Dennis Andreassend flips his new 3 litre Class 1 race car (ex. Tony McCall) at Canterbury's Wade Densem Memorial Shortcourse Race on Sunday - Photo by Nigel Sutherland. Picture courtesy of www.dirt.org.nz

Andreassend in trouble

Dennis Andreassend required hospital treatment after a major crash in the first Class 1 heat race of the The Wade Densem Memorial held on Sunday 23rd November at the Canterbury Off Road Club Track at Weedons Ross Road, West Melton.

Daniel Powell (NZ1) was there. "The crash occurred on the first heat, first jump on the first lap. It was about 70 meters from the start. I was first on site (as I was in the car gridded directly behind him) and first marshall on site was the starter (that’s how close to the start we were!). The car nose dived into the clay did one and a half summersaults (hard impacts at each end each time) and completed a half twist before ending up on its roof. Dennis is reported to be okay, although he did have a trip to A and E. He’s torn some muscles in his back."
"The car has extensive rear cage damage, pushed and crushed the exhaust system into the engine, destroyed one front shock tower and at least one of the front shocks.  The battery also broke free. Dennis also ripped the streering wheel from the column. I didn’t have much of a look at the car but I do understand the damage to be extensive but repairable."