GTI International incident

[Administrators]

There has been news of an accident at GTI International involving a car leaving the drag strip and hitting the watching crowd. An air ambulance was needed to transport one of the casualties.

Earliest indications are that all injured persons should make a full recovery and we wish them so.

ASN Team

Also if anyone has footage please be so kind to:

1. don't post as it maybe someone on here's loved one.

2. Send it to the guys that run GTI inters at gti@autometrix.co.uk

This is for the police to review.

 

[Farhan]

I saw this, literally right infront of me. Really upsetting but 2 were conscious and talking one gentleman seemed more critical but hopefully not life threatening.

I stood right next to them and managed to tell them to stay still as help was coming hopefully they will all be ok.

 

[razza1]

Are there no barriers then on the drag strip (never been)?

 

[voorhees]

Thanks Farhan for helping.
I usually am at the event and go down the 1/4 mile and watching cars doing it so this news is upsetting.
Hope all involved are okay.

Barriers are in place on the drag strip.

 

[Juicy Jen]

This is such terrible news to be reading and my thoughts are with all those injured. I hope everyone makes a full recovery

 

[razza1]

Must have been bad then. Hope they are OK, sad to hear news like this.

 

[Farhan]

There are barriers its just a real nasty situation i sent the photos i took to the website as i was pretty shocked myself it really does hit you when you see it. I dont want to post details as its traumatising if a family member sees this. I just want to note non of my photos were of any individuals it was solely of the car and i had the camera in continuous advanced so only a photo of the car was taken just at the point of when it lost control.

I do think after seeing this that next year safety should be upped maybe more vehicle checks or even concrete barriers or simply stand people further away. I dont discredit the organisers, the driver or anyone but simply learn from it and be more cautious next time. Hopefully everyone should be fine and recover thats the main thing.

I feel for the driver also he must be feeling really bad i hope he is seen to as well and can recover from the mental trauma.

 

[rhubarb4]

This is typical though as last night the were a few lads drunk and driving there cars like nutters, all over the grass doughnuts and all the usual high speed craziness in the late evening, when getting dark at the camp site it was an accident waiting to happen. Then in the controlled event and area where everything was done right this happens to innocent people its such a shame and I hope all involved make a full recovery.

Chris.

 

[damo.h]

Well said chris, there where some right tools getting in their motors after a skin full last night with no respect for others !!
A couple of things have been said, 1- his steering wheel came off in his hands as he launched and 2- he passed out and drifted over the track.
It was shocking to see the aftermath. Literally 10 mins before the incident myself, superkarl, reesy and Paul where stood in the spot where the Leon exited the strip. Call it fate or whatever but I'm so glad we left when we did or this would be a different post. It would seem the plastic marker barriers that line the strip weren't filled with water. This would of made a difference to the impact into the railings only 1-2 metresbehinds that seperate spectators, I expect this is something they will be looking into on future events.
Hopefully all involved will make a speedy recovery a the injuries only seemed to be breaks and fractures.

 

[Audial]

Hi there it was apparently reported that he's steering wheel had came off and 3 people where injured two have fractures and one had a broken pelvis hope they have a speedy recovery.

 

[Inertiauk]

I also witnessed this. It could have been a lot worse no fatalities.

The barriers are there but clearly inadequate, probably needs to be reviewed, I'm sure a lot will be learnt from this.

 

[s3dave]

The barriers are supposed to be filled with water/sand......not good enough...because somebody cannot be bother to fill them up...... people who paid (fkn rip off) to go to an event got seriously hurt.....

 

[superkarl]

the safety crew/managers are going to have to take responsibility for this as those barriers were not safe at all.

i know at TOTB they have similar barriers there but are filled with something to keep them solid.
obviously you cant say it would have definately changed the situation but every single measure should be taken.

people do know the risk of entering and watching things like this so hopefully there will be no hard feelings between anyone. its just very unfortunate.

i wish them all the best, the spectators and the driver.

hopefully next year wont be ruined by any drastic changes, its good to get close to the action

 

[ScottD3]

fk it.
Flame suit on!!

ASN Team

Also if anyone has footage please be so kind to:

1. don't post as it maybe someone on here's loved one.

2. Send it to the guys that run GTI inters at gti@autometrix.co.uk

This is for the police to review.

I don't understand why forums are saying this?
I don't understand how this incident is any different to any other motorsport crash or road side crash. People will post videos, photos and sound clips all day long with out any regard for loved ones, the injured or the person in the car.

All the normal get well soon and such but I'm not getting this super secret thing going.

