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	During pre-qualifying for the ] he sustained multiple bone fractures after his car's throttle stuck open and he crashed into a wall. His deceleration from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 in) is thought to be one of the highest ]s in human history. Purley scored no championship points during his Formula One career.		During pre-qualifying for the ] he sustained multiple bone fractures after his car's throttle stuck open and he crashed into a wall. His deceleration from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 in) is thought to be one of the highest ]s in human history. Purley scored no championship points during his Formula One career.

	At the ], ~~Purley~~ abandoned his own race and attempted to save the life of fellow driver ], whose car was upside down and on fire following an accident. Purley was awarded the ] for his courage in trying to save Williamson, who suffocated in the blaze. Purley died in a plane crash, having retired from motorsport and taken up ], in 1985.		Purley is best known for his actions at the ],<ref>David Tremayne, Racers Apart: Memories of Motorsport Heroes, MRP, 1991, p.293</ref> where he abandoned his own race and attempted to save the life of fellow driver ], whose car was upside down and on fire following a serious accident. Purley was awarded the ] for his courage in trying to save Williamson, who suffocated in the blaze. Purley died in a plane crash, having retired from motorsport and taken up ], in 1985.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
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	\| video1 = {{YouTube\|c8t_QzZJn7M\|Footage of Purley attempting to save Roger Williamson trapped in his overturned and burning car}}		\| video1 = {{YouTube\|c8t_QzZJn7M\|Footage of Purley attempting to save Roger Williamson trapped in his overturned and burning car}}
	}}		}}
	At the ], upon witnessing a crash which left fellow British driver ~~and friend~~ ] trapped in his overturned and burning car, Purley abandoned his own race and attempted to save Williamson, who was participating in only his second Formula One race. Purley later recalled that upon arriving at the scene, he heard Williamson crying for help as the fire began to take hold. Purley's efforts to right the car and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers, in spite of attempts to encourage them, and other passing drivers, to come to his aid; Williamson died from ]tion. The marshals were not wearing ] and the passing drivers assumed that Purley was attempting to extinguish his own car, having escaped a fiery crash unharmed.		At the ], upon witnessing a crash which left fellow British driver ] trapped in his overturned and burning car, Purley abandoned his own race and attempted to save Williamson, who was participating in only his second Formula One race. Purley later recalled that upon arriving at the scene, he heard Williamson crying for help as the fire began to take hold. Purley's efforts to right the car and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers, in spite of attempts to encourage them, and other passing drivers, to come to his aid; Williamson died from ]tion. The marshals were not wearing ] and the passing drivers assumed that Purley was attempting to extinguish his own car, having escaped a fiery crash unharmed.

	A sequence of pictures taken by photographer Cor Mooij of the accident won the Photo Sequences category of that year's ].<ref></ref> Later, Purley was awarded the ] for his rescue attempt. The story, and film footage of the rescue attempt, feature in a 2010 ] documentary entitled '']''.		A sequence of pictures taken by photographer Cor Mooij of the accident won the Photo Sequences category of that year's ].<ref></ref> Later, Purley was awarded the ] for his rescue attempt. The story, and film footage of the rescue attempt, feature in a 2010 ] documentary entitled '']''.

	Apart from a one-off participation with ] at his ], Purley stayed out of Formula One for a few years, ~~competing~~ ~~instead~~ in ] driving Chevrons and Marches for Hong Kong-based millionaire Bob Harper, and ] where he won the British Championship in 1976 in a Chevron powered by the ] GA 3.4-litre ].		Apart from a one-off participation with ] at his ], Purley stayed out of Formula One for a few years, preferring to compete in ] driving Chevrons and Marches for Hong Kong-based millionaire Bob Harper, and ] where he won the British Championship in 1976 in a Chevron powered by the ] GA 3.4-litre ].
	<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->		<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->

	In 1974 Purley won the ] driving a Trojan-Chevrolet T101, winning again the following year in a Chevron-GA B30.		In 1974 Purley won the ] driving a Trojan-Chevrolet T101, winning again the following year in a Chevron-GA B30.

