Rally Crash

[drcook]

  cobrav8 said:

Don't sit too close to the TV, it might fall on you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest FatBAt]

  steven_p said:

true but then a agin u might be 50m from the track and a car loses it and flys in2 the crowd, or better still behind fences and cars fly over em. safer at home watching it on tv 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That reminds me of a video I saw once a long time ago. A car coming down the straight doing 4000 klm (well almost) rolled and lost its engine. The engine hurtled through the crowd in the grandstand.

It was horrific to watch.

THEY thought it was safe in the grandstand.

[Lumpen]

Le Mans: 1955

To sorrowful priests, two hours after the crash, walk among the dead, to whom they had administered last rites. The following day a memorial sevice was held in the ancient cathedral of Le Mans. The French goverment now has declared a ban on sports car racing until track conditions and rules are improved.

The following appeared in the June 27th 1955 issue of LIFE Magazine:

  Quote

CRASH AND CARNAGE AT 150 MPH

This is how the worst racing accident happened.

Hours after flame and flying metal erupted, few of the spectators at Le Mans, France knew what had happened. It was days before drivers' stories and these pictures could reconstruct the worst accident in racing history. Some 250,000 spectators had gathered for Europe's classic sports car race, the 24-hour test around an 8.38-mile course. Concerned about a course laid out years ago for slower cars, Mercedes Driver Pierre Levegh complained, "We need a signal system. Our cars go too fast."

As the race entered its third hour the cars were breaking records at every lap when Jaguar Driver Mike Hawthorn received a signal from his pit crew to stop for gas. As he braked, an Austin-Healey swerved to avoid him. A few lengths behind, Levegh raised his hand, signaling another Mercedes to slow up. At 150 mph he had no chance to do so himself.

Hitting the Healey, the Mercedes took off like a rocket, struck the embankment beside the track, hurtled end over end and then disintegrated over the crowd. The hood decapitated tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. The engine and front axle cut a swath like an artillery barrage. And the car's magnesium body burst into flames like a torch, burning others to death. In a few searing seconds 82 people were dead and 76 were maimed. Hawthorn, though unnerved, went on to win and set a new record. But few spectators had the enthusiasm to cheer.

Disintegrating after striking retaining wall, the Mercedes throws its hood and front axel into air. Engine plowed straight into crowd

Hood, axle fall as Healey, Hood thrown open by impact, skids toward side of track where it killed one man. Another Mercedes is approaching.

Path of Mercedes is shown above as reconstructed at the official inquest. After striking barrier the car somersaulted for about 85 yards, spewing flaming parts into crowd behind the fence. Lavegh was thrown out and his skull crushed.

Still blazing fiercely, minutes after the crash, body of the Mercedes rests atop wall near a spectator it killed. Made of magnesium, it burst into flames as fuel ignited it, showered area with white-hot sparks.

Race goes on and Hawthorns Jaguar, after refueling passes flaming wreck. The other Mercedes withdrew from the race, but the remaining cars continued.

From the grandstands spectators could see burning Mercedes. Fragments landed in section left of CIBIE sign. Across track are pits the Healey hit.

[-carty]

fark lumpy... that's insane!

[Cowiesxr6t]

  Lumpen Proletariat said:

Le Mans: 1955

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</div>

To sorrowful priests, two hours after the crash, walk among the dead, to whom they had administered last rites. The following day a memorial sevice was held in the ancient cathedral of Le Mans. The French goverment now has declared a ban on sports car racing until track conditions and rules are improved.

The following appeared in the June 27th 1955 issue of LIFE Magazine:

  Quote

CRASH AND CARNAGE AT 150 MPH

This is how the worst racing accident happened.

Hours after flame and flying metal erupted, few of the spectators at Le Mans, France knew what had happened. It was days before drivers' stories and these pictures could reconstruct the worst accident in racing history. Some 250,000 spectators had gathered for Europe's classic sports car race, the 24-hour test around an 8.38-mile course. Concerned about a course laid out years ago for slower cars, Mercedes Driver Pierre Levegh complained, "We need a signal system. Our cars go too fast."

As the race entered its third hour the cars were breaking records at every lap when Jaguar Driver Mike Hawthorn received a signal from his pit crew to stop for gas. As he braked, an Austin-Healey swerved to avoid him. A few lengths behind, Levegh raised his hand, signaling another Mercedes to slow up. At 150 mph he had no chance to do so himself.

Hitting the Healey, the Mercedes took off like a rocket, struck the embankment beside the track, hurtled end over end and then disintegrated over the crowd. The hood decapitated tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. The engine and front axle cut a swath like an artillery barrage. And the car's magnesium body burst into flames like a torch, burning others to death. In a few searing seconds 82 people were dead and 76 were maimed. Hawthorn, though unnerved, went on to win and set a new record. But few spectators had the enthusiasm to cheer.

Hey Lumpy

Yeah I read that too. I think I have the oringinal footage somewhere. I will try and find it. I still carn't beleive they didn;t stop the race.

Quote: There was no criticism to stop the race, but the organisers claimed that stopping the race would have ALARMED spectators and hampered rescure efforts.

Cowie

[Cowiesxr6t]

Makes some sense. But I think somewhere between TV and attempted suicide there may be a happy medium the fans can live with ....

Think TV is way safer.

Cowie

[Deaks]

Just to clarify, im not stupid as to where I stand at rallies, and rallying being as unpredictable as it is, you always need to have your wits about you. Most things that involve a little bit of danger are generally more fun, and rallying is no different.

There are some points I will never stand, they are rather obvious, but theres little you can do (save from staying at home with your trusty tv) when things go wayward, like in the first photo. I've seen first hand a group N WRX barrel roll 7 times, and if there was anyone in its path, which was looking relatively safe b4 this happened, theres a whole lot of nothing they could have done. Trees, which looked like they were protecting you, can have a rather large impact on where a car ends up after its bounced of it.

Im not out there for the danger ultimately, im there for the photography, and in getting the photos im after, there is danger, I accept that, and that's why you sign disclaimers at the events.

[Cowiesxr6t]

  Deaks said:

Just to clarify, im not stupid as to where I stand at rallies, and rallying being as unpredictable as it is, you always need to have your wits about you. Most things that involve a little bit of danger are generally more fun, and rallying is no different.

There are some points I will never stand, they are rather obvious, but theres little you can do (save from staying at home with your trusty tv) when things go wayward, like in the first photo. I've seen first hand a group N WRX barrel roll 7 times, and if there was anyone in its path, which was looking relatively safe b4 this happened, theres a whole lot of nothing they could have done. Trees, which looked like they were protecting you, can have a rather large impact on where a car ends up after its bounced of it.

Im not out there for the danger ultimately, im there for the photography, and in getting the photos im after, there is danger, I accept that, and that's why you sign disclaimers at the events.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Totally agree Deaks. You can not expect the unexpected. People like you give us the great shoots that we admire in all the Motor Sports Mags all over the world.

Just be safe doing it.

Cowie

[Lumpen]

Hey Deaks,

As a matter of interest was that the car that came up over a jump-up and juussst clipped a boulder about 3 years ago? I think Rally of Canberra?

Would have been scary for all involved!

Lumpy

[Deaks]

No this was Rally of Melbourne 2001, but ive seen an EVO 7 take the Mineshaft (ROC 2003) way too fast and almost bend the car in half, that got the photographers fleeing.

Watching videos from the Group B days, there are some nutters out there, but having said that, they still have to cancel stages of some European rallies due to crowds being to close to the roads, or actually being on them. Its mainly the general public, not the photographers causing this.