David Hyland
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 01:47
ISTR the 1985 British GP at Silverstone was "1 lap short" because the flagman waved the chequered flag 1 lap early. (OK, maybe not as spectacular as a bridge collapse, but still "unusual")
#15
Muzza
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 02:12
Nothing, absolutely nothing can beat "The Gimli Incident"...
Check this out:
http://www.silhouet....acks/gimli.html
Check this out:
http://www.silhouet....acks/gimli.html
#16
Option1
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 02:14
You win!!Originally posted by Muzza
Nothing, absolutely nothing can beat "The Gimli Incident"...
Check this out:
http://www.silhouet....acks/gimli.html
Neil
#17
Pablo Vignone
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 21:43
I guess this does not beat the Gimli Glider Incident but maybe come close.
The last race of the 1988 Turismo Carretera series here in Argentina tokk place January 8th, 1989. It was ran in a road circuit near the small San Lorenzo town, not far from Rosario, in the Santa Fe province (the same that one Carlos Alberto Reutemann ruled between 1991-1995 and 1999-2003), which has several viaducts and a level railway crossing the track at two points. The race was run in two against-the-clock heats, with final results on aggregate times. And, yes, the unavoidable happened when in the second heat an unexpected train cut the race in two, running on the railway. It was so weird that even L'Equipe in France took notice...
The last race of the 1988 Turismo Carretera series here in Argentina tokk place January 8th, 1989. It was ran in a road circuit near the small San Lorenzo town, not far from Rosario, in the Santa Fe province (the same that one Carlos Alberto Reutemann ruled between 1991-1995 and 1999-2003), which has several viaducts and a level railway crossing the track at two points. The race was run in two against-the-clock heats, with final results on aggregate times. And, yes, the unavoidable happened when in the second heat an unexpected train cut the race in two, running on the railway. It was so weird that even L'Equipe in France took notice...
#18
Doug Nye
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 22:03
Bridge collapse at Charade??? I recall one at Aix-les-Bains which killed poor Chris Threlfall...
DCN
DCN
#19
D-Type
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Posted 14 May 2004 - 22:31
Thanks! That's the one I was thinking of. At least I had the country right. 
My apologies to all the Charade fans.
My apologies to all the Charade fans.
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#20
WINO
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 12:20
How about the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix. It got underway in spite of the major attraction, one J.M. Fangio, being kidnapped by Castro rebels. Then the race was stopped after 5 out of a total of 90 laps, after Garcia Cifuentes plowed his Testa Rossa into the crowd. It was never restarted.
WINO
WINO
#21
MGAdams
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 14:18
Originally posted by Muzza
Nothing, absolutely nothing can beat "The Gimli Incident"...
Check this out:
http://www.silhouet....acks/gimli.html
Truth is the Gimli Glider incident happened after Saturdays racing in the evening. On Sunday, Air officials tried to stop the remaining race weekend, but the host race club just told them to get their plane off of their track. The racing went on, and the second Formula Ford on the left of the grid is my old Lotus 61 ... but I was not there.
http://groups.msn.co...to&PhotoID=2344
Mike Adams
#22
mctshirt
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 18:11
July 1, 1967...Mosport USAC Champ car round was stopped after 6 laps because of ...rain! It was supposed to be a 40 lap race but apparently Indy cars don't run in the rain which I believe the Canadian fans found to be a little bit incredible.
#23
gdecarli
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 18:28
Any race stopped because comptetitors stopped?
I don't recall: I recall 3 remanining drivers at F.1 Monaco GP 1996 (the lowest result in F.1) but I don't know if in some other category it ever happend.
Ciao,
Guido
I don't recall: I recall 3 remanining drivers at F.1 Monaco GP 1996 (the lowest result in F.1) but I don't know if in some other category it ever happend.
Ciao,
Guido
#24
Buford
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 18:57
Originally posted by mctshirt
July 1, 1967...Mosport USAC Champ car round was stopped after 6 laps because of ...rain! It was supposed to be a 40 lap race but apparently Indy cars don't run in the rain which I believe the Canadian fans found to be a little bit incredible.
I don't think they had rain tires then. They had only been running road courses since 1965.
