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Didn't know the bloke but, Very sad. Looks/sounds like the throttle jam on around the top loop.


http://m.couriermail.com.au/questnews/m ... 6585211751

Yes sad news. I was out there on Sunday and heard about the crash. Lets just hope the do-gooders don't use this to get Lakeside closed down again... John Tetley had been talking about closing the gates if the number of crashes didn't greatly decrease this year, so lets hope he doesn't do that - accidents happen, and by the sound of this it was a mechanical fault which caused the crash, rather than an over exuberant driver.

He wasn't killed, he's in a critical condition and still in the ICU

Unfortunately QR has announced he did die from his injuries.

VALE: Colin Wenzel

It is with enormous regret that Queensland Raceways advises that motorsport lost one of its own today – long time racer and Alfa aficionado; Colin Wenzel.
Colin died as a result of injuries sustained when his car crashed into the earth/tyre embankment behind Eastern Loop at the highest part of Lakeside Park; the circuit where Colin started in his first race in 1967 at 17 years of age.
Because Colin was such an active and long standing competitor, Colin’s loss is going to be very widely felt throughout our community. Colin’s family has the sympathy and support of many, many, people from many walks of life.
The Queensland Raceways’ team of staff and officials sends its utmost condolences to all the family and the many members of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.
Queensland Raceways also needs to express its appreciation for the professionalism and dedication of the care tendered by the Emergency Management Team paramedics and the assistance they were given by the QR officials at the scene.

John Tetley
CEO~ Qld Raceways
On behalf of all motorsport enthusiasts

spikes wrote:He wasn't killed, he's in a critical condition and still in the ICU

Unfortunately he passed away yesterday, and a statement was released by QR.

Very sad day for motorsport up here.

I didn't know the driver, but by all accounts he was one of the sport's gentleman and liked and respected by all who competed with him.

Sad.

Dann

This really is tragic, anytime it happens at any level of the sport.

Do we know what safety gear he had - was he racing / club sprint?

mazmad wrote:This really is tragic, anytime it happens at any level of the sport.

Do we know what safety gear he had - was he racing / club sprint?

Round 1 of the 'Top Gear' series - running in the 'Italian Challenge' and driving an Alfa GTV, so racing and not sprints

NitroDann wrote:This happens occassionally, wonder why the human brain doesnt consider pushing in the clutch. Sad.
Dann

Even if you did push in the clutch may still be too late depending on corner.

eg if its a 200kmh corner, right on the limit and you come in at 220 expecting to brake to 200, but instead the throttle is stuck and that half second before you get the clutch in means you go through at 205 which is too quick and you spear off into a wall.

Having Zero knowledge of the incident could it have been a medical issue?
i.e - Heart attack.
Would not have been the first time this has happened.
Could also explain the throttle held open.

Horrible no matter why it happened.

Dweezle wrote:Having Zero knowledge of the incident could it have been a medical issue?
i.e - Heart attack.
Would not have been the first time this has happened.
Could also explain the throttle held open.

Horrible no matter why it happened.

Speculation is that he had a heart attack while paramedics were working on him, indicating internal injuries. Witnesses say the front wheels were locked hard and the engine was bouncing off the rev limiter, so it definitely seems like a stuck throttle. It was an Alfa GTV, after all. Failures happen, and the eastern loop at Lakeside is a BAD place for them. As soon as you leave the track it's downhill on grass for 3-5 metres, then immediately into a tyre wall against a hard vertical embankment. The quickest cars around there hit 140+ by the braking point, he wouldn't be anywhere near that but still a high speed stretch into a, for Lakeside, low speed corner.

Sounds like it needs a thicker layer of tyres leading to it. but Im no safety expert.

Dann

NitroDann wrote:Sounds like it needs a thicker layer of tyres leading to it. but Im no safety expert.

Dann

Dann, I don't know if you have been to Lakeside but there is NOT a lot of run-off area, armco and concrete all around. Whilst NOT trying to prempt anything,where it happened is a very fast entry into an an almost 180 degree right hander, uphill and then down, the apex right on the crest, grass verge on the outside and then the safety barrier - if you drop a wheel on the outside in damp grass you are history

Perhaps if you go to 'Motor Sport/Queensland' and have a look back over the past twelve months at in-car videos taken you will get an idea - MINX has posted quite a few as has 'Charlie_91'. It follows what really is the only left hander on the track

The matter is in the hands of Queensland Police Accident Investigation and also Forensic, they alone will gather their evidence and they have the car, I personally believe this thread was posted simply to inform and not for any of us to decide on possible causes

'Trackphotos' knows every inch around the track, he attends almost every meeting there. I will see if I can locate a pic that may give an idea from the outside of the track or perhaps 'trackphotos' may be able to

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Doug Chapple gave us a rundown yesterday on the circumstances surrounding Col's death that has sent shockwaves through the amateur motorsport world. It seems his neck was broken (25mm separation) by the force of the impact. His body was completely restrained by the race seat/harness but his head with helmet was not. It is believed that his life may have been saved had he been using a Hans device.

Col's family would like all to know that they would never want this happen to anyone else and encourage everyone with race seats/4 point+ harnesses to get a Hans device and appropriate Snell rated helmet with attachment points for a Hans device.


Racer Industries (no affiliation and there are probably many others) have Snell rated full face helmets that are Hans post compatible (pre-drilled and tapped) for as low as $289. They also have "dog collar" neck braces similar to this for $120-$130 which would also be useful for those with standard seats/harnesses.


Ask for Dean or Ryan and tell them Doug sent you.

People should note, some seats and harnesses aren't suitable for use with a Hans device. Something to definitely consider if purchasing a Hans device.

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