132 replies to this topic

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

In the august issue of Retro Cars magazine , Terry Sanger looks back over his carrear and, recalls the many drivers who in crashing Lola F5000 cars ended up with the limp , due to the lack of strength in the footwell area , he was fotunate to survive a Mallory accident undamaged , so lets start recalling .

[Catalina Park]

TNF member Kevin Bartlett.

[Cirrus]

I worked for Gordon Spice in the mid-seventies, and he displayed a pronounced "Lola limp" - caused, I believe, by a head on impact with the barriers at the fearsomely fast esses at Mallory.

[ian senior]

Is it fair to finger Lola in this respect? Let's face it, there were a lot of Lolas around in F5000.

Terry didn't have much luck at Mallory. In 1971 his new Harrier was punted into the lake on its first outing (courtesy of the infamous Jake Allport, I think).

[Bonde]

I would say that by current standards, all cars of that era had rather flimsy footwells, but I suppose more drivers were injured in Lolas primarily because they were by far the most numerous in most F5000 fields, and thus statistically were more likely to be involved in accidents.

Having said that, all the Lola F5000 chassis from T300 and on do look quite flimsy, with the driver sat on it rather than in it, whereas, for instance, the tubs of Chevrons, McLarens and the Trojan appeared more substantial.

Considering how relatively well the footwell TNF'er David M. Kane's mid-seventies March stood up in his huge accident, I get the impression that the use of tyre barriers in front of the unyielding sleepers and capricious Armco would have saved a lot of drivers from serious injury, had the tyre barriers been used back in the seventies.

[Vicuna]

Graeme Lawrence, Warwick Brown, KB - as mentioned, Brian Redman - not sure about Max Stewart

[Allen Brown]

Unfortunately, Max didn't get the chance to limp.

[Allen Brown]

Gary Campbell T300 Adelaide Feb 1972
Bob Muir T300 Lime Rock Sep 1972
Terry Sanger T300 Mallory Jul 1973
Kevin Bartlett T332 Pukekohe Jan 1974
Johnny Walker T332 Surfers Sep 1974
Gordon Spice T332 Mallory Aug 1975
Dick Kantrud T330 Elkhart Lake Aug 1976
Brian Redman T333 St Jovite June 1977
Alan Hamilton T430 Sandown Park Sep 1978
Stephen South Can-Am converted T333 Trois Rivieres Aug 1980

Gardner, Edwards, Hobbs, Ashley, Ongais, Follmer, Jones, Evan Noyes, Tuck Thomas, Bill Baker, Chuck Talbot and Jim Snelling also escaped big accidents in F5000 Lolas but I believe all suffered no lasting damage. EFR was lucky to get out of a flying Can-Am Lola in 1977 and Bobby Rahal and John Morton also survived massive Can-Am accidents.

It could have been worse of course. BJ Swanson was killed in a T332 at Mid-Ohio Aug 1975, Max Stewart was killed in his T400 at Calder Mar 1977 and Mike Allen was killed in a Can-Am T333 at Mosport June 1983.

How many did I miss?

Allen

[eldougo]

Here is K.B. 1975 getting about with the "Lola Limp",That's Max behind him ,he was the tallest of them all and never got the Limp . Warwick brown is now2 inches smaller then he was at the age of 21 y/o following that BIG off in Surfers years ago.

I can't remember if John Walker ended up with the Limp???after Sandown.

[Catalina Park]

I don't remember Alan Hamilton having a limp but he did suffer some other problems after his Sandown crash.

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by Allen Brown

Stephen South Can-Am converted T333 Trois Rivieres Aug 1980

Didn't South's shunt happen in a T530?
Maybe the memory I have of seeing a photo of him in that car is a false one?

Simon Lewis
Transport Books & Motorsport Photos
www.simonlewis.com/oscart/index.php

[JacnGille]

Originally posted by simonlewisbooks


Didn't South's shunt happen in a T530?
Maybe the memory I have of seeing a photo of him in that car is a false one?

