[Other Sport] When you think your crash was bad.........

[Shropshire Seagull]

In the 10 years I raced motorbikes in the 70s-80s I reckon I had crashed at every corner of Brands Hatch at some point or another.
The only ones that really hurt were the ones where I hit something hard that was not moving and I was - lots of run-off on most corners to allow for some speed scrub-off - but hay-bales and catch-fences in those days were "harder" than the modern gravel-traps of today - main reason I would never race at the IOM - too unforgiving ....

I still count myself lucky - scared but not maimed [or worse] - lots of happy memories mind!

 

[Live by the sea]

Thought you were referring to the crash in Dagenham East London yesterday , where one of the people involved got out the car with a knife and stabbed the other driver .

Nice friendly lot in Dagenham .

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

In the 10 years I raced motorbikes in the 70s-80s I reckon I had crashed at every corner of Brands Hatch at some point or another.
The only ones that really hurt were the ones where I hit something hard that was not moving and I was - lots of run-off on most corners to allow for some speed scrub-off - but hay-bales and catch-fences in those days were "harder" than the modern gravel-traps of today - main reason I would never race at the IOM - too unforgiving ....

I still count myself lucky - scared but not maimed [or worse] - lots of happy memories mind!

I very nearly wiped out going through Paddock Hill last month, got on the gas too early and the back stepped out, the tyre bit and tried to highside me, I was way off the seat and slammed my lid on the screen as I came back down. It was my first time it since I binned my ZX6R at Le Mans. Crashing sucks, but on track is the place to do it.

 

[Silverhatch]

I used to drive way too quickly (on the roads) in my yoof until I had a huge off at Paddock Hill. Full cage, helmet and five point harness still resulted in a shunt that REALLY hurt. From that moment on the thought of hitting something in a road car eased my right foot considerably. Always had huge respect for motorcycle racers but saw too many of them scraped off the circuit to have much of a go myself.

 

[zefarelly]

I briefly considered racing Lambrettas, but decided racing 4 wheels biscuit tins was 'safer'!
I've had a few spins over the years, closest I got away with was in someone elses 1954 pre A 356, a 540 degree disco spin in the Porsche curves at LeMan classic ( obviously!) at about 80 mph . . . . fortunately didn't hit anything and drove off Scott free.

This is a lariest I've got away with at Brands. Cortinas on crossplies are fairly forgiving!

 

[jakarta]

Never got past Kart Racing which was pretty safe, although there were a couple of fatalities in the time I raced, towards the end of my time the 250cc Superkarts used Yamaha TZ250 or Rotax engines and were capable of 150 MPH which is quite impressive if your arse is only 6 inches above the track.

I was a contemporary of Mansell, Prost, Piquet and Senna (although clearly not quite as good), I don't think there has been an F1 Champion in years that didn't start in Karting.

BTW I went kart racing as my Dad had been a motorcycle racer in the 1950's (which is why I have two Silver TT Reps in my Sitting Room Cabinet), lots of his mates were killed or badly injured so bike racing was out for me and my brothers.

 

[Silverhatch]

Never got past Kart Racing which was pretty safe, although there were a couple of fatalities in the time I raced, towards the end of my time the 250cc Superkarts used Yamaha TZ250 or Rotax engines and were capable of 150 MPH which is quite impressive if your arse is only 6 inches above the track.

I was a contemporary of Mansell, Prost, Piquet and Senna (although clearly not quite as good), I don't think there has been an F1 Champion in years that didn't start in Karting.

BTW I went kart racing as my Dad had been a motorcycle racer in the 1950's (which is why I have two Silver TT Reps in my Sitting Room Cabinet), lots of his mates were killed or badly injured so bike racing was out for me and my brothers.

Unfortunately I was on duty at Brands in 1993 for the British Kart GP. Horrific weekend.

 

[zefarelly]

Never got past Kart Racing which was pretty safe, although there were a couple of fatalities in the time I raced, towards the end of my time the 250cc Superkarts used Yamaha TZ250 or Rotax engines and were capable of 150 MPH which is quite impressive if your arse is only 6 inches above the track.

I was a contemporary of Mansell, Prost, Piquet and Senna (although clearly not quite as good), I don't think there has been an F1 Champion in years that didn't start in Karting.

BTW I went kart racing as my Dad had been a motorcycle racer in the 1950's (which is why I have two Silver TT Reps in my Sitting Room Cabinet), lots of his mates were killed or badly injured so bike racing was out for me and my brothers.

I did a race at SIllystone a few years back, on the Int circuit ( strange) the superkart lunatics were there. BONkERS fast. and as you say, your arse is nigh on touching the ground.

 

[jakarta]

I did a race at SIllystone a few years back, on the Int circuit ( strange) the superkart lunatics were there. BONkERS fast. and as you say, your arse is nigh on touching the ground.

Has to be said that 250cc geared Superkarts race on Motor Racing Circuits and are a bit separate to mainstream 100cc single gear Karts that race on purpose built short circuits - that is where your Prost & Senna and latterly Hamilton came from. The only gearbox Kart Driver I am aware of that went onto Grand Prix success was Nigel Mansell who drove in the 210 Villiers class back in the 1970's.

 

[zefarelly]

The guys at Sillystone all looks a bit crazy . . . eyes too close together.