	He returned to Formula One in 1977 with his own ] chassis designed by ] and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which he suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for ]. He survived an estimated 179.8 ] when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches) after his throttle stuck open and he hit a wall.<ref name="Purley">{{cite web\| author=Anton Sukup\| title=''David PURLEY'' Silverstone crash\| year=1977\| url=http://www.asag.sk/bio/purley.htm\| accessdate=July 31, 2006}}</ref> This was the highest ~~known~~ g-force survived by a human being until in 2003, ]'s crash violence recording system measured 214 g.<ref name="Purley"/><ref>http://www.kennybrack.com/pages/personal-info/2003.html</ref> Purley suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs.		He returned to Formula One in 1977 with his own ] chassis designed by ] and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which he suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for ]. He survived an estimated 179.8 ] when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches) after his throttle became stuck wide open and he hit a wall.<ref name="Purley">{{cite web\| author=Anton Sukup\| title=''David PURLEY'' Silverstone crash\| year=1977\| url=http://www.asag.sk/bio/purley.htm\| accessdate=July 31, 2006}}</ref> This was the highest measured g-force ever survived by a human being (until in 2003, ]'s crash violence recording system measured 214 g).<ref name="Purley"/><ref>http://www.kennybrack.com/pages/personal-info/2003.html</ref> Purley suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs.

	Purley recovered to race again although he confined his activities to the minor ] series of Formula One races in Britain. The remains of Purley's crashed LEC and its replacement are displayed at a museum at ].		Purley recovered to race again although he confined his activities to the minor ] series of Formula One races in Britain. The remains of Purley's crashed LEC and its replacement are displayed at a museum at ].

Revision as of 14:12, 4 September 2014

David Purley
Formula One World Championship career

Born	(1945-01-26)26 January 1945 Bognor Regis, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Died	2 July 1985(1985-07-02) (aged 40) English Channel off Bognor Regis
Nationality	British
Active years	1973–1974, 1977
Teams	LEC, Token
Entries	11 (7 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1973 Monaco Grand Prix
Last entry	1977 British Grand Prix

David Charles Purley, GM (26 January 1945 – 2 July 1985) was a British racing driver born in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, who participated in 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting at Monaco in 1973.

During pre-qualifying for the 1977 British Grand Prix he sustained multiple bone fractures after his car's throttle stuck open and he crashed into a wall. His deceleration from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 in) is thought to be one of the highest G-loads in human history. Purley scored no championship points during his Formula One career.

Purley is best known for his actions at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, where he abandoned his own race and attempted to save the life of fellow driver Roger Williamson, whose car was upside down and on fire following a serious accident. Purley was awarded the George Medal for his courage in trying to save Williamson, who suffocated in the blaze. Purley died in a plane crash, having retired from motorsport and taken up aerobatics, in 1985.

Early life

Purley's father was Charles Purley, the founder of LEC Refrigeration. Birth and death records show that his father's name was originally Puxley but he preferred the name Purley. His mother was Welsh, having been born in the small village of Cwmfelinfach. David went to school at Seaford College and then Dartington Hall School in Devon.

Career

After spending time as an officer in the British Army (he served with the Parachute Regiment in Aden, Yemen), and then racing in various series with an AC Cobra and a Chevron, Purley raced in Formula Three with some success including three wins at Chimay between 1970 and 1972.

In 1973 Purley hired a March and with backing from his family's refrigeration company he made a largely unsuccessful attempt at Formula One.

External videos
Footage of Purley attempting to save Roger Williamson trapped in his overturned and burning car on YouTube

At the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, upon witnessing a crash which left fellow British driver Roger Williamson trapped in his overturned and burning car, Purley abandoned his own race and attempted to save Williamson, who was participating in only his second Formula One race. Purley later recalled that upon arriving at the scene, he heard Williamson crying for help as the fire began to take hold. Purley's efforts to right the car and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers, in spite of attempts to encourage them, and other passing drivers, to come to his aid; Williamson died from asphyxiation. The marshals were not wearing fire resistant clothing and the passing drivers assumed that Purley was attempting to extinguish his own car, having escaped a fiery crash unharmed.

