|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
26 Aug 2006, 16:25 (Ref:1692885) | #1 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,679
|
David Purley Silverstone 1977
Having seen the wreckage of the LEC CRP1 at the Donington collection a few times I need a few things clearing up. I bump in to Keith Holland now and again (but haven't seen him for a couple of years) and he tells me that it was a paramedic in the spectator enclosure who gave David initial medical attention including reviving him is this correct? Was there a "kill switch" fitted to the car; if so was it not used due to a lack of time? How close is the mock up at Donington to what was left at Silverstone? Hope you guys can help thanks.
|
||
|
27 Aug 2006, 11:17 (Ref:1693467) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,767
|
I'm not sure about the Paramedic story.
I was marshaling at Woodcote that day. It was when GP's had pre-qualifying and David Purley was about to miss the cut. This all from memory so forgive me if it's not perfect. There'd been a small engine fire during the session which had been put out by a dry powder extinguisher. The car was quickly cleaned up and sent out agin to try and qualify. Unfortunately the dry powder left on the engine was causing the throttle to stick. He had a quick spin at Woodcote, but carried on until he got to Becketts where the throttle stuck wide open and he hit the wall. I knew some of the marshals at the scene one of whom had been knocked off the bank such was the impact! It was the subject of much converstaion in the bar that evening. They were good experienced guys who I believe would have dealt with the situation properly. I do seem to remember stories of the engine still running after the accident so don't understand why the kill switch wasn't used - if it was accessable. |
||
__________________
Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
28 Aug 2006, 09:23 (Ref:1694335) | #3 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 860
|
||
|
28 Aug 2006, 10:42 (Ref:1694400) | #4 | ||
Llama Assassin and Sheep Botherer
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,212
|
Shows the big difference in F1 cars 30years ago from todays doesn't it.No frontal protection then,just the drivers feet and a couple of sheets of aluminium.If I remember wasn't '77 when they introduced deformable side structures?.
|
||
|
28 Aug 2006, 10:47 (Ref:1694402) | #5 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,986
|
Its supposed to have been one of the highest survived G-forces experienced by a person. The picture here is truely frightening. Is the front of the car separated from the remainder and just resting against it... or is that concertinaed ? Purley was one amazing human being, that's for sure.
|
|
|
28 Aug 2006, 10:55 (Ref:1694413) | #6 | ||
Llama Assassin and Sheep Botherer
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,212
|
Concertinared back,in those days the drivers feet were usually ahead of the front suspension.The front wheels and suspension have been pushed almost back in the drivers lap.Amazing escape.
|
||
|
28 Aug 2006, 17:57 (Ref:1695624) | #7 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,679
|
Thanks for the pic "rescue dude" truly mind boggling that he could have survived in what is left in that tiny space..... It must have taken a painfully long time to get him out, I read somewhere else they had to use drills and saws to cut away the wreckage.
|
||
|
29 Aug 2006, 09:08 (Ref:1696068) | #8 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,986
|
Quote:
I've been involved in motorsport all my life [37 years] and things such as the position of a driver's feet, which didn't concern me in the slightest years ago, felt shocking when I was looking at the old F5000 and F-Atlantic cars at the Silverstone Classic a few weeks ago. |
||
|
30 Aug 2006, 16:02 (Ref:1697716) | #9 | |||
OldRacingCars.com
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,942
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
31 Aug 2006, 22:37 (Ref:1698895) | #10 | |||
Racer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 191
|
Quote:
I write from first hand expereince of a Chevron in the Bank @ Shelsley Walsh's Kennel Bend. It took two of us what seemed like ages to find the Switch, with the engine revving to it's limit, before we could attend to the driver. Stay safe, Regards, Jim |
|||
__________________
All content is my own personal view(s) and should not be considered to represent the views of any other person, organisation or company to which I am affiliated or employed by. |
2 Sep 2006, 12:30 (Ref:1700025) | #11 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 952
|
Quote:
Having seen the remains, at Donington, I find it amazing that he survived at all, let alone with all his limbs. |
|||
|
2 Sep 2006, 21:14 (Ref:1700248) | #12 | ||
Llama Assassin and Sheep Botherer
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,212
|
This is a good side on picture of the Lec http://www.racingsportscars.com/f1/1...-03-20-031.jpg,you can see the kill switch sticker infront of the mirror,compare it with the earlier picture and you can see why they couldn't find the kill switch.
|
||
|
12 Sep 2006, 15:44 (Ref:1708922) | #13 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 66
|
I am surprised to learn that David Purley's Lec did not have a steering-wheel mounted kill button in 1977.
When he had his all-too-short outing in our car in 1972 he insisted upon a kill button on the steering wheel as he had had a near miss with a March earlier in the year due to not having such a switch. Ironically, it was that kill switch wire that snagged, pulled out and stopped the engine, ruining his race at Brands. |
||
|
12 Sep 2006, 19:41 (Ref:1709139) | #14 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 856
|
I remember his accident well and it took ages for him to recover.
It was so sad when he died in his plane just of the shore at ( I think ) near Worthing where LEC Refrigeration was based. Are they still in business as I worked for a company back in 1969 that sold their products? Paula Hamilton |
|
|
14 Sep 2006, 10:46 (Ref:1710094) | #15 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,405
|
||
|
28 Dec 2006, 16:59 (Ref:1800644) | #16 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,679
|
I understand there were 2 Pilbeam built CRP1 where is the other one?
|
||
|
28 Dec 2006, 18:32 (Ref:1800686) | #17 | ||
OldRacingCars.com
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,942
|
They are both in Donington, the wreck and the second car.
|
||
|
8 Feb 2011, 11:43 (Ref:2827676) | #18 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1
|
Just found this thread
As it says, just found this.
I was one of the Rescue Unit crew when David hit the sleepers. I saw it happen. One one the Sliverstone Incident guys gave the signal for a Rescue Unit and we were only yards away. I remember that when I saw the car I saw David's head and shoulder and couldn't figure out where the rest of him was! We had a para medic on board, Bill Reynolds i think, he administered gas & air while the rest of us cut him out. Anothe rescue unit arrived shortly after. It took a while but we got him out. I remember an open fracture of one of his legs. Subsequently I visited him in hospital at Midhurst. Really nice guy. Regards Nick Jennings |
|
|
8 Feb 2011, 12:26 (Ref:2827710) | #19 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,901
|
Hi Nick, welcome to the forum.
Sorry that you had to witness such a harrowing incident that day. Hope you continue to contribute to the section of the forum as a whole! |
||
__________________
"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
A real racing hero - David Purley | jamescrofts | Motorsport History | 35 | 11 Feb 2013 20:08 |
Le Mans 1977 | TomGT | Motorsport Art & Photography | 3 | 28 Jun 2005 15:58 |
David Purley | Kicking-back | Tributes Forum | 2 | 7 Dec 2004 16:00 |
David Heynes RIP, Fatality at Silverstone (merged) | O'Schumacher | Tributes Forum | 35 | 26 Jul 2003 02:29 |
David Letterman's Top Ten - The Silverstone Nut | TedN | Formula One | 11 | 24 Jul 2003 13:57 |