Club Arnage

There are unconfirmed reports that the Squirrel that went down today in Scotland crashed on Colin McRae's land and was registered to him...

Not looking good.

RIP whoever they were

http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2461339.ece

When its all so dangerous, it just seems strange to have lost Richard Burns and Colin Mcrae in relatively ordinary circumstances. 

Still, for Colin it was the same ending for LM winner Graham Hill, and the likes of Buddy Holly

Somehow i am not really in the mood now for Silverstone tomorrow but will still be there. A bad day all round as one of the last remaining WW2 Hurricanes also crashed today.

Bad news first the Hurricane crash at Shoreham with the pilot killed and now Colin McCrae's Helicopter crashing.

And it's reported that Colin' 5 year old son was on board. God rest them

I think this was Colin landing the said helicopter on a rally in 2005

Just dug out coilins wing mirrors that i have off his 96 impreza that he rolled into a ditch infront o me in a rally in my village years ago. My dad and i and a few others had to lift the car up so he could open the door to get himself and ringer out. He stood with us for the whole of the stage as he was the 1st driver through. He will be missed. Thoughts are wth his family.

I am stunned at the news of his death. I always enjoyed watching him drive on the edge and especially listening to him speak. I will now cherish the photo I took of him down at scrutineering at the 2004 Lemans. I will hoist a pint for Colin and thank him for all the entertainment and excitement he gave us.

Cheers Mate!

Chris

Very sad news indeed, what must his wife be going through. 

Only met him once when his team used the local ATS as a service area when racing in Clacaenog. He let my two sons take turns sitting in the drivers seat, nothing was too much trouble, a real gent.

Jem

What a weekend - first saw the news of Colin McRae, his son and other family friends(and others), then the Hurricane pilot at Shoreham yesterday, and then Bill Blydenstein
:(

Each in different circumstances, but so close together in time.  All of them are great losses in many ways.  Condolences and thoughts to the families of all of them.

MG Mark
 

The man was a legend and a personal hero of mine. He will be sadly missed and my thoughts are with his family.

Was at Silverstone this weekend and we all raised a glass to him last night when I found out. Was touched to see all the national flags at half mast.

I truly fantastic sportsman that will be really missed.

Why is it always the "best".......... A tragic loss. His thumb up from the Ferrari to me and my Ozzie mate at LM will always be remembered. Top gent and greatly missed. PP

Just seen the news, Its all true and according to the BBC, locals in Colins home town said that the engine of the helicopter did not sound the same as it did normally and mechanical failure cannot be ruled out.
What a waste. PP

Confirmed:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6997784.stm

Saw him in a very nice classic Aston on Saturday. I am not looking forward to taking to the sky's tomorrow, certainly with all the problems over the weekend.

Thats way too freaky !

R I P Colin...

Le Mans and in a playful mood. 

(http://www.gtphotosport.com/lm2004/DSC_1597.jpg)

R I P

RIP

Horrible news... RIP.

Very sad for all involved.

Myself and a couple of friends took time out from work and studies during the mid 90s, roughing it in the back of an estate car, zig-zagging up and down the country to see as many stages as possible, to catch him in action on the UK round of the WRC.

Always on the attack, great to watch, and always seemed to spare time for the cameras and fans.

Real pity, as I always hopped he would make it back into the world arena, or catch him perhaps on the RAC run in November, not to be now, sadly.

 :'(

It's dreadful news, I can't imagine how his wife and daughter must be feeling, along with the rest of the family and the families of the others involved.   I don't really have the words for any more  :'( :'(

A bright light has gone out in the motor racing world, very sad.

And his 5 year old son died as well, not even started his life, so unfair!

Commiserations to the family,  who now how an undeserved big hole in their family.

such tragic news and to loose two young kiddies too ... A tragic loss made even more so for those left behind. RIP to all.

I've stared at this screen for a hour- numb. Hows does one find words at a time like this?
 Colin- loved and admired by fans, your fellow competitors, mechanics- everyone. An incredible talent, you made us look very ordinary but never made us feel as such. A great role model, husband and loving father and a good laugh- now gone.
 Made all the more painfull that the next Super Mac- Wee Jonny has been taken too. Such a sweet lad.
Our thoughts are with Ali and little Holly, Jimmy, Marg and Alistair.
 R I P

Tragic, I watched his Dad Jimmy in the 70s/80s. Then Colin in the 90s+.