#25
mctshirt
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 19:50
Originally posted by Buford
I don't think they had rain tires then. They had only been running road courses since 1965.
Fair call...I can't imagine Indy 500 getting called off because of rain
#26
jarama
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 22:14
Originally posted by gdecarli
Any race stopped because comptetitors stopped?
I don't recall: I recall 3 remanining drivers at F.1 Monaco GP 1996 (the lowest result in F.1) but I don't know if in some other category it ever happend.
Ciao,
Guido
Not strictly a race, but a rally: The '72 Bandama (later known as Côte d'Ivoire) was AFAIK the one and only event without finishers: of 43 starters, the last one gave up around the 2500 km mark (out of 4000 km).
Carles.
#27
D-Type
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 22:59
They don't call it off - they run it the next day. I think there was one occasion when they had to postpone it a second time.Originally posted by mctshirt
Fair call...I can't imagine Indy 500 getting called off because of rain
#28
Buford
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 23:17
In 1973 they started and had the Walther crash, then it rained. They got started again on the 3rd day until the Savage accident and then it rained again and they gave it up. In 1986 they posponed twice and then moved it to the following weekend because it was to be the first live TV broadcast. In 1996 for the first IRL 500 there were rain delays. Those come to mind but I know there were many more.
#29
Pablo Vignone
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Posted 15 May 2004 - 23:18
What about a 1967 Formula 2 race at Nurburbring suspended by a snow storm? Was that true?
#30
Ray Bell
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Posted 16 May 2004 - 12:24
Originally posted by Pablo Vignone
I guess this does not beat the Gimli Glider Incident but maybe come close.
The last race of the 1988 Turismo Carretera series here in Argentina tokk place January 8th, 1989. It was ran in a road circuit near the small San Lorenzo town, not far from Rosario, in the Santa Fe province (the same that one Carlos Alberto Reutemann ruled between 1991-1995 and 1999-2003), which has several viaducts and a level railway crossing the track at two points. The race was run in two against-the-clock heats, with final results on aggregate times. And, yes, the unavoidable happened when in the second heat an unexpected train cut the race in two, running on the railway. It was so weird that even L'Equipe in France took notice...
At Longford (Tasmania) in 1962 or 1963 there was a sports car race prior to the openwheeler race.
Longford also had a level crossing, but the races were timed to avoid conflict with train arrivals. But this time, for some inexplicable reason, the sports car race was stopped by a train coming through.
It also was the case that Bib Stillwell's Cooper Monaco gearbox had been promised for the use of local driver John Youl in the openwheeler event. Coincidentally, the gearbox was only able to be changed in time because the race was stopped early...
#31
Graham Clayton
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Posted 07 July 2011 - 22:46
On a slightly different tangent, what about races that were shortened before the start?
The 1964 Syracuse Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 56 laps, but was shortened to 40 laps due to bad weather.
The 1964 Syracuse Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 56 laps, but was shortened to 40 laps due to bad weather.
#32
Vitesse2
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Posted 07 July 2011 - 23:08
Chimay 1937: 2 litre race stopped at half distance because there were only two cars left running. And one of those wasn't sounding too good ...
La Baule 1938: held as usual on the beach. Race shortened from 50 to 40 laps because the organisers had miscalculated the tides and by lap 37 the waves were reaching the seaward side of the course. Spectators on that side had already had to abandon their positions.
La Baule 1938: held as usual on the beach. Race shortened from 50 to 40 laps because the organisers had miscalculated the tides and by lap 37 the waves were reaching the seaward side of the course. Spectators on that side had already had to abandon their positions.
Edited by Vitesse2, 07 July 2011 - 23:09.
#33
Lee Nicolle
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Posted 07 July 2011 - 23:24
The Bathurst 747 km event, stopped because the competitors created a parking lot at the top of the mountain. I think Dicks first win? After the rock.
#34
Altitude
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Posted 08 July 2011 - 07:40
On a slightly different tangent, what about races that were shortened before the start?
The 1964 Syracuse Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 56 laps, but was shortened to 40 laps due to bad weather.
The 2001 Rockingham 500 was reduced in length before the start due to worries about the light following delays due to water on the track.
