[Leica] Sad news

[Douglas Barry]

Thanks for the kind words everybody. I better clarify that Simon was only an 
acquaintance and not a close friend. I used to meet him at events I attended 
over the years, and I admired his ability behind the wheel. That said it was 
a shock. People very rarely die in hill climb crashes over here and Simon 
was a four times Irish champion.

The last death that I can remember was at Craigantlet near Belfast back in 
the mid 90s. Ironically, Craigantlet is on at the weekend, but I'm not going 
up to it. I now won't be even attending Simon's funeral tomorrow as I've 
suddenly come down with a throat bug, and, as they say, going to a funeral 
is the making of another - especially with the current chilly weather we're 
experiencing. A pity as I would have liked to pay my respects.

Had lunch today with two guys who are going to it, and one of them Brendan 
is in the guard of honour made up of Simon's fellow competitors. They have 
to attend with their helmets.

Douglas

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Lottermoser" <george.imagist at icloud.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Sad news


>
> On Apr 25, 2015, at 7:38 PM, Douglas Barry wrote:
>
>> 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
>
> Very sorry for your loss of a friend Douglas;
> and my heart feels for his family too.
>
> How common is a serious and/or fatal crash on these courses?
>
> Regards,
> George Lottermoser
>
> http://www.imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com/blog
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>
>
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