Simon Lewis
Transport Books & Motorsport Photos
www.simonlewis.com/oscart/index.php

My memory is that it was a 530.

[Ray Bell]

The Mountain Man is right... Alan Hamilton's main injuries were internal and in the torso, he doesn't limp as a result but is a diabetic...

Likewise, I don't think Bob Muir has a limp, nor John Walker, and Gary Campbell did no damage that I can recall in that T300 (in the race in question he and Walker collided, but Gary did return to finish the event), but had a very temporary limp after his biff at the Farm in the T330.

Not in the list... Colin Trengove. Again, not a limper, but a fatality in private practice at AIR.

KB's main damage was to hips, IIRC, with bones having to be replaced. As eldougo has mentioned, Warwick Brown's injuries in the T300 were terrible, his feet being very badly mangled as the tub wrapped around underneath itself.

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
As eldougo has mentioned, Warwick Brown's injuries in the T300 were terrible, his feet being very badly mangled as the tub wrapped around underneath itself.

I often wondered what happened to Warwick, a driver who was very prominent for a while, touted as a star in the making, then...... well this rather explains things. Very nasty.

I think this whole LOLA LIMP thing comes from the F5000 car's habit of punching it's suspension through the tub and into the driver's legs doesn't it? It's less about a "weak footwell" as an unfortunate side effect of the car's geometry?

Simon Lewis
Transport Books & Motorsport Photos
www.simonlewis.com/oscart/index.php

[Ray Bell]

Actually, this happened at what was virtually the start of Warwick's career...

He had the Brabham for a while, then got into the M10B (ex-Niel Allen) and progressed to the T300 without making a huge impression. But he was obviously someone to watch.

His return was in the M10B, but then he moved on to the T332 and became much better known. I'm not sure why it all ended so soon. Maybe he had to take care of the family business (earthmoving) and when the drive ran out he simply went home without shopping for more patronage. I think he had just got married too.

In his case, the whole of the damage was from the tub just wrapping around under itself, taking the feet with it. I'm fairly sure that it was tub weakness (or 'uncrashworthiness') rather than suspension intrusion that did all the damage.

[David M. Kane]

Johnny Rutherford Watkins Glen F5000 race, sorry forget the date, but Unser and Mario also raced,
as did Jody and Brian. I think Johnny was peddling too fast just trying not to get lapped!

I have a bent T-332 tub in my shop, as a result I'm not too keen to ever race one! Yes, most F5000s of that era were lacking in foot and leg protection, but Lola was in a class by itself. On the other hand, look at a McRae, those things were tanks by comparison.

[Allen Brown]

Originally posted by simonlewisbooks


Didn't South's shunt happen in a T530?
Maybe the memory I have of seeing a photo of him in that car is a false one?

Simon Lewis
Transport Books & Motorsport Photos
www.simonlewis.com/oscart/index.php

Your memory isn't wrong. He raced T530s that season but kept crashing them and had to drive the "Spyder NF-11", a Lola T333-based car, on several occasions. He was in the Spyder when he had his big one.

[Allen Brown]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
... Gary Campbell did no damage that I can recall in that T300 (in the race in question he and Walker collided, but Gary did return to finish the event), but had a very temporary limp after his biff at the Farm in the T330.

You're quite right - I was confusing his two Lolas.

Allen

[philippe7]

Originally posted by Bonde
Having said that, all the Lola F5000 chassis from T300 and on do look quite flimsy, with the driver sat on it rather than in it,

A little visual evidence to add to the debate :





Indeed, what has always struck me on the 330/332 is the extreme shallowness of the monocoque all round . May that have something to do with the supposed front-end weakness ?

[Ducfer]

Originally posted by David M. Kane
Johnny Rutherford Watkins Glen F5000 race, sorry forget the date, but Unser and Mario also raced,
as did Jody and Brian. I think Johnny was peddling too fast just trying not to get lapped!

