EXORCISING DEMONS: COLIN TURNER BACK AT THE WALTER HAYES TROPHY ONE YEAR ON
A familiar and friendly face was present in the Walter Hayes Trophy pits, in
Colin Turner. And his presence was particularly significant.
The popular Scottish Formula Ford regular and former Royal Air Force pilot sustained life-changing injuries from last year’s Walter Hayes Trophy event, having both legs amputated after getting caught in a multi-car pitstraight crash in wet conditions and spray.
One year on he was back at the Hayes, this time helping friend Neil Broome who was competing in a Ray GR17K. Broome set up the JustGiving page for Turner’s post-treatment recovery, which raised close to £47,000 including support from Dario Franchitti and
Allan McNish.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, lovely to be back here, I’ve met all sorts of people,” Turner told Motorsport News. “I was back here at The Classic in the middle of summer, and went round to the medical centre and got a chance to thank everybody round there. But this time I’m helping my friend Neil Broome who looked after me after the accident.
“So I’m looking after him as best I can round at the holding area, down at scrutineering so he can plug in the battery and get back – so it’s great.
I’m really enjoying it.”
Broome continued to MN: “We said before the event that this time was about exorcising some of the demons rather than frantically chasing the results and we’ve done exactly what we wanted to do, we’ve had a great time.
“[Turner’s had] just general spanner man duties. So he’s on tyre pressures, torques, belts, GoPro, keeping an eye on the timing, then plus whatever other jobs we have to need doing. There’s no concessions, this isn’t disability motorsport. He’s been working.
“He’s been absolutely perfect and he’s been, apart from anything else, a very good lucky talisman, because this is my sixth year here and the first time we’ve not split an engine and gearbox at some point.”
Broome made it as far as the semi-final having progressed from the last chance race in 10th place. “Would have been nice to find another half a second,” Broome said, “but that’s always the way. Really happy to bring the car home shiny side up. Couldn’t have wished for it to have gone any better.”
And septuagenarian Turner at Silverstone confirmed that his desired return to racing remains on course. “I just want to get out in a car and start racing again,” he said. “I’ve got a car getting rebuilt, a 2005 Ray with my old engine and old gearbox. That’s about halfway through the rebuild.
“I’ve jumped through some of the hoops with Motorsport UK to get my licence back, I’m just waiting to see a neurologist because I had a bleed on my brain. I’ve got to get clearance, and then I’ve got to go out with an ARDS instructor who can sign me off as being safe to be on the circuit: in other words, I’m in control of the vehicle. That’s all. I don’t have to go out with two pedals or three pedals or automatic or anything else.
“And I’m back on the road anyway, so
I’m well on the way, I just need to get over the last few hurdles and then I’ll be out hopefully next year. Anywhere north of Silverstone, I want to get back. As much as possible, or I should say as much I can afford – I’m a pensioner!
“And Nigel [Grant] here, they run a Merlyn Mk20 and they’re determined to get me out in that. So I may end up back in my Ray, or I may end up going historics. Whichever floats my boat.”