35 replies to this topic

[Sharman]

I've just had news that Ralf, who is a frequent contributer here, was involved in a big shunt at the Ring on dropped oil. Two broken legs plus other injuries, prognosis is good and the whole adds up to a minimum 6 weeks in hospital.
I know all here will wish him a speedy recovery

[Tuboscocca]

I've just had news that Ralf, who is a frequent contributer here, was involved in a big shunt at the Ring on dropped oil. Two broken legs plus other injuries, prognosis is good and the whole adds up to a minimum 6 weeks in hospital.
I know all here will wish him a speedy recovery

GUTE BESSERUNG Ralf!!

Michael

[David McKinney]

Best wishes, Ralf

Show them their six-week estimate is pessimistic

[LittleChris]

All the best Ralf. Hope you're up and about soon

[kayemod]

Best wishes, Ralf

Show them their six-week estimate is pessimistic

I hope you're right of course, but in my own case "two broken legs and other injuries" are still a painful memory, though admittedly from quite a long time ago. In my own case it was six months before they even let me out on crutches, so from all of us "Eine Karte mit Genesungswünschen", and I hope your injuries are nowhere near the top end of the scale.

[arttidesco]

I've just had news that Ralf, who is a frequent contributer here, was involved in a big shunt at the Ring on dropped oil. Two broken legs plus other injuries, prognosis is good and the whole adds up to a minimum 6 weeks in hospital.

Gute Besserung Ralf !

[E1pix]

Wow, we all know this can happen while we race... but never quite expect it to.

Get Better, Ralf!

[Jack-the-Lad]

Ralf,

My best wishes for a fast and full recovery!

Jack

[JacnGille]

Get well soon!

[fuzzi]

Best wishes Ralf.

Hope you are soon up and driving again.

[Tim Murray]

Very sorry to hear this. All best wishes for a speedy recovery, Ralf.

[Catalina Park]

Hope you make a speedy recovery and that you will up on your feet again real soon.

[John Ginger]

Sorry to hear this, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery from me too

[bill p]

Best Wishes, Ralf, for a speedy recovery

Bill

[scags]

All the best, Ralf!

[Allan Lupton]

Yes best wishes from me as well.
I hope that when you're well enough to use the computer that we (here and elsewhere) will keep you amused - and contributing of course.

[Alan Cox]

Very best wishes for a speedy return to full fitness, Ralf.
I see that you logged in here yesterday at 14.16 local time, which is good news

[RacingCompagniet]

This is the FJHRA bulletin concerning Ralf's unfortunate accident (at Hockenheim):

New to FJ, Ralf Pickel was taking part in the “Race History on Track” demonstration on Friday in his recently acquired ex-Richard Smeeton Lotus 20, when he hit a lake of oil deposited from a blown up old F1 car, and was left with nowhere to go other than into the back of the Circuit van which had already got on the Circuit to retrieve the errant F1, and had stopped dead on the side of the track. This was a huge accident leaving him with 2 broken legs, a fractured left ankle and problems in his right knee meaning he will be spending some six weeks in hospital. He is however in very good hands and spirits, and his girlfriend Danny, who herself races an Austin 7, managed to retrieve the badly damaged 20.

[Jack-the-Lad]

This is the FJHRA bulletin concerning Ralf's unfortunate accident (at Hockenheim):

New to FJ, Ralf Pickel was taking part in the “Race History on Track” demonstration on Friday in his recently acquired ex-Richard Smeeton Lotus 20, when he hit a lake of oil deposited from a blown up old F1 car, and was left with nowhere to go other than into the back of the Circuit van which had already got on the Circuit to retrieve the errant F1, and had stopped dead on the side of the track. This was a huge accident leaving him with 2 broken legs, a fractured left ankle and problems in his right knee meaning he will be spending some six weeks in hospital. He is however in very good hands and spirits, and his girlfriend Danny, who herself races an Austin 7, managed to retrieve the badly damaged 20.

That is a truly nasty accident. Ralf may well be fortunate not to have fared much worse. Were there no warning flags for the oil and emergency vehicle? If not, it is a shameful lack of safety organization.

Jack

[Tuboscocca]

[quote name='Jack-the-Lad' date='Apr 20 2012, 18:38' post='5673563']
That is a truly nasty accident. Ralf may well be fortunate not to have fared much worse. Were there no warning flags for the oil and emergency vehicle? If not, it is a shameful lack of safety organization.

