Classic Crashes Part3

Classic Crashes Part3 - Fatalities

Peter Johnson

Nick Collier

Tony Burke

Jeff Freeman

Barry Robinson

Jack Bissaker

Caged Action

Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson (Pantlin) drove successfully for Don MacKay for some years. He then left the team and began driving the Wells Holden. He is seen at speed in the Wells McGee Holden #85 at the Royale in 1961.
(Larry Taylor photo, from Speedway's Sensational Sixties by Tony Loxley, Bookworks, Padstow, NSW)

Peter Johnson is caught between the safety fence and Johnny Peers' holden and is about to roll, cockpit first, into the fence. Unfortunately Johnson was fatally injured in this 1961 crash. The car was extensively damaged as can be seen fron the photo on the right.
(From www.oldtimespeedway.com/1960's Speedcars-Album 2)

Nick Collier

Nick Collier was highly successful in the Carson-Lehane Twin #27 and when Len Brock left the MacKay team in 1965, Nick took over controls of the ex-Saylor's Mackay Offenhauser #5. He was fast and established new 20-lap and one-lap records at the Royale before being killed in a freak accident.
(from http://www.oldtimespeedway.com/1960's Speedcars-Album 2)

Nick Collier was fatally injured in a freak accident in 1965 at the Royale after the feature race had finished. He rode another competitor's wheel and rolled the MacKay Offenhauser cockpit-first into the track.
(Larry Taylor photo, from Liverpool City Raceway. The Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)

Tony Burke

Tony Burke in his famous ex-Ray Revell, holden-powered midget, #6. He had driven midgets in Sydney for eight years and won many B mains and was NSW Junior Champion in 1963.
(http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Fitzell2.html)

In July 1965, Don Read swings sideways on the first corner at Westmead. Tony Burke, travelling behind crashes over the bonnet of Read's car.
(Larry Taylor photos from Australian Speedway-68, Kenmure Press, Sydney)

The force is such that Tony's harness is torn from its mountings and he is flung from the car. The car lands very close to him but his severe injuries arise from the fall to the track. He died later in a nearby hospital.
(Larry Taylor photos from Australian Speedway: an Illustrated History by Tony Loxley, Working Class Productions, Sydney and Australian Speedway-68, Kenmure Press, Sydney)

Jeff Freeman

The late, great, Jeff Freeman at speed in the MacKay Offenhauser at the Royale.
(From http://vsaq.net/Rem.htm)

(From http://www.oldtimespeedway.com/ 1960s Speedcars - Album 1)

Mother's Day 1965 and Jeff Freeman ran out wide into the heavy dirt at Westmead. It wasn't an unusual occurrence as can be seen from a previous occasion (above, right). However, this time the car hit the fence (cockpit first), killing him instantly and Australia's premier driver of the time was gone for ever.
(From Speedway's Sensational Sixties. The Deadliest Decade by Tony Loxley, Bookworks, Padstow, NSW, 2005)

Barry Robinson

Barry Robinson lies in his overturned speedcar at the Royale in 1961. He died in the way to St Vincents hospital.
(From http://www.oldtimespeedway.com/ 1960s Speedcars - Album 1)

Jack Bissaker

Ex sidecar rider Jack Bassaker lies in the wreck of his speedcar as crash crew attend to the accident. Bassaker crashed cockpit-first into the safety fence at the Royale in 1961 and died at thre scene.
(Larry Taylor photo from Ghosts in the Bull Pens by Tony Loxley and Dennis Newlyn, Full Throttle Publications, NSW)

Caged Action

Russell Martin becomes airborne after riding a wheel of another competor on the Town Bend at Western Springs. Martin emerged from the wreck uninjured.
(Mike Dalzell photo, from Stockcar and Speedway Sport No 6, Fourman Holdings, Petone)

Pandemonium at Liverpool City Raceway in 1975. Ted Bolander (#69) spun and Jack Porritt (#79), Mel Kenyon (#61), Alan Steader (#34) and Ron MacKay (#76) are airborne while Max Kiddle has Kenyon on top of him.
(David Cumming photo, from Liverpool City Raceway. The Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications)

Johnny Church crashed his speedcar in a big way at Liverpool. Here he is being helped from the car.
(David Cumming photo, from from Liverpool City Raceway. More of the Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)

A groggy Johnny Church is assisted to the ambulance.
(David Cumming photo, from from Liverpool City Raceway. More of the Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)

Jack Porritt is airborne and flipping violently in his offenhauser at Liverpool City Raceway. He walked away from this one.
(David Cumming photo, from Liverpool City Raceway. The Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)

Bob Blacklaw rolling the Porritt offenhauser at Liverpool.
(David Cumming photo, from Liverpool City Raceway. The Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)

Barry Pinchbeck upends his VW midget (#72) over Stan Lawrence(#13) at Liverpool as Howard Revell (#97) looks on.
(LRP photo, from Australian Speedway: an Illustrated History by Tony Loxley, Working Class Productions, Sydney)

The aftermath of the crash as Howard Revell comes to the aid of an unconscious Stan Lawrence.
(LRP photo, from Australian Speedway: an Illustrated History by Tony Loxley, Working Class Productions, Sydney)

Ron Mackay (#76) rides up over his brother Ian's rear wheel during a shunt at Liverpool.
(David Cumming photo, from Liverpool City Raceway. More of the Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)

Mayhem at the Sydney Showgrounds as Alan Streader flips while another car has just landed and another is rolling into the fence.
(From http://justmidgets.homestead.com/Streader.html)

Above, Dave Jolley (#79) in the Hellriegel Holden crashes over Ernie McIntire (98) at Western Springs as Graham Hartnell slips by on the inside.
(Bruce Kent photo, from Stockcar and Speedway Sport No 10, Fourman Holdings, Petone)

Both cars are on their sides and the spring off Jolley's front suspension flies through the air.
(Bruce Kent photo, from Stockcar and Speedway Sport No 10, Fourman Holdings, Petone)

Keith Blicharski upends his midget at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground in 1974.
(Dave Chandler photo, from Australian Speedway: an Illustrated History by Tony Loxley, Working Class Productions, Sydney)

In this crash, Garry Simpson's Volvo-powered midget ended up with its left rear wheel inside the cage of Brian Hanlon's Offy. The accident resulted in nasty chest injuries for Brian.
(Photo from Australian Speedway-73, Kenmure Press, Sydney)

Rookies Garry Simpson and Greg Smith roll their midgets into the fence at the Sydney Showground, 1973.
(Photo from Australian Speedway-73, Kenmure Press, Sydney)

Peter Nunn (#16) crashes into Gordon Benny (#30) with enormous force while Barry Pinchbeck is already facing the fence.
(Bill Meyer photo from Ghosts in the Bull Pens by Tony Loxley and Dennis Newlyn, Full Throttle Publications, NSW)

To finish, here is another view of Barry B rolling the Capitol Motors Chevy II after riding over Wayne Fisher (#6).
(From http://www.oldtimespeedway.com/1960's Speedcars-Album 1)

And Barry comes back to land on all four. Barry escaped with minor facial lacerations, but the car neaded a complete rebuild.
(David Cumming photo, from Liverpool City Raceway. The Place of Pace by Tony Loxley, Full Throttle Publications, Glenbrook, NSW)