 

[damo.h]

I agree Scott. No one was seriously injured or killed so all this cloak and dagger stuff is a bit much IMO. This should be posted so people can see what's possible in the event of something going wrong. However I can understand that the organisation are wanting this to have minimal publicity as its not good news and people were hurt as a result of laziness.

 

[Ste_Nova]

fk it.
Flame suit on!!



I don't understand why forums are saying this?
I don't understand how this incident is any different to any other motorsport crash or road side crash. People will post videos, photos and sound clips all day long with out any regard for loved ones, the injured or the person in the car.

All the normal get well soon and such but I'm not getting this super secret thing going.

i expect the organisers would rather it was swept under the carpet, admins hard line on this suggests they have been asked to keep it quiet, asn users posting pics and videos etc would drive a rift between asn and the organisers, you may also find there is a clause on your ticket that says all pics and videos taken on site belong to the organisers, post pics of them messing up and expect them to come after you for copyright of pics etc ......

 

[ScottD3]

i expect the organisers would rather it was swept under the carpet, admins hard line on this suggests they have been asked to keep it quiet

Its the internet, Nothing goes under the carpet and what he put is the exact same thing that was posted in another forum.
Could have been asked but doubt it.
It happened, nothing you can do about it.
Just learn from it and get better barriers.
Ohh and pay for their recovery and lose of earnings if any.

asn users posting pics and videos etc would drive a rift between asn and the organisers

Doubt the organisers would risk a rift between any forum or club.

you may also find there is a clause on your ticket that says all pics and videos taken on site belong to the organisers, post pics of them messing up and expect them to come after you for copyright of pics etc ......

As far as I know photos are the property of the photog that took them and not the show.
We never signed any clause to say they can or will own out work.
Be interested to know if it does say that or any wording to that effect.

 

[Ste_Nova]

As far as I know photos are the property of the photog that took them and not the show.
We never signed any clause to say they can or will own out work.
Be interested to know if it does say that or any wording to that effect.

its usually in the t&c's on the ticket, but i've never seen it enforced at any show

 

[damo.h]

ok guys bit of an update, after reading on the SC.Net site it would seem the snap off steering wheel was not fitted correctly and due to this came off in hand as previously stated, the driver of the leon was not the owner just someone having a cabby nor did he attempt to break at any point after the wheel came off... I expect this would be down to shear panic... no one can say what they'd do if in this situation I guess.

The barriers where also filled with water apparently as some people have reported getting soaked upon impact, they did serve a purpose in slowing the leon but it was the railings that separated the crowd that brought it to a holt.

​

 

[ScottD3]

The barriers where also filled with water apparently as some people have reported getting soaked upon impact, they did serve a purpose in slowing the leon but it was the railings that separated the crowd that brought it to a holt.​

I was looking at the barriers on saturday and they never appeared to have any water or sand in them.
Might just have been the ones I looked at.


Does any one know if any special form of insurance is needed for this sort of event?

 

[Ste_Nova]

Does any one know if any special form of insurance is needed for this sort of event?

insurance against what? they disclaim for everything

WARNING: MOTORSPORT CAN BE DANGEROUS!
Despite the organisers taking all reasonable
precautions, accidents can happen. You are present at your own risk.
It is a condition of entry to GTI International that neither the organisers, its
servants, nor its agents, hold themselves responsible for any accident, however
caused, which might occur within the overall confines of the event.

 

[AARON77]

IMO the safety at gti international is pony
i attend many sprint days and have to say inters is the worst for safety
@£7 a run which has got to be the most expenxpsive in the world I honestly think they are taking the p*ss

We should have temporary concrete barriers
be made to wear crash helmets
and all of the vehicles should be scrutinised too
The money they make at that show could pay for that a thousand times over I bet

Thanx inters for the bmx bandits :-/
the motorbike stunts & the ostrich burgers which no one really wants

I think they need to sort it or stop it

I totally love inters but something has to be done

 

[jojo]

Harsh words guys, maybe I'm seeing things differently, but for the best part of 25 years, this event has had zero incidents of this sort!

It's easy to say afterwoods they was lacking is safety etc. ... I mean the driver of the Leon wasn't even the owner of the car, and the steering wheel came off in their hands at god knows what speed?!

I appreciate where you are coming from Aaron, and this is not a dig at you, but 95% of the cars that went down the strip are safe road legal cars.

Not sure about the BMX and Motor-X bikes, but it's just a bit of added entertainment I guess?

