Vincent Herman

0/0/1872 - 16/9/1907

Record updated

Said to still haunt the banking at Brooklands, Vincent Herman was the first man to die on the track, killed in September 1907. One young boy living near the Byfleet Banking saw 'the figure of a man staggering around with his head half hanging off' and was so severely shocked that he had to be given medical treatment. It was in this area that Captain Toop also crashed in Brocklebank's Peugeot many years ago. Inexplicable footsteps have also been heard in front of the old fire station. Horace Vincent Herman was classified 5th in his fatal race. The crash occured after he had crossed the finish. The yellow Minerva was entered in the name of J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, but it belonged to a syndicate of 4 of whom the deceased was one. Moore-Brabazon was to be married shortly and at the urgent entreaty of his fiancée he gave up the idea of driving the car himself. The vehicle overturned after crossing the finish line by attempting to turn on to the Members Banking at too high a speed. The front wheels collapsed and the car rolled over, pinning Herman beneath it. His mechanic was thrown clear but Herman was fatally injured. To make matters worse a pitched battle took place outside the Clubhouse as BARC officials sought to prevent Press photographers from entering after the stretchers had been taken inside. Vincent was 35 years of age and came from Wargrave, Berkshire. He died at the Hand and Spear Hotel about 8 PM some hours after the crash. His mechanic, named Slade, was also hurt but not seriously.