Pensioner crashes racing car at 145mph

Scotland’s oldest racing driver has spoken out for the first time following a horrific crash – and vows to return to the circuit this summer.

Ron Cumming, 69, was racing in the Scottish Saloon and Sports Car Championship until he crashed while driving at about 145mph.

The pensioner, who races against men half his age, clipped the car he was passing, a BMW Z3, and lost control of his vehicle.

Debris was left strewn out all over the track and his Nemesis racing car was completely written off after it spun in mid-air and rolled over several times.

Pictures show a terrified Ron, from Aberdeen, clutching on to his helmet while he waits for his car to come to a complete standstill.

Marshals rushed to the scene at Knockhill Racing Circuit, in Fife, earlier this month, to check his wellbeing.

Ron, who has been racing since 1973, was rushed to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy – and signed himself out the following day.

He said: “Well I had a concussion which went away. Also, some facial bruising.

“The worst injury I had was during the crash, there was a fuel leakage and some of that fuel burnt the skin on my shoulder and back.

“That wasn’t very pleasant. But I just signed myself out the next day because I felt much better.”

The father-of-four was left unfazed by the crash and simply brushed it off as a “racing incident”.

He said: “While I was in mid-air I shut down all of the main switches and I just knew I had to wait for the car to stop.”

Ron is already preparing for his next event on July 1 at Knockhill.

He said: “Well I’ve been racing all my life and I just love it, so I can’t stop.”

The horrifying moment Ron crashed at 145mph.