Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash

Texan-CST/10 · 09-15-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash

Tom Gordon for The Sunday Times

The former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm.

Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult and another child. Police said there were no survivors.

McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.
McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games.

The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's home, Jervis House, a 16th-century tower house, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with a light breeze, but visibility was good.

Strathclyde police said the extent of the fire damage was making identification a problem.
McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. She looked calm, but neighbours gathering outside the house looked shaken with grief.

McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart who flew with the champion several times described him as a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly.
"As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.

"It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver."
Additional reporting: Paul Lamarra

http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/m...cle2461339.ece

RamJet502 · 09-15-2007, 07:00 PM

That's sad news, he was a legend. My prayers will be with their family.

montrealvue · 09-15-2007, 07:03 PM

That is horrible news, he was an incredible rally driver.

Bvonscott · 09-15-2007, 08:35 PM

Man he was one of the best rally drivers ever. What a trajedy. Our prayers go out to his family.

Pucks · 09-15-2007, 09:20 PM

What a shame. Too many athletes die in these small plane/helicopter accidents.

j_granlund · 09-16-2007, 01:12 AM

Wow,such horrible news. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

redimpss5 · 09-16-2007, 02:31 AM

Sad, Sad News! Extra prayers tonight.

AndrewGS · 09-16-2007, 03:11 AM

Horrible. He was truly a driving legend and he will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family. Losing Colin is terrible enough, but to lose his son as well, tragic.

Ssom · 09-16-2007, 03:22 AM

It's such a sad thing to have happen, my thoughts are definitely with his wife and daughter.

MrMax · 09-16-2007, 03:28 AM

This is terrible news. He'll definitely be missed.

Colin brought a certain raw, yet controlled energy that actually gave me the appreciation for rally racing that I have today. And for that he will be sorely missed.

My heart goes out to the McRae family.

Hunid Racks · 09-16-2007, 08:01 AM

http://news.scotsman.com/entertainme...?id=1483222007

SCOTTISH rally champion Colin McRae has been killed in a helicopter crash close to his Lanarkshire home.
The Twin Squirrel helicopter registered to the former world champion rally driver came down shortly after 4pm yesterday about 200 yards from his 17th-century mansion.

CanadianBrit · 09-16-2007, 09:23 AM

One of the best drivers the British Isles has produced. Such a tragic death, made even more so with the loss of his son as well.

My thoughts go out to the family.

**Rex Raider** · 09-16-2007, 10:49 AM

That sucks. I've spent hours, maybe even days playing his video games.

iam3rdpwrn · 09-16-2007, 11:40 AM

An awsome driver. Hopefully will get the credit he deserves as a driver & a person.

Watchdevil · 09-16-2007, 11:56 AM

Why is this posted twice as headlines in the news ticker?

09-15-2007, 07:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
RamJet502 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Drives: 2001 Chevy Silverado Posts: 3,128	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash That's sad news, he was a legend. My prayers will be with their family. __________________

09-15-2007, 07:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
montrealvue 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal,PQ - 2006 Saturn Vue V6 ! Posts: 1,908	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash That is horrible news, he was an incredible rally driver. __________________ '87 Merc Tracer '88 Toyota Tercel '89 VW Golf '94 Saturn SL '97 Pontiac Grand Am '00 Olds Silhouette '02 Dodge Intrepid '04 Chev Malibu '06 Saturn Vue

09-15-2007, 08:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bvonscott 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,757	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash Man he was one of the best rally drivers ever. What a trajedy. Our prayers go out to his family. __________________ Member of the: I Will Never Buy a Japanese Car In My Life Club. www.BADBOYVETTES.com C6 and C6R rule!

09-15-2007, 09:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pucks 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Long Valley, NJ Drives: Olds Intrigue Posts: 880	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash What a shame. Too many athletes die in these small plane/helicopter accidents.

09-16-2007, 01:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
j_granlund 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Olmsted Falls,OH Drives: parents 05 cobalt base sedan with auto,spoiler,and Posts: 582	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash Wow,such horrible news. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. __________________ those big flying thingies knocked my picture off the wall. Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65 I don't know if that worked. I did, however, teach her that prius = litter box...

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09-16-2007, 02:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
redimpss5 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,631	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash Sad, Sad News! Extra prayers tonight.

09-16-2007, 03:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
AndrewGS 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Spring, TX, MX (Houston) Drives: 1986 Ford RS200 EVO Posts: 6,940	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash Horrible. He was truly a driving legend and he will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family. Losing Colin is terrible enough, but to lose his son as well, tragic. __________________ Andrew - MySpace - KD5FHW 1995 Buick Roadmaster Limited - LT1, 4L60E, 2.93 Gears, 260HP, 4,200LBS, 15.4SEC 1/4-MI, 21MPG 2005 Chevrolet Silverado C1500 LS - LM7, 4L60E, 3.73 Gears, 300HP, 4,200LBS, 15.0SEC 1/4-MI, 19.0MPG "Gas mileage is fine, but keep in mind, the first question any car buyer asks themselves is, 'Will this get me laid?'"

09-16-2007, 03:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ssom 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 536	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash It's such a sad thing to have happen, my thoughts are definitely with his wife and daughter.

09-16-2007, 03:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
MrMax 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 766	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash This is terrible news. He'll definitely be missed. Colin brought a certain raw, yet controlled energy that actually gave me the appreciation for rally racing that I have today. And for that he will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to the McRae family. __________________

09-16-2007, 08:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
Hunid Racks 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 400	Rally ace Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash http://news.scotsman.com/entertainme...?id=1483222007 SCOTTISH rally champion Colin McRae has been killed in a helicopter crash close to his Lanarkshire home. The Twin Squirrel helicopter registered to the former world champion rally driver came down shortly after 4pm yesterday about 200 yards from his 17th-century mansion.

09-16-2007, 09:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
CanadianBrit 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London, Ontario Drives: 2009 Pontiac Torrent GT Sonoma Red Posts: 41	Re: Colin McRae dies with son in a helicopter crash One of the best drivers the British Isles has produced. Such a tragic death, made even more so with the loss of his son as well. My thoughts go out to the family.

09-16-2007, 10:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
Rex Raider Administrator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Drives: 2009 Camry Hybrid (company car) Posts: 11,787	Re: Rally ace Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash That sucks. I've spent hours, maybe even days playing his video games. __________________ Sure, I drive a Toyota, but at least I don't have to pay for it.

09-16-2007, 11:40 AM	#14 (permalink)
iam3rdpwrn 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 31	Re: Rally ace Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash An awsome driver. Hopefully will get the credit he deserves as a driver & a person.

09-16-2007, 11:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
Watchdevil 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 523	Re: Rally ace Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash Why is this posted twice as headlines in the news ticker? __________________ 2008 Mustang Pony Premium - Performance White - Dark Charcoal Interior 2005 Chevy Cavalier LS Coupe - Black - Tan Interior

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