8 replies to this topic

[cpbell]

This evening's Antiques Roadshow (BBC version) was filmed at the Black Country Living Museum, and one of the items featured was brought in by the grand-daughter of Kenelm Lee Guinness's riding mechanic.  Several photos were featured, one of which was a factory line-up behind one of the cars prior to departure from the factory for the 1923 GP de l'ACF, and, as the man in question was the riding mechanic who was sadly killed in Lee Guinness's accident in Spain the following year, a photo of the crashed car with the usual crowd of spectators was particularly poignant.  Here is the link to the programme on iPlayer - sadly this probably won't work outside of the UK unless a VPN is used (section is from16:30):

 

https://www.bbc.co.u...living-museum-2

Edited by cpbell, 20 May 2018 - 20:16.

[Vitesse2]

A discussion from nearly sixteen years ago: http://forums.autosp...ess#entry954093

[cpbell]

A discussion from nearly sixteen years ago: http://forums.autosp...ess#entry954093

They had a pristine copy of the photo from the pits with the crew on board as mentioned in that thread.

[Tim Murray]

I assume the grand-daughter who appeared on yesterday’s programme was the same Jan(et) Jeavons who featured in the earlier thread. Here’s a fascinating site on her grandfather Tom Barrett which includes a number of photos and documents provided by Jan:

http://www.historywe.../TomBarrett.htm

Interestingly, the report on the race says that Barrett died as a result of being trapped under the overturned Sunbeam. Every other report I’ve read says that he and Guinness were both thrown down the railway embankment.

[cpbell]

I assume the grand-daughter who appeared on yesterday’s programme was the same Jan(et) Jeavons who featured in the earlier thread. Here’s a fascinating site on her grandfather Tom Barrett which includes a number of photos and documents provided by Jan:

http://www.historywe.../TomBarrett.htm

Interestingly, the report on the race says that Barrett died as a result of being trapped under the overturned Sunbeam. Every other report I’ve read says that he and Guinness were both thrown down the railway embankment.

Thanks for the link, Tim.  I'd noticed that, by 1925, Segrave was wearing a helmet, but never realised why.

[Tim Murray]

He'd actually first used the crash helmet in the JCC 200 mile race at Brooklands held three weeks before the San Sebastian GP, and continued to wear it in the Spanish race, so that bit of the Tom Barrett site is not quite correct.

[cpbell]

He'd actually first used the crash helmet in the JCC 200 mile race at Brooklands held three weeks before the San Sebastian GP, and continued to wear it in the Spanish race, so that bit of the Tom Barrett site is not quite correct.

Ah.  Presumably it was a motorcycle racing helmet?  From photos, I can't recall it being similar to the post-war type.

[Tim Murray]

He had it specially made. From his biography by Cyril Posthumus:
 

It was in that 200 Miles Race that Segrave appeared with a new-style peaked crash helmet which many felt would have been more appropriate on [George] Duller's head. This helmet, which did indeed resemble a jockey cap, was the result of serious discussion between de Hane and the writer-driver Sammy Davis. Both were aware of the seriousness of head injuries all too easily sustained in motor racing accidents, and were anxious to do something about it.

After trying the steel 'jockey' type headgear, de Hane had a special hat made to measure in a more pliant material, and found it more comfortable. A separate peak was fitted, a leading surgeon having advised that, in the result of a crash, a fixed peak might easily break the driver's neck, should he be thrown out of the car.

Smartly finished in white, de Hane's new helmet aroused considerable interest at Brooklands, although there were some impolite references to 'bone dome' and chantings of 'Where did you get that hat?' - where, oh where, oh where?', which the wearer shrugged off with a grin and the prophetic remark, 'You'll all be wearing them soon'.

George Duller was a leading jump jockey as well as a racing driver.

[GMACKIE]

The late Aub Revell once told me of a time when his brother - speedway ace, Ray Revell - came home in a panic one night. Ray was informed of a new regulation that required all drivers to wear a 'crash' helmet.

 

As there was a need to get back to the speedway quickly, Ray grabbed an aluminium pudding basin from the kitchen cupboard, attached a leather strap, and raced back to race that night!