Motor Racing- More dangerous than the outside world?

[Mike Bell]

The statement 'Motor Racing is Dangerous' whether as a spectator, marshal, driver, or indeed anyone close to the action has been around since I was taken to my first race as a boy, and long before that. (Im not that old )

However, in the last week I have learned of two people I have got to know through racing, enjoy the company of and regard as friends, quite literally have been left fighting for their lives after accidents no where near a race track. A domestic fall from height and no fault road accident seem a cruel blow to both families and I can only hope and pray for their full recoveries.

I have joked in the past that cycling through Attleborough to the workshop is more dangerous than racing one of the cars within. Maybe not that far from the truth.........

[Peat]

I'm sorry to hear about your friends, but you are putting yourself at far more risk by driving on the roads than you are hooning around a racetrack.

[graham bahr]

well i can instantly think of 3 professional drivers/rider that lost their lives outside of motor sport, although all to flying incidents Steve Hislop, Colin Mcray, and Graham Hill, so perhaps the sign should read motorsport is dangerous but not as dangerous as flying!

seriously though, i have never felt my life in danger whilst racing, but have on numerous occasions doing my day job!

[Tim Falce]

I fell 8 feet off a shed roof about 6 weeks ago, luckily I landed on my arse and elbow, I also did a bit of rib damage on the way down but other than still having a sore elbow and hip I'm now fine. It could have been far worse if I'd landed on my head or some of the sharp tools I had laying around so you never know what's around the corner.
Motor racing can be dangerous when it all goes wrong but we now seem to be more protected by the elf and safety brigade than we are walking or driving down the road. There are far more dangerous pastimes such as cycling and even more-so horse riding, my wife has spent 100% more time than me in hospital and off work due to falling off horses that seem to do what they want rather than what you tell them to do than I ever have driving cars.

Mike, hope your mate make a full recovery.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by graham bahr

well i can instantly think of 3 professional drivers/rider that lost their lives outside of motor sport, although all to flying incidents Steve Hislop, Colin Mcray, and Graham Hill, so perhaps the sign should read motorsport is dangerous but not as dangerous as flying!

seriously though, i have never felt my life in danger whilst racing, but have on numerous occasions doing my day job!

Then there was Mike Hailwood (road accident), Richard Lloyd and David Leslie; Colin McRae; Bertie Fisher (Aircraft).

As others have said, I hope your friends get well soon.

[wheelsportaddict]

I think what you also have to consider is, (and this comes from someone who used to do a lot of marshaling) if you have a serious incident on a race track, you can be getting medical within a couple of minutes (also spine/neck neutralized by a marshal within 30 seconds).

Whereas if you have an accident on the road, it could take 10 or 20 minutes (or maybe longer) to get medical attention. Therefore, you've probably got a better survival rate for people involved in a motor sport accident.

[GORDON STREETER]

Sammy Miller of "Vanishing Point" fame, a real hero in that rocket propelled missile was killed in an oil field accident not long after Sue and I met him at Santa Pod.
He was a real gentleman who left a lasting impression on her.

[White flag man]

Originally Posted by wheelsportaddict

I think what you also have to consider is, (and this comes from someone who used to do a lot of marshaling) if you have a serious incident on a race track, you can be getting medical within a couple of minutes (also spine/neck neutralized by a marshal within 30 seconds).

Whereas if you have an accident on the road, it could take 10 or 20 minutes (or maybe longer) to get medical attention. Therefore, you've probably got a better survival rate for people involved in a motor sport accident.

Also there are far more safety features in a race car than a road car.
I ride through Hyde Park, in London, on my way to work and I am being faced with dozens of oncoming tourists on Boris bikes, who's only interest is to look at the scenery around them. Now "that's" dangerous!