Posted 01 April 2011 - 13:55
Hi Pat, I see that alert members have correctly identified my accident at the Belgian GP, Spa inj 1968!
I was one of about only half the drivers in the race wearing seat-belts. If I hadn't been wearing them, I doubt if I'd be writing this note today!
Yes indeed, Peter Burn, the photographer, was on his first pro assignment for Autosport!
When I tried to brake for "Les Coombes" nothing much happened, I tried to spin the car and have the accident going backwards, but the steering locked. It was an enormous accident. As the car rolled over the barrier (one of the few on the track!) my right arm was thrown out and trapped between the car and barrier. The Cooper (T86B-BRM) hit a parked marshall's car and flung it on top of another one.
Three wheels came off the Cooper, one of which hit a marshall, who suffered a ruptured spleen and then a heart attack.
The Cooper caught fire, and I was trying to drag my useless right arm out of the flames. With smoke and fire-extinguisher powder everywhere, it was impossible to see or even breath. A marshall appearing in my face trying to undo the belts. The car caught fire again
- probably nothing to do with the marshall having a cigarette clamped firmy between his lips!
I was carried out of the car and laid on the ground whilst they attended to the injured marshall. I remember David Phipps standing over me, looking down, I was shouting the f....ing steering, the f...ing steering broke, but he just continued staring at me.
Several hours later, after being delivered by helicopter to the University of Liege teaching hospital, Prof. F.Orban head of surgery and ex WW2 Winston Churchhill aid, looked down at me and said: "Monsieur Redman, it may not be possible to save ze arm". The radius and ulna in my right forearm had come out to take a look at the outside world, plus the crushing had caused massive swelling so the
bones were greatly displaced.
The next morning John Cooper came to see me and asked what happened. I told him and he commented that I would be alright.
The following Thursday, Motoring N ews came out and in an article on the race, saying that Redman claimed the steering broke. The editor (Michae Tee?) received a call from John Cooper asking for retraction and that it was "driver error". The editor suggested that
Mr.Cooper look at tomorrow's Autosport, where of course Peter Burn's great photo showed the bottom right front wishbone on the ground.
30 minutes before the race I agreed with Colin Chapman in principle, to drive for Lotus when my 6 race contract with Cooper finished.
Of course, if that had happened, there's an equally good chance I would not be writing this note today!
Regards, Brian Brian Redman