Hill-climb fatalities.

Mike Dodman · 24 May 2005, 08:23 (Ref:1308697)

Simon Taylor's book on Shelsley refers to Joe Fry's fatal in 1950 as being the "first fatal accident ..in the history of British hill-climbing."
I recall that Mark Colton also lost his life but thankfully, speed hill-climbing is a very "safe" form of motorsport.
I'm not being morbid but does anyone have a defiitive list of those who sadly did have a fatal on a hillclimb course - who, where, when.
I feel that they should not be forgotten.

wi11iamm · 24 May 2005, 08:34 (Ref:1308706)

I have read before there have been three.

F1n · 24 May 2005, 08:40 (Ref:1308711)

Norrie Galbraith died at Doune in the early 80s, during a television promotional event, he colloded with a tractor that was coming back down the hill!, (the farmer thought that it was the lunch break)

ss_collins · 24 May 2005, 09:08 (Ref:1308735)

ohh there have been a fair few deaths in UK Hillclimbing, I would suggest that simon taylor is wrong there - Anuauto I hope should have the excellent uphill racers to hand.

Paul Ranson · 24 May 2005, 14:17 (Ref:1309033)

The Chris Mason book suggests that Joe Fry was the first in British Speed Hillclimbing, which I found surprising.

FWIW http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/ is an ongoing attempt to list all motorsport fatalities. It's far from comprehensive, es[ecially in this area, but welcomes contributions. I think I support it.

Paul

carrera · 24 May 2005, 18:41 (Ref:1309249)

Believe someone died at Valance hillclimb in Westerham, Kent. A collision with a lamp post, must have been 20 years ago or so.

ranoff · 24 May 2005, 19:07 (Ref:1309267)

In addition to Joe Fry and Mark Colton I am sure I recollect a fatality in the Channel Islands, possibly Bouley Bay, within the last few years.

There was also John Dawson Damer and marshal Andy Carpenter on 24th June 2000 at Goodwood Festival of Speed (if that truly qualifies as a hillclimb) at the wheel of the ex-Mario Andretti four-wheel-drive Lotus 63.

andymfell · 24 May 2005, 20:57 (Ref:1309352)

there was also a fatality at Barbon in the sixties (before my time)
this was recalled at harewood on 15th by a now senior marshal who happened to be there on his first day marshalling
vintage type car, pre seatbelts, rolled down banking, driver fell out, car rolled ontop of driver
dont know drivers name or exact date of incident

Paul Ranson · 24 May 2005, 23:16 (Ref:1309479)

Mike Gray, 1964.

Paul

**Woolley** · 25 May 2005, 17:47 (Ref:1310075)

Wasn't there one at Prescott's Pardon Hairpin 10-15 years ago. A Caterham IIRC, but I'm afraid I can't remember any details.

Mike Dodman · 25 May 2005, 22:01 (Ref:1310250)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolley

Wasn't there one at Prescott's Pardon Hairpin 10-15 years ago. A Caterham IIRC, but I'm afraid I can't remember any details.

Prescott again- at the May 1970 meeting A.S. MacQuarrie died when his Cooper T72 rolled at the Semi-circle.

206180 · 27 May 2005, 10:30 (Ref:1311445)

There used to be a hillclimb at Alciston, between Lewes and Eastbourne in East Sussex, but stopped running after somebody died before my time so do not know any other details.

Fireblade · 27 May 2005, 21:26 (Ref:1311989)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolley

Wasn't there one at Prescott's Pardon Hairpin 10-15 years ago. A Caterham IIRC, but I'm afraid I can't remember any details.

Yes Woolley, the driver was Jonathan Hardiman from Bromsgrove.

The other that I know of at Prescott was in the late 50s/early 60s and that was at Pardon too, but I cannot recall the name at the moment.

Fireblade · 27 May 2005, 21:50 (Ref:1312025)

Following the link that Paul Ranson gave it says that Lord Ebury was Prescotts 1st fatality.

I quote-
Lord Ebury's Jaguar went up a bank and rolled over into the Esses. He was the first racing fatality at Prescott.

