Denis Welch RIP

I'm sure all Big Healey race fans will be saddened by the news that Denis Welch succumbed to injuries received during a race at Silverstone today.

This is sad news indeed. Denis pioneered big Healey performance parts, and showed the vintage racing world what the big Healey was capable of when fully developed.

https://www.silverstoneclassic.com/press/Official-Statement

That is very tragic news. I was there on friday but glad I didn't go yesterday. DW was acknowledged to be a very good driver and competed in a variety of cars. It also shows how dangerous racing classic cars really is. That is the third or forth fatality this year.

Sad news indeed:

"Historic racer Denis Welch, 69, was killed in an accident at the Silverstone Classic on Sunday.

The successful and experienced driver, who also had a performance parts business, was at the wheel of a Lotus 18 in the second Jack Brabham Memorial Trophy race for pre-1966 Grand Prix cars.
Welch was involved in a multi-car incident at the Village/Loop complex on the opening lap of the afternoon event and the 1960 Lotus rolled.
The race was stopped and Welch was taken to the Silverstone medical centre, where he died.
The exact details of the crash are not yet known, but a statement issued by the organisers said: "It is with great regret that we have to report that Denis Welch succumbed to his injuries in the circuit's medical centre.
"The event organisers, the race organisation, and the circuit's medical and emergency services, will all now be co-operating with the Police and the MSA, the UK official motorsport governing body, to conduct a full investigation.
"All those involved in the event offer sincere condolences to family and the friends of Denis Welch at this very sad time."" https://m.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115183

The police, why? That's just stupid unless he had trouble with someone on the track.

That is just awful. Denis and his company were/are important to the Healey world and he will be missed. As Derek J pointed out sometimes we all forget how dangerous it is to race old, classic sports cars or former racing cars since in theory everyone is being more careful.

bighealeysource said:

That is just awful. Denis and his company were/are important to the Healey world and he will be missed. As Derek J pointed out sometimes we all forget how dangerous it is to race old, classic sports cars or former racing cars since in theory everyone is being more careful.

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The British tracks have these warnings to the spectators posted, but I think they are a reminder to the participants as well:




Old formula cars lack the design protections of the new. Some of the crashes that F1 drivers have walked away from this year without injury have been unbelievable.

That is indeed sad. My wife and I met him, his wife and Jeremy at his shop several years ago. Really nice bunch.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/denis-welch-died-crash-silverstone-7521565

There is some more detail in this report. How very tragic!

Awful news. Many Australian AH enthusiasts were thrilled by Mr. Welch's driving at Mount Panorama in 1998. We also enjoyed the opportunity to meet Denis at that time.
A great loss to motor sport and Austin-Healey fans

Very empressed and sad for Denis - strange accident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3GPHhHWeF8

Very sad indeed. I was wondering around his truck/tent at Silversone with three 100s and an E-Type only the afternoon before thinking what a great contribution he and his business had made to the Healey world...

Here is a video of the start of the race in which Denis had the accident. He's seen running up the right side overtaking a ton of cars. The vid Andrea posted is of another race and accident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhBVIzI1bas

Chris...