#35
Graham Clayton
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Posted 29 April 2012 - 11:57
Any race stopped because competitors stopped?
The 200 lap NASCAR race at the Tulsa Fairgrounds in Oklahoma on the 4th of August, 1956 was stopped after only 34 laps due to excessive dust.
On lap 32 Lee Petty pulled into the pits, jumped out of his car and ran across the track to the starters box, where he started waving the red flag,
fearing that a major accident was inevitable due to the poor visibility.
The race was cancelled and did not count towards the 1956 NASCAR championship.
#36
ray b
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Posted 30 April 2012 - 15:45
miami feb 27 1983 Red-flagged after 27 laps due to heavy rain per wiki
actually the race was run in the rain but stopped due to flooding/standing water
and high-tide not allowing the water to drain
and this was during the normal bone dry season in south fla
actually the race was run in the rain but stopped due to flooding/standing water
and high-tide not allowing the water to drain
and this was during the normal bone dry season in south fla
#37
gfastr
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 02:07
miami feb 27 1983 Red-flagged after 27 laps due to heavy rain per wiki
actually the race was run in the rain but stopped due to flooding/standing water
and high-tide not allowing the water to drain
and this was during the normal bone dry season in south fla
Same thing happened to the race's namesake, Grand Prix of Miami, just this past Sunday at Homestead Speedway (the track too tough to drain?)
#38
HeskethBoy
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 04:15
1991 Australian Grand Prix - Most people remember it stopped at 14 laps, when Nigel Mansell crashed and apparently knocked himself out.
However very few recall that Mauricio Gugelmin crashed at the Pit entry road at almost the same time - his car aquaplaned and struck the concrete wall separating the Pit Entry from the circuit and rode up onto the top of the wall, with the front wheels hanging over the edge towards the track. The car carried on along the top of the wall until it struck the island flag point located adjacent to the wall - scattering marshals and gear everywhere - slightly injuring two marshals. The car fell down off the wall into the Pit Entry and Gugelmin was assisted out - but the Pit entry was effectively diminished, if not blocked by the wreck, which was not going to be easy to move.
But, of course, Nigel's bump into the wall got all the attention - and the race went down as the shortest GP in history to that date.
However very few recall that Mauricio Gugelmin crashed at the Pit entry road at almost the same time - his car aquaplaned and struck the concrete wall separating the Pit Entry from the circuit and rode up onto the top of the wall, with the front wheels hanging over the edge towards the track. The car carried on along the top of the wall until it struck the island flag point located adjacent to the wall - scattering marshals and gear everywhere - slightly injuring two marshals. The car fell down off the wall into the Pit Entry and Gugelmin was assisted out - but the Pit entry was effectively diminished, if not blocked by the wreck, which was not going to be easy to move.
But, of course, Nigel's bump into the wall got all the attention - and the race went down as the shortest GP in history to that date.
#39
Wouter Melissen
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 07:03
The 2006 Le Mans Series race in Istanbul was shortened by two hours because of a fuel truck that went missing:
2006 Le Mans Series Istanbul 1000 km
2006 Le Mans Series Istanbul 1000 km
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#40
Stephen W
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 09:18
Spa 1983 (or was it 1984) F1 race called of during training due to newly laid track breaking up. Think was in May, and the race eventually took place in September.
I was at the May attempt - on the Saturday all I saw were road cars taking drivers, officials etc round to inspect the damage. We got a refund on the tickets but of course nothing towards the costs of getting there! I couldn't attend the September rescheduled date due to having used all my holidays!
Fair call...I can't imagine Indy 500 getting called off because of rain
I thought the Indy cars stopped when it rained and only restarted again once it was dry - leastways that's what happened when they came to Silverstone!
#41
ensign14
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 09:31
Pareja was one of the last open-face helmet hold-outs. IIRC that race was the first time he donned a full-face helmet; might have saved his life.The race ended prematurely when a man-hole cover was sucked up by a car and both Brun Porsches ( Hyusman & Pareja ) crashed into it. The Pareja car burst into flames and came to halt in the run-off area. The race was immediately red-flagged while the mess was cleared. It could not be restarted because the shattered man-hole cover could not be replaced in time.
