Porsche-driver Soames Langton got hurt in a GT race a few years back.
Does anyone know if he has recovered from his injuries?



Rainer[p][smallfont][Edited by Rainer Nyberg on 12-10-2000][/smallfont]

maybe drop an email to Paul lanzante.


http://www.racecar.co.uk/lanzante/index.html

Poor Soames has been in a coma since the accident more than four years ago.

Having searched around, it looks like Soames was still in a coma earlier this year (2004).
That's 8 years after the accident at Nogaro.

I only met him a few times, and once spent a pleasant few hours at his home/business pouring over the cars he had for sale. He seemed really nice person.

If anyone has any update - or could convey my wishes (not that my name would mean anything to him - I was just a face that turned up a few times!) then I would be grateful.

Hi. I am a friend of the Langton family and at this moment am sitting with Soames sister Amanda.
Firstly may we thank you for your concern. It's nice to know that the big fella is remembered.
As for Soames condition, I can report that he has not been in a coma for 8 years as reported.
He is fit and well, unfortunately he has a condition called "locked in syndrome" which basically means that he undersrands everything that is going on etc but lacks the means to communicate at this time. He is receiving ongoing treatment and the family hope that one day he will talk again.

Once again, on behalf of the family I would like to thank you for your concern.

Hello friends,

I remember Soames in the 24 Hours of LE MANS in 1996, sign my autograph notebook ...

and I offer to you 2 pics of this race.

just before the Hunaudières straight line



and this one in the junction of Bugatti track



Sorry for the blurred, but Soames was quickly than me...

His team mates was Steve O'ROURKE (RIP) and Guy HOLMES.

I too am friends with Soames' family, and tried very hard to find out what happened at Nogaro. I have written about this before, but after Stephen Langton's accident, I am amazed at Elizabeth's (Soames mum) strength with all that has happened. I have visited Soames, and it is heartbreaking. I remember comparing Soames' telemetry with that of Stanley Dickens, and Soames was soooo much quicker in the same car. Lovely to see pictures of Soames in happier times, anyone got pictures of him in the McLaren??

Hello,

I have a precision about the second pic , I think that is Soames at the driving wheel...look his helmet - blue white and red - HOLMES have an "union jack" colours helmet and O'ROURKE a blue and red colours.

Hello,

I know that Soames birth place is Kingstown in England but what is the county , because I find in my atlas : 10 Kingstown

Thanks a lot.

I would have thought 'Kingston' more likely (Kingston-on -Thames), which is in Surrey

I agree that the spelling is probably Kingston, but the problem is the same - there are loads of them! My road atlas has 8 plain Kingstons and 12 Kingston somethings (e.g. Kingston upon Thames)

Well it was Surrey, Stephen Langton Ltd operated from lingfield

You decide ! This was the new helmet delivered for Nogaro...

Mike, did he use that one at Nogaro? I only ask as when Elizabeth asked me to help look into what happened, the helmet I was shown was a Vortex, with the trip strip "V" s on it. It was a long time ago, if it is the same one, it is so sad.................

Steve, tbh I'm not sure. The M3 pictured was probably the last of Soames' helmets I painted. I am sure it was sent ready for that event...there being a particular reason I recall this...
I was phoned by Snell some time later & questioned about the accident helmet. They had been given a helmet by (IIRC)an insurance company for examination.

Thanks Mike, I am pretty sure the one pictured isn't the one he finally used in Nagaro. One of the worst things I ever had to do was look at that Vortex. Never found out if all the damage was caused by the accident or the tests carried out afterwards, but still a bloody shame...

Probably this one? I guess with the "the look" it's easy to forget the original purpose...

The GRO Index confirms that it was Kingston upon Thames.

Coys Festival 1994 - Quite a spectacle!

What is his condition today?
I was devastated when he had his accident, we raced in the same series and I liked him a lot.
He always called me the "Crazy Dutchman".
If anyone here is in touch with him, pls tell him that we all remember him and wish him well!!

I don't think much has changed to be honest, but I'll pass on your message to Amanda

Oh my. I came across this thread by accident while looking for directions to the Stephen Langton pub (no relation).

I had not heard the news about Soames and am really saddened. As a teenager I was with the Langton family on the terrible day Soames father died at Brands Hatch. I have some poignant photos somewhere of both Soames and his father on the grid. For a second tragedy to hit the family just doesn’t seem fair. They are such a lovely group of people. Their 'live now' attitude was infectious, probably being responsible for me taking up Caterham racing later in life, much to my wifes disdain!

If anyone is still in touch with them please pass my best wishes on to Soames and the rest of the family.

If you havent seen it on the front page, sadly Soames passed away http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=146627