Wallace Menzies' Accident at Shelsley

[snailpace85]

By heck, that was a big accident! I feared the worst for a moment. Last news I heard was that he was Ok. Does anyone have any updates?

Scott

[JimW]

http://www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/club...t.asp?ni=10368

Jim

[TWRv12]

Lucky not to collect that unprotected telegraph pole near the track

[M Greenslade]

Happened right in front of me, very frighting, indeed a lucky chap.....

[Woolley]

Unusually I was spectator side for this one, so observed it from the banking above Bottom Ess.

Possibly the biggest shunt I've ever seen there, albeit the car did it's job in shedding bits and dispelling energy. Another recommendation for the HANS device which appeard to be what kept his helmet in place after a very rough landing.

Interesting also watching the marshalling from the other side. A very professional and well run response from what I saw.

Even more interesting hearing the spectators comments around me. Makes me realise how little they actually know of what's going on even though they were clearly regulars and that came as a surprise. So much we take for granted as trained and experienced marshals of which they have absolutely no knowledge. One chap behind was yelling 'Where's the Doctor?'. Er, he's the one in red overalls with the word 'Doctor' on the back, who's talking to the driver...

[snailpace85]

Thanks for the link Jim.

I was at the MAC tent a little way before the speed trap where Wallace lost control. It looked horrendous when the car started rolling.

I reckon overnight in hospital then discharged with stitches and a cracked cheekbone make him a lucky chap.

Sounds like he's raring to get going again!

All the best,
Scott

[snailpace85]

And I must agree wholeheartedly with Woolley's comments. Superb calm response.

Regarding the chap shouting from the spectator area - I'm afraid I become more and more cheesed off with people who don't know anything shouting orders from the sidelines at people who've got off their backsides to get trained and actually do things instead of just talk about it. Maybe I'm just getting old but I really think Britain is getting worse like that.

By the way, I used to marshal regularly and well remember Jim's Donington ES fire training sessions!

Scott

[JimW]

Originally Posted by snailpace85

And I must agree wholeheartedly with Woolley's comments. Superb calm response.

Regarding the chap shouting from the spectator area - I'm afraid I become more and more cheesed off with people who don't know anything shouting orders from the sidelines at people who've got off their backsides to get trained and actually do things instead of just talk about it. Maybe I'm just getting old but I really think Britain is getting worse like that.

By the way, I used to marshal regularly and well remember Jim's Donington ES fire training sessions!

Scott

I could have done with you recently at Thruxton when the driver of a burning Ginetta kept offering (wrong) advice.

Jim

[M Greenslade]

I must also agree with Woolley's posting, a very calm and measured response. Us marshals are a strange breed, we actually run towards the scene of the accident.

Well done to all those involved and great news to hear about his condition.

Bladdders

[Jim Lamb]

The guy in the crowd must have been one those posting dum comments on the Daily Mail online article :-(

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by Jim Lamb

The guy in the crowd must have been one those posting dum comments on the Daily Mail online article :-(

No, since he was actually at the event, and they clearly weren't...

poor quality video

[M Greenslade]

Originally Posted by Woolley

No, since he was actually at the event, and they clearly weren't...

poor quality video

As they say at the end ' Oh Dear'

Still good news though.

Bladders

[darrenfw]

Did anyone see the pictures of the marshals holding up the screens and peering over them to see what's going on? Exactly what you are told NOT to do....

[icklimp]

Originally Posted by darrenfw

Did anyone see the pictures of the marshals holding up the screens and peering over them to see what's going on? Exactly what you are told NOT to do....

I'm trying not to be over sensitive but I've only seen one picture that looks like that and even then you can't tell definitively. It is a snap shot, one second in forty five + minutes. As someone who was there, please trust me when I say that the marshals were not 'gawking' above the screen.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Woolley

No, since he was actually at the event, and they clearly weren't...

poor quality video

Lucky boy, that was a hell of an off!

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by icklimp

I'm trying not to be over sensitive but I've only seen one picture that looks like that and even then you can't tell definitively. It is a snap shot, one second in forty five + minutes. As someone who was there, please trust me when I say that the marshals were not 'gawking' above the screen.

Spot on. Occasionally checking to see if they were in the right place or if anything needed doing... and avoiding losing balance on a very tricky slope. There was less than the usual amount of experienced marshals trackside, but the actions of those involved didn't betray that lack of experience. Good people and good training = a very good job done.

On the other hand, some of the press coverage... Oh, dear. Sensationalist and inaccurate.

[911thillclimber]

So correct on both counts.
FAB marshals and support
Usual hyper press as only grief sells

However, both have influences, but only one is useful, and the Drivers know the Guys in Orange are.

Cannot be praised enough, as shown in this particular case.