49 replies to this topic

[DNQ]

It is quite a touchy and morbid subject, but this morning I came up with the idea of putting together and exhaustive list of serious injuries and fatalitys that have taken place during Formula one races. You might think this is a bit sick compiling such a list - but in a way, it just goes to show how dangerous this sport is...I plan to include this list as a dedication at my website.

I made a bit of a start and put together abotu 50-70 incidents, all of which can be found in this word document: http://cfm.globalf1.net/accidents.doc [30kb]

It is only a small start, and I would appreciate any comments, updates, corrections or additions.
I aim to put together a fairly comprehensive list containing ALL fatalies and major injuries - by that I classify an accident which results in a driver either a) missing a race b) suffering long term effects as a direct consequence eg. paralysis or c) an extended stay in hospital or surgery. Any other significant accidents should also be included.

I must admit I haven't proof read the list at this stage, so expect a few silly errors.

One main thing I need is this - what was the name of the race that ended Stirling Moss's competitive career. I have it listed only as 'non-championship' and am too lazy to look it up. Same goes for Jo Sifferts crash. It was the 'race of champions' wasn't it?

As ever, your help is appreciated, thank you

[Ray Bell]

Yes, the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch.

And you wouldn't believe it, the Goodwood race isn't in the list of races at the back of All But My Life...

[Rob29]

I think someone may already have this on line somewhere so will not do anything for a while. I have some old hand written lists I used to keep of every accident involving injury in the 60s.
For now from memory, the F1 race at Goodwood was the Glover trophy on 23 April 1962. Jo Siffert accident was in the Rothmans Jackie Stewart Victory Race in Oct 71. I was at both meetings but fortunately out of sight of either incident.

[Ray Bell]

Sorry, of course it was the Victory race... I must go back to school...

[Rob29]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Yes, the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch.

And you wouldn't believe it, the Goodwood race isn't in the list of races at the back of All But My Life...

What have you been drinking Ray?!
The Goodwood race is the last entry in my copy of 'All but my LIfe' and the 'Race of Champions' was always at the start of the season March/April.

[Ray Bell]

Believe it or else... last entry, pages 238 & 239... Dec 26, 1961, East London, South African GP...

I even tried to split the page to see if there was another one hiding in there!

Of course, this means the Australian and NZ races of '62 aren't there either... dice with Chuck Daigh and all... and this edition seems to be a first edition. I'm sure I bought it as soon as it was released in Australia, so it should be first edition. It has no mention of reprints on the page with that guff on it.

Go figure...

What does the Wolf say about this? What one does he have, and does it have it?

Yes, I knew the Race of Champions was at the start of the season... just had a mental abberation, that's all. Silly thing is that I could have looked that up!

[Rob29]

Mine is Pan paperback edition,printed in 1965,Last page is 190/1 with last 4 races of 61 and all 62.

[Ray Bell]

Maybe I should sell my first edition copy at a premium price and pick up a later version cheap?

[jk]

What about Mansells practice crash at the Japan GP 1987. Missed Japan and Autralia.

[Wes]

DNQ,

If you decide to continue with this, it may prove worthwhile to include a year by year listing of the death and serious injuries or track marshals, corner workers, etc., although I suspect that such information would be much more difficult to come by. It's my semi-educated guess that driver deaths/injuries have decreased significantly and consistently since 1950. Does the same hold true for track marshals and corner workers? I'm also going to guess that since 1950, to increase safety, the number of track marshals/workers at a race has steadily increased, thereby (potentially) placing more of these track personnel at risk. Wasn't it last year that we had two marshal fatalities (Australia and Monza)?

In other words: has the driver death/injury rate fallen, while the track worker death/injury rate risen?

Is F1 shifting the risk?

I'm guessing some of you walking F1 encyclopedias can set me straight on this.

Thanks.
W.

[DNQ]

Regarding Mansell @ 87 - yes i was going to add him before, but forget ... Actually, what injuries did he actually sustain? I can hardly write 'sore back'?

