23 replies to this topic

[raoul leDuke]

Martin asked me to post this on his behalf.

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I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and concern expressed of countless people since my accident on Sunday. There has been a constant stream of calls, texts, e-mails etc, I shall endeavour to reply to all and apologise if anyone is missed.

The accident was a result of my (fairly small ) error, something which we can all make from time to time, usually with much less spectacular consequences !

As I recall I went up the inside of a car going into Madgwick and got it wrong (probably a wheel on the grass). There is a distinct memory of the realisation it was going to go off and wishing I could at least try to spin the car but having no chance. I also recall bracing myself for the impact and feeling a bit hopeless.

Afterwards my first recollection is of faces and caring hands surrounding me in the somewhat shortened cockpit. From that moment I knew I was in great hands.

The ambulance journey is a vague memory and the hospital staff were brilliant but a little puzzled that I was in such good shape.

That I was not badly hurt is a testament to the strength of the car and the rubber conveyor and tyres that must have absorbed colossal energy. And luck.

Having X-rayed everything only my left arm was broken - not much short of a miracle. They were rightly concerned about internal injury to body and head and kept me in to monitor this initially for at least 24 hrs. They were somewhat surprised by my low (normal) pulse, blood pressure etc. so the gym must pay off ! After breakfast they gave up and discharged me forthwith.

When incidents happen, as they always will sooner or later, some of us are quick to point fingers and be wise in hindsight.

I should like to point out we are all volunteers and know where we are driving, whichever circuit it may be. If we do not take proper account of this before stepping into the car then nobody else is to blame. My only fear is that we should ever be prevented from making these choices by bureaucrats

There are so many to thank from the Marshalls and medical staff to the many people who cared for Pru, I can not possibly name them all but they know who they are and they have our heartfelt thanks.

Finally having just seen a specialist I hope to be back soon, and my next race is to see how quickly I can achieve this.

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www.historicracing.com

[jcbc3]

The accident

'Just' a crumpled car and an ambulance. No gory details.

[James Page]

Good to hear that Martin is doing well. I wasn't there on the Sunday, but on Saturday I watched from Fordwater and Martin was bloody impressive through there in the Lotus 26R.

Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

[David M. Kane]

Glad you're alright, looks like a big impact. Hope your legs are ok!

[Gerard Gamand]

Hi Martin

Best wishes from France

[Pedro 917]

I wish you a speedy recovery

Looks like it has been a bad summer for the Iso / Bizzarinis as 2 of them crashed into each other at the first right hander during one of the Old timer GP races at the Nürburgring last month.

[Paul Parker]

Great to hear you were relatively unscathed from what appears to be a mega impact.

Meanwhile this is the third Bizza to be smashed up within 3 weeks as two others collided nose to nose at the Nurburgring Oldtimer meeting, witnessed by myself at the first corner on the first lap on the GP circuit during one of the GT races.

[JSF]

Best of luck with a speedy recovery Martin.

[Mistron]

Martin,

The accident happened just in front of me, and all I can say is that it was terrifying.

As well as the excellent and immediate help from the marshals, a woman arrived at the drivers door of the car almost immediately - it appeared to us that she was a doctor in the crowd, and if that is the case she was on her way before the impact, over the fence on her way to help!

Glad too hear you are OK - I can tell you all in the crowd were glad to see you moving about before the sheets went up, but naturally concerned for your legs etc given the incredible force of the impact.

(and incedentally, I'm one of the buerocrats I supose - I work for HSE .......... and I have no wish to stop you, anyone else, or indeed myself larking about in old racing cars!)

[Paul Ranson]

A post someway down this forum page mentions the woman from the crowd.

Paul

[BorderReiver]

Wow, that's some shunt, glad you came out of it with only a duff arm (not to say that isn't sore enough). Given the nature of the accident you've done very well there. My legs got horribly banged up in a shunt that I'm sure happened at far lower speed than yours and I wouldn't wish that sort of pain on my worst enemy.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and well done to all who helped you out of the wreck and in hospital. Marshalls and medics do stirling work at race-tracks up and down the country week in, week out, and for very little thanks but my God do we appreciate them when we need them.

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by Mistron
Martin,

(and incedentally, I'm one of the buerocrats I supose - I work for HSE .......... and I have no wish to stop you, anyone else, or indeed myself larking about in old racing cars!)

Glad to hear of someone working at HSE who understands what makes life WORTH living...

