Latest news with #ArgyllRally
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Dad's miracle escape from death after car ploughs into tree during 100mph race
Michael Moates, 24, recounted his astonishing survival following the terrifying crash, where he narrowly avoided death in a major rally competition A young dad has miraculously survived after his car smashed into a tree at 100mph during a high-speed rally race. Michael Moates recounted his astonishing survival following the terrifying crash, where he narrowly avoided death in a significant rally competition. The co-driver found himself trapped and in excruciating pain, hanging upside down just moments after his vehicle veered off course, spun out, and flipped over before colliding with the tree. The 24-year-old, from Aberdeen, sustained a fractured spine and collarbone but believes that a last-minute twist of the car averted what would have been a deadly direct impact. His fellow driver, Justin Gunning, emerged without a scratch. The harrowing incident occurred at the Argyll Rally, which featured cars speeding through the centre of Dunoon on Friday, June 20, reports the Daily Record. Emergency services were quick to arrive at the scene near Ardtaraig, about 10 miles from Dunoon. In a stroke of luck, the pair narrowly missed a fiery catastrophe as both the fuel tank and engine remained intact. Father-of-two Michael expressed his gratitude for being alive, saying: "I'm very lucky to still be here. If the car hadn't spun we would have hit the tree head on and I don't think either of us would have survived." He added: "I was knocked unconscious by the force. When I came to, I could feel that I was being crushed. My seat had been compressed and the back of the car had come down on us. "The force had also snapped my seat in two." Determined to survive, he thought: "I just said to myself 'it's not my time'. All I could think about was getting out of the car. I knew I needed urgent help." Heroic onlookers dashed to the wreckage to rescue Michael from the remains of the Renault Clio. Paramedics were on the scene swiftly, with an air ambulance dispatched. Michael received emergency treatment at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital's major trauma unit. Reflecting on his experience, he said: "It was like something out of a TV show, but I was in the middle of it I remember landing and the paramedic told me there was about to be a lot of commotion around me. "I couldn't believe it when I went into the trauma centre. There were doctors and nurses everywhere." He expressed his disbelief at the turn of events: "I was just in shock at that point. I never thought doing the sport I love would end up like this." Michael's scans showed two smashed vertebrae in his spine and a fractured collarbone, yet miraculously he had no internal bleeding, which he attributes to the superior safety features of the rally car. Emergency surgery was performed to place metal supports in his spine, with the doctors anticipating a lengthy hospital stay. Defying expectations, Michael commenced walking only three days post-surgery and was relocated to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on June 27. By July 2, Wednesday, Michael was back home with his partner Kirsty and their two young lads, Oscar-James, aged two, and four-year old Noah-Flynn. He shared an emotional clip showing him leaving the hospital for his car, crutches in hand and donning a back brace. Reflecting on his rapid progress, he commented: "The speed of my recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. I was warned I could be in the hospital for months. I started properly walking again just a week after the crash. That was an emotional moment for me. I was just so determined to get home. "I was in a critical condition 12 days ago, so to be able to walk out of the hospital is amazing. I was in tears. It was a really emotional moment for me. "I shouldn't have been able to come home but I did. I think someone was watching over me that day. All the team of doctors, surgeons and nurses were incredible. I can't thank everyone enough, from the on-site medics, air ambulance crew and spectators who helped. "Everyone has just shown so much support and I'll never forget it."