A sequence of pictures taken by photographer Cor Mooij of the accident won the Photo Sequences category of that year's World Press Photo. Later, Purley was awarded the George Medal for his rescue attempt. The story, and film footage of the rescue attempt, feature in a 2010 BBC documentary entitled Grand Prix: The Killer Years.

Apart from a one-off participation with Token at his home Grand Prix in 1974, Purley stayed out of Formula One for a few years, preferring to compete in Formula Two driving Chevrons and Marches for Hong Kong-based millionaire Bob Harper, and Formula 5000 where he won the British Championship in 1976 in a Chevron powered by the Cosworth GA 3.4-litre V6 engine.

In 1974 Purley won the Brighton Speed Trials driving a Trojan-Chevrolet T101, winning again the following year in a Chevron-GA B30.

He returned to Formula One in 1977 with his own LEC chassis designed by Mike Pilbeam and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which he suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for that year's British Grand Prix. He survived an estimated 179.8 g when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches) after his throttle became stuck wide open and he hit a wall. This was the highest measured g-force ever survived by a human being (until in 2003, Kenny Bräck's crash violence recording system measured 214 g). Purley suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs.

Purley recovered to race again although he confined his activities to the minor Aurora AFX series of Formula One races in Britain. The remains of Purley's crashed LEC and its replacement are displayed at a museum at Donington Park.

Following his decision to quit motorsport, Purley moved into competition aerobatics. He died on 2 July 1985 when his Pitts Special aerobatic biplane crashed into the English Channel off Bognor Regis.

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Pos	Pts
1972	Lec Refrigeration Racing	March 722	Ford	MAL 8	THR Ret	HOC Ret	PAU 3	PAL Ret	HOC Ret	ROU NC	ZEL 12	IMO Ret	MAN DNQ	PER	SAL	ALB DNQ	HOC	19th	4
1974	Team Harper	March 742	BMW	BAR	HOC 15	PAU 7†	SAL 2											4th	13
		Chevron B27	BMW					HOC 14		KAR Ret	PER 2	HOC 11	VAL 10
		Chevron B27	Ford						MUG Ret
1975	Masami Kuwashima Racing	March 752	BMW	EST	THR	HOC	NÜR	PAU	HOC Ret	SAL	ROU	MUG	PER	SIL	ZOL	NOG	VAL	-	0

Drivers who finished ahead of Purley but were ineligible for points so Purley scored more points than the position he finished.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	WDC
1973	LEC Refrigeration	March 731	Cosworth V8	ARG	BRA	RSA	ESP	BEL	MON Ret	SWE	FRA	GBR DNS	NED Ret	GER 15	AUT	ITA 9	CAN	USA			NC
1974	Token Racing	Token RJ02	Cosworth V8	ARG	BRA	RSA	ESP	BEL	MON	SWE	NED	FRA	GBR DNQ	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA			NC
1977	LEC Refrigeration	LEC CRP1	Cosworth V8	ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	ESP DNQ	MON	BEL 13	SWE 14	FRA Ret	GBR DNPQ	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	USA	CAN	JPN	NC

References

David Tremayne, Racers Apart: Memories of Motorsport Heroes, MRP, 1991, p.293
see 'Discussion' for BMD information.
World Press Photo
^ Anton Sukup (1977). "David PURLEY Silverstone crash". Retrieved July 31, 2006.
http://www.kennybrack.com/pages/personal-info/2003.html

Books

Tremayne, David (1991). Racers Apart: Memories of motorsport heroes. UK: Motor Racing Publications Ltd. p. 293. ISBN 0-947981-58-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

A David Purley memorial page

Sporting positions
Preceded byTeddy Pilette	British Formula 5000 Champion 1976	Succeeded byNone

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