Jack

I think it was more of a parade (demonstration) of different categories---which is even more tragical..

hence no flags..

Michael

[Tuboscocca]

RHOT is a assembly of owners who intend to show their cars and to show the public the big variety of racing cars..
http://www.racehistoryontrack.de/

Only German I 'm afraid..
But there is members list and the owned cars too...

Best regards Michael

[Vitesse2]

That is a truly nasty accident. Ralf may well be fortunate not to have fared much worse. Were there no warning flags for the oil and emergency vehicle? If not, it is a shameful lack of safety organization.

Jack

I think it was more of a parade (demonstration) of different categories---which is even more tragical..

hence no flags..

Michael

I have to agree with Jack here.

Perhaps Britain is over-regulated with H&S but I don't think an event like that could be run here without trained MSA marshals?

Anyway, that's probably a discussion for another thread - or even in another place, given the large number of marshals who frequent 10/10ths.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Ralf.

[Tuboscocca]

I think it was more of a parade (demonstration) of different categories---which is even more tragical..

hence no flags..

Michael

I have to agree with Jack here.

Perhaps Britain is over-regulated with H&S but I don't think an event like that could be run here without trained MSA marshals?

Anyway, that's probably a discussion for another thread - or even in another place, given the large number of marshals who frequent 10/10ths.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Ralf.

Vitesse, it was only my guesswork.

The races (historics too) , in Germany , are of course professionally marshalled....Maybe this parade wasn't seen so serious , as it was more a demo-run...

But I was NOT there..

Regards Michael

[Bjorn Kjer]

Alles gute Ralf !

[Doug Nye]

Late starter here - have only just read this sad news. Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery Ralf.

DCN

[Ralf Pickel]

Dear fellow TNFers - thank you al very much for your wishes. They do help a lot and do keep my already high spirit up.
I had ig surgery today on my left leg, which should be now on it´s way t of o a good recovery. Right follows on Tuesday.
am crrently working on the pitstop strategy - so will keep them here well busy !

The event was very well organised - a perfect first help and quick transport to medical center and then via helicopter to BGU Ludwigshafen, which a center of very experienced poeple.
Of course, it´s the chosen facility for the Hockenheim GP.

The accident was very unfortunate, it was b....dy slippery - there where yellow flags, but seemingly no oil flags after an engine blowup.

Getting sleepy again, but will be back here !

Cheers,
Ralf

[arttidesco]

Great to hear you are in good spirits Ralf

[Jack-the-Lad]

Great to hear you are in good spirits Ralf

Same here!

[D-Type]

Nice to see a reply from you, Ralf. Hope you're back on your feet in good time.

[Tim Murray]

Ralf, it's good to see you back here posting on other threads. How are things going with you?

[Arjan de Roos]

I have mixed emotion by wishing German friends Hals und Beinbruch, when its supposed to bring luck. Ralf, gut dass du wieder on-line bist!

Edited by Arjan de Roos, 29 May 2012 - 09:54.

[Sharman]

I have mixed emotion by wishing German friends Hals und Beinbruch, when its supposed to bring luck. Ralf, gut dass du wieder on-line bist!

In italian i believe it's "In bocca di lupo", and the English just say "break a leg"

[Ralf Pickel]

Hi friends and thank you for the wishes, everything is appreciated !
Actually I was only offline for a few days ! I ´ve been more reading than writing at the moment...
It´s going well - I am stillstuck to a wheelchair, but hopefully can start walking next week. Will be on crutches for a while, because I did a thorough job on the right knee, but it will all be fine. Just takes time and patience (the VERY hard part...).

Cheers,
Ralf

PS By the way - I did beat the 6 week (see first posts above) in hospital prognosis - I was back home after 4 !

Edited by Ralf Pickel, 29 May 2012 - 12:07.

[kayemod]

Hals und Beinbruch, when its supposed to bring luck.

The literal translation is "neck and leg break", which is rather worse than what Ralf suffered.

[arttidesco]

PS By the way - I did beat the 6 week (see first posts above) in hospital prognosis - I was back home after 4 !

Great to hear you are beating the clock in your recovery, hope this rate of progress continues

[Ralf Pickel]

I am trying, Ralph !!