;)

[Andrew Kitson]

Absolutely! We need more like you on our side. At Goodwood I was talking to 'Captain Mainwaring' from the Dad's Army look-a-likes. He told me they have a 'gig' next week in Sussex and are not allowed to display 'fixed bayonettes' there, also Jonesey has to have a protective cork stuck to the end of his spear, as someone complained to the council after last year's event that 'it was dangerous'. Of course the council sided with this one complainer as usual..World gone mad again.

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Absolutely! We need more like you on our side. At Goodwood I was talking to 'Captain Mainwaring' from the Dad's Army look-a-likes. He told me they have a 'gig' next week in Sussex and are not allowed to display 'fixed bayonettes' there, also Jonesey has to have a protective cork stuck to the end of his spear, as someone complained to the council after last year's event that 'it was dangerous'. Of course the council sided with this one complainer as usual..World gone mad again.

Mad indeed. The meaning of the much mentioned word "democracy" seems to have been inverted/perverted these days. Now it seems to mean 'The will of the tiny minority prevails' ....

(apologies for the OT rant )

[David M. Kane]

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were talking about the USA. It's all gone soft and silly...

[Duncan Fox]

Ouch, I always say to the guys I support, its only bent metal we can fix it, the important thing is you are o.k. we cant fix you as easily. Get well soon Martin and get back to what you do well .

When I see the pictures of the car and see the roof lifted off via the jaws of life, I think back to another thread where it was mentioned that the McLaren M20s were too valuable historically to race. A comment I dont really agree with personally. I think it has to do more with the expense of repairing a shunt such as Martins and the M20 crashed at R.A. The work involved in fixing that cars tub after those jaws had had a nibble was horrendous. . We spent many hours repairing individual crushed and severed componants (some titainium) in order to recover as much of the "soul" of the car.Many of them had survived the actual crash only to be mutilated in order to retrieve the driver . This is unfortunatly something that we must accept , as the medics who do a great job always, strive to minimise any further injury to our drivers .

In a world where some of us enjoy all things historical, I see these crashes as just another more recent chapter in the car (and drivers) lives. It just comes at a price, fortunatly in this case not a human one.

[Alan Cox]

Some of you might be interested in this totally inaccurate report of the incident in a local paper:
http://www.theargus....vival_event.php

[Peter Morley]

Originally posted by Duncan Fox
In a world where some of us enjoy all things historical, I see these crashes as just another more recent chapter in the car (and drivers) lives. It just comes at a price, fortunatly in this case not a human one.

I agree, if such an incident had happened when the car was current it would have been repaired and no one would have questioned its identity/originality. If that repaired car was found many years later it would be seen to be original.

I think it is better to see the cars being used, and as long as they are restored, prepared & repaired as original then that is fine.
Cars are made to be used, museums are for static objects - and even they have been known to restore, repair and modify some exhibits.

What is a worrying situation is that some of the most important and historic cars are being prepared with modern technology to make them 'competitive'.
If you have a genuine original lightweight E-type it apparently now costs over ¼ million to prepare it as a competitive car - I have no problem with someone doing such things to a mass produced production car, but how on earth can you justify it on an extremely rare car who's value is supposedly due to its rarity and history.

I don't understand why they are allowed to get away with it, if the cars were prepared to correct period specification the same professional race driver would still be ahead of the amateur, just the cars would be a few seconds a lap slower.

But it has always been the case that various teams and drivers have been allowed to get away with more than others, so this could be seen to be a realistic representation of history (albeit in the same way as spectators at Goodwood apparently dressed in clothes that were 20 years out of date).

[Racer.Demon]

Apologies for diverting the discussion in this thread back to the trivial topic of piccies of racing cars being driven hard, but here are my Friday and Saturday track pictures:

http://8w.forix.com/reviv07/track/fri/
http://8w.forix.com/reviv07/track/sat/

Still have Sunday to work on...

EDIT: Whoops, I meant to post this in the general Goodwood thread, but at least I can see why I made the mistake!

[raoul leDuke]

Having just returned to driving duties, Martin has broken his shoulder in a skiing accident while on holiday in Zermatt.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by raoul leDuke
Having just returned to driving duties, Martin has broken his shoulder in a skiing accident while on holiday in Zermatt.

Get well soon, again, Martin

[D-Type]

Originally posted by David Beard


Get well soon, again, Martin

Ditto - what else is there to say?

[Barry Boor]

How about - stay away from dangerous passtimes, Martin; stick to motor racing!

Get well soon, anyway, we need you fit for Monaco.

[john ruston]

Mr Sretton-You are getting old!-Be careful