1,000km of Monza in 1985. Stopped after a tree fell on the track. Lucky for Winkelhock/Surer, they were out of pit sequence and took the win by being ahead at the time.
#42
ray b
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 15:16
The 200 lap NASCAR race at the Tulsa Fairgrounds in Oklahoma on the 4th of August, 1956 was stopped after only 34 laps due to excessive dust.
On lap 32 Lee Petty pulled into the pits, jumped out of his car and ran across the track to the starters box, where he started waving the red flag,
fearing that a major accident was inevitable due to the poor visibility.
The race was cancelled and did not count towards the 1956 NASCAR championship.
there was a mid to late 60's nastycar race that was to be 500 miles
but the last running car failed at 495 after many crashed cars were knocked out
#43
Kevan
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Posted 01 May 2012 - 18:49
Pareja was one of the last open-face helmet hold-outs. IIRC that race was the first time he donned a full-face helmet; might have saved his life.
1,000km of Monza in 1985. Stopped after a tree fell on the track. Lucky for Winkelhock/Surer, they were out of pit sequence and took the win by being ahead at the time.
Yes, that story about Pareja wearing a full-face helmet for the first time rings a bell with me as well. IIRC, the story was something like his regular open-face helmet either got lost in transit or left at the hotel on race day, but he had a brand new full-face helmet (I think a gift from a sponsor) in the pit garage, and opted to wear that instead?
#44
Graham Clayton
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Posted 26 December 2012 - 08:10
The Mt Fuji 1000km round of the 1985 World Sportscar Championship was cancelled after 2 hours due to heavy rain. Prior to the cancellation, all of the European entrants (Lancia, Porsche, Jaguar and Chevron) had withdrawn after only 12 laps (with the first 10 being run under caution), due to safety concerns, along with several Japanese teams. As the race was shortened, half points were awarded in the Teams Championship, as well as the Drivers Championship, but only to those drivers who had actually had a chance to drive during the race.
#45
Graham Clayton
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Posted 22 April 2013 - 11:49
The opening race of the 2006 Formula Nippon series at Mt Fuji on April 2 was cancelled after two laps behind the safety car, due to heavy rain. Benoît Tréluyer was declared the "winner", and half points were awarded.
#46
Graham Clayton
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Posted 29 April 2013 - 10:05
The 1964 Daily Mirror Trophy at Snetterton was flagged early due to sleet and snow. Only thirty-five of the scheduled fifty laps were run.
#47
dgs
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Posted 29 April 2013 - 11:24
Another bridge collapse was at 7th June 1954 meeting at Davidstow, Cornwall. Horace Gould who had entered two cars (Cooper-Bristol in Event 6 for Formula 2 cars (retired) and a Kieft-Bristol in Event 8 for Formula 1 cars (retired). As both cars were not usable after this race he decided to load them on to his converted bus/transporter and head for home. On leaving the paddock onto the main straight, be inavertently turned right towards the footbridge. The bridge was low and the bus was high - so the inevitable happened and the scaffolding bridge collapsed. Fortunately only two catering staff walking over the bridge were slightly injured.
As it was going to take hours to sort out the chaos, the last two races (Event 11 (1300cc Invitation Race) and Event 12 (Sportscars unlimited capacity, Final) were cancelled.
As it was going to take hours to sort out the chaos, the last two races (Event 11 (1300cc Invitation Race) and Event 12 (Sportscars unlimited capacity, Final) were cancelled.
#48
Graham Clayton
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Posted 26 August 2013 - 11:32
The Kyalami 9 hour race in 1974 was shortened to 6 hours due to the 1973 energy/oil crisis.
#49
Graham Clayton
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Posted 31 January 2015 - 06:00
The 1961 Western North Carolina 500 at the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway in Weaverville, NC was stopped after only 258 of the scheduled 500 laps due to the track breaking up.
#50
Jimisgod
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Posted 01 February 2015 - 03:47
Recently both V8 races at Sydney in 2014 were shortened due to massive storms. The Sunday race was struck by a storm so large it blocked the TV signal.