**Woolley** · 27 May 2005, 22:53 (Ref:1312057)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fireblade

Yes Woolley, the driver was Jonathan Hardiman from Bromsgrove.

Thanks for the reminder, Al. I'd got 'Jonathon' in mind but wasn't confident enough of my memory to commit to posting it.

darezpub · 30 Jun 2007, 22:09 (Ref:1950877)

As publisher of Chris Mason's epic tome (I don't think I slept much then putting that book together. Mind you I don't sleep much now!)
I can add another to this list. Hill climbing it is true is very safe, relatively speaking, compared with other motor sport. But fatalities there were, even if many fewer. One that springs to mind immediately (I know, because it is a book I am about to publish!) is Ian Struthers who crashed at Snake Bend at Bo'ness in 1952 while driving an Allard. I don't have a copy of Uphill Racers to hand but Chris Mason was so thorough I am sure he will have recorded it. If he didn't, I will be surprised.

ss_collins · 30 Jun 2007, 23:27 (Ref:1950906)

That book is incredible

Steve Wilkinson · 1 Jul 2007, 08:46 (Ref:1950998)

Quote:

Originally Posted by darezpub

As publisher of Chris Mason's epic tome (I don't think I slept much then putting that book together. Mind you I don't sleep much now!)
I can add another to this list. Hill climbing it is true is very safe, relatively speaking, compared with other motor sport. But fatalities there were, even if many fewer. One that springs to mind immediately (I know, because it is a book I am about to publish!) is Ian Struthers who crashed at Snake Bend at Bo'ness in 1952 while driving an Allard. I don't have a copy of Uphill Racers to hand but Chris Mason was so thorough I am sure he will have recorded it. If he didn't, I will be surprised.

Page 132 carries a description of the event.

Uphill Racers is always to hand along with the Sheldon/Rabagliati Black Book on Hillclimbing - essential tools of the trade.

jonners · 2 Jul 2007, 09:04 (Ref:1952079)

Have heard it said that more than one has died at Oddicombe but maybe that's folklore because it's such a hairy venue

I competed at one of the last events at Ragley Hall - heard a rumour that it was closed to hillclimbers due to a fatality

Steve Wilkinson · 2 Jul 2007, 17:46 (Ref:1952596)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonners

Have heard it said that more than one has died at Oddicombe but maybe that's folklore because it's such a hairy venue

I competed at one of the last events at Ragley Hall - heard a rumour that it was closed to hillclimbers due to a fatality

I assume that the venue you mention is also known as Ragley Park?

No mention in Chris Mason's Uphill Racers of any fatality there.

mcurtis26 · 2 Jul 2007, 17:57 (Ref:1952610)

The fatality at Ragley was Neil Davison in a Caterham in 1993.

Stuart MacQuarri was killed at Prescott in 1970.

Other Championship fatalities were:

Bill Sleeman (Bouley 1955).
Mike Gray (Barbon 1964).
Mark Colton (Craigantlet 1995).

Fireblade · 3 Jul 2007, 00:48 (Ref:1952963)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_collins

That book is incredible

Cracking book.
Cracking title as well

rescue dude · 3 Jul 2007, 06:24 (Ref:1953044)

Uphill Racers is fantastic and i can recommend it to everyone.

JimW · 3 Jul 2007, 10:19 (Ref:1953248)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

I assume that the venue you mention is also known as Ragley Park?

No mention in Chris Mason's Uphill Racers of any fatality there.

Probably because technically it was used as a sprint course, not a hillclimb.

But having had a quick look at the Blue Book, I cannot find a definition/distinction between the two. Any experts able to throw light on this?

Ragley certainly had a rise in elevation between the start and finish sufficient to make it look like a "hill". It was a nice course and the introduction of a fence/cattle grid, which were the physical reasons for it loosing a track licence was a pity. It was my nearest motorsports venue.

Jim

rescue dude · 3 Jul 2007, 10:41 (Ref:1953280)

I marshalled Ragley a few times and but thankfully wasn't there for the fatality but i know a man who was.

I really can't remember if it was described as a sprint or not. JCC used to hold events there.

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