Regarding marshalls and spectator injuries - yes, that is next on the agenda. But first things first ;)

[Vitesse2]

I'd question the validity of a listing re temporary inability to drive. As an example, had the Mexican GP been cancelled in 1969, you would not be able to include Graham Hill's Watkins Glen shunt, as he was on the grid in South Africa for the first 1970 race. And indeed any accident in the last race of a season .... see my point? By all means include career-ending accidents, but I think you'll be making a rod for your own back if you go any further.

And this may help:

http://user.tninet.s...lities_Head.htm

[DNQ]

I added five accidents just before.

Vitesse2, yeah, it does make it a tough list listing minor accidents, but it's not intended as an exhaustive achive...its not my main priority, I'll just add stuff every now and then.

[Barry Lake]

Vitesse2

Don't discourage him!

If he dies from the effort, he dies. We can find more obsessive compulsives around here to take it over.

I have mentioned on TNF previously that a list of career-interrupting and career-ending crashes would be useful information (even if "sacked" was the greatest injury received )

DNQ, you've qualified for the job in my book. Rear of grid, perhaps, but you could work your way up to pole position with a superhuman effort.

And, like I say, if you lose your job, your sanity, family, home, or even die from the effort, we will all offer our condolences.

You never know, we might even help along the way, with contributions, so that you might survive this ordeal.

Apologies in advance, however, because my attention is focussed 99% on Australian motor sport at this time, so I am not currently reading a lot about GP history - apart from here on The Nostalgia Forum. But I will try to contribute - if only as a proof-reader. I am currently way out front in the unofficial The Nostalgia Forum and Motor Racing Web Site Proof Reading World Championship.

[Barry Lake]

DNQ

Just looked up the list. Haven't had time to check it, but it looks like it's what we want.

Thought I'd jump back on here to ask you to please continue the "latest additions" section.

It's absolutely painful repeatedly checking one list against another.

But if you have one list in chronological order of when the incidents occurred, another in chronological order of your having added them to the first list, life will be much more simple.


Good on yer mite!


Another thought: Please don't limit it to injuries received only in GP cars. There are many instances in which GP drivers' careers have been interrupted by injuries in other categories. Sports car crashes for Graham Hill and John Surtees come to mind, Indianapolis 500 burns to Denis Hulme etc.

There will be many more.

Go for it!

[Barry Lake]

He's baaaack!!

Some spelling corrections from the list:


Cill Allison should be Cliff Allison
Spa-Francochamps should be Spa-Francorchamps (incorrect in numerous places, also once spelled another way entirely)
Guilio Cabianca should be Giulio Cabianca
Rolf Stommelon should be Rolf Stommelen
Jean-Pierre Jauboille should be Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Tambuerello should be Tamburello
Andrea Montermimi should be Andrea Montermini

[DNQ]

Thanks for Barry, I've read a fair bit of your work so it's nice to recieve some encouragement

Actually, it's not as hard a job as I imagined really - www.grandprix.com has lists of all injuries, hidden away in the classifications of each race. It's a bit brief, but at least it gives me something, although often the type of injury is missing. It's not a hard task at all, I just add something every now and then.

Re: the the updates part, yes I've kept that for the next update, makes it easier for sure. I made a few updates just before, listed them below. Might get some more done before I go off and do some real work...schoolwork

1950 Swiss GP, Bremgarten, Eugene Martin (FRA), Thrown from car, seriously hurt
1953 Swiss GP, Bremgarten, Fred Wacker (USA), Did not start the race after an injury in practice
1955 Monaco GP, Monaco, Hans Herman (GER), Badly injured after crashing his Mercedes, missed the race

http://cfm.globalf1.net/accidents.doc

I've also made a few changes to the margins etc to make it a bit easier to follow. When I get to a stage were it can be called complete, I'll build into a PDF file or something, Word isnt really ideal for internet.

I will just concentrate on actual F1 for now, then will move onto other categories. It's a fairly big task, but I'll spend a bit of time every now and then and try and make sure it doesnt stall.

[DNQ]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
He's baaaack!!

