11 replies to this topic

[Indian Chief]

I just saw Tom Pryce's awful fatal crash for the first time. I can't believe that something as horrific as that actually occured! Why was the marshall crossing the track, with cars blasting past at 280km/h, just to put out a minor engine fire?

http://formula1.tele...cials/pryce.avi (you may need to download http://www.angelpoti...Pmpg4v1-702.exe to view the clip)

Seeing Pryce's disfigured head, his blood soaked overalls and his helmet lying on the ground is trully appalling. It is one of the worst sights that I have ever seen.

It also gave me a new perspective to motorsport. In the ultra-safe 1990s, we are all shielded in a protective environment that we (somewhat) overreact to even a relatively minor accident like Schumacher's leg breaking last year. I wonder what would have happened had such a tragedy happened in 2000.

[Vunz]

I downloaded the video, I downloaded the Codec, but all I get is black screen so I can't really comment. Is there a solution to this?

[Jonathan]

This crash has reported as an unfortunate "Freak accident" at the time. Tom's teammate's Shadow had pulled off course and two inexperianced teanage 'course workers' carried a 40 lb fire extinguisher accross the circut directly in Tom's path. Ironically I think the smoke was actually caused by the on-board fire extinguisher, and there was in fact no fire. Tom travelling in excess of 170 mph (275 K/h) probably never saw what hit him. Considering how many times I have seen course workers on track in the middle of races, I think this type of incident can still occur today.

[Clatter]

That has to be one of the scariest clips I've ever seen.

[Maldwyn]

Tom Pryce was a great talent and he should be remembered for this and not the way he lost his life. Just reading the description of the accident in Autocourse is enough.
By all accounts he was a lovely man and would have won GPs, if not the WDC.

[Rainer Nyberg]

Yes, a terrible mistake by the marshal...
Very scary indeed...

Vunz;
The clip didn´t work with Real Audio, but worked Ok with the Windows Media Player.

[Barry Boor]

Some years ago, when working as a ceramic tiler, I tiled a kitchen in a house belonging to a youngish couple. During the course of my time there, the subject of motor racing came up. The man of the house told me that he grew up living next door to the Pryces in Ruthin, North Wales, and Tom was reaching his peak as a driver when this chap was in his early teens. He disappeared upstairs and came back with a box of photos and memorabilia all connected to Tom.

There were signed photos, a cap etc etc. He said that Tom was quiet to the point of extreme shyness, and only expressed himself properly when in a racing car. (Shades of Jim Clark, I thought.) According to this chap, a more likeable man you could not wish to meet, and after his death, the chap said he had never given a single moment's thought to motor racing again.

I count myself very fortunate to have been at Brands when Tom won the Race of Champions, as it proved to be his only F1 victory.

Over twenty years later, and now living in Wales, I find his name and memory still revered by people who have no other interest in motor sport; they see him simply as a great Welshman.

[MattFoster]

I remember seeing the footage of Tom Pryce's accident at a video night a friend held. They had hired this Disaster video and in between footage of Fires and Earthquakes and the like was a few Motor Racing accidents. One was Swede Savage's and the other was Tom Pryce's. Both were sickening in their ferocity. Some of the less mature party goers laughed at some of the other scenes but the room was silent after seeing Tom's accident.

It started a huge "discussion" we people saying that stuff like these accidents show that Motor Racing should be banned.

The Video was ignored as the debate raged. No one was willing to concede defeat.

I was too young to remember or see Tom Pryce race but from reading about his exploits on the track a great talent was lost that day in 1977.

Matt

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
a great Welshman

This is why I chose to remember him, Maldwyn being his first name.

[MattFoster]

A very nice tribute Maldwyn


Cheers
Matt

[Vunz]

Originally posted by Rainer Nyberg
Yes, a terrible mistake by the marshal...
Very scary indeed...

Vunz;
The clip didn´t work with Real Audio, but worked Ok with the Windows Media Player.

Still no cigar...

[Indian Chief]

Originally posted by Vunz
I downloaded the video, I downloaded the Codec, but all I get is black screen so I can't really comment. Is there a solution to this?

http://formula1.tele...suzuka/divx.exe

Download this. The movie should play now.