Crashes are part and parcel of speedway racing. In the 50s and early 60s TQs and midgets had no roll bar, let alone roll cage. Even when roll bars were introduced, they protected the tail of the car more than the driver. Barry B began racing in that era and was, in fact, one of the last to drive with a roll cage (in the Bruin VW). In the hey-day of speedway, in the 60s and 70s, there were many crashes photographed (particularly in Sydney) and a considerable number were so spectacular they made the front page of national newspapers across Australia and New Zealand. Sadly, some crashes were fatal because without a roll cage, severe head and neck injuries were a definite possibility when a car rolled. Crashes which today would be considered an innocuous slow roll could result in critical or fatal injuries. Even so, there were many miraculous and unbelievable escapes with bruises and abrasions and a very bent car being the main outcomes.

Barry had his share of crashes throughout his career. His razor sharp reflexes and great anticipation meant he avoided a lot more. He took an early "big one" in the ex-Lloyd Nutt V8-60 in the 1962-63 season at the Springs. While attempting an outside pass, the car took a series of spectacular rolls and landed upside down. Barry spent a week in hospital with head and neck injuries and was out of racing for a month or so. During the 1968-69 season Barry rolled the Capitol Motors Chevy II in spectacular style at Liverpool. He escaped with only facial cuts. The crash was, however, captured by two notable speedway photographers and action shots of Barry in #27 flying through the air were printed in a large number of Australasian newspapers. Barry had many rolls in the Danny Lendich dubs. In the 1980-81 season he copped a 3 week suspension for telling a Speedway Control Board Steward where to "get-off" after he flipped the LTC VW. Barry was rim riding and it was a spectacular series of flips which the Steward suggested was mainly of his own making! In the 1981-82 season he had a really bad one on the front straight at Western Springs while trying another outside pass. He spent several nights in hospital with a badly broken arm and had to take a month off racing (before returning with his arm still in plaster). In the first Shores sprintcar, Barry had massive shunt with Kevin McGreal on the front straight at the Springs in the 1983-84 season. Barry was OK but the sprintcar was somewhat second-hand and needed a lot of work to repair. Photos of the crash appeared in many NZ newspapers and also made the cover of the USA publication "National Speed Sport".

Following are some of the best-known crash photographs which mainly originate from Sydney. Some of the escapes are miraculous.