Some spelling corrections from the list:

Cill Allison should be Cliff Allison
Spa-Francochamps should be Spa-Francorchamps (incorrect in numerous places, also once spelled another way entirely)
Guilio Cabianca should be Giulio Cabianca
Rolf Stommelon should be Rolf Stommelen
Jean-Pierre Jauboille should be Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Tambuerello should be Tamburello
Andrea Montermimi should be Andrea Montermini

All fixed, I knew there would be some spelling mistakes, I hadn't bothered to check for them myself. The spa spelling error verges on embarrassment

[Rob29]

DNQ; 2 missing from your list.

1961 Shane Summers-Brands Hatch-Silver City Trophy-hit tunnel entrance ar Paddock in wet practice-killed instantly
1962-Gary Hocking-Natal GP-Westmead-fatal

[Doug Nye]

DNQ - and good luck to you.... It should be Hans Herrmann by the way...

[DNQ]

.

[DNQ]

Regarding Hocking - he was Rhodesian...that is South Africa isn't it, these days? Would 'RSA' suffice as his nationality?

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by DNQ
.

That's a startlingly informative post, DNQ...

;)

[David McKinney]

Goldurned politics again
There was a Southern Rhodesia and a Northern Rhodesia, neither of which had or have any connection with South Africa apart from geographical.
Southern Rhodesia (where Hocking - and Love - hailed from) is now Zimbabwe
Cue Rob Young or someone else to spell it out more accurately

I personally prefer the international designation ZA for Sth Africa but you can do what you like - it's your site! Someone else will know the corresponding initials for S Rhodesia and/or Zimbabwe

[Vitesse2]

FIA international abbreviation for Southern Rhodesia was RSR.

[Viktor]

DELETED

/Viktor

[Rob29]

International code ID for Zimbabwe is ZW.

From 92 FIA year book 'Zimbabwe Motor Sport Federation,PO Box3365,HARARE,Telefax : (263) 4 50124 FIA reps R.Rushforth & P.G.Mayes.
Perhaps someone might like to find out if they have actually held any motorsport since 1980?

[DNQ]

More injuries, from grandprix.com (I've covered up to 1970), that is turning out to be a great source, takes a bit of effort, but its fairly easy to weed out the stuff you need. I have updated all the changes. Getting injuries from actual WC races is not problem for me, but I need feedback on testing smashes and non-championship races.

1961 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps, Cllif Allison (GB), Sustained career-ending leg injuries after rolling
1961 Monaco GP, Monaco, Innes Ireland (GB), Crashed in the tunnel destroying his car and breaking his leg
1963 French GP, Reims, Lodovico Scarfiotti (ITA), Missed the race after injuring his knee
1964 Monaco GP, Monaco, Innes Ireland (GB), Crashed and worsened a knee injury from a road car accident
1966 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps, Jackie Stewart (GB), Broke shoulder and received cracked ribs and bruising
1966 German GP, Nurburgring, Guy Ligier (FRA), Thrown from car and suffered a broken leg
1968 Canadian GP, Mont-Tremblant, Jacky Ickx (BEL), Broke leg after throttle stuck open
1970 Spanish GP, Jarama, Jacky Ickx (BEL), Suffered burns after an accident with Jack Oliver

Overall it's progressing pretty well, but i fear it will die when I am finished at Grandprix.com

Scott

[Vitesse2]

Remarkable how injury-prone Innes Ireland was! See also:

http://www.atlasf1.c...nnes#post957557

and Kpy's subsequent reply for a slightly different interpretation ....

And that should be Ludovico Scarfiotti, as we confirmed last week!

[Barry Lake]

Scott

We also need to have accurate dates for testing injuries.

It's easy enough to find dates for the GPs, but testing crashes need to be pinpointed via the relevant magazines. They usally will say "last Thursday" or something similar.

Simply having a year doesn't tell us much - although it is a start.

Not that I want to freak you out or anything...

[DNQ]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
Scott

We also need to have accurate dates for testing injuries.

It's easy enough to find dates for the GPs, but testing crashes need to be pinpointed via the relevant magazines. They usally will say "last Thursday" or something similar.

Simply having a year doesn't tell us much - although it is a start.

Not that I want to freak you out or anything...

