[Leica] Sad news

[Douglas Barry]

Some of you commented in the past on the people in my motor racing pictures, 
as I go to a couple of hill climbs each year with a friend of mine who races 
in them. I used to be more heavily involved with motorsport years ago, and 
still have an interest. It's a very informal and close knit community and 
everybody knows each other and helps each other out. Unfortunately, we had 
some really very sad news today as one of the drivers in the Irish Hill 
Climb Championship Simon McKinley was killed in a crash today down in Co. 
Clare.

Simon who was a multitimes champion is here seen descending after a run. My 
friend Brendan is just behind him.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/Sport/Motorsport/2012/Indq.jpg.html

This is picture of Deirdre his wife and their young son. Absolutely tragic.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/Sport/Motorsport/2014/Naul2014_LittlePitBoss_b.jpg.html

Brendan and I were also going to go to the hillclimb as he intended giving 
his own new car an outing, but he couldn't due to recent unexpected medical 
treatment. The course is extremely demanding, bumpy, and dangerous, as 
indeed many Irish courses are now as the wider busier better surfaced roads 
are being made unavailable due to heavy traffic and can't be closed.

Here is a Youtube video of Simon driving in his Lant at the Naul in 2013 
which gives an idea of the speed and danger which is always present. Sadly, 
he is now lost to us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJVi3LBSrU

RIP

Douglas