I have a bent T-332 tub in my shop, as a result I'm not too keen to ever race one! Yes, most F5000s of that era were lacking in foot and leg protection, but Lola was in a class by itself. On the other hand, look at a McRae, those things were tanks by comparison.

David:

Perhaps I missed the update, but how are you healing up? Last I had heard was your wrist was in bad shape. Since you are typing, my hope is that you are returning to health.

Best,

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
Your memory isn't wrong. He raced T530s that season but kept crashing them and had to drive the "Spyder NF-11", a Lola T333-based car, on several occasions. He was in the Spyder when he had his big one.

That makes sense Allen, thank's for the update.
Your site continues to provide superb reference. Keep up the good work!

1980 was certainly the seson from hell for poor South...

Simon Lewis
Transport Books & Motorsport Photos
www.simonlewis.com/oscart/index.php

[Allen Brown]

I've included all the comments above and gone through all the Lola write-offs that I can find and the new list of major Lola accidents is:

Niel Allen T300 HU4 wrecked in testing early 1972 (was he injured?)
Brett Lunger T300 HU11 Elkhart Lake Jul 1972 (uninjured)
Gary Campbell T330 HU4 Surfers Feb 1973 (temporary limp)
Warwick Brown T300 HU4-2 Surfers Feb 1973 (serious limp)
Eddie Miller T300 HU12 Riverside Apr 1973 (uninjured)
Terry Sanger T300 HU9 Mallory Jul 1973 (uninjured)
Kevin Bartlett T330 HU22 Pukekohe Jan 1974 (serious limp)
Guy Edwards T332 HU34 Mallory Mar 1974 (uninjured?)
Evan Noyes T332 HU32 Elkhart Lake Jul 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Rutherford T332 HU43 Watkins Glen Jul 1974 (uninjured?)
Tuck Thomas T332 HU38 Ontario Sep 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Walker T330 HU23 Surfers Sep 1974 (uninjured?)
Danny Ongais T332 HU31 Mosport Jun 1975 (uninjured?)
BJ Swanson T332 HU42 Mid-Ohio Aug 1975 (killed)
Gordon Spice T332 HU40 Mallory Aug 1975 (pronounced limp)
Bill Baker T332 HU41 Mosport Jun 1976 (uninjured?)
Alan Jones T332 HU37 Watkins Glen Jul 1976 (uninjured)
Danny Ongais T332C Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (uninjured)
Dick Kantrud T330 HU15 Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (injured but can't recall details)
Alan Jones T332C HU61 Surfers Feb 1977 (uninjured)
Max Stewart T400 Calder Mar 1977 (killed)
Elliot Forbes-Robinson T333 St Jovite June 1977 (uninjured)
Brian Redman T333 St Jovite June 1977 (neck injuries)
John Morton T332 Road Atlanta May 1978 (uninjured)
Alan Hamilton T430 Sandown Park Sep 1978 (no limp but seriously injured)
George Follmer ex-T332C Laguna Seca (injured?)
Chuck Talbot T332 HU36 Symmons Plain Mar 1980 (uninjured)
Bobby Rahal ex-T333 Mosport Jun 1980 (uninjured?)
Stephen South ex-T333 Trois Rivieres Aug 1980 (lost part of leg)
Jim Snelling T332 HU36-2 Riverside May 1983 (hospitalised)
Mike Allen T333 Mosport Jun 1983 (killed)

Given such a large number of major accidents, maybe the number of injuries is not surprising. According to my database (which is still m issing some races), the T300 started 300 races, the T330 570 races, the T332/T332C 850, the T333 220, the T400 160 and the T430 40. That's a lot of races!!

Allen

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
I've included all the comments above and gone through all the Lola write-offs that I can find and the new list of major Lola accidents is:

Niel Allen T300 HU4 wrecked in testing early 1972 (was he injured?).....

Still no listing of Colin Trengove? It was Terry Hook's car, IIRC.

Niel had a broken left ankle and burns to his back from radiator water spillage.

