Discussion in the Classic Adelaide forums.
Gary Tierney (driver) and David Carra (navigator) have been tragically killed near Forreston in the Hills during the Classic Adelaide car rally event, after their 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS left the road and hit a tree.
They were travelling on Norseworthy Road in Forreston near Gumeracha just after 3:30pm, when the car left the track and smashed into a tree, killing both the driver and passenger.
Mr Tierney was a highly-rated tarmac rally competitor and the pair took third place in their Porsche in Targa West, near Perth, in late August.
Tribute page on ClassicAdelaide.com.au
From fellow competitor, Brenton Griguol:
Simon and I spoke to Gary as we were the car directly behind them.
I cannot speak about the incident until we have been interviewed by CAMS and SAPOL. As the first to attend all i can say is that we were unable to assist due to severity of the incident. I ensured that we held a minutes silence to respect both driver and navigator. The paramedics tried with Gary but to no avail. Our video footage will be used as we were only 20 seconds after the fact. All photographs and video will not be posted.
All i can say is this, after going through the death of both parents and being orphaned without siblings and then going through a bitter divorce with everything that alone entails, the hardest thing I have ever had to do was as we approached the end the of stage after being at the scene for an hour was to speak to their service crew and tell them of what had happened. A policeman nearby called me over and I at first said to him that I hate his job and that he has the hardest job on the planet. He said what I told the service crew was the truth and very noble and that he does hate that part of his job.
We returned after some time to the Hilton where we went through counselling and then both Simon and I were on watch by some lovely people, its heartbreaking and I shed quite a few tears for what we witnessed and the resultant situation.
So if anyone wishes to ask for more information they wont get it. I need a decent nights sleep and tomorrow we will drive with their memories. RIP boys
The tragic scene of today’s accident – photo by Alice Prokopec
Gary Tierney’s 1974 Porsche Carrera RS earlier in the day – photo by Chris of DrMphotography.net
The accident happened during a competitive stage of the rally, 4km into the first stage.
Police from the Major Crash investigation branch were called out to the scene.
As the accident happened on a closed road, the deaths will not be added to the official road toll, which currently stands at 106, compared to 84 at the same time last year.
Tierney and Carra were in the classic competition class of the event, where cars must have full roll cages and race harnesses.
Occupants must also wear protective clothing, including crash helmets.
Racing was called off on the stage yesterday afternoon following the crash.
The fatal crash follows the death of former Adelaide Grand Prix chairman and prominent businessman Ian Cocks, 59 during a Classic Adelaide race in 1997.
Mr Cocks, 59, died when his 1967 Porsche 911 burst into flames after skidding off a road and into a tree in the Adelaide Hills.
His daughter, who was navigating, survived.
As the crash occured on a closed road, the deaths will not be added to the road toll, which stands at 106 compared with 84 at the same time last year.
Major Crash detectives did attend the scene and conducted investigations.
Classic Adelaide rally director Ivar Stanelis has pledged a full inquiry.
Classic Adelaide continues Friday, starting at the Hilton Hotel, city, from 8am and having nine competition stages including those near Coromandel, Willunga Hill (good for spectating), Inman Valley, Mt Compass and Strathalbyn. Cars can be seen at the lunch break at Goolwa from 12.20.
Gary Tierney’s 1974 Porsche Carrera RS during Prologue – photo by Chris of DrMphotography.net
MEDIA STATEMENT – (Thursday) 19 November 2009
FATAL CRASH AT CLASSIC ADELAIDE
THE driver and co-driver of a car competing in the Classic Adelaide rally have been killed in a crash this afternoon, rally organisers announced.
The crash happened around 3.30 pm on the 7.24 kilometre Special Stage 6, called Kersbrook Reverse, on Norsworthy Road, Forreston.
An emergency medical vehicle stationed at the start of the stage attended the crash.
The stage was stopped immediately and following cars diverted to the next stage.
The South Australia Police Major Crash Unit is attending the scene and the road will remain closed until further notice.
No further information will be issued for the time being.
Classic Adelaide Clerk of Course Ivar Stanelis extended the event’s deepest condolences to the victim’s 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 today,” Mr Stanelis said.
A full inquiry into the crash will be conducted by police and motorsport authorities.
Gary Tierney’s 1974 Porsche Carrera RS at the 2008 event – Photo by Ash Simmonds
MEDIA ADVISORY – (Thursday) 19 November 2009
PRAYER AND ONE MINUTE’S SILENCE FOR CRASH VICTIMS
THE two victims of today’s fatal crash will be remembered with a prayer and a minute’s silence before the start of Day Two of Classic Adelaide tomorrow.
DETAILS -
* Time: Approx 7.50 am, Friday 20 November
* Place: Victoria Square, Adelaide, rally start ramp
* Who: Rally chaplain David Vaughan will say a prayer and lead crews and officials in a minute’s silence; rally senior officials will attend
* Also: All cars will wear a black-tape stripe on their left headlight as a mark of respect
For further information, contact:
Chris Nixon, Media Manager
Tel.: (+61) 0418 759 417
E-mail: media@silverstoneevents.com.au
MEDIA STATEMENT – (Thursday) 19 November 2009 11:30pm
VICTORIAN CREW DIES IN CLASSIC ADELAIDE CRASH
TWO Victorian competitors in the Classic Adelaide tarmac rally were killed in a crash on the South Australian event today.
They were driver Gary Tierney, 60, and co-driver David Carra, 43, both from Melbourne.
Their 1974 Porsche 911RS skidded off a right-hand bend and struck a tree on Norsworthy Road, Forreston, about 40 kilometres north-east of Adelaide.
The crash happened on Special Stage 6, a 7.24 km test called Kersbrook Reverse, on day one of four on the 13th annual rally.
An emergency medical vehicle stationed at the start of the stage attended the crash, but both crew members were pronounced dead at the scene.
The pair was running eighth out of 47 cars in the Late Classic Competition category at the time of the crash.
Rally officials stopped the stage and the road was closed for several hours until late tonight.
The rally will continue tomorrow, but immediately before the 8 am start in Adelaide’s Victoria Square, fellow competitors, support crews and officials will be led in a prayer and a minute’s silence by rally chaplain David Vaughan.
Tierney and Carra were well regarded rally competitors with many years’ experience in tarmac events around Australia.
Carra’s brother David said: “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 deepest condolences to the victim’s 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 today,” Mr Stanelis said.
A full inquiry into the crash will be conducted by police and motorsport authorities.
Posted in Adelaide Hills, Alice Prokopec, Car Crash, Carrera RS, Classic Adelaide, Classic Adelaide 2009, David Carra, Fatality, Forreston, Gary Tierney, Media Release, Porsche 911, Porsche Crash, Racing, Rally, Road Toll, Silverstone Events, Tarmac Rally, adelaide, news, police, porsche, south australia
