Colin McRae's helicopter crashed near Lanark

Gazbo · Post by **Gazbo** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 2:47 pm

Terrible news. I can't imagine what the families are going through.

Ricky_111R · Post by **Ricky_111R** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:08 pm

Very very saddned by this

andy_snap · Post by **andy_snap** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:14 pm

Had the pleasure of snapping the great man on many occasions, most recently only a few weeks
ago during a shake down for his new self-designed car at Knockhill.

A great guy and probably the greatest natural driving talent the UK has produced; he will be sadly missed!

My deepest sympathies go out to his wife and daughter and family and to the families of the other 2 victims.

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:03 pm

I never met Colin, but was speaking to his father Jimmy and on track with him at KH on the SIDC Time Attack day just recently.

Of course I watched virtually all of his and Richard Burns races on TV, and now they are both gone.

As a fellow helicopter pilot it hits home even more, sounds silly, but I just wish I could have been along side him and maybe prevented it from happening.

For his wife and daughter to have lost half of their family in a flash is probably even worse.

Thought that I had got hardened to it over the years, but it always hits you.

tut

Post by **pete** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:13 pm

Just dreadful.

Pete

ruadh08 · Post by **ruadh08** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:37 pm

I new Colins dad Jimmy quite well in my Rallying days back in the early 80s, when his car was run by SMT, in Perth, and my car was in there quite a bit as well. We got a lot of help and support from the SMT team in those days, when we campaigned the Castrol Autosport British series, in 1980 and 81.

Young Colin used to always be in there with his dad, helping, getting in the way, asking all sorts of questions as 12 year old boys do. I have a picture somewhere of him sitting in the driving seat of my chevette hs, when it was in the workshop. Who would have thought that he would grow up to be World Rally Champion one day.

I was fortunate enough to meet him again a few years ago through a mutual friend Neil Dougan.

He will be sadly missed as a personality, and a great ambassador for Motorsport, and Scotland.

Our thoughts are with Alison,Hollie, Jimmy, Margaret, Alister, and his other brother and sister.

Paul G

meatball · Post by **meatball** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:03 pm

I've been looking at a lot of his footage on the net and in my opinion......
he will be remembered as one of the greatest drivers ever!
However, as an entertainer, I cannot think of anyone that comes close!

LotusLee · Post by **LotusLee** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:09 pm

Tragic news

I've always been a fan of his, even more so when I found out a few months ago that he used to ride trials and was Scottish Intermediate Champion in the 80's. Here's a pic of him I took at Aberfeldy.

woody · Post by **woody** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:35 pm

I think for guys my age, Colin was the driver you looked up to as a boy, you didn't want to be Schumacer, Coultard or Burns - McRae was an Idol.

I met him and his father at Kames when they were selling Jimmy's Porche, both great guys, and his helicopter was often parked at Tom Frenches on the way to the track - I know so many people around here who knew him personally and to all he was one of us, but at the same time a legend.

I Can't imagine what the families must be going through.

kanddl_111r · Post by **kanddl_111r** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:34 pm

Tragic news, ..a terrible loss. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

Skyenet · Post by **Skyenet** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:51 pm

So sad to hear of the tragic news, especially including such young victims. Four people who will all be sadly missed.

smee · Post by **smee** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:12 pm

Heard it on the radio this morning, felt sick at the thought, he's probably the reason I ever got interested in cars.

caleebra · Post by **caleebra** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:20 pm

I'm still feeling sick about the horrific loss of life. It's like the loss of a family member. Totally bizarre, as unlike some of you guys I never met him, but I felt like I knew him, he just seemed like "one of us" - a rarity I'm sure in this ever more egotistical celebrity obsessed world we live in.

Have just been generally mooching around all day surfing on the various car forums reading the many tributes. I hope the motoring world can offer a fitting tribute. Something like the Joey Dunlop tribute run on the IoM perhaps?

Post by **simon** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:43 pm

The McRae Stages Rally is in 2 weeks time so there might be something then but it's maybe too soon.

kerryxeg · Post by **kerryxeg** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:59 pm

I spent many wet days in the forest with rally photographers, Colin's latest antics were always the talk of the day, and gave us a great laugh. You never knew how true the stories were, but they all seemed possible when it involved Colin.

A very sad loss.

Kerry