[David M. Kane]

Originally posted by Ducfer


David:

Perhaps I missed the update, but how are you healing up? Last I had heard was your wrist was in bad shape. Since you are typing, my hope is that you are returning to health.

Best,

Ducfer:

I've had 3 test days in my March 76B that went very well. I'm seeing a 2nd Hand Specialist next Friday. My goal is to have my first race in September at Road America at the VSCDA event which fairly low profile and sane.

I am very close to buying a Titan Mk. 6C to work myself back into shape.

Thank you for asking. Everyone on the non-medical front is stunned by my positive progress.

I'll know more after my visit to Dr. Tyler Staelin, M.D. at the Michigan Hand Center in Grand Rapids.
He is more a sport oriented type than my current Doctor at Ortho Indy who thinks I should tinker with cars instead of driving them! I don't think so!

I think I can handle a small bore formula car up to an Atlantic, a Historic F1 is not realistic at this point.

[MCS]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
I've included all the comments above and gone through all the Lola write-offs that I can find and the new list of major Lola accidents is:

Niel Allen T300 HU4 wrecked in testing early 1972 (was he injured?)
Brett Lunger T300 HU11 Elkhart Lake Jul 1972 (uninjured)
Gary Campbell T330 HU4 Surfers Feb 1973 (temporary limp)
Warwick Brown T300 HU4-2 Surfers Feb 1973 (serious limp)
Eddie Miller T300 HU12 Riverside Apr 1973 (uninjured)
Terry Sanger T300 HU9 Mallory Jul 1973 (uninjured)
Kevin Bartlett T330 HU22 Pukekohe Jan 1974 (serious limp)
Guy Edwards T332 HU34 Mallory Mar 1974 (uninjured?)
Evan Noyes T332 HU32 Elkhart Lake Jul 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Rutherford T332 HU43 Watkins Glen Jul 1974 (uninjured?)
Tuck Thomas T332 HU38 Ontario Sep 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Walker T330 HU23 Surfers Sep 1974 (uninjured?)
Danny Ongais T332 HU31 Mosport Jun 1975 (uninjured?)
BJ Swanson T332 HU42 Mid-Ohio Aug 1975 (killed)
Gordon Spice T332 HU40 Mallory Aug 1975 (pronounced limp)
Bill Baker T332 HU41 Mosport Jun 1976 (uninjured?)
Alan Jones T332 HU37 Watkins Glen Jul 1976 (uninjured)
Danny Ongais T332C Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (uninjured)
Dick Kantrud T330 HU15 Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (injured but can't recall details)
Alan Jones T332C HU61 Surfers Feb 1977 (uninjured)
Max Stewart T400 Calder Mar 1977 (killed)
Elliot Forbes-Robinson T333 St Jovite June 1977 (uninjured)
Brian Redman T333 St Jovite June 1977 (neck injuries)
John Morton T332 Road Atlanta May 1978 (uninjured)
Alan Hamilton T430 Sandown Park Sep 1978 (no limp but seriously injured)
George Follmer ex-T332C Laguna Seca (injured?)
Chuck Talbot T332 HU36 Symmons Plain Mar 1980 (uninjured)
Bobby Rahal ex-T333 Mosport Jun 1980 (uninjured?)
Stephen South ex-T333 Trois Rivieres Aug 1980 (lost part of leg)
Jim Snelling T332 HU36-2 Riverside May 1983 (hospitalised)
Mike Allen T333 Mosport Jun 1983 (killed)

Given such a large number of major accidents, maybe the number of injuries is not surprising. According to my database (which is still m issing some races), the T300 started 300 races, the T330 570 races, the T332/T332C 850, the T333 220, the T400 160 and the T430 40. That's a lot of races!!

Allen

Allen

Didn't Guy Edwards wreck three chassis at the start of the 1974 season, breaking a wrist in one of the accidents. This led to him missing some races in the F1 Hill Lola and being substituted for a time in the F5000 T332 by Keith Holland.

