Driving an antique car often comes with a few hitches, but the risk of something going wrong increases dramatically when you start to race one. Edmund Burgess, 56, from Suffolk encountered just such a problem when the brakes on his 1924 Bugatti failed while he was taking part in the Prescott Hill Climb in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.
Talking about the accident, Mr Burgess said: "I was approaching a hairpin bend and I was going a little faster than usual, maybe 30mph, when I tried to brake. Before I knew it, I'd lost control and the car toppled over.
The vintage racer toppled over, causing Mr Burgess’s helmet to meet with the safety barrier briefly. As photos of the incident revealed, the turned over car came close to crushing its driver. Marshalls rushed to help Burgess, rolling the vehicle back onto its wheels. Despite the ferocity of the crash, he was unharmed.
Burgess said: “My helmet must have hit the barrier, but otherwise I was OK. I decided to sit the rest of the event out in the bar with a beer.”
Amazed that he could walk away given the severe damage done to his antique French car, the driver was more concerned that he would not be able to compete in a race for some, rather than for his own safety.
Driving a vintage or classic car can be a lot of fun, but care should always be taken to ensure it is well maintained. Annual breakdown cover can also provide additional peace of mind: startrescue.co.uk offers competitively priced cover for cars over 20 years old.
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