 |
|
||||
|
|
|
THE 1960's TASMAN REVIVAL FEATURE EVENT, 2012: The blue riband event of the weekend, the grid was set, the Australian and New Zealand national anthems completed and the start proceeded without incident apart from one stalled car, in my opinion the stalled car should have been pushed off the grid whilst all other Competitors continued to circulate slowly at the discretion of Race Control and their Flag Marshals, allowing time to return the stalled car to the pit area. For some reason a decision was made to direct all other Competitors into Pit Lane, forming up single file to await further instructions, this resulted in some very hot Drivers, engines running with limited or no cooling and sadly a significant fire in Eric Swinbourne's Car #4: (1967 McLaren M4A). Eric's flameproof race suit was on fire as he was assisted from his car. Incredibly many other Drivers remained in their cars until sanity prevailed, Driver's were ultimately allowed to move from their cars to the relative shade of the Pit Lane overhang areas. I approached one of the Pit Lane Marshals and strongly recommended the Cars also be pushed into whatever Pit facilities were available to reduce the risk of fuel vapour and possibly more fire events, the Tower accepted this and all Cars were pushed into Pit Garages. When the Pit Lane fire extinguisher residue was removed the Drivers were again called to the Dummy Grid, albeit too early in my opinion and the race ultimately proceeded without further significant incidents. My photographic records of the Grid, Pit Lane Fire, Pit Lane chaos, Racing and the Rostrum Presentations follow:
THE ORIGINAL START:
THE FIRE EVENT: I may offend some people here, however it is very important to note that #4: Car was near the very front of the line up in Pit Lane, close to a well equipped Fire Marshals Utility Vehicle located to the upper left of the following images, at the head of Pit Lane. I stand corrected but I did not witness any attendance by either Fire Personnel or their Equipment at this Fire Event! Incredibly the extraction of Eric Swinbourne and the attendance and extinguishing of the fire were all undertaken by persons other than Fire Personnel. My images clearly show the extinguishing duties undertaken by persons without appropriate fire retardant clothing etc., keep in mind this Fire Event occurred in Pit Lane, not at some remote distance around the circuit. Lessons need to be learned here.
DRIVERS OUT OF THEIR CARS: The first image here depicts a chaotic scene, #4: Car has been removed, some attempt is being made to clean up the Extinguisher residue, Drivers 'are still in their cars'! and this was the 'first time' I viewed one (1) Fire Marshal at the scene. The subsequent images of selected Drivers faces after they were allowed to retreat to the relative shade of the Pit Lane overhangs says it all for me. It is important to note that they had only completed one (1) aborted lap of the circuit at this point.
THE SECOND RACE START: The Drivers were called to the Dummy Grid far too early in my opinion.
60's TASMAN CARS AROUND THE CIRCUIT:
THE TOP THREE CARS:
THE ROSTRUM:
MORE TASMAN REVIVAL 2012: Please continue my 'Tasman Revival' coverage by selecting from the following pages...
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
I LOVE NEW TECHNOLOGY, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, DIGITAL CAMERAS, MOBILE PHONES/WIRELESS BROADBAND, GPS, ETC. ALL SO COOL AND 'PORTABLE'......
|
