Declan Fraser was getting ready to drive at breakneck speeds round Australia’s most well-known racetrack when every little thing he owned was engulfed in flames in a hearth at a luxurious Gold Coast house.
Out of every little thing the Supercar driver misplaced whereas trackside at Mount Panorama, there’s one assortment that he’ll miss greater than anything.
“All my helmets, from my go-karts by means of to my championship profitable ones … that stuff’s not replaceable,” Fraser mentioned.
“There have been trophies and issues like that, and they are often changed however for me in a memorabilia sense — as a driver our entire identification is our helmet,” he mentioned.
The house of Declan Fraser’s household mates in Hope Island on the northern Gold Coast, which burnt down on Saturday. (ABC Information)
It took seven fireplace crews a number of hours to regulate the blaze, which destroyed the luxurious Hope Island house 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 mates Darren and Di Gould.
Supercar driver Declan Fraser was residing with household mates in Hope Island for the previous six months. (Provided by Tempo Photographs)
Fraser’s mother and father advised him in regards to the fireplace in his trackside trailer because the group 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 foremost concern was their security and ensuring they have been OK,” Fraser mentioned.
“On the finish of the day, every little thing’s materialistic and as a lot as I’ve misplaced lots of stuff they usually’ve additionally misplaced lots of stuff, everybody continues to be right here and secure and that’s actually the one factor that issues.”
Fraser mentioned the information performed on his thoughts, however he was glad to have been advised up-front as a substitute of discovering out by different means.
“It made it tough to refocus however by the point I bought to race I used to be able to go and at the back of my thoughts I used to be doing it for that household … they have been the driving pressure.”
Declan Fraser says his irreplaceable race helmets have been destroyed within the blaze. (Provided by Tempo Photographs)
Driving with Andre Heimgartner, Fraser’s group 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 a giant factor after racing for 1,000 kilometres,” he mentioned.
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.
Mr Jones mentioned he was glad that Fraser’s mother and father advised him right away, so he may deal with his race on Sunday.
He mentioned 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 just personal and solely have the garments in your again and what’s in your suitcase,” Jones mentioned.
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 gained … they’re kind of a bit of you,” he mentioned.
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 hearth, Fraser mentioned he understood “it was mainly a matter of minutes and the entire place was alight”.
“The Goulds are household mates… I’ve identified their son Matt since I used to be little in go-karts,” he mentioned
“They’re essentially the most wonderful folks you possibly can come throughout and are deserving of the world, so to have this occur to them is simply devastating.”
Now, because the Supercar sequence rolls on to its subsequent vacation spot, the racing neighborhood is getting behind Fraser.
“We have got such a superb help community in pit lane … from the followers, the chums and different groups, the help has been wonderful,” he mentioned.
“I’ve had lots of affords of locations simply to sleep whereas I determine myself.”
Fraser will head to Sydney to race the GT3 Mercedes this weekend and return house to the Gold Coast in a fortnight for the GC500.
The reason for the home fireplace continues to be being investigated.
