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My Uncles fatal crash Symmons Plains 1967.

By LordChristopher - Published on 01 November 2014

In this video you will see My Uncle Wally Mitchell car number 19 crash. He made it to hospital with 80% burns, and started to recover but got Golden Staff from the hospital and died.

Comments

Drag photos here
  • Austpac

    Austpac

    Around the same time Queensland Backseat Racing Drivers Club, was established in Queensland, which was a group of racing driver's wives who raised money by holding stalls, raffles etc. and in the early 1980's donated a HZ Holden Ute, to the Queensland Fire & Rescue Club, and this vehicle is the most recognised of all their vehicles.
    https://www.qfrc.org.au/

    • LordChristopher

      LordChristopher

      Amazing, I believe fire proof suits and gloves were made mandatory as a reult of their hard work.

  • PWS77

    PWS77

    I was at that meeting as my father was racing that weekend also. I was one of the founding members of Women for Wheels in Northern Tasmania. There were about 8 of us at the very first meeting, and it goes without saying we were all very pleased to be able to provide some degree of safety to the sport. It was unfortunate that it took Wally's accident to bring about change, but I guess you could say something good came out of something so tragic. Who knows how many lives we have helped to save, but it made all of us, wives, daughters and girlfriends more comfortable knowing there was improved safety for the drivers and officials.

  • Austpac

    Austpac

    Chris

    Unfortunately Jacque is no longer with us, having passed away in 2002.
    Until his passing Jacque looked after my 1962 MGB MK1 roadster, which I still have
    Can remember back in the mid 1960's, Jacque also had a white twin cam MGA roaster
    Jacque also competed in the Armstrong 500, now know as Bathurst 1000, driving a NSU Prinz in the 1960's
    Jacque worked alongside Ivan Tighe, who is also no longer with us, engineering on the Repco Bradhams
    Hope been of assistance

    John

  • LordChristopher

    LordChristopher

    Thanks to everyone who has commented to Austpac You are quite correct with all of your memories he did indeed have a lotus and a BRM in fact it was BRM1, which I would have thought would have been kept by jack but in those days car builders including GMH did not place importance on keeping numbers, and simply sold whatever they built. I would love to know if Jacque Sapir is still alive?

  • LordChristopher

    LordChristopher

    Austpac Thanks for your comments, yes you are correct in all of your comments. I will always miss him too.

  • Austpac

    Austpac

    I knew Wally. Trying to remember now if he also had a Lotus or BRM Formula Junior open wheeler fitted with a 1600 Ford Cosworth motor, and Hollinger gearbox and used to attend meetings at Calder and Sandown with him and Jacque. His racing mechanic was Jacque Sapir, who lived at Mt Waverley. Wally had a servo on Burwood Rd, Tally Ho. I was not at Symons the day of his fatal accident, and know it had long lasting effect on Jacque. Last time I saw Jacque was in the 1980's in Brisbane, when Jacque maintained my 1963 MK1 pull out door handle MGB roadster, which I still have and compete regularly club events MG Car Club Queensland . Wally will always live in our memories

    • LordChristopher

      LordChristopher

      Is This one of the cars you were thinking of? I think this one was Brabham 1. If anyone can ID the two either side of Wally. I believe one is Bill Renolds. It would be of great help if I could find out what track it is. Please. Thanks in advance.

      LordChristopher,Early Motor Racing,Racing
  • LordChristopher

    LordChristopher

    Porsche 911, do you recall how the car was made up? What bits were what, like what body, etc?
    Your help would be appreciated.

  • LordChristopher

    LordChristopher

    RM1 It was a home made car partly based on a Chev Corvette, it is number 19 so if anyone has more info feel free to contribute. It was called MR1.

  • porsche911

    porsche911

    I was on the infield which in those days were the pits and quite close to where the sports car driven by Wally Mitchell got out of control over the hump and crashed into what I recall were wooden crash barriers, and burst into flames. Thankfully, the sport is now much safer and our standards have certainly lifted since those early incidents. I have been following Motor Sport since 1962 and would rate the accident as a very low point of my love of the sport, still have very vivid memories.

  • volvo2

    volvo2

    I am surprised that nobody has mentioned that this crash changed Motorsport in Aus .The result of this crash Women For Wheels was started in Vic which then spread around the country and Fire resistant clothing became complusory

  • Porscheman

    Porscheman

    I have a recollection that this is Bluey Mitchell's red MG Holden. I think the car had a Repco head.. Was it once owned by Mick Watt ?
    Cheers

  • Motown1

    Motown1

    My god - what amazing footage. Very sad about your Uncle however, thanks so much for posting this on Shannons Club - it has such historical value. What type of car was your Uncle driving?

    • LordChristopher

      LordChristopher

      It was a home made car, made of parts from 2 Wrecks, one of which was Lex Davison's and I can't recall, just now, who owned the other car, it was made up of. It ran a Chev V8. Not sure what the body is, Corvette? If anyone knows I could do with that info. I am the writer and Producer of a radio/TV series called Lion's Den, which will tell the Wally Mitchell story as part of the Colin Coyle story of his 45 years life inside and outside G.M.H