I'm surprised that the number of races for the T332/T332C isn't more than 850, especially given the numbers built.

Mark

[MCS]

Another one has just come to mind.

Tony Trimmer - deputising for Gijs Van Lennep in the ShellSPORT T332 at Mallory Park - had a major off on the first lap of F5000 practice (half way down the Stebbe Straight I seem to recall)...

Mark

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
Niel Allen T300 HU4 wrecked in testing early 1972 (was he injured?)
Brett Lunger T300 HU11 Elkhart Lake Jul 1972 (uninjured)
Gary Campbell T330 HU4 Surfers Feb 1973 (temporary limp)
Warwick Brown T300 HU4-2 Surfers Feb 1973 (serious limp)
Eddie Miller T300 HU12 Riverside Apr 1973 (uninjured)
Terry Sanger T300 HU9 Mallory Jul 1973 (uninjured)
Kevin Bartlett T330 HU22 Pukekohe Jan 1974 (serious limp)
Guy Edwards T332 HU34 Mallory Mar 1974 (uninjured?)
Evan Noyes T332 HU32 Elkhart Lake Jul 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Rutherford T332 HU43 Watkins Glen Jul 1974 (uninjured?)
Tuck Thomas T332 HU38 Ontario Sep 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Walker T330 HU23 Surfers Sep 1974 (uninjured?)
Danny Ongais T332 HU31 Mosport Jun 1975 (uninjured?)
BJ Swanson T332 HU42 Mid-Ohio Aug 1975 (killed)
Gordon Spice T332 HU40 Mallory Aug 1975 (pronounced limp)
Bill Baker T332 HU41 Mosport Jun 1976 (uninjured?)
Alan Jones T332 HU37 Watkins Glen Jul 1976 (uninjured)
Danny Ongais T332C Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (uninjured)
Dick Kantrud T330 HU15 Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (injured but can't recall details)
Alan Jones T332C HU61 Surfers Feb 1977 (uninjured)
Max Stewart T400 Calder Mar 1977 (killed)
Elliot Forbes-Robinson T333 St Jovite June 1977 (uninjured)
Brian Redman T333 St Jovite June 1977 (neck injuries)
John Morton T332 Road Atlanta May 1978 (uninjured)
Alan Hamilton T430 Sandown Park Sep 1978 (no limp but seriously injured)
George Follmer ex-T332C Laguna Seca (injured?)
Chuck Talbot T332 HU36 Symmons Plain Mar 1980 (uninjured)
Bobby Rahal ex-T333 Mosport Jun 1980 (uninjured?)
Stephen South ex-T333 Trois Rivieres Aug 1980 (lost part of leg)
Jim Snelling T332 HU36-2 Riverside May 1983 (hospitalised)
Mike Allen T333 Mosport Jun 1983 (killed)

The list should surely start with Graeme Lawrence, who crashed his T300 in the 8/1/72 New Zealand GP. He received multiple fractures in one leg and broke the other, as well as breaking both wrists and, as might have been expected, suffering severe bruising.
He later wrote in his monthly column in Motorman: "I had already made up my mind that if one did hit something in the Lola front-on, then damaged legs were a certainty. There is so little protection for the driver around the front of the T300, and this prompted us to fit strengthening plates, which probably didn't do much for the car's performance but enhanced my chances in the event of an accident."

[David M. Kane]

Johnny Ruthford broke his leg according to press released by the track the day after his accident.
My memory is a little fuzzy, but I was on the grounds, and that is what I recall. Secondly, when I ran into Johnny at the Historic Indy car parade at this year's 500 he coped Alain Prost body language which led me to believe he didn't want to discuss a "mistake". The word is that you crashed a T-332 at anything around 100mph, you WOULD have limp. I need to look at the plate on my "art piece" to see if we can determine whose tub it was when it was wrecked? Regardless, it scary looking damage...very spooky.

