A granddad was tragically killed at a family party at a race track when he was thrown 12ft from his go kart after another racer crashed into him in the pit lane.
Allan Fairweather was celebrating the 60th birthday of his younger brother, Andrew, when the tragedy happened in front of horrified family members, including his only son Jason.
The 64 year-old died at the scene at Ellough Park Raceway, near Bungay, Suffolk after the collision on September 25.
The opening of his inquest in Bury St Edmunds heard the impact from the collision threw him from his kart and he suffered a traumatic chest injury.
The other driver, believed to be his brother, suffered an arm injury in the collision.
Attempts were made to resuscitate Mr. Fairweather for 30 minutes but he was pronounced dead at 4.15pm.
Assistant Suffolk coroner Dr Dan Sharpstone said: “There was a family event at the race track.
“He was stopped in the pit lane and the car behind hit in to the back of him. The force of this threw Allan from the kart.”
The preliminary cause of death was listed as traumatic chest injury.
Dr Sharpstone adjourned the inquest for a further investigation to take place.
Speaking at the time Mr Fairweather’s son Jason said he believed the death “could have been avoided” and he raised concerns about the lack of seat belts on the karts.
Police said they were liaising with Waveney District Council as an investigation into the death took place.
The karting track reopened shortly after the crash and is operating as usual.
Mr Fairweather, nicknamed Gentleman Jack, is survived by his two brothers, Barry and Andrew Fairweather, son Jason and two grandchildren, Lily, 11, and Alex, 7.
