Fleeting moment of notoriety.

Recovered from the aches and pains now, the week after the crash wasn't much fun. Went back to work a week later (couldn't really afford much downtime) which was uncomfortable but ok. Still waiting to hear from Aly about the car, that said he had a lot of repairwork to trackday cars to do and preparations to run some cars at the BTCC meeting last week so the wreck is probably still in the corner of the garage awaiting salvage. Really not looking forward to the bill (neither is Rory) as the car was totally fecked what with the rollcage being cut through to recover my remains so it's going to be a big one.

Here are my moments of fame in Autosport and Motorsport News the week after (click for readable versions):

Going out the wrong way...

In true Hollywood "Police Chief retiring in 2 weeks" style, my last race weekend for the time being ended in disaster. I'll post more thoughts later but the traffic stats for this blog have shown quite a few people have looked at it in the last couple of days so I've copy & pasted the forum post I made at SCR.co.uk and I'll post more thoughts a bit later when I feel up to it.

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Couple of days on and I'm going to be feeling it for a while but nothing lasting it seems which is a relief - my neck, back, shoulders, arms, finger joints and right ankle are all very sore though and I'm getting a selection of pretty bruises too!

As Mike Strong says, the car's clearly a gonner but given that they had no option but to take the roof off while I sat there muttering about back pain and elephants being orange that's not a surprise. I recall the initial incident in that when we reached Duffus Andrew Donald was turned across the front of my car and we ended up going very slowly off to the left of the track, at which point (due to a further accident taking place behind us) Sasha had to dive left and slammed straight into the back of me at full pelt. I got a brief word with her at the hospital as I was leaving and she says she saw me with about 10 feet to go so could barely do anything about it.

When she hit the world just exploded around me - it was utterly brutal. I recall more impacts (one of which being Alex Knight as he was sent into three rolls, so I'm told) as my car pinballed across the track to where it ended up on the outside of Leslie's in the gravel but I lose 2 or 3 minutes at this point as the next thing I really remember is the roof being removed and being surprised at how many other cars there were sitting in the gravel around me. F1 driver time as I'm lifted out on the board with blankets held up and up to the medical centre, my lower back really starting to hurt so it's off to hospital when another ambulance arrives (Sasha having been taken away in the one already at the track.) After all the tests and so on I get the all clear for any bad injuries at which point I foolishly demanded that my parents drop me off at the track so I can let everyone know I'm ok and so I can see the Legends Final and pick up my roadcar. Once the adrenaline started to drain though I really started to hurt but did manage to do all this and now I'm at home for a few days, sore but at least with everything still attached.

I can't tell all the marshalls and rescue guys on here just how grateful I am for all the work they do now that I've been at the (very) sharp end of their work - I know lots of you read the forum so PLEASE let your fellows know just how much I appreciate all they do - you're the real heroes out there, drivers be damned.

Just so that my thanks list covers (hopefully) everyone, here's the post I made at the SMRC forum:

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"Just a quick note to thank all those involved in the rescue work and marshalling at Knockhill on Sunday with regards to the big legends crash - my recollection of events is still on the hazy side but I do recall all the concerned faces throughout and hope thanks can be passed on to all the fantastic marshalls and rescue crew at the circuit along with the medical staff I encountered en route to and at the hospital. They all made a very unpleasant situation as easy-going as could be expected. Thanks as well to Nick Clarke, Ian Forrest and anyone else who stopped by before I was taken from the circuit. Nothing broken in the end but I'll be feeling every joint and muscle for the next while, that much I do know. Aly Hunter builds quality cars and for that I'll always be grateful given the impact involved.

Also, thanks to the SMRC and Knockhill staff who gave my parents information and guidance as best they could too straight after the accident. Your help was much appreciated."

Farewell To Arms

My last race weekend of 2008 got underway today with two practice sessions in the legend. The first session was on a sodden track coated in oil so I couldn't really learn anything but the second was in the dry and the car felt good. Aly Hunter seemed to think I was doing ok too so that gives me some confidence for tomorrow if we get some dry running.

Fingers crossed for a good day!