Driver and marshals injured at Bathurst.

[Mike Kelly 1]

As i'm marshalling the Bathurst 1,000 next year I am taking a close intrest in this years event. Copied below is a piece from Touring car Times. lets hope the driver and all our fellow marshals are OK.

Official statements following qualifying from CAMS, V8 Supercars and Prodrive
The V8 Supercars Championship and Prodrive Racing have made official statements confirming injuries to five marshals as well as to last year’s Bathurst champion Chaz Mostert following a high-impact crash at Bathurst at the start of today’s qualifying session.

Statement from Prodrive Racing Australia on Chaz Mostert:

Prodrive Racing (Australia) driver Chaz Mostert has a confirmed fractured left femur and fractured left wrist following an accident during qualifying for the Bathurst 1000. He is receiving pain relief but is otherwise okay. He did not lose consciousness and has been talking to family and team-mates in the circuit medical centre. The V8 Supercars medical team, led by Doctor Carl Le, is treating him ahead of Chaz being airlifted to hospital.

More details will follow when they become available.

Statement from CAMS (Australian ASN) on Chaz Mostert and the marshals:

Event Chief Medical Officer Kaaren Vinns has given more insight into today’s unfortunate qualfying incident at the Bathurst 1000.

“Chaz Mostert has has been taken to hospital in Orange for assessment, he has a leg and arm injury and is in a stable condition,” Vinns said.

The five marshals who were invovled in the incident did not suffer from any critical injuries, with four receiving minor injuries and one treated for injuries from flying debris.
However all are receiving the best treatment from medical crews.

“The five marshals who were stationed at the flag point received minor injuries, with one being sent to Bathurst Hospital for further treatment and is in a stable condition.”

CAMS will provide further updates on the condition of marshals.

We ask that all members do not use unofficial social media representatives of V8 Supercars or CAMS as a source for information on this situation.

CAMS thanks all officials, medical staff and other volunteers for their professional response to this unfortunate incident.

Statement from V8 Supercars Championship CEO James Warburton on Chaz Mostert and the marshals:

V8 Supercars driver Chaz Mostert has been airlifted to hospital with a fractured left femur and fractured left wrist after a crash during qualifying at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Five marshals were also injured in the accident. Four have minor injuries and a fifth has been been taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said: “Our number one priority is the safety of our drivers and officials. Our thoughts are with Chaz and his family and the marshals who do an incredible job.

“I’d like to thank the specialist emergency response teams and medical staff at the circuit.”

Track activity has been cancelled for the remainder of the day.

[Greem]

I've got quite a number of friends at the track; thankfully none on that specific point. I do hope those affected recover quickly, both in body and mind. Mostert's car fired at them *very* quickly indeed.

On a more prosaic note, the video of the incident will make a great training example of why it is essential that eyes (at least one set) are on the oncoming traffic at all times.

[deadsquirrel]

Originally Posted by Greem

On a more prosaic note, the video of the incident will make a great training example of why it is essential that eyes (at least one set) are on the oncoming traffic at all times.

And that the team talks about escape routes and bail out plans before the first session of the day.

[Woolley]

That's a nasty looking shunt, unusual for a car to climb those concrete walls, extra unfortunate that it did so alongside the marshals' post.

Debris fence didn't really do it's job - well, I guess it's not designed for whole car sized debris so arguably that wasn't it's job. Very fortunate that the wall just about contained the vehicle and gave them enough protection.

With regard to looking up the track, no idea if they were or not, but the amount of warning they had that it was coming was pretty minimal and I can't think it would have made a lot of difference. Only way to go in that situation is straight down, but it takes nerves of steel and a will of iron to do so.

Hope everyone is well, best wishes from the marshalling fraternity up here for a speedy recovery.

[TWRv12]

Planning escape routes is great in theory, don't always get the chance to execute them.

Hate to say but shouldn't there be debris fence on top of that wall?

Also a reminder of how many place marshals have inadequate protection...

Hope everyone makes a speedy recovery

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

Hate to say but shouldn't there be debris fence on top of that wall?

There was. It broke.

[MGDavid]

I just read there's been another nasty accident in one of the support races. What was left of car (having shed it's bodywork) cleared the wall completely. Haven't heard about driver, strongly hoping that he's OK.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

Hate to say but shouldn't there be debris fence on top of that wall?

Also a reminder of how many place marshals have inadequate protection...

Originally Posted by Woolley

There was. It broke.

A debris fence is designed to deal with debris - not so much a 1.5 tonne car travelling at speed, no way the debris fence was going to get anything other than hammered in that scenario. I've seen 4 tonne concrete blocks cracked in half after a V8SC / concrete block interface at lower speeds than yesterday's shunt.

Having said, the debris fence was still clearly there (although substantially mangled) after the shunt so it maybe did help the marshals there. This shunt will be fully investigated and no doubt some of that investigation will be about opportunities for better marshal protection - it's always an evolving process.

