Seavixen32, is your grandson OK?

[A Guy]

Andrew, just saw the story about an explosion in Williams F1 garage. Hoping your grandson is OK?

Explosion happens in Williams team garage shortly after Pastor Maldonado wins F1 race



A Guy

 

[seavixen32]

Many thanks for your concern Bill.

Yes, he's fine. The main worry was smoke inhalation and seven team members are still in hospital.

It rather takes the gloss off Maldonado's win, which was the first for Williams since 2004.

I'd missed your post until Julian reminded me.

 

[IownAmoneyPit]

seavixen32 so glad to hear your grandson is OK and Kudos to all members of other teams/garages who risked their own health and safety to use every available fire extinguisher to help put the fire out and prevent further casualties.

 

[seavixen32]

seavixen32 so glad to hear your grandson is OK and Kudos to all members of other teams/garages who risked their own health and safety to use every available fire extinguisher to help put the fire out and prevent further casualties.

It was gratifying to see that. As with every dangerous occupation, everyone will always pitch in and help when the need arises, and looking at how bad the fire was it's amazing there weren't any fatalities.

It appears that a KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) unit in the re-fuelling area caused the fire. Whether it was static electricity or a spark has yet to be established.

http://formula1.about.com/od/car1/a/kers.htm

 

[Joan Archer]

Glad to hear your grandson is OK Andrew, it was very lucky no one was more seriously hurt plus they managed to get Frank out before it happened, being in a wheelchair would have made things more difficult for him.

 

[seavixen32]

Thanks Joan.

There's a picture in today's paper of Frank Williams being pushed away from the fire. Apparently, he took his family to Spain as part of his 70th birthday celebrations.

Matt was telling me that his boss tours the workshop in his wheelchair every day to check on progress and make sure all his staff are happy. He remarked that although Frank is in a lot of pain and is not a well man he is nevertheless a real nice person.

Not a bad legacy is that, I'd say.

 

[Baroness von Shush]

Glad your grandson is ok and I hope the others make a full recovery. Frank sounds like a lovely man, taking time out to check on his team.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Glad there weren't any major injuries and it was a fantastic drive and celebrated win for the Williams team and Pastor!

 

[Anak]

My DW, and I are big F1 fans, it is a challenge to watch the races live from China at 3:30am EDT.
We picked up on the news from Speed channel shortly after the race, but had no idea that it involved someone we knew even casually by proxy.

seavixen, we are both happy to hear your grandson is okay, and wish him, and the Team a speedy recovery.



A Guy, wondered why your video wasn't working, so I check on other news reports, and bumped into this copyright claim:
Source: Williams F1 Fire: Photos and video from dramatic post race inferno | Total F1.com

 

[seavixen32]

Thanks for the kind words everyone, I do appreciate it as I'm sure the Williams team would too.

Thankfully, F1 racing is a lot safer now than in the days of the 1960s and 1970s, but incidents like this show there is no room for complacency.

 

[MWRed]

Glad he is ok, Sea, and really hope everyone else comes out fine too.


MWR

 

[seavixen32]

Thanks a lot MWR, by the sound of things the people taken to hospital will soon be discharged.

 

[MWRed]

Thanks a lot MWR, by the sound of things the people taken to hospital will soon be discharged.

Good news, very good news.

 

[smarteyeball]

Just saw this thread - I'm glad he's okay. Goes to show those safety suits they wear in the pits are worn for a good reason. Not all freak accidents happen on track :huh:


And kudos to the win - and I missed the damn race


(On the plus side, the damage to Sennas car isn't going to affect his on track performance in the slightest )