And finally, as a man of food, the Ostrich Burger stand has always been a part of the GTI Inters show as far as I can remember, but they had no ostrich on the frikin menu!, or did they?.... I tried the kangaroo one! lol

 

[AARON77]

I've always thought it was lacking safety jojo, not just now mate
and that's what used to make it exciting in one aspect
It really hits home mate
and it's amazing 25 years with no issues

Im guessing ppl got a little complacent
its a real shame
but there has to be change

 

[jojo]

I've always thought it was lacking safety jojo, not just now mate
and that's what used to make it exciting in one aspect
It really hits home mate
and it's amazing 25 years with no issues

Im guessing ppl got a little complacent
its a real shame
but there has to be change

Fair enough mate, now that something HAS happened, I guess the way forward is improved safety!!

 

[The Doctor]

Hi lads. Personal reflections on this are...

1. It's really easy to pass comment after the event. Personally I was really shocked at what I saw on Sunday afternoon and just wanted to leave the event and let the paramedics & safety officials get on with the job. As Damo says, 30mins earlier we were standing in that spot. I drove all the way home thinking about that & the people involved (including the driver, poor guy).

2. The plastic markers did appear to be filled/part-filled because water definitely came out on impact. As for opinions on safety, I didn't hear any of you raise your concerns at the event, and we all still chose to stend there and watch, so if it's not good enough then I'm very surprised you decided to put your lives at risk... Hindsight is a wonderful thing as they say.

3. It's really made me think - not for one second did I ever imagine a car veering off off the 1/4 mile as I was standing there. Maybe go "bang" and stop in a cloud of smoke, maybe catch light on the strip, but never go into the crowd. I just wouldn't have been expecting it to happen if it was me standing there.

Anyway, hopefully all will make a full recovery and the sprint will continue to be a central part of the Inters event. I had a great weekend, and it was just such a shame for the 25th Inters to end on this sad note.

 

[<tuffty/>]

There is a brief update on the website now... (GTI International 2012)

Sadly, the Sprint at the 25th GTI International was marred when one of the cars on the track went out of control, crashing through the collision barriers and the metal fencing, and injuring three visitors to the event. At the present time, we cannot comment on the cause of the accident, as it is being investigated by Leicestershire Police.
Fortunately, the GTI International officials are prepared to deal with emergencies and, as a result of quick action by the Sprint team, our rescue vehicle, with its trained crew, the St Johns Ambulance, and our resident paramedic, were all on the scene very quickly indeed. Three visitors were injured and the paramedic called for the assistance of an air ambulance helicopter, and this arrived very quickly, taking one of the injured to hospital in Coventry. The other injured couple were taken by ambulance to Leicester Infirmary.
We believe that the emergency procedures which had been put in place, and the prompt action taken by the GTI officials, contributed to the rapid medical response to the incident. We are pleased to say that two of those injured have now been released from hospital. As yet, we do not know about the condition of the third injured person.
This is the first time, in 25 years, that any such incident has occurred at GTI International.

My tuppence (and purely my opinion) regarding the request for videos etc not to be posted... while crashes in motorsport are not unheard of the nature of this particular incident and the resultant injuries to members of the public makes it a little different to a car coming off on a track day at combe or somewhere else where there are run off areas, tyre barriers and catch fences... the Police no doubt will want to investigate to see if there is anything that could be deemed criminal going on which could result in prosecution of the driver of the vehicle and/or the organisers themselves... in cases like this (and I am no expert I will say) I would imagine its fairly typical to request that any details of the incident (be it photographic, video or even verbal eye witness accounts) be forwarded to the investigation team for evaluation rather than broadcast to the world until such a time a decision is made about the outcome due to the sensitive nature of the investigation...

This to me seems reasonable but of course due to the way media is so easily shared these days it will be almost impossible to (for want of a better word) police... while there is nothing to stop anyone from putting videos and pictures online for all to see I can see why they would ask that people don't..

Having been some 50 or so yards away from the incident and watched it happen in real time I can honestly say I am glad I don't have video or pictorial accounts to look back on... as a keen amateur photographer myself I have spent many an hour capturing pics of cars (normally around combe and at various shows I attend) and always seem to miss the 'crashes' (even though I do see them happen from time to time... ) I have seen seen quite a few at combe and in comparison to this the cars end up more mangled but no one is seriously hurt as the cars are built to be safe and the tracks even more so...

This incident is different to any crash I have seen before due to the injuries of spectators... that at least makes it worthy of a little consideration on our behalf?

<tuffty/>

 

[Arrkon]

Just received an email from Autometrix (the organizers) as I was on the media list for the weekend.

I'm pleased to hear and announce that ALL THREE injured have now been released from hospital, with injuries that were less serious than first feared, however the police investigation is still ongoing.

Very lucky escape for those involved me thinks.

 

[<tuffty/>]

Small update with a few more details...

Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, airfield, Leicestershire, GTI International race meeting | This is Leicestershire

<tuffty/>