[windowlicker]

Originally Posted by Norwegian1 ↗

good to see that this thread continous to live

I think it may have a life of its own......

[Barton Farley]

Guy Renaud...Toyota Corolla GT...1990 Spa 24...

"...Back in 1990, I was a race marshal with another 6 guys at post 9 (exit of the 'La Source' corner) at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit during that year's 24 Hours race. The race took place from 19-21 July and the weather was fantastic. Everything was going alright up until around 1:00 in the morning. Belgian driver Guy Renard had refuelled his Toyota Corolla GT and drove up the exit lane past 'Eau Rouge' corner and up the hill 'Le Raidillon' when tragedy struck. For whatever reason, we'll never know for sure (this area was pitch dark), but either Renard did not see the Bastos Bigazzi BMW M3 coming up or the BMW did not make place for the Toyota. Either way, the BMW collided with the Toyota and I can recall hearing a terrible 'BANG', then a flash of light and finally a huge blaze of fire lighting the top of the Raidillon. The Toyota was full of fuel and Renard was trapped inside. There was no way one could have taken him out of that car... Dreadful. The race was stopped immediately. I can recall race control calling us on the radio and instructing us to bring out the red flag immediately. Before we could run up the hill with our fire extinguishers to help we had to wait for race control's green light, as we had to wait that all car had stopped. I recall that it seemed to take ages to get that fire under control. Once the fire was extinguished, the hardest bit was to retrieve this poor guy out of the car. There was nothing we could do for him really, but the paramedics still tried to revive him. I recall that with other marshals we were holding a huge blanket around the driver so that no onlooker could watch this awful scene from behind the fence. What I saw terrified me. I cannot explain, but to see someone who has burned alive... Really terrible. Anyway, the guys did the best they could to save his live... sadly, it was too late. Fire is the worst thing that can happen to a driver in motor racing. Today, as I wrote these lines, I can still see vivid pictures of that scene in front of my eyes... I cried that night after my shift was finished. I went to have some rest around 3:00 am and was due to come back to my post at 11:00 am on Sunday. I did and the thoughts of the tragedy of the early hours of that morning never left me. I recall, talking race now, that Toyota who had entered two magnificent Toyota Supra Turbo, driven each by an all Japanese team, and were leading one/two at the time (the BMW M3 were no match until then!), withdrew from the race, and so did all Teams that had entered a Toyota in the race in respect to Renard's untimely death. I thought, this was an humble thing to do. And admired this decision from a car manufacturer who had invested a lot of money to come and win in Spa that year. R.I.P. Guy Renard..."

[windowlicker]

Eugenio Castellotti indulges in a spin during the disastrous Le Mans 1955.

[windowlicker]

Bob Wollek's huge crash in a Porsche 962 at an IMSA race at Sears Point 1987.

[windowlicker]

....and another one I've just found that shows just how lucky Wollek was to walk away from this one with minor injuries...

[windowlicker]

Originally Posted by windowlicker ↗

Marc Surer's huge crash in a Ford RS200 on the 1986 ADAC Hessen-Rallye which killed his co-driver and friend Michel Wyderand. Marc was badly injured in the accident.

Marc took part in 88 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix. He scored a total of 17 championship points with a best finish of fourth. He won the 1979 F2 Championship in a March-BMW.

Post from page 150.

This is the only aftermath photo that I've seen...

[windowlicker]

I know its a tiny picture but its the only one I've been able to find of English driver Ivor Bueb's fatal F2 crash at Clermont-Ferrand in 1959. Ivor lost control of his BRP Cooper-Borgward at the Gravenoire section at the back of the track and was thrown from the car, sadly losing his fight for survival six days later at a local hospital.

Ivor took part in six GP's, numerous non-championship F1 races and won Le Mans in 1955 and '57.

[windowlicker]

Dale Emery almost drowned in the Fermont pond in his drag racer, the car had to be righted by track workers when it left the strip at high speed.

[1988]

Got a few requests...

- Martin Brundle F1 1984 Dallas

- Mario & Jeff Andretti Indy 500 1992

[windowlicker]

Mario Andretti crashes heavily at turn 4 at the 1992 Indy 500, suffering broken toes. This crash like a number of others during the race was blamed on cold tyres during restarts.