Haha, of course.
I don't have the resources to include the specific dates for accidents - as many websites will simply say 'driver x crashed in practice' not specifying friday, saturday, or sunday. What i will do is go through grandprix.com, get all the injuries from their, and work on dates after that. I can find dates for most accidents within the last 25yrs, but before that can be hard, ESPECIALLY in testing.

Scott

[DNQ]

Recent additions:

1975 German GP, Nurburgring, Ian Ashley (GB), Received serious ankle injuries during practice
1977 Canadian GP, Mosport Park, Ian Ashley (GB), Flipped in his Hesketh and suffered serious injuries
1977 Spanish GP, Jarama, Niki Lauda (AUT), Relapse of his German GP ’76 rib injuries after he hit a bump
2002 Testing, Monza, James Courtney (AUS), Suffered bruising after a testing accident in the Jaguar
1973 British GP, Silverstone, Andrea de Adamich (ITA), Broke ankle in large multi-car pileup
1971 Canadian GP, Mosport Park, Henri Pescarlo (FRA), Missed the race after a practice injury

105 listed so far.

[Milan Fistonic]

The Jim Clark Foundation's Grand Prix Accident Survey 1966-72 lists 107 accidents of which 31 resulted in death or injury.

[DNQ]

Originally posted by Milan Fistonic
The Jim Clark Foundation's Grand Prix Accident Survey 1966-72 lists 107 accidents of which 31 resulted in death or injury.

Thank you, that would be quite useful, but how could I obtain the list?

[LittleChris]

Originally posted by DNQ
Recent additions:

1975 German GP, Nurburgring, Ian Ashley (GB), Received serious ankle injuries during practice

1977 Spanish GP, Jarama, Niki Lauda (AUT), Relapse of his German GP ’76 rib injuries after he hit a

105 listed so far.

DNQ, according to Darren Galpins interview with Ian Ashley, he merely chipped his ankle at the 'Ring in 1974.

See here

http://8w.forix.com/ashley.html

Regarding Lauda, didn't he originally injure his ribs by falling off a tractor in his garden prior to the 1976 Spanish GP rather than in the 'Ring crash ?!? I

[DNQ]

Re:

Lauda/Spain/1977 - He drove over a bump in practice and cracked a rib that had been injured at the Ring in 1976 according to grandprix.com, but that may be wrong, perhaps it was from the tractor. "On Sunday morning Lauda came in during the warm-up complaining of extreme pain and was taken off to hospital where it was found that one of his broken ribs from the Nurburgring accident has snapped when he went over a bump. He was out of action."

Ashley/Ring/1975 - "In qualifying Ashley had a big accident at Pflanzgarten and suffered serious ankle injuries." says Grandprix.com. As it was only a chipped ankle it seems, I will update the data.


Anyway, off to bed for me now, more updates tomorrow.

[AlesiUK]

1990-Japanese Gp,Suzuka Jean Alesi (F) crashed during friday qualifying and missed the race due to his injuries.

[UPRC]

How did Taki Inoue get hit by the safety car?

[FEV]

A couple of details : Jabouille's crash at Montréal was not exactly career ending (as Rega's Long Beach accident was for instance) but maybe "career destroying" as he tried to race again after that ?Laffite's injuries were more than just a broken leg, as I recall it he had massive injuries to both.
Others I can think of : Redman at Spa in 1968, Pier-Luigi Martini during practice at Imola in either 89 or 90, a couple of drivers whose names escape me at the 1958 GP du Maroc (other than Lewis-Evans of course), I recently read about Ginther breaking a bone or two with the Honda at Monza (65 or 66 I guess). Sorry for the lack of precisions. I would personally also add Behra in the list as he was an active GP driver killed during a GP meeting, and maybe even Rudi Caracciola (sportscar race of the 1952 GP Suisse). And also the Indy drivers for the years it was a WDC round, but that would probably increase your list by 50%. Oh yes and Caffi in practice at Monaco 1991, he did the thing litteraly at my feet - the most frightening thing I've ever seen. My admiration for GP drivers and racing car engineers doubled at that minute. I couldn't believe he had survived (although quite badly hurt).

[Wolf]

UPRC- more details on Taki's mishaps in F1 @ F1 Rejects: http://f1rejects.cro.../biography.html

[AlesiUK]

Inoue broke his left leg,rather than just hurt it in the aforementioned debacle i belief.

