All cars featured on the site are race cars. They are modified & maintained to be driven at speed on race tracks. Sometimes we ( the drivers ) exceed the cars or ( more likely ) our own limits & loose control of the car. Usually this just ends in a spin, slod or slide, sometimes however it doesn't. The pictures shown here are the results.
I realise that this is a sensitive issue.
I have asked the owners of the cars for permission to show these pictures. Thank you. These people are not afraid of admitting that they made mistakes. You should NOT however get the impression that FISC racing is any more dangerous or risky than any other form of motorsport. We race 11 times a year, for at least 7 years & average about 25 cars a race. That's 1925 cars driving race distance. The number of incidents is very limited.
I'm just admitting that we are human. With very few exceptions ( my car it was reshelled) all of the cars shown below were repaired & raced again.
Even the professionals get it wrong !
I'm a firm believer in the saying "If you can't take it, don't dish it out !", So I'll start with my mistakes.
At the end of 1999 I span to avoid hitting someone, who was spinning in front of me. Unfortunatley the guy behind me didn't spin !!
Steve Waddington's car after a "rare" spin
Hard to believe but a few hours after this picture was taken & the wing was pulled off the tyre, I drove the car, qualified 4th & finished 5th in the race !
The above damage was repaired ( New fibreglass backend ) over winter 1999/2000. At the last race weekend of 2000 I lost the car whilst doing 105 mph through a bend. I hit the wall twice & walked ( well, actually I ran !) away without a scratch. Full details in the Dijon 2000 report.
Steve Waddington's car after a "rare" spin
The car was pronouced "clinically dead" after this mishap. The monocoque was too badly distorted (and slightly rusty!) to be safely repaired, so all components have been transferred to a "new" heritage shell.
James Bilsland span in torrential rain in the UK. It somewhat spoiled his weekend. This damage was repaired & the car has had a number of podium finishes since this picture was taken.
James Bilsland had a bad weekend - Photo courtesy of Gary Smith
The following sequence of pictures was published in Car & Driver April 1962. I have reproduced the exact comments as printed in the magazine.
I would like to add the following.
1, You can still roll like this 40 years later.
2, The roll cages are bigger & better nowadays though.
3, Make sure your rollcage can't go through the floor.
4, You are an idiot if you race without arm straps !
At SCCA Pomona Race, Ashley Shulter (163) spins & crashes into John Hooper's Sprite (95).
Impact of crash flips 95 and sends 163 into a fast, backward, opposite spin
Car 95 begins sickening second flip with Hooper helplessly hanging from seat belt, his arm dangling.
Vaulting end over end, 95 leaves ground as Shulter's car skids backward on dirt.
Hooper's car comes to final stop, landing upside down.
As track attendant rushes for aid, John Hooper struggles to free himself.
Miraculously alive, Hooper is helped to his feet. Seat belt & Roll bar limited injuries to broken arm and finger.
More pictures coming soon - I promise !