11 replies to this topic

[IanMH]

I attended this meeting as a spectator and have a vague recollection that the meeting was abandoned after a fatal crash in the morning practice. Do any of you recall what occured? Thanks Ian

[picblanc]

Interesting! not heard of this before? Does not sound like the usual format of the "show must go on" a fatality during racing yes but a practice crash?

[exclubracer]

Was it sidecar racer Dave Powell?

[fil2.8]

Was it sidecar racer Dave Powell?

Did it also involve Gary Bryan ?? , now of RGB Weslake fame ??

[billbomann]

I had a browse through Motorsport Memorial (http://www.motorspor...index.php?db=ms). They note:

New Zealand rider Rod North was killed after accident at Oulton Park when he crashed in the Avenue in between Old Hall Corner and Cascades. The accident happened in the second half of 1976. Rod had traveled to Europe with his brother Warren and fellow New Zealand rider Dennis Ireland to compete in the 1976 Tourist Trophy and remained in the United Kindom after the race.

Could this be the rider, does his name appear in the programme?

There was also a sidecar fatality, the result of which was the compulsory identity tag for riders and passengers. Cannot remember the date of this, the name Pete Hardy comes to mind.

[philippe7]

I'm afraid I'm guilty of the above information sent to Motorsport Memorial . Rod North was pictured in the thread abouth the Marboro Series and I realised the info they had on Motorsport Memorial was wrong ( they had him as a South African and wrongly named Warren - who was his brother ) so based upon what some members wrote in the thread ( Peterd ? GD66? ) I sent the correct info to MM.

Coincidentally a couple of days ago I was browsing through the Bernard Murray website linked to in the "Sheene 500 TZ for sale" thread and there is a scan of a results sheet from the 350 race of the 1976 "John Player Grand Prix" at Silverstone where the 3 Kiwis ( Dennis Ireland, Warren and Rod North ) are listed in consecutive finish positions ( the three last I'm afraid ) - which means that they were traveling together from circuit to circuit, but also during the races

[Paul Collins]

If I remember correctly they abandoned the meeting due to a combination of oil down on a wet track which culminated in the tragic accident to Rod North.

[Robin127]

I had a browse through Motorsport Memorial (http://www.motorspor...index.php?db=ms). They note:

New Zealand rider Rod North was killed after accident at Oulton Park when he crashed in the Avenue in between Old Hall Corner and Cascades. The accident happened in the second half of 1976. Rod had traveled to Europe with his brother Warren and fellow New Zealand rider Dennis Ireland to compete in the 1976 Tourist Trophy and remained in the United Kindom after the race.

Could this be the rider, does his name appear in the programme?

There was also a sidecar fatality, the result of which was the compulsory identity tag for riders and passengers. Cannot remember the date of this, the name Pete Hardy comes to mind.

I think the sidecar fatality you refer to was the big accident in 1971 in which 3 racers lost their lives and Gary Bryan was seriously injured. It was this that led to the introduction of ID tags. They were around before 1976 as I started racing in 1975 and we had them then.

[exclubracer]

I think the sidecar fatality you refer to was the big accident in 1971 in which 3 racers lost their lives and Gary Bryan was seriously injured. It was this that led to the introduction of ID tags. They were around before 1976 as I started racing in 1975 and we had them then.

The one in '71 involved (I think) Pat Oliver and his passenger, (Peter Pritchard)? at the August Bank Holiday meeting.

You're correct about the ID tags also.

[picblanc]

The one in '71 involved (I think) Pat Oliver and his passenger, (Peter Pritchard)? at the August Bank Holiday meeting.

You're correct about the ID tags also.

And Pat Sheridan & Phillip Smith both lost their lives, I had seen them both the day before at Race of Aces @ Snett.

[IanMH]

Rod North is not listed in the programme. I'm sure the incident did occur on the Avenue. He may have been a late entry. Thanks Ian

[fazz]

If I remember correctly they abandoned the meeting due to a combination of oil down on a wet track which culminated in the tragic accident to Rod North.

Hi Guys Paul you are spot on with your comment I beleive a trail of oil was nearly all around the circuit and bad weather which prevented them getting the circuit fit for racing I had some friends who was racing in that meeting and they said it was bad. And like someone said it must have been bad because in those days it was extremely rare for a meeting to be abandoned.
Mark