Daily Record
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Dad lucky to be alive after car ploughs into tree during 100mph race
Michael Moates has told of his miracle escape from a 100mph smash in which he narrowly escaped death during a major rally event. A rally driver dad is lucky to be alive after his car ploughed into a tree during a 100mph race. Michael Moates has told of his miracle escape from the horror crash in which he narrowly escaped death during a major rally event. The co-driver was left hanging upside down and in agony seconds after his vehicle careered off the track, spun and flipped before hitting the tree. The 24-year-old, from Aberdeen, suffered a broken back and collar bone, but said a last second spin of the car prevented what would have been a fatal head-on collision. The other driver, Justin Gunning, walked away unscathed. The shocking accident unfolded during the Argyll Rally which saw cars race through Dunoon town centre on Friday, June 20. Emergency services rushed to the track near Ardtaraig around 10 miles from Dunoon. Remarkably the duo avoided a fireball disaster with the fuel tank and engine left intact. Dad-of-two, Michael told the Record: 'I'm very lucky to still be here. If the car hadn't spun we would have hit the tree head on and I don't either of us would have survived. 'I was knocked unconscious by the force. When I came to, I could feel that I was being crushed. My seat had been compressed and the back of the car had come down on us. 'The force had also snapped my seat in two. 'I just said to myself 'it's not my time'. All I could think about was getting out of the car. I knew I needed urgent help. Brave spectators ran over to haul Michael from the mangled Renault Clio Paramedics quickly arrived with an air ambulance sent to the scene. Michael was whisked to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he was sent to the major trauma unit. He said: 'It was like something out of a TV show, but I was in the middle of it. 'I remember landing and the paramedic told me there was about to be a lot of commotion around me. 'I couldn't believe it when I went into the trauma centr e. There were doctors and nurses everywhere. 'I was just in shock at that point. I never thought doing the sport I love would end up like this.' Scans revealed that Michael had shattered two vertebrates in his back and broken his collar bone. Incredibly, he suffered no internal bleeding as a result of the horrendous accident which he puts down to the enhanced safety measures of the rally cars. He was given emergency surgery to fit metal plates in his back with doctors fearing he'd spend months in hospital. However, Michael was taking his first steps just three days after surgery and was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Friday, June 27. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. On Wednesday July 2, Michael returned home to partner Kirsty and their two sons Oscar-James, 2, and Noah-Flynn, 4. He shared a moving video of the moment he walked out from the hospital to his car supported by a back brace and using crutches. He said: 'The speed of my recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. "I was warned I could be in the hospital for months. I started properly walking again just a week after the crash. That was an emotional moment for me. I was just so determined to get home." 'I was in a critical condition 12 days ago, so to be able to walk out of the hospital is amazing. I was in tears. It was a really emotional moment for me. 'I shouldn't have been able to come home but I did. I think someone was watching over me that day." He added: 'All the team of doctors, surgeons and nurses were incredible. I can't thank everyone enough, from the on-site medics, air ambulance crew and spectators who helped. 'Everyone has just shown so much support and I'll never forget it.'
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
The town centre that turns into a 100mph racetrack
For one night each year, the normally quiet main street of Dunoon is transformed into a seaside town's Argyll Street and surrounding roads are closed, and rally drivers from across the UK take their turn racing around them reaching speeds of up to Argyll Rally is currently Scotland's only motor sporting event that sees racing take part on a town centre event returns this weekend for its fifth year and this time the start list features five local teams who have been inspired to take up the sport due to the local event. On a normal day, if 37-year-old Matt Youden saw a car speeding through Dunoon, he'd be forced to take action as a local police this weekend it is his turn to told BBC Scotland News: "When you're in a rally car, strapped in with your helmet on, it's a totally different feeling to driving about in my normal 4x4 car."It certainly is a wee bit different to going for your morning rolls."Matt grew up around rally driving as his dad used to race, but it wasn't until he was stationed in Dunoon he decided to take up the hobby for action takes place over two days. As well as the Dunoon town centre stage, drivers race on routes in some of the Cowal peninsula's most scenic locations including routes in Glendaruel and said he doesn't pay much attention to the speedometer during a race, but he expects to reach speeds of up to if the adrenaline is comparable to a high-speed police chase, Matt replied: "No, because there's usually a lot of paperwork at the end of that." The town's veteran racer is David Robertson, 53, who is competing for the third and raised in Dunoon, he took up rally driving as a result of watching the event and said racing in his home town was special."I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for the Argyll Rally coming to the town," David told BBC Scotland News."You know, the feeling of everybody cheering you when you come round that first corner. It's just special, it brings a tear to your eye."The rules state local drivers aren't supposed to try out the routes prior to a pre-arranged recce before the event - to make sure they aren't given an unfair David, a local courier, spends every day driving on Dunoon's roads, so he feels like he knows the roads like the back of his said this is a bonus, but driving in his van is completely different to his Ford Fiesta rally car."Every time I come up Argyll Street street, I'm analysing the road, thinking about what's the quickest line," he said."When I'm working, I'll spot a pothole and think, I'll need to watch out for that on rally night."He is piloted by his wife Jen, who gives him instructions throughout the race. As well as locals, over 100 of the country's fastest drivers head to the region for the draws hundreds of spectators but some locals aren't in favour of the event saying it is unsafe and road closures are say that strict safety protocols are implemented to ensure the safety of drivers and spectators, and the event is good for the local Moulson from Dunoon Presents told BBC Scotland News the event was worth around £500,000 to the local area through visitor spend, and it has a "tangible community feel" to it.
