16 replies to this topic

[David Winstanley]

I was filming at Donington in, I think, June 1985 and was nearly hit by, again I think, Andrew Gilbert Scotts, somersaulting car. The film of the incident was on TV and on a Havoc video but I'm trying to get hold of some pictures of the accident which were in a magazine some time later. The reason that they are of such interest is that the accident was only 3 weeks after I'd had my hip replaced and I had to use a walking stick to get to my position at the chicane and when the car came flying towards me I didn't move (unlike everyone else), but simply because I couldn't, and if my memory is correct you can actually see my walking stick flying through the air after the car hits it!

Does anyone have a copy of the pictures, (of which there was a series of about 8), or can remember the accident and the date, as I know that John Gaisford took the pictures and I'm sure that it would be easier for him to find them if I could get the date right.

[Gary C]

what were you filming, David?

[fines]

Donington had two F3 dates in '85, Apr 14 and July 28. Don't know about the accident, though.

[brandspro]

It sounds like you're describing Allan McNish's F3000 shunt which killed a spectator at the esses. The date was 22/4/90.

[Groggy]

Remember that crash very well, i think we must have been very close to where you were standing as the car pretty much landed upside down next to the wall in front of where we were spectating.

I was only a lad at the time and my dad turned me and my brother around and walked us away from the scene as the car was upside down and the rollbar / drivers head wasn't visible.
I think my dad understandably feared the worst and didn't want us witnessing anything potentially nasty at such a young age.
However from memory i think the rollbar had just sank into the soft grass and the driver exited from the car with a slightly mud garnished crash helmet and nothing worse?

I've still got the programme and also have a clipping of an old autosport advert that shows the car perfectly inverted at what appears to be about 10 feet of the ground.
Don't recall seeing a flying walking stick though!!

[Paul Taylor]

The Andrew Gilbert Scott crash happened coming out of the final chicane I believe, with the car barrel rolling towards the camera...I'll see if I have the photos of it anywhere.

EDIT: No, I don't have them.

[rateus]

The Gilbert-Scott flip was during the Donington race on July 28th, courtesy of Harald Huysman.

No pics in Autosport's season review though.

[David Winstanley]

Originally posted by brandspro
It sounds like you're describing Allan McNish's F3000 shunt which killed a spectator at the esses. The date was 22/4/90.

Funnily enough I'm not describing that at all. I was there holding a camera so I do have a pretty good recollection!

[David Winstanley]

Originally posted by rateus
The Gilbert-Scott flip was during the Donington race on July 28th, courtesy of Harald Huysman.

No pics in Autosport's season review though.

Thanks for that, it sounds right to me -I'll try and check with John Gaisford now.

[brandspro]

Originally posted by David Winstanley
I was filming at Donington in, I think, June 1985 and was nearly hit by, again I think, Andrew Gilbert Scotts, somersaulting car...

Sorry to cause offence. I suppose it's just me who occasionally gets details mixed up after two decades. It should have been obvious to me from the first line of your original post how good your recollection of the event was. Obviously there is no similarity what-so-ever between your decription and the McNish incident. Lesson learned. Next time I get the urge to try and help someone here I'll just keep my mouth shut. Cheers

[john winfield]

David,
I think there is a series of shots in a 1985 'Racing for Britain' magazine - I used to have a copy but it's now with an enthusiast in the Ukraine!
I think it was No. 6, the October issue.
John

[David Winstanley]

Originally posted by brandspro


Sorry to cause offence. I suppose it's just me who occasionally gets details mixed up after two decades. It should have been obvious to me from the first line of your original post how good your recollection of the event was. Obviously there is no similarity what-so-ever between your decription and the McNish incident. Lesson learned. Next time I get the urge to try and help someone here I'll just keep my mouth shut. Cheers

And sorry if I offended you as well.

[bigears]

Is it this accident?

Many incidents in the F3 race at Donnington that year, from which this incident was the most spectacular! Gilbert Scott, driving a Ralt RT30 was hit by Harald Huysman and started to roll. Luckily he escaped uninjured, but was very lucky if you see that he ended his crash against the armco barrier!

Source: AutoHebdo, August 15th 1985 (photos by T. Collins/Sutton)

Enjoy!

Posted from the fameflame forums.

[Phil Rainford]

David

I seem to recall discussing this with you at one of the Northern TNF meetings and promising you that I had “Racing for Britain“ magazine in my possession….

Problem is that our age as soon as we both walked out of the pub we forgot about the conversation ;)

Well I do have the magazine which has the full sequence of photographs in colour under the heading “Andrew Gets Suspended by Hacking Harald!” there are two shots of the aforementioned stick and also one shot from the other side of the track showing you with the full 1980’s hairstyle filming away !!

I can either send you the magazine or bring it to the next TNF Meeting?

Cheers

Phil

[alansart]

Originally posted by Phil Rainford
there are two shots of the aforementioned stick and also one shot from the other side of the track showing you with the full 1980’s hairstyle filming away !!

I want to see the film that David took

[rateus]

Originally posted by bigears
Is it this accident?

Many incidents in the F3 race at Donnington that year, from which this incident was the most spectacular! Gilbert Scott, driving a Ralt RT30 was hit by Harald Huysman and started to roll. Luckily he escaped uninjured, but was very lucky if you see that he ended his crash against the armco barrier!

Source: AutoHebdo, August 15th 1985 (photos by T. Collins/Sutton)

Enjoy!

Posted from the fameflame forums.

That's definitely the accident - looks like David's walking stick making a cameo appearance in pic 7

[David Winstanley]

Yes that's my stick in pic 7! I've got the film on video somewhere and I'll try and upload it to youtube or something like that. I must be honest that I haven't seen those pictures before, it's the ones from the other side that I've seen - the ones that Phil talks about. I did get in contact with Joh Gaisford but sadly he can't be bothered to look them up for me.

Could you post them on here please Phil if it's possible? we'll try to make the next TNF meeting but living in Bala now, everywhere is nowhere to us!