[Bonde]

David,

For those interested in old single seater chassis structural performance under intetional as well as unitentional loading, is there any possibility of posting any pictures of the damaged T332 tub? It seems relevant to this thread - not least considering the number of T300 and on still in active (historic) duty.

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by David McKinney

The list should surely start with Graeme Lawrence, who crashed his T300 in the 8/1/72 New Zealand GP. He received multiple fractures in one leg and broke the other, as well as breaking both wrists and, as might have been expected, suffering severe bruising.
He later wrote in his monthly column in Motorman: "I had already made up my mind that if one did hit something in the Lola front-on, then damaged legs were a certainty. There is so little protection for the driver around the front of the T300, and this prompted us to fit strengthening plates, which probably didn't do much for the car's performance but enhanced my chances in the event of an accident."

I can vividly recall looking at Lawrence's yellow T300 in the pits prior to the 1972 NZGP.

I could not believe what I saw! Bits of thin tube betwwen the 'footwell' and the front.

Perhaps this was so for all side radiator cars of the time but 'that' Lola was the first noseless car I'd ever seen.

[Ray Bell]

The only cars I ever noted as seeming as light in the front chassis section as the Lola T300 were the Birranas...

And yes, David, nice to see you back on the forum and good to hear you're going to be driving again soon. I guess the Mallala will be getting some more running too?

On David McKinney's point about the order of the crashes... here's something for you to consider...

Quoting details from Donn Anderson's report of the Pukekohe event that ended so tragically for Lawrence and Bryan Faloon, it shows clearly that Allen's crash was before Lawrence's.

"Originally, three Lola T300s were entered for the Tasman Series," Don wrote. "Gardner had chassis number 1 (he wrote off the prototype during a Snetterton F5000 race) which was damaged at the Warwick Farm AGP, while Graeme Lawrence imported a brand new unit (chassis number 3) for the Tasman. Niel Allen's T300 (chassis 8) was unfortunately written off after its brakes failed in a Surfers Paradise practice addicent, but Bob Muir hoped to have the car rebuilt in time for some of the Australian races."

So the chronological order of crashes started with a seemingly lucky Gardner (two before anyone else had a chance!) then Allen and then Lawrence. In fact, Allen's crash was on December 21, 1971 (vide RCN).

[David McKinney]

I wondered about the Allen/Lawrence chronology, Ray

Funnily enough, ever since this thread started I kept thinking of Gardner as an early recipient of the LL - I wonder if my memory was right?

[Allen Brown]

I've added those four early T300 accidents plus Col Trengove's. I still need to figure out Edwards' accidents and to locate that Trimmer accident. I have a note that Ashley crashed his T400 in testing but I don't have any details. I guess I should also add Noyes' and Unser's Mosport '75 crash.

Gardner's crash in T300 HU1 at Warwick Farm Nov 1971 probably doesn't rate big enough to make this list as the car was almost rebuilt in time for the race.

