Willie Green at Goodwood Revival

[John Turner]

I'm posting this simply to clarify what was to me a confusing situation regarding poor Willie's injuries, sustained at Goodwood. After the accident, many of us were concerned for him and we were relieved when we were told that he was conscious and wanted to reassure the crowds that he was O.K having 'only' received a fractured leg and bruising. The following day, the information coming through seemed to suggest that he just had heavy bruising. Now, I read in Autosport that he has 'a broken ankle, knee and ligament damage'. Apparently both legs will be in plaster for 6 weeks. Hardly surprising if you look at the photograph in Autosport (Incidentally do you think that publishing that is in good taste? I'm not sure, myself. It's certainly a dramatic photo but just not sure it should be in the public domain - what do others think?). We can be most thankful that given the circumstamces of the accident, his injuries were not more severe.

I'm a huge fan of Willie Green; I have been watching him race off and on for over 30 years. He is undoubtedly my favourite historic racer and I had the good fortune to meet and chat with him briefly at Donington a couple of years back. If anyone on this forum is in contact with him, please convey mine and all of 10-Tenthers best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Well-wishes for a speedy recovery conveyed

[macca]

Seconded; one of the stalwarts of UK historic racing.

His crash was most uncharacteristic from someone who has driven everything everywhere. As to the picture; knowing he is going to be OK, I suppose it's acceptable - we had the picture of the low-flying Nigel Corner a few years ago in AS.


Paul M

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by Alex Hodgkinson

Well-wishes for a speedy recovery conveyed

Alex, much appreciated and many thanks.

Originally Posted by macca

As to the picture; knowing he is going to be OK, I suppose it's acceptable - we had the picture of the low-flying Nigel Corner a few years ago in AS.

Well if Willie himself has no problem with it, I guess its acceptable. Same goes for Nigel and his was even worse.

[Andrew Kitson]

Jeff Bloxham told me that Lord March was not happy with his photos of Corner's shunt being in the Monday morning papers that year. However I suppose as we knew on the day Nigel would be OK, was it in bad taste? Depends on your point of view. Same with the Willie Green ones taken by Eric Metcalfe. Jeff being freelance has to make a living I suppose. Get well soon Willie and look forward to seeing you in 2006 historic events.

Like most here, I have been watching him for donkeys years from the BRM engined Chevron B5 in the late 60s, Willie Kay's 1969 BSCC Group 2 Escort, through big sportscars such as Ferrari 512S and McLaren M8D and then countless different historic cars.

[John Turner]

I have some sympathy with Lord March's view on this although maybe for a different reason! I have no issue with the photographers but I do have a concern about the judgement that goes into the decision to publish certain of them.

As for Willie, so many fine racing moments. On one wall, I have an old centrefold picture from Autosport with him driving the Yellow JCB 512S in the wet at Silverstone. It was in an Interserie Race (about 1972?) and I think he came about 4th or 5th against some pretty formidable and potentially quicker opposition. Willie's always been good in the wet. It would be interesting to learn what he thought his own best drive was, so far. Alex?

[h4887]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

Like most here, I have been watching him for donkeys years from the BRM engined Chevron B5 in the late 60s,

Not forgetting the Ginetta G12-SCA. Well, I haven't forgotten it...

[Andrew Kitson]

Oh yes - red wasn't it?

[h4887]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

Oh yes - red wasn't it?

Yes, Andrew. It's undergoing a rather lengthy restoration at the moment. I hear an SCA has just been acquired for it.

[gfm]

I'm sure we'll all be wishing Willie a speedy recovery.
Actually, Willie was the bane of my life for a few years . . . we were selling Porsches at the time and one of the marketing events we encompassed were track days.
However, whenever Green turned up in his ****ing Capri, we knew we had a tough day on our hands! As effortlessly as we could show our cars off around the circuit and as quick as they were, if you were unlucky enough to come across WG, you really had to go some to put this 10 year old jallopy in it's place.
(Tongue firmly in cheek!)

[Jim Lamb]

Originally Posted by gfm

I'm sure we'll all be wishing Willie a speedy recovery.
Actually, Willie was the bane of my life for a few years . . . we were selling Porsches at the time and one of the marketing events we encompassed were track days.
However, whenever Green turned up in his ****ing Capri, we knew we had a tough day on our hands! As effortlessly as we could show our cars off around the circuit and as quick as they were, if you were unlucky enough to come across WG, you really had to go some to put this 10 year old jallopy in it's place.
(Tongue firmly in cheek!)

Sounds like the old Wheeltorque events. The Capri was very entertaining, but then, that's Willie!!

Best Wishes to WG for a speedy recovery.

Regards,

Jim Lamb

[John Turner]

I hear that Willie has now left hospital, which, if true, is good news. Can anyone confirm?

[Andrew Kitson]

Yes, according to this week's comics.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Not so sure if he is out.

I've long been a good friend of his daughter, and it was through her I passed on all well-wishings, as I couldn't do so myself as he's been in hospital.

I feel awkward commenting though as I'm not really at liberty to discuss certain things I may or may not know.