[venturi]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

I just read there's been another nasty accident in one of the support races. What was left of car (having shed it's bodywork) cleared the wall completely. Haven't heard about driver, strongly hoping that he's OK.

Driver is injured, punctured lung and broken ribs, happened at the fastest part of the track.

Hope we don't have anymore big crashes this weekend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sZ3u4lJm3E

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/10/10/...e-racing-cars/

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Woolley

That's a nasty looking shunt, unusual for a car to climb those concrete walls, extra unfortunate that it did so alongside the marshals' post.

Debris fence didn't really do it's job - well, I guess it's not designed for whole car sized debris so arguably that wasn't it's job. Very fortunate that the wall just about contained the vehicle and gave them enough protection.

With regard to looking up the track, no idea if they were or not, but the amount of warning they had that it was coming was pretty minimal and I can't think it would have made a lot of difference. Only way to go in that situation is straight down, but it takes nerves of steel and a will of iron to do so.

Hope everyone is well, best wishes from the marshalling fraternity up here for a speedy recovery.

Wooley, its not all THAT unusual, I ducked down below the wall as Marcus Ambrose rear end flew past us in 2005. The shape of the wall and its height means it can launch cars...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sZ3u4lJm3E

Its probably not the right time, but then again, when it comes to safety and facilities for Marshals, it never seems to be the right time.

I have flagged at the point where Chas first hit, quite scary as they punch out of the corner straight at you. But the point that got hit, whilst appearing to be a safer spot (yeah, right!) requires you to be a mountain goat and ever conscious of the drop off behind you.

Get well soon Marshals and Drivers.

[275 GTB-4]

Good news - Marshal named as Barry Cox is hoping to return to the track on race day

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by Woolley

There was. It broke.

Reading back, that doesn't read the way it was in my head! I was meaning to suggest that the hit was so hard it broke the fence, rather than that the fence was inadequate.

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Good news - Marshal named as Barry Cox is hoping to return to the track on race day

Awesome news, top man.

Stay safe, everyone. I shall try to watch it, but I suspect I'll nod off about an hour in and wake up just after it's finished.

[275 GTB-4]

Ohhh Dear, spare a thought for the Marshals on the mount. Wet and miserable with a real chance of hypothermia if not well dressed.

[TrueBlueFlyer]

[PVDA]

http://cams.com.au/media/news/latest...ficials-update

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport is pleased to report that the CAMS Officials involved in yesterday’s qualifying incident at Bathurst are recovering well.

Some of the Officials involved at Points 16 and 17 have also bravely returned back to work on The Mountain, with only one Official remaining in hospital.

CAMS Officials Manager David Mori has made contact with the affected Officials and family members, with many of whom reporting they were shaken but thankfully not severely injured in the incident.

“We don’t like seeing incidents like this but when we do, the reaction of our Officials is paramount,” Mori said.

“The team at Points 16 and 17 did an outstanding job and we are glad most of them will continue to officiate over the weekend.”

Victorian Official Heath Rawlinson, who was at the major impact at Point 17, said his training helped him handle the situation.

“If it wasn’t for the CAMS training I have received, I would not have been able to have reacted as quickly,” Rawlinson said.

“I love being a CAMS Official and plan to be back on point tomorrow.”

CAMS CEO Eugene Arocca also echoed the sentiments of the wider motor sport community in his admiration for Officials.

“We can’t applaud our volunteers enough for what they do,” Arocca said.

“This weekend at Bathurst alone there are 540 CAMS Officials working at the event. We saw yesterday what an amazing job they do.

“We are relieved that our members are all on the mend after the incident and wish them and everyone else a safe and enjoyable Bathurst 1000.”

Below are the Officials who were involved in yesterday’s incident:

Ian ‘Skip’ Taylor (VIC) – Endured some skin abrasion to his left arm, is back on point today.

Barry Cox (NSW) – Remains in Orange Hospital, however he and the family are in good spirits and Barry is recovering well.

Steve Berry (VIC) – Not on point today.

Heath Rawlinson (VIC) – Not on point today, but will return on Sunday.

Craig Deppeler (VIC) – Back on point today.

Michael McDonald (QLD) – Back on point today.

David Crofts (NSW) – Back on point today.

CAMS would like to express its gratitude for all volunteers and personnel who bravely assisted in managing the incident, along with all of the volunteers who have continued to officiate this weekend.

CAMS would also like to thank the wider motor sport community for its well wishes directed to our affected Officials, and wishes Prodrive Racing Australia’s Chaz Mostert a swift recovery.

[PVDA]

If you watch it carefully you'll see the debris fence separates from the concrete wall and is able to move enough to dislodge the roof of the marshal post and send that flying.

This isn't the first time a wall has run along the top of the wall at that post, it happened in the mid 90's but that was before the "Bus Stop" marshal roof was installed and the subsequent debris fence being installed so the flaggies only had the car to dodge as it whizzed past.

[Woolley]

A big thumbs up for Craig Lowndes on making this the first thing he commented on in his winner's speech.

[Mike Kelly 1]