61 replies to this topic

[Tony Matthews]

My dad was a spectator - he lost his life. When I saw this post....... It was comforting to know that people do think about those that are so quickly forgotten. When you google Nascar tragedy- all that comes up are the names and events of drivers that have los their lives. As tragic as that is, it is so much more tragic that a fan that went to enjoy a night at the races, never came home. As a spectator you don't sign a waiver that says "you're putting your life at risk to watch this event". But as a driver you know and assume the risk. Thank you for your post.

That's tough, Laurie. It's probably no consolation to think that probably many more have lost their lives at events considered 'safe' such as football, where stand collapses, crowd surges and fire have killed thousands more World-wide than at 'dangerous' events.

[Fivestripes]

Google 'Jouanny Thruxton' and read the thread- UK motorsport was lucky that day...................

[JackMcFadden]

Hello:
I was at Michigan in 1999, I believe. Adrian Fernandez crashed, a wheel(s) killed I think, three people, in the stands right next to me. I didn't see the wheel. I called my Dad after the race, just to tell him the story, and how I knew exactly what I was doing, and how potentially dangerous it was. Greg Moore won this fantastic race.

cheers,

Jack

[Graham Clayton]

Child injured at stock cars dies

MICHAEL JEFFREY, 10, of Pleasant rd., East Hawthorn, who was injured in a stock car
accident at Brenock Park, last Sunday, died at the Alfred Hospital early yesterday [Friday, 1 June].
The park was re-opened recently after being closed as a result of the deaths of two other spectators earlier this year.
It has been closed again following Sunday's accident.

Child injured at stock cars dies. (1956, June 2). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 5. Retrieved April 18, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nl...article71806796

The Brenock Park track was located near Ferntree Gully in Melbourne.

[terry mcgrath]

There was a crash at Penrith Speedway when a bugatti based special crashed into the crowd there is both movie footage of the accident and stillls did anyone die and Claremont Speedway or one of the other speedways I think a couple of people/kids died one evening.
regards terry

1. Le Mans 1955 - 82, 83 or 84 and possibly 16 who died later. ("Pierre Levegh")
2. European GP, Monza 1928 - 22 or 27 (Emilio Materazzi)
3. Mille Miglia 1957 - 10 or 18 (de Portago)
4. Gorkij, Soviet Union 1948 - 14. A record attempt with an Auto Union.
5. Italian GP 1961 - 13 or 14 (von Trips/Clark)
6. Grenzlandring 1952 - 13 (Helmut Niedermayr)
7. Tourist Trophy, Ards 1936 - 8
8. Lourenco Margques, Mozambique 1977 - 7 or 8
9. Shah Alam, Malaysia 1977 - 6 children
10. San Remo GP 1951 - "Several people" (Johnny Claes)

Edited by terry mcgrath, 21 April 2012 - 05:39.

[Piquet959]

Two that I am aware of in Australia are:
1. A wheel failed on a Commodore touring car at Winton Motor raceway in Northern Victoria and went over the fence into the crowd. Sadly a young girl was crushed by the tyre wheel combo. This was in th mid 1980's.

2. A trackside marshal was killed at the AGP at Albert Park in a F1 race. I think it was the Martin Brundle upside down crash on the opening lap. Not sure of the year. Another wheel that came off the car

Cheers
Peter

[Tim Murray]

2. A trackside marshal was killed at the AGP at Albert Park in a F1 race. I think it was the Martin Brundle upside down crash on the opening lap. Not sure of the year. Another wheel that came off the car

This was in 2001. A loose wheel from Jacques Villeneuve's BAR struck and killed marshal Graham Beveridge.

[Catalina Park]

The Australian ones I can think of are...
1938 Penrith Speedway, three people were killed.
1955 Gnoo Blas, one person killed.
1955 Bathurst, I think one or two people were killed.
1978 Phillip Island, one person.
1986 Amaroo, one person.
1988 Winton, one person.

[Lola5000]

The Australian ones I can think of are...
1938 Penrith Speedway, three people were killed.
1955 Gnoo Blas, one person killed.
1955 Bathurst, I think one or two people were killed.
1978 Phillip Island, one person.
1986 Amaroo, one person.
1988 Winton, one person.

Been 2 deaths at Winton.
One involving a young girl the other when a f5000 Lola T332 on a wet track hit the stat/finish flaggy.

[Catalina Park]

I was only counting spectators. If the thread was called "Spectator and Officials deaths" I would have added a few more.

[john medley]

I have had the concerning experience of being rung out of the blue by the younger brother of Gavin Larnach, the 7 year old boy killed in the 1955 Alfa Alvis accident at Bathurst. The calls have been numerous, for over 12 months in 2011-2012, and reflect the extent of late-in-life post traumatic stress problems this man(and his extended family even more traumatically since 1955) has suffered. Late in life, he was taken over by forces beyond his control. There were times in the early phone calls where I didnt think he was going to make it, but we(largely he) worked out a plan of campaign to address his issues. Much of what he found was terrible: the lies, the cover ups, the misrepresentations, the legalisms, the mislegalisms, all those brushoffs-- "because we were seen as unimportant". He told me his father and his brother lie in unmarked graves, his extended family was torn apart, all as direct consequences of 1955. He ploughed through all the now-obscure documents and finally saw some truth-- including things like the witness who I pointed out to him was not even in Australia on that fatal day. Being well-versed in mechanical matters he was able to see with clarity the court lies about the skid marks on the road/ Alfa Alvis dodgy brakes/ driver competence. He has continued to get the brush off in several ways, but his most recent call last week to me suggests he is through the hardest part. He is now less traumatized than he has been for years, can now see his family's life with a little more balance, and appears much more positive and action-oriented about his future.

Victims are not just the active participants

I think what I am saying is that we as a "motor racing community" need to acknowledge , remember, and respect all those affected, not just the drivers and active participants who lose lives.

Thanks, Laurie for your post. There is a need to extend that idea.

[LB]

Ray Plummer was the spectator killed in the McNish crash. Fairly sure he was just a spectator he was in a yellow jacket I vividly remember that . iirc McNish went to the funeral and Mr Plummers family told him to keep racing.