Declan Fraser was driving at breakneck speeds round Australia’s most well-known racetrack when every little thing he owned was engulfed in flames in a luxurious Gold Coast residence.
Out of every little thing the Supercar driver misplaced whereas racing round Mount Panorama, there may be one assortment that he’ll miss greater than anything.
“All my helmets, from my go-karts by way of to my championship profitable ones … that stuff’s not replaceable,” Fraser stated.
“There have been trophies and issues like that, and they are often changed however for me in a memorabilia sense — as a driver our complete id is our helmet,” he stated.
The house of Declan Fraser’s household associates in Hope Island on the northern Gold Coast, which burnt down on Saturday. (ABC Information)
It took seven hearth crews a number of hours to manage the blaze, which destroyed the luxurious Hope Island residence simply earlier than noon on Saturday.
Initially from Mackay, Fraser had been on the Gold Coast for the previous six months, renting a room with household associates Darren and Di Gould.
Supercar driver Declan Fraser was dwelling with household associates in Hope Island for the previous six months. (Provided by Tempo Photographs)
Fraser’s dad and mom informed him in regards to the hearth in his trackside trailer because the workforce ready for the Bathurst Prime 10 shootout on Saturday.
“[The Goulds] have misplaced every little thing — they’ve misplaced the home and each a part of their life … my primary concern was their security and ensuring they have been OK,” Fraser stated.
“On the finish of the day, every little thing’s materialistic and as a lot as I’ve misplaced numerous stuff and so they’ve additionally misplaced numerous stuff, everybody remains to be right here and protected and that’s actually the one factor that issues.”
Fraser stated the information performed on his thoughts, however he was glad to have been informed up-front as an alternative of discovering out by different means.
“It made it tough to refocus however by the point I received to race I used to be able to go and behind my thoughts I used to be doing it for that household … they have been the driving power.”
Declan Fraser says his irreplaceable race helmets have been destroyed within the blaze. (Provided by Tempo Photographs)
Driving with Andre Heimgartner, Fraser’s workforce had been hoping for a podium end however crossed the road 16th after no gas was put into the automotive in a pit cease mistake.
“It wasn’t the consequence we needed … nevertheless it was good to clearly cross the end line — that is an enormous factor after racing for 1,000 kilometres,” he stated.
Andre Heimgartner, Ray Robson and Declan Fraser at Bathurst on the weekend. (Contributed: Tempo Photographs)
Proprietor of Brad Jones Racing and former driver Brad Jones had 4 supercars competing at Bathurst on the weekend, together with these of Fraser and Heimgartner.
He stated Fraser did a “nice job” of processing the information and persevering with to carry out.
“Think about how devastating it’s to lose every little thing that you simply personal and solely have the garments in your again and what’s in your suitcase,” Jones stated.
He defined {that a} driver’s helmet signified milestones of their journey.
“You look again and you already know which helmet you wore and which championship you received … they’re form of a bit of you,” he stated.
Supercar Driver Declan Fraser with Brad Jones (pink headphones) at Bathurst on the weekend. (Provided by Tempo Photographs)
Whereas he was nonetheless studying in regards to the particulars of the fireplace, Fraser stated he understood “it was mainly a matter of minutes and the entire place was alight”.
“The Goulds are household associates… I’ve recognized their son Matt since I used to be little in go-karts,” he stated
“They’re probably the most wonderful individuals you possibly can come throughout and are deserving of the world, so to have this occur to them is simply devastating.”
Now, because the V8 Supercar collection rolls on to its subsequent vacation spot, the racing group is getting behind Fraser.
“We have such an excellent help community in pit lane … from the followers, the buddies and different groups, the help has been wonderful,” he stated.
“I’ve had numerous presents of locations simply to sleep whereas I work out myself.”
Fraser will head to Sydney to race the GT3 Mercedes this weekend and return residence to the Gold Coast in a fortnight for the GC500.
The reason for the home hearth remains to be being investigated.