Willie is on the road to recovery though definatly and that's all we want to hear

[Aysedasi]

Loads good wishes from me for Willie. I know his brother well - we have been to Le Mans together many times (brother is a member here). I went to the Le Mans Classic with Willie, Whizzo and others in 2002 and had a fabulous time. So I echo everyone's sentiments wishing Willie a speedy recovery.

[John Turner]

Autosport reports that, last week, Willie had 7 hours of surgery to repair damaged tendons in his legs. This indicates that news of his departure from hospital last week was premature, as hinted at by Alex. Let's hope that Willie now really is on the road to recovery, and our continued best wishes go out to him.

[HMRN]

I have just spoken to Willie. He had a 7-hour operation to sort out his ligaments and will be in two casts until Christmas, at which point he will have to learn to walk again. Despite all this, he is at home in good spirits and is thankful that he is still "here to complain". He has been overwhelmed by the number of calls, letters and cards he has received from all over the world and thanks everyone sincerely.

He didn't appreciative the photos in Autosport all that much, and I must say, I agree.

Carol from HMRN

[John Turner]

Thank you, Carol. If you get the opportunity, please convey again, our best wishes to Willie for a full recovery and that he is back on his feet again as soon as possible after the casts are off. We, too, are delighted that not only is he 'here to complain', but hope that he feels able to get back behind the wheel in the not too distant future doing what he has always been so good at and why he has all those supporters you mention. His comments over the Autosport photo strike a chord as you will see from my original post.

[John Turner]

It must be apparent from recent postings on this thread that Wille Green's injuries were more severe than initially reported. In the November issue of Motor Sport, Willie confirms this and has said that he will not be racing again. Sad but very understandable, under the cicumstances.

[Stoffer Green]

I had better start by declaring my interest - I am one of Willie's brothers, the friend of Aysedasi (long time no see and isn't time that you updated your website?). Willie is being pretty philosophical about it all, he broke all his cruciate ligaments in both knees and broke an ankle and although he is now getting some articulation back he has been told that he will not be allowed to try to put any weight on his legs or to try to walk until Christmas.
The cause of the crash remains sub judice (Ayse will get the point), but the fact that his wife and daughter were greatly distreseed by witnessing the whole incident - did you realise that the car actually ran over him twice? - has led him to his decision to retire.
He has had lots of encouraging messages from motor racing fans af all kinds which has greatly heartened him and his family. He can get to a computer, even though he hasn't got a self-propelled wheel-chair (the doorways in his house are too narrow) so I will try to persuade him to write to this forum.
I can of course pass on any messages to him.

[Steve L]

I was at the Goodwood Revival at the time of the accident, but thankfully didn't see it. I would just like to pass on my own personal best wishes to Willie for a quick recovery.

It has always been a pleasure to watch you race over the years Willie, and to also read your great track test articles - they really fired my interest in historic motor sport.

I wish these still appeared in the monthlies as I would like to have heard your views on a lot of the great cars that you have sampled over the last few years - Maserati 6CM & 8CTF, Cooper Jaguar, Alfa GT - the list goes on !

[John Turner]

Stoffer, great to hear from you, with your update about Willie. Whilst we will all be sad to no longer see Willie's artistry behind the wheel, it is entirely understandable that after entertaining us for so many years, that he should decide to hang his helmet up after this very unpleasant accident. Like Steve L above, I was at the event when it happened and am rather glad that I was on the other side of the circuit. We did know, eventually, that Willie had been run over by his own car since both Autosport and more recently Octane published a photo, which might have been better left unpublished.

If you could get Willie to post on this forum, that would be truly fantastic! In the meantime, please convey our continued good wishes for a full recovery.

[Andrew Fellowes]

Stoffer, please pass on my best wishes and that of my brother John, -(we are going back to the JCB days now!!)

Remember Old Motor? I think that was what it was called, he bounced his way across the fen roads to drive that little A6GCS for me, I later shared the front cover of Autosport with him, never been so s..t scared in all my life seeing him coming down Club straight at Silverstone in the JCB Testa Rossa with a pack of Listers behind him, just as I was rounding Woodcote, I stuck to the pit wall like a limpet.

[John Turner]

Andrew, your brother, the 'Hon. John' ? If so there is an interesting link between this thread and this:-

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75817

The Honourable John Fellowes was entered in the very last motor race ever held at Crystal Palace (23/9/72) in a Maserati 450S (a car, I would imagine, not exactly suited to the circuit!), as was Willie, driving a Maserati Tipo 61. Willie came second (to a certain Gerry Marshall in a Lister Jag!) and in doing so became the overall 1972 JCB Champion, as well as establishing a new Historic Sports Car lap record, one which will stand in perpetuity. Willie had also won the Cussons GT Trophy race, earlier in the day, in a Ferrari GTO, to emulate his win in the same race a year earlier, also in a (different!) GTO. In fact at that 1971 meeting, he had 3 outright victories, so a circuit, I would imagine, he has fond memories of.

I'm very pleased to be able to say that I was a young spectator at both those meetings, organised by the AMOC.

[Andrew Fellowes]

Hi John!

Yes indeed the Hon John or the Likely Lord is my brother. I really kick myself that I didn't go! Charlie Lucas also drove #4510 at that meeting I think. It must have been very hard work on that track!!

There was an amazing entry list I imagine it must have been a great weekend, I hadn't realised Wille had that good a weekend, Amazing!