Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

This caught my eye.
Apparently a 1902 Benz out of control on Reigate hill resulted in a four car pile up.
At least two people were seriously injured. Two other people in the same car received minor injuries. In all six people required hospital treatment.
Rather upsetting and worrying for all concerned.



I couldn't help noticing what appears in the photo to be a steering link bracket with with a pin missing.

Thanks to Get Surrey for the image.

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1902. Benz.

[Riley Blue]

Eye witness reports of the accident have appeared on-line but I'm not linking to them, it's the job of the police to investigate what happened and I prefer not to speculate. I just hope that the injured make a full recovery.
_________________
David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Rootes75]

Such a shame. Hope all injured recover. Is the car beyond repair?
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Ray White]

It would indeed be wrong to speculate on how this happened and my observation is just that. I expect the car will be repaired.

My hope is that there is a good outcome for those hurt.

I also hope this nasty incident will not get blown out of proportion.

[Riley Blue]

I hope so too Ray. There's a petition to have the road closed for the London to Brighton Run. I'm not sure I agree with that, I haven't yet thought it through.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Ronniej]

Yes, it is not for us to speculate on the cause. I have heard the driver has since died of his injuries. So very sad.

[Ray White]

I am very sorry to hear that.

[Riley Blue]

Oh no... how very sad.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Rick]

[Riley Blue]

I've not seen it confirmed anywhere either Rick.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Ray White]

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/london-brighton-veteran-car-run-13882154

[Riley Blue]

Also confirmed by the organisers of the event:

http://www.veterancarrun.com/media/355/accident-on-the-2017-veteran-car-run
_________________
David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Rick]

Very sad news indeed.

RJ
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[Richard H]

Very sad news indeed.

I'm sure the Benz involved is the very same one posted above, A-789.

From early reports it seems to have been some kind of brake or even transmission failure, with one of the occupants hanging off the back of the car and trying to slow it down as it hurtled down the hill.
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Richard Hughes

[alastairq]

... A runaway is, sadly, an unwanted occurrence with old vehicles? Yet, could be expected.

[I observe with amazement how lorry drivers hurtle down listed steep hills on a local main road, at 50 or more mph. Obviously none of them were experienced enough to have had to cope with brake fade, loss of power steering, false neutrals, etc, with upwards of 40 tons pushing one on, to oblivion? Or, worse, having to dig themselves out of the runaway gravel trap?]

But, a fatality is always a difficult thing for an organiser to deal with.

The MCC had to deal with a fatality on a big trial earlier this year....such a rare occurrence as to be notable. [I think, it was noted, only one other fatality in over 100 years of the events being run?]

The 'Brighton Run' was ever a challenge to pre-WW1 cars....for this reason [amongst others].

I realise the old Brighton Run ceased years ago..[this one being a sort-of pastiche of the old event?]......and I am surprised road closure to normal traffic wasn't conducted.....thus minimising risks should such an event as this occurred?

The sad occurrence is perhaps a reminder to a lot of us , that although we are mostly lifelong enthusiasts for things motoring, we are, in fact, getting older [in body, if not in mind?}
ANd...one of the downsides of getting older is, the reduced ability to withstand knocks and blows we simply ''dealt with'' as youngsters.
Getting chucked out of a car travelling at 20 mph, or, indeed, falling off a bicycle, for older people leads to far more damaging effects than would have been done to us 30 years ago.

Perhaps they ought to have worn some sort of modern protective gear?

I hope the wearing of a ''hard hat'' doesn't become mandatory to all old open vehicle drivers, however.

[The other year, the two person crew of a 1920's Trojan, competing on an MCC trial, [at the time, they were simply travelling to the start]...travelling at the car's best speed of around 35 mph, on a dual carriageway, in the middle of the night [as MCC competitors do?]....were roundly rammed up the backside by a Ford KA driven by a young female driver , doing 70 mph. The Trojan was well lit, by auxiliary as well as mandatory rear lights.
The young driver obviously 'wasn't expecting someone driving at 35 mph....''......even though the road wasn't under 'motorway regulations' so could have had tractors, flocks of sheep, cyclists, etc on it...never mind a 1920's Trojan going flat-out!

Anyway, to the point....the older generation crew were flung out of the Trojan, and suffered considerable injuries...made worse, no doubt, by age?
As we get older, our Kevlar body shells deteriorate.

But, nobody tells us 'till it's too late!!