Colin McRae believed to be dead in Helicopter crash

[rougeben83]

Thought I'd share this news;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=482017&in_page_id=1770)

Colin McRae, probably one of the most successful rally drivers in the sport, is believed to have died in a helicopter crash around his home in Scotland. He was piloting and his 5 year old son was apparently a passenger.

What a sad day in racing, and for everyone in the subaru community in general.

In case you've been living in a rock for the past 20 years, Colin McRae was a rally driver for Subaru for most of the 90's, leading to a driver's championship in 1995, and Subaru's constructor's championship run in the last half of that decade. He helped establish Subaru's rally heritage - a fact that many subbie owners proudly state when they talk about their cars and what many subaru enthusiasts point to for why they started modifying their cars.

Recently, he re-established his relationship with Subaru, helping bring rally to the same level of attention elsewhere in the world, to the United States. I think plenty still remember his rollover recovery during last year's X-games super stage.

Champion rally driver, family man, an inspiration to today's current crop of rally drivers, and an all-around class-act, he will be missed.

McRae in a WRC Legacy in the early 90's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpbPfKuJImQ

[dropdfocus]

I found this article from the UK: (God I hope this is some sad joke!)

From The Sunday TimesSeptember 16, 2007

Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crashTom Gordon for The Sunday Times
THE former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm.

Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult and another child. Police said there were no survivors.

McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.

McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games.

The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's home, Jervis House, a 16th-century tower house, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with a light breeze, but visibility was good.

Strathclyde police said the extent of the fire damage was making identification a problem.

McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. She looked calm, but neighbours gathering outside the house looked shaken with grief.

McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart who flew with the champion several times described him as a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly.

"As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.

"It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver."

Additional reporting: Paul Lamarra

[subyluvr2212]

Holy shit. Wow. I'm speechless right now.

[rwm5]

What a shame.

[dropdfocus]

I'll be honest and say that I was very choked up when I read the story. He was someone I really wanted to meet in person at next year's X-Games rally event... I extremely saddened by the news.

[redlegacygt]

im trully gutted and speechless right now. God Bless him and his family.

RIP COLIN :cry:

[dropdfocus]

I text'd B. West and he said he received an email from SOA verifying the information to be true... :cry: :cry: :cry:

There is a piece of me that feels kinda empty right now due to this over whelming news. It's not fair to lose such a great talent at such a young age. :evil: It's just not God d@mn fair!!!!!!!!!

[Reason]

Who?? This must suck.....

[Sarra]

This is awful. Just awful. I hope his family can find peace.

[dropdfocus]

Who?? This must suck.....
Please tell me you are not serious... You've owned Subarus and don't know who Colin is? Come on, really??.

[shazapple]

aww, all the rally greats of our time have been taken from us. Colin was truly great and it is sad to see others perish as well.

[subba]

First Burns Now Colin? Man this sucks :(

[Wiscon_Mark]

Who?? This must suck.....
Please tell me you are not serious... You've owned Subarus and don't know who Colin is? Come on, really??.

I'd venture to guess that more than half the people who own Subarus don't know what rally is, man.

This is awful though. Jeez. Should've stuck to driving instead of taking the helicopter...

[subba]

Who?? This must suck.....
Please tell me you are not serious... You've owned Subarus and don't know who Colin is? Come on, really??.

I'd venture to guess that more than half the people who own Subarus don't know what rally is, man.

This is awful though. Jeez. Should've stuck to driving instead of taking the helicopter...

Petter Solberg Rides Bikes second to rally, I hope he stays safe, Burns and Colin both Wont titles for Subaru (Rip) man i realy feel bad :(

[GrassyKnoll]

Colin was my hero :cry:

RIP buddy, subaru and motorsport fans will always miss you.

[Plays_with_Toys]

I just popped onto nabisco and saw the banner. Oh my god. This is just nuts. I just put up all my 1:18th rally cars including Mcrae's ford focus. Wow. This is just really sad. :(

RIP Colin Mcrae.

[deadlydave]

Rest in peace.

McRea, you will be missed.

[Tazmaniandevil]

Page on Colin's official website (http://www.colinmcrae.com/condolences.asp) now open for condolences.
The page is being hammered, which is a good indicator of how popular the great man was.
How devastating for the family though losing a 5 year old at the same time.

[Reason]

Who?? This must suck.....
Please tell me you are not serious... You've owned Subarus and don't know who Colin is? Come on, really??.

No, I don't follow rally racing. If I say Roger Federer would you know who I'm talking about?

[dropdfocus]

Yeah, he's a tennis star. But in the line of sports, tennis bores me as does basketball. Soccer, Moto GP racing, WRC racing, SCCA racing are the sports I follow.

[belladonna]

one of many to come tribute videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p797oSbV3to

[belladonna]

for those of you interested in making a donation, nasioc has come up with a tribute decal...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/announcement.php?f=68

[deadlydave]

for those of you interested in making a donation, nasioc has come up with a tribute decal...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/announcement.php?f=68

I like it, well-done simple design. I'll be buying a pair.

[dropdfocus]

NASIOC is also asking that people do not purchase the ones being sold on eBay because they are not linked to the sale of them from the forum. It is likely someone looking to make some quick cash after they "borrowed" the design. NASIOC went through Subaru of America to make contact with the McRae family & receive their ok on creating decals to sell. Once they are all sold, the proceeds will be sent to the McRae family to donate to a cause of their choosing.

[rougeben83]

Yeah its for a good cause. I wonder if we can order it with a clear background and in different sizes.

I was thinking of something even simpler - just a '555' in black underneath the 'subaru' on my trunklid...

[Huffer]

I was thinking of something even simpler - just a '555' in black underneath the 'subaru' on my trunklid...

You do know that "555" has NOTHING to do with McCrae as a driver, and is simply the brand of cigarettes that co-sponsored the Subaru WRC campaign, right?

[rougeben83]

Yes but it was the most distinctive part of his ride's livery. Aside from world rally blue. People think of McRae's best years, it was in a blue subaru...with the yellow 555 plastered on the side.

I COULD sport a scottish flag on my trunklid, but it would look weird with an asian guy driving behind the wheel, now wouldn't it ? :lol:

[Huffer]

I would go with a "WRC Champion McRae 5-8-68 – 15-9-07" type decal strip.

[Sarra]

It is ironic, I started downloading WRC year reviews just days before he died. The 1993, 1995, and a few other years... It has been so sad, seeing him win in 1995, and knowing that he isn't around to win anymore...