Frank Gardner T300 'P' Snetterton Aug 1971 (uninjured?)
Niel Allen T300 HU4 wrecked in testing Dec 1971 (broken left ankle and burns to his back)
Graeme Lawrence T300 HU3 Pukekohe Jan 1972 (multiple fractures in one leg; broke other leg and both wrists)
Frank Gardner T300 HU1 Levin Jan 1972 (uninjured?)
Brett Lunger T300 HU11 Elkhart Lake Jul 1972 (uninjured)
Gary Campbell T330 HU4 Surfers Feb 1973 (temporary limp)
Warwick Brown T300 HU4-2 Surfers Feb 1973 (serious limp)
Eddie Miller T300 HU12 Riverside Apr 1973 (uninjured)
Terry Sanger T300 HU9 Mallory Jul 1973 (uninjured)
Kevin Bartlett T330 HU22 Pukekohe Jan 1974 (serious limp)
Guy Edwards T332 HU34 Mallory? Mar 1974 (broke wrist?)
Evan Noyes T332 HU32 Elkhart Lake Jul 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Rutherford T332 HU43 Watkins Glen Jul 1974 (broke leg)
Tuck Thomas T332 HU38 Ontario Sep 1974 (uninjured)
Johnny Walker T330 HU23 Surfers Sep 1974 (uninjured?)
Danny Ongais T332 HU31 Mosport Jun 1975 (uninjured?)
BJ Swanson T332 HU42 Mid-Ohio Aug 1975 (killed)
Gordon Spice T332 HU40 Mallory Aug 1975 (pronounced limp)
Bill Baker T332 HU41 Mosport Jun 1976 (uninjured?)
Alan Jones T332 HU37 Watkins Glen Jul 1976 (uninjured)
Danny Ongais T332C Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (uninjured)
Dick Kantrud T330 HU15 Elkhart Lake Aug 1976 (injured but can't recall details)
Alan Jones T332C HU61 Surfers Feb 1977 (uninjured)
Max Stewart T400 Calder Mar 1977 (killed)
Elliot Forbes-Robinson T333 St Jovite June 1977 (uninjured)
Brian Redman T333 St Jovite June 1977 (neck injuries)
John Morton T332 Road Atlanta May 1978 (uninjured)
Alan Hamilton T430 Sandown Park Sep 1978 (no limp but seriously injured)
George Follmer ex-T332C Laguna Seca (injured?)
Chuck Talbot T332 HU36 Symmons Plain Mar 1980 (uninjured)
Bobby Rahal ex-T333 Mosport Jun 1980 (uninjured?)
Stephen South ex-T333 Trois Rivieres Aug 1980 (lost part of leg)
Col Trengove T330/T332 testing Adelaide Apr 1981 (killed)
Jim Snelling T332 HU36-2 Riverside May 1983 (hospitalised)
Mike Allen T333 Mosport Jun 1983 (killed)

The number I gave for 850 T332/T332C starts will be higher when I add more of the Aussie races and the 1976 and 1977 UK seasons. But it probably won't go about 900. It might also drop a little as I find that Can-Am 'Frissbees' were T330s or even T300s.

I think I have pictures somewhere of a Can-Am Lola T332 bent badly.

Allen

[Allen Brown]

A car reputedly crashed by Rod Cusumano at Road Atlanta c1985. It doesn't have the frontal damage we've been talking about but it may still be of interest.







Allen

[Allen Brown]

Found Trimmer - I was looking in the wrong season:

Tony Trimmer T330 HU18 Mallory Apr 1973 (was he injured?)

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by David McKinney
I wondered about the Allen/Lawrence chronology, Ray

Funnily enough, ever since this thread started I kept thinking of Gardner as an early recipient of the LL - I wonder if my memory was right?

If it hadn't been spelled out there in Donn's report, I'd have had a hard time tracking it down. But it was during testing prior to the series that Niel crashed, I guess we all knew that, so it had to be that his injuries were earlier than Lawrence's.

Gardner never had any limps that I'm aware of...

Allen... Chas Talbot it is, not 'Chuck'... and I'm fairly sure that the only time Walker was ever hurt at all was at Sandown. There's also another KB biff in there somewhere, probably '76, at Oran Park. He put it in backwards (very deliberately... an absolutely perfect bit of out of control car control after he lost his brakes when the harmonic balancer went flying off the crank).

Max Stewart also hurt his hand, broke his thumb if I recall correctly. This was during one of his trips to the US, I think at Watkins Glen. From memory, the car went partially under the Armco, but I won't swear to that. He had his thumb hooked around a spoke of the steering wheel. Had to be in the 330 or a borrowed American car.

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
Frank Gardner T300 HU1 Levin Jan 1972 (uninjured?)

Motorman again:
"Frank leapt out unhurt, but the tub was badly tweaked"
So you can delete the question-mark ;)

The thing I remember about the incident is that Gardner had been very outspoken about the chicken-wire the organisers had erected around the circuit, but changed his tune after it caught his Lola and stopped it going into the crowd. Thereafter I believe he became a strong advocate of what came to be known as catch-fencing

[philippe7]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
A car reputedly crashed by Rod Cusumano at Road Atlanta c1985. It doesn't have the frontal damage we've been talking about but it may still be of interest.



