TRAGIC TURN

March 30, 1980, will live in Roy and Sandra’s memory for ever as something they don’t want to go through ever again. It started off well enough, with Roy qualifying in the top six at Cadwell’s early season International before loading up the Yamaha and heading home with Pop at the helm with the other two alongside. All was well until rounding a bend in Fotherby, on the outskirts of Louth, to find a lady driver for whatever reason on their side of the road. A collision was inevitable, with Sandra making heavy contact with the Transit’s front door pillar leaving her with serious head injuries. Roy recalls lifting her unconscious body from the wreck and actually seeing her exposed skull and trying not to think the worst! Roy, Pop and the blood covered Sandra were rushed into Louth Hospital where Roy remembers being treated “like a leper” by the police as he was still in his leathers, therefore he “must be guilty” of causing the crash. While Pop and Roy received cuts and abrasions and the odd cracked rib, they were patched up and discharged, Sandra underwent massive internal and external surgery, requiring a two month recovery programme. The Transit was recovered to a Louth salvage yard where fellow racer Malc Wheeler (yes, the same one) and Frank Cooper, father of local racer Dave, quickly relieved them of the Yamaha and all other valuables and took them back to Toyne towers – that’s racers for you.