1987-Monaco Gp-monte carlo-Adrian Campos(ESP)-crashed at casino square on saturday,returned to the pits and collapsed,missed the subsiquent race.

[tifoso]

Originally posted by Wes
In other words: has the driver death/injury rate fallen, while the track worker death/injury rate risen?

Is F1 shifting the risk?

Not sure if this will help at all, but Professor Sid Watkins lists some statistics from 1963-1996 in Appendix II of his book Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One

1963-1967
GP races = 50
Estimated racing kms = 256,000
Accidents in races = 47
Severe injuries, drivers = 21
Fatalities, drivers = 3
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

1968-1972
GP races = 59
Estimated racing kms = 227,000
Accidents in races = 88
Severe injuries, drivers = 31
Fatalities, drivers = 4
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

1973-1977
GP races = 77
Estimated racing kms = 446,000
Accidents in races = 250
Severe injuries, drivers = 51
Fatalities, drivers = 5
Fatalities, officials = 1
Fatalities, spectators = 6*

*The spectators killed had all penetrated prohibited areas.

1978-1982
GP races = 76
Estimated racing kms = 399,000
Accidents in races = 283
Severe injuries, drivers = 3
Fatalities, drivers = 3
Fatalities, officials = 1
Fatalities, spectators = 0

1983-1987
GP races = 79
Estimated racing kms = 428,000
Accidents in races = 218
Severe injuries, drivers = 2
Fatalities, drivers = 0
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

1988-1992
GP races = 80
Estimated racing kms = 478,000
Accidents in races = 305
Severe injuries, drivers = 1
Fatalities, drivers = 4
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

He updates the list in his latest book, Beyond the Limit

1993-1997
GP races = 82
Estimated racing kms = 450,000
Accidents in races = 382
Severe injuries, drivers = 11
Fatalities, drivers = 2
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

1998
GP races = 16
Estimated racing kms = 83,000
Accidents in races = 60
Severe injuries, drivers = 1
Fatalities, drivers = 0
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

1999
GP races = 17
Estimated racing kms = 88,000
Accidents in races = 60
Severe injuries, drivers = 1
Fatalities, drivers = 0
Fatalities, officials = 0
Fatalities, spectators = 0

2000
GP races = 17
Estimated racing kms = 92,000
Accidents in races = 62
Severe injuries, drivers = 0
Fatalities, drivers = 0
Fatalities, officials = 1
Fatalities, spectators = 0

[scheivlak]

Originally posted by FEV
I recently read about Ginther breaking a bone or two with the Honda at Monza (65 or 66 I guess)

He crashed heavily in 2nd place during the 1966 Italian GP; the new Honda was destroyed and Ritchie landed somewhere in the trees - but hardly injured. Anyway, he did compete in the next GP at Watkins Glen.

[Veronika]

Originally posted by DNQ
It is quite a touchy and morbid subject....

Wow, you're posting here too@

[maxie]

I remember Emmanuele Pirro crashed heavily at Hockenheim and the car came to a halt right in front of a TV camera, which clearly showed that he was grimacing in pain. What's more frightening is the way he was lifted out of the car by a couple of marshals. His arms and legs were dangling everywhere and I was worried that he would suffer more injuries because of it. But I don't remember whether he missed any GP.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Veronika
Wow, you're posting here too@

Isn't everyone?

.....except for our old friend Michael Ferner, it seems.....

[maxie]

With regard to the statistics from Prof. Sid Watkins' book, who are the four drivers killed between 1988-1992?

[Veronika]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


Isn't everyone?

No, no...I wanted to say that I know him from the other board....

[DNQ]

Ah yes, Miss Hardt?

Just posting to inform everyone that this is still very much alive and I encourage any further contributions. Once we're finished, or close to it, I can move on to spectator/marshall/pitcrew injuries. Then we can try and work out the dates of all these occurances...

A few updates since this topic was last posted on, but nothing major.

[Veronika]

Yup, that's definitelly me.
And I guess the topic took much time to be completed. Especially when you have to deal with such unpleasant things