IT is a very sad time for British motor sport, He will be sadly missed.

Mike.                                         RIP

I was simply stunned when I heard this. I last saw Colin McCrae at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. The whole Clan McCrae were there with various rally cars and seemed to be having an absolute ball. I first met Colin when his was a young hotshoe in a Vauxhall Nova. I was a sector marshall on the RAC rally for some years and we used to run the starts/finishes. One of the pleasures of the job was getting to talk to the great drivers of the day. Whereas his old man was a right chatterbox, Colin was quite taciturn and focussed. It was blindingly obvious he was a very very fast, yet wreckless, driver. Once he'd sorted out the wrecklessness, the rest was motorsport history. It's a terrible loss and a complete tradgedy in any terms.

For what it's worth, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever go to Goodwood again. Last year I met Peter Brock, he was killed a couple of days later. This year at Goodwood I was shown around by the pilot and allowed to crawl all over the same Hurricane that crashed at Shoreham on saturday. Blue skys Brian.

Thank God Dave Richards and wife managed to escape from their own helicopter crash. Several of us original Sebringers never cease to go about when Aston beat Vettes in 2005 and he asked us if we'd mind having our photo taken with him. I mean, FFS! Mrs Richards duly supplied the camera and obliged...

On saturday my next door neighbour came round to tell me that their son's best pal had been killed when his microlight crashed in South Africa due to a structural failure on wednesday.

I also met Bill Blydenstein on a professional basis twenty years ago, the company I worked for looked in the 80's looked after some financial arrangements for Blydenstein Racing Ltd. I guess he's have been quite old by now.

I'm sorry if this appears to be a mass obituary, I'd prefer to start the week on a less sombre note but there you go, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Andy,

That is a rather worrying list!

I am still can't believe all losses this weekend.

It certainly makes you think Rick. Due to a family illness, I'm flying to Antigua tomorrow; I'll be wearing my lucky pants.

Keep safe and hold very tight on those "lucky pants"

I don't think I need to say much more than what's already been said.  I met Colin once and he was a great driver and a really nice guy...  I think about his family, friends and the families who were also effected because it's just tragic...  Another event to highlight that you really should make the most of every day you're here...  So sad about the two little ones.  RIP x

Great shame to hear about this, McRae joins a long, and distinguished list of motor racing participants who have checked out in helicopter or light aircraft accidents.  The loss of children makes this far more tragic than usual.  Remember when Mike Hailwood and his young daughter where killed in a traffic accident going out for fish & chips?
Fax

Absolutely gutted when i heard the news an absolute legend and one of my all time heroes, and such a gent too. Still can't believe I'll never see a Rally car being thrown sideways by colin with such vigor again.
R I P.

Gutted at the news over the weekend, my thoughts are with all the families at this time.

I was lucky enough to meet him and his co driver at the time Derek Ringer at driver signing on when I used to do a bit of rallying myself. It was his first year with the Scooby Legacy run by Prodrive on the Delacy Forest rally held in the North Yorkshire forest. He asked what car I was in (Vauxhall Nova group A) which was what he used to peddle in his early career, he wished me good luck for the weekend. Later in the event I caught up with his mum and dad  (Jimmy and Margaret) at one of the service areas who were talking to my folks! Lovely people and a great loss.

RIP

I found this on YouTube I think it's a very good tribute to Colin

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xvmff9I_ezc

Moderators if it's felt its inappropriate please remove this post

Not inappropriate at all as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for posting it.

Brilliant, a must watch video.

Colin McRae web site has over 39,000 messages of condolences, from around the world,

if you want to post on it - http://www.colinmcrae.com/ (http://www.colinmcrae.com/)

It made me cry  :'(

Just read in the back of my paper that David richards and Colin had been discussing a possible come back in the WRC for Colin next year. Would have loved to see that,Subaru need a good kick up the arse to get them going.

Me too.

A memorial service is to take place on Lannark high street on sunday to celebrate the lives of those lost. Numbers are expected to be high and a shuttle service will be in operation.
 The Colin McRae Stages Rally is still running on saturday and myself and the lads will be attending- we'll raise a glass on behalf of all at CA.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7884088.stm

The report into the crash has been published. No cause has been given but McRae's  licence had expired and footage taken during the flight showed he was taking risks.

Hardly surprising, given the kind of driver he was.  Just sad that others had to go with him, especially the young ones.  Doesn't detract from his heritage as a great driver though, and one who gave us loads of fun.