Allen

Allen, this chassie carries a supplementary bracing ( those two tubes going from the "steering wheel" hoop to the footwell ) which definitely were not standard ( see the factory/period pictures I posted ealier ) and that would certainly have given a lot of extra strenght.

[Allen Brown]

Yes, I'm guessing it was part of the Frissbee bodywork modifications that this car gained about 1982.

Allen

[eldougo]

Frank Gardner never had the LIMP...... strange considering all the miles he would have done in the Make of car.He al ways walked with a lot of toe out but no limp.

[Twin Window]

I'd dearly love to see the faces of todays F1 drivers as they were presented with a grid of T330s and told to "race as normal"!

[eldougo]

It would be a short race,and not many finishers,and the Safety Car would be the best on the track.

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
... and I'm fairly sure that the only time Walker was ever hurt at all was at Sandown.

That would be this one...

Originally posted by Ray Bell
There's also another KB biff in there somewhere, probably '76, at Oran Park. He put it in backwards (very deliberately... an absolutely perfect bit of out of control car control after he lost his brakes when the harmonic balancer went flying off the crank).

That would be this one...

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Max Stewart also hurt his hand, broke his thumb if I recall correctly. This was during one of his trips to the US, I think at Watkins Glen. From memory, the car went partially under the Armco, but I won't swear to that. He had his thumb hooked around a spoke of the steering wheel. Had to be in the 330 or a borrowed American car.

The story of this was told in this post.....
http://forums.atlasf...191#post2005191

[Catalina Park]

KB.

[Patrick Fletcher]

Originally posted by Catalina Park




The story of this was told in this post.....
http://forums.atlasf...191#post2005191 [/B]

In reading the above is it possible that Max Stewart may have had two incidents in the US.
In 1976 a small group were talking of Lola limps with Graham McRae, Doug Lawrence and a few others, Max told us all that he had broken a leg the year before in a 5000 race in the US, after a day or so in hospital he cheacked himself out as the $$ meter was running - it seems that the crash that is referred to in the thread above was in 1973 ?

[Allen Brown]

I can't find any F5000 result for Max outside Australia and New Zealand after 1973.

Could it have been a practice accident that I don't have recorded?

[Ray Bell]

I certainly don't remember such an incident... and Max wasn't one to hide things like that...

We used to have him visit us in Sydney most Wednesday nights, he would bring Susie to the Horsepower when he came down to buy cars for his business in Orange. There was plenty of opportunity for him to tell us of such things, and he usually did, but this (supposed?) injury simply doesn't come to mind. The thumb in the steering wheel, that I recall well.

Max never had a limp, anyway...

[MCS]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
Found Trimmer - I was looking in the wrong season:

Tony Trimmer T330 HU18 Mallory Apr 1973 (was he injured?)

I'm sure it wasn't as early in the season as April.

He definitely shunted, but I don't believe he was injured the more I think about it.

His broken wrist happened at the wheel of his McLaren M18 later in the season...

My mistake.

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by Catalina Park

That would be this one...

Hell's bells.... thats a really nasty looking shunt !

Simon Lewis
Transport Books
www.simonlewis.com

[Ray Bell]

You're not kidding...

That water pipe along the top rail could have easily punctured a helmet and driven right through it! It's the same fence, by the way, that got Lex Davison in 1965.

This picture, however, is at Sandown Park in the final round of the 1975 Tasman Cup series. Walker was equal leader of the series going into this round, but had a seriously flawed first lap. A poor start, passed two others within a kilometre, spun, recovered and was repassing Goss half-way round the lap when he had the car turn left on him and this happened.

He wasn't hurt.

I can't say if he had a crash at Surfers in 1974 or not, but at least this one should be recognised in the list. Also, Gary Campbell's crash was at Warwick Farm, not Surfers.