MOROSO event crash

It is the Cavallino thread...no pics.......

A 360 Challenge was totalled...

A 250 TdF was also rolled and severely damaged...

I have not heard of fatalities, so every one is still alive to the best of my knowledge.....read thru the picture threads for more info......

 

Bubba,

The TdF wasn't damaged that badly, and the driver was uninjured. He was transported strictly as a precaution, and was back at the hotel that night, albeit with some bruising from the belts/harnesses. The TdF will be at the next Shell Historic event.

O.G.

 

Dear O.G. et all...

Bob was less than ok at the time and the car will most certainly be off the track for at least one year possibly more depending on Peter's plans and time-line to rebuild it.

Bob was in less than stellar shape and was still not well enough to travel when I left on Sunday. He will however make a full recovery and all of us are looking forward to having him back on the track with us as soon as his new GTB/M is sorted out.

The crash happened directly in front of me after he overtook me on the outside in a very clean on the race-line pass. Bob then late braked both entering and leaving the chicane rather than trail-breaking like normal. This was one of his first runs in a drum-brake car and an easy mistake to make. He over corrected exiting the chicane and "pogoed" the car which resulted in three rolls ending sideways on the tire barrier.

He was not breathing when I got to him and he was hung in his harness with the collar pressing tight against his windpipe.

I released his harness, made sure his air-way was clear and kept him imobile until the EMTs got on the scene. At the time his breathing was very labored and I had concerns that he might have broken a rib, punctured or collapsed a lung.

In anycase despite a lot of fuel pouring from the tank there was no fire and I was able to kill the ignition which stopped the pumps.

The EMTs did what they do best and I was able to join the race at the back of the pack (where I started and usually run anyway.) and the race ended on under the red flag.

Most of us then raced less than 20 minutes later in the disc-brake race which was full of the usual excitement but otherwise without issue.

The majority of us have been with the program since day one. We are all aware of the importance and value of these cars and the fact that what we do is for fun and certainly not profit.

Mistakes happen and while some might think it wrong to put these cars through their paces in such a manner, without such a regular regiment of service, racing and restoration they would be nothing more than static relics of the past.

For nearly thirty years during my travels around the world I visited quite a few air museums around the world. I saw and even got to crawl up inside a dozen or so real B-17 bombers built more than 60 years ago. Each one was well perserved and quite impressive.

I was at the 12 Hours of Sebring a few years back and went to see some friends take "9-o-9" the Collings foundation original B-17 up in the air for a fly-by over the track.

On arrival at the tarmac they grabbed me and pulled me into the plane.

NOTHING and I mean NOTHING can compare to being part of the real thing!

Now don't get me wrong. Not for a minute did anyone of us think we were on some important war-time mission...far from it. Crew and passengers alike were well aware that they were simply experiencing nothing more than a momentary passion in a machine never meant to last the test of time.

Each time I strapped myself into my old Maserati, Porsche or any of my clients cars I too am aware that what I am doing is both rare and priviliged.

We push the cars, some harder than others and sometimes they break...part of the program nothing more...nothing less.

Others may disagree...and if they don't like it...then they can push their cars on and off the truck and onto the lawn and clean them with a tooth pick or join the gentle road ralleys that cater to such interests.

For me I am looking forward to chasing down or being chased by both Bob and Peter's TDF as soon as time and opportunity allow.

Cheers,

Bill Noon

 

Hear Hear!!!

 

Fantastic words, Bill, and even better that you (and many others) live it!

Thanks, Peter

 

Thanks for the first hand account of what happened. I did not arrive to Moroso until late in the afternoon and only heard about the shunts third hand.

Glad to know everyone is okay and there were no other cars involved.

BHW

 

Wow - excellent recount of the events Bill!

Get well soon to both Bob and Peter!!!

 

Thanks for the update, Bill. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone around here who disagrees with you about running the great older cars at speed. That's what they were created for, and that's where they're happiest. All the best to you.

 

Nothing like seeing these cars race in the flesh, it gives you much more appreciation of them.

Concerning accidents anything can happen to them anywhere even in a warehouse or garage with a fire or natural disaster. They are just metal and can be fixed I am sure many have been through worse accidents as well in the past and rebuilt.

 

Thanks for that, I was kind of worried.........

Not about the CARS.........

 

Bill,

The TdF will be ready for Sears Point in May. You might check with Wayne if you need more details.

O.G.

 

That is correct.

I just heard from Peter they are going to go all out to finish the car in time for the race.

Peter will be back behind the wheel for this one.

Cheers,

Bill

 

I saw the Ferrari 250 TDF roll over and cant emphasize enough how Bill was a big part of what could have been a very serious accident - turn happy ending. I was in the stands and saw the 250 TDF on its side. Bill, driving his Maserati, immediately pulled over within seconds. It took, what seemed like, a couple minutes for the paramedic to get to the accident. Luckily Bill cut off the fuel (needless to say good precaution) and was available to help the driver who was strapped in. I felt a lot better, from our view, that Bill was helping in the first critical minutes of the accident and ensuring nothing goes wrong.

Fast thinking on Bill's part. All the drivers should take a lesson that watching out for one another is the most important part of vintage racing.

 

Thanks Manny,

Your monthly pat on my back subsidy payment, honorarium is on its way!

Now get motivated and come play with us at the TDF, MM, Le Mans...figure "8" demo durby for historic toys etc...race!

Cheers,

Bill

 

I second your comments Manny. Bill you're a true gentlemen and sportsman and your actions/reactions to Bob's accident is a great testimony to the bond that exists amongst the FHC group. And clearly your knowledge of these cars allowed you to make some quick decisions!