Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Silverstone Classic 25/26/27 July 2014

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #91
    RIP. A true petrol head,

    Some of the porsche guys watched it happen.....apparently first lap jostling, relatively low speed, wheels touched, car climbed on top of another and rolled, highest point was drivers head, died almost instantly, very sad



    Birmingham local press........

    A woman watched in horror as her race driver husband was killed in a crash at the Silverstone Classic on Sunday.

    Staffordshire businessman Denis Welch died when his 1960 Lotus 18 crashed during a race for pre-1966 Grand Prix cars at Silverstone in Northamptonshire.

    The 69-year-old, from Staffordshire, was well known on the classic racing circuit both as a driver and through his car parts business Denis Welch Motorsport, based at Yoxall, near Lichfield.

    Mr Welch’s son, Jeremy, said his mother Tina had gone to watch the race.

    He said he was comforted by the knowledge his father “died doing what he loved”.

    “My mum is devastated because her whole life was her partner and motor racing,” he said.

    “Her world’s been turned upside down.

    “They were married for 45 years and were both so passionate about classic car racing.

    “He’d been driving for a very long time so he was fully aware of the risks.

    “Accidents happen and it’s very unfortunate.

    “The car turned upside down and he died almost immediately.

    “The one consoling fact was that it was very swift and he died doing what he loved.”

    Jeremy said his father, who completed a foundry apprenticeship in Wolverhampton, had driven the Lotus on a number of occasions and no blame was being placed on the car’s manufacturers.

    And Jeremy added his brother Timothy was flying back from Chamonix in France, where he lived with his partner and their newborn baby.

    Both inherited a passion for racing from their father.

    Jeremy bought Denis Welch Motorsport, based at Yoxall, near Lichfield, from his father eight years ago.

    He said he was pleased the Silverstone Classic race meeting restarted after the tragedy.

    “That was what he would have wanted,” he said.

    Essex-born Mr Welch began in business by buying a petrol station, but took time out to start a family.

    Jeremy said: “When he restarted in the early 1980s he grew the race preparation business from there and it now employs 28 people.

    “He was best known for his exploits with Austin Healy cars and built a business specialising in parts for those cars, which was well known around the world.

    “He retired eight years ago, but continued to pursue his passion for driving race cars.

    “He started racing in 1965 and although he took it seriously, never really had ambitions to race professionally.”

    Police and the Motor Sports Association, the UK official motorsport governing body, are conducting a full investigation into his death.

    The MSA said Mr Welch’s 1960 Lotus 18 clipped another car and rolled over at low speed during the event, organised by the Historic Sports Car Club.

    A statement issued by the organisers on the Silverstone Classic website read: “It is with great regret that the organisers of the Silverstone Classic have to report that, following an accident in a race for HGPCA pre-66 Grand Prix Cars today, Sunday 27th July, the driver of car number 19, Denis Welch, succumbed to his injuries later in the circuit’s medical centre.

    “All those involved in the event offer sincere condolences to family and the friends of Denis Welch at this very sad time.”

    Source:
    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news...rstone-7521565
    VIDEO or Journal

    Comment


    • #92
      Very sad.
      In the nineties I had a string of Healey 3000s and knew Denis well, getting loads of tuning parts from him. Apparently his Lotus 18 was involved in a multiple incident and suffered a low speed rollover - he was taken to the medical centre where he died. I don't think any more than that has been released.

      Roger

      Comment


      • #93
        I sold my M Coupe nearly two years ago so it was great to see so many at Silverstone on Saturday - well done chaps, great display. What was the total number in the end?

        Comment


        • #94
          My photos;





























          Comment


          • #95




























            Comment


            • #96




























              Comment


              • #97




























                Comment


                • #98
                  My car is on one of the pics
                  VIDEO or Journal

                  Comment


                  • #99
                    Great to meet some of you on Sat. Thanks again, Dave, for a great forum

                    Comment


                    • Just sorting out pics from the last couple of weekends (Silverstone Classic & CarFest North). Here's a few from me:

                      Friday with John:


                      Good turnout on Saturday:




                      Assembling for the parade lap:
                      1998 ///M Coupe

                      Comment


                      • Ian you captured Darren Teagles taking a high level picture with his camera pole of which the picture can be seen on the car clubs flickr page!




                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/bmwccg...7646141756384/

                        sixth picture

                        Comment


                        • Highlights on ITV4 later this week,

                          http://www.silverstoneclassic.com/pa...928_11945_3287

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by Dave P View Post
                            Ian you captured Darren Teagles taking a high level picture with his camera pole of which the picture can be seen on the car clubs flickr page!




                            https://www.flickr.com/photos/bmwccg...7646141756384/

                            sixth picture
                            Good spot Dave! Didn't notice that
                            1998 ///M Coupe

                            Comment

                            Working...
                            X