Damn, two killed in Classic Adelaide

[dsyfer]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...006301,00.html

Sad for those involved and their families,

and not good for motorsport in SA at the moment.

[Sprint347]

Any details, I have two friends there competing in a Porsche

[Bushbasher]

This is a real tragedy and my sympathies go out to all involved but the roads in the Adelaide hills are deadly with trees right at the edge of the road, literally with bitumen up over the base of the trunks. You need to be inch perfect if you are going to hammer through there at speed. I was zipping around the hills myself on monday and tuesday and managed to spook the missus' more than once when tree trunks whizzed past her window with less than a metre to spare.

[Sprint347]

Gary Tierney and David Carra @ Kersbrook stage

RIP and condolences to their families.

[Antwon]

Originally Posted by Sprint347

Gary Tierney and David Carra @ Kersbrook stage

RIP and condolences to their families.

Were they your friends?

RIP to Gary and David

[Sprint347]

Originally Posted by Antwon

Were they your friends?

RIP to Gary and David

Thankfully my friends are safe.

(Please don't reference comments that have been deleted. They were so for good reason. Ian)

[krt10]

very tragic reminder of how dangerous our sport is. i live in the adelaide hills and there are some mean roads. but that is why we love them so much.

RIP at the very least they went doing somthing they loved.

[V3RSAC3]

Thats very sad!. But the Adelaide hills are dangerous at the best of times! Not to mention in a high performance speed car. ..

RIP.

[platinumXR]

Never a good thing when people die doing something they love, condolences to all affected.

[phillyc]

Yes, condolences to all those affected. I do hope, that this does not bring out the do-gooders in an attempt to stop future events.

[MercurySilver]

yeah ten mins from me
got a message from a mate who said the car is on a truck two doors down from his joint
its unrecognisable
i also heard it was a son and mother in the car (but cannot confirm this and seems to be wrong info??..anyway im not sure)

nasty roads around the back of Forreston
few of us have nearly come unstuck around there

RIP fellow car nutters :(

[Jason[98.EL]]

rip guys

my condolences go out to your family and friends

Originally Posted by ninemsn

The two competitors who died in the Classic Adelaide Rally on Thursday were from Melbourne.

Organisers named them as Gary Tierney, the 60-year-old driver, and co-driver David Carra, 43.

Their 1974 Porsche 911 RS skidded off a right-hand bend and struck a tree on Norsworthy Road, Forreston, about 40 kilometres northeast of Adelaide.

A police spokesman said it was unclear if the deaths would be included in the state's road toll.

An emergency medical vehicle stationed at the start of the stage attended the crash about 3.30pm (CDT) but both crew members were pronounced dead at the scene.

They had been running eighth out of 47 cars in the Late Classic Competition category.

Tierney and Carra were well regarded competitors with many years experience in tarmac events around Australia.

Carra's brother Andrew said in a statement released by organisers: "David absolutely loved his rallying. Everyone has to jump off this life eventually and he did it doing what he absolutely loved."

Classic Adelaide Clerk of Course Ivar Stanelis extended the event's condolences to the victims families and support crew.

"We all understand that motor racing can be dangerous despite the extensive safety systems in place, but that does nothing to alleviate the great sadness we now feel for the victims and their loved ones," Stanelis said.

The rally will continue on Friday, with an 8am start in Adelaide's Victoria Square after competitors, support crews and officials are led in a prayer and a minutes silence by rally chaplain David Vaughan.

The fatalities were the first in the rally since 1997 when Adelaide motorsport identity Ian Cocks was killed in similar circumstances, his Porsche also hit a tree before bursting into flames.

His 23-year-old daughter survived the crash after being dragged from the wreck.

The Classic Adelaide Rally has been held for 12 years and features both competitive and non-competitive categories.

Cars built before 1991 are eligible to enter the competitive section and race on closed roads with no speed limits.

This year's event will cover about 1,000 kilometres from Thursday to Sunday including about 250km divided into 32 competitive special stages.

[blueoval]

terrible news. My thoughts go to the families and all involved.

[Cobra]

Such a tragedy this is. I too live in the Adelaide Hils and I think I've driven on just about every road in the Hills as South as Strathalbyn and as North as the Barossa Valley. The roads around here are both as beautiful as they are deadly. I was always thinking this would happen at some stage.

There's enough deaths around here with people driving "normally", so a high speed rally is madness. I heard that there was or will be a petition for residents of both the Mount Barker and Adelaide Hills LGA's to be submitted to both respective councils and locals MP's to remove some of the trees which Bushbasher describes.

[Polyal]

Ah crap thats terrible. RIP.

[sly_ba]

We all love our cars and our motor sport generally speaking because they enrich our lives with happiness. Put simply we pursue things that bring us joy. I think this is what makes a tragic death like this so sad.... we often forget that cars and motor sport, while highly enjoyable, carry with them server risks.

I am always taken aback when I hear of such horrible incidents. The death of the driver at the Clipsal 500 many years ago and the death at Bathurst only a couple of years ago also spring to mind. I truly feel for all involved as at the end of the day its only a sport and should never leave such a biter taste in people's mouths. Very sad indeed.... RIP

[HSE2]

I will not want to see another show of insensitivity in this thread. Have some respect for what is and always will be a tragic loss of life. Trying to say anything else under the circumstances is tactless and inappropriate.

[KPOJ]

Quote deleted. Don't circumvent swear filter please.