Fatal crash at California Speedway Options

[CMC #37]

Doing 150 in a CONVERTABLE with stock seat belts and a helmet is I.N.S.A.N.E.... ph34r.gif

Absobleepinglutely!

I was glad to read about your safety plans guys! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

[SVTHuh]

I plan on adding an autopower weld in 6 point to my car, and I already have the harnesses.. When I hit the track I drive with a M98 approved helmet and a collar.. not much else. I would love to get a hans, but I don't see how totally necessary it would be considering I hit the track hopefully 1-2 times a year, but I guess it couldnt hurt!

[CMC #37]

I would love to get a hans, but I don't see how totally necessary it would be considering I hit the track hopefully 1-2 times a year, but I guess it couldnt hurt!

Definitely not hurt, just decreases the odds you will be hurt! Glad you are wearing a neck collar- so many folks don't even do that! Only your wallet will hurt spending $ on safety and that is something that is recoverable. You, not so easy!

[tom97ss]

Reminded me of a post i placed last year. This is what scares the most .... having cars at the power levels they are + lack of racing safty + Lack of high speed experience overall on the track

http://frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?act=ST&...&f=1&t=2838&hl=

[trackbird]

From a post on Corner Carvers:

http://corner-carvers.com/forums/showpost....73&postcount=71

This was posted earlier today on the F-list;

>From a posting on the Porsche Owners Club bulletin board by someone named Johninrsf:

Just to clarify what happened, I spoke to someone this evening who was there as Chief Driving Instructor and learned the following:
(1) The oval was not in use. They were only using the infield.
(2) The accident took place just past the bridge by a small access road that is used to enter the track from the pit, if you're only using the infield.
(3) Ben [the driver] was allegedly going over 160 mph after the bridge --this is pretty incredible for such a relatively short straight following such a slow turn.
(4) Participants were told to stay to the right just in case traffic was entering from the pit to the left.
(5) Ben was to the left, not the right.
(6) Ben was in the midst of an extra lap (they weren't supposed to take) after his run group had finished.
(7) The individual who organized the event was directing cars from the pit to the track and probably made a mistake in letting another car out when Ben was still on the track --he probably, mistakenly thought everyone was off the track as they were supposed to have been.

[Rob Hood]

My prayers are with their families; such a tragic loss.

This is precisely why I will have a full cage car the next time I hit the track, plus all the other personal safety equipment.

I would hope that event organizers would count cars for each run group and ensure ALL cars are off the track at the prescribed time.

[Crazy Canuck]

...
I am sure somehow this wiil impact all of us because I am sure a lawsuit is sure to follow.

I doubt it... don't everyone sign a waiver at the beginning of every event ?
This is very sad, but trying to sue the track will just bring more aggrevation and pain, unless they are strictly after money.

[Crazy Canuck]

From a post on Corner Carvers:

http://corner-carvers.com/forums/showpost....73&postcount=71

This was posted earlier today on the F-list;

>From a posting on the Porsche Owners Club bulletin board by someone named Johninrsf:

Just to clarify what happened, I spoke to someone this evening who was there as Chief Driving Instructor and learned the following:
(1) The oval was not in use. They were only using the infield.
(2) The accident took place just past the bridge by a small access road that is used to enter the track from the pit, if you're only using the infield.
(3) Ben [the driver] was allegedly going over 160 mph after the bridge --this is pretty incredible for such a relatively short straight following such a slow turn.
(4) Participants were told to stay to the right just in case traffic was entering from the pit to the left.
(5) Ben was to the left, not the right.
(6) Ben was in the midst of an extra lap (they weren't supposed to take) after his run group had finished.
(7) The individual who organized the event was directing cars from the pit to the track and probably made a mistake in letting another car out when Ben was still on the track --he probably, mistakenly thought everyone was off the track as they were supposed to have been.

just to really show how important it is to follow protocoles and what instructors/organizers tell you.
They don't do so to piss people off, but mainly for safety/survival of all.
It's a very sad story, and I feel sorry for their families loss, but it seems that the guy was looking for it.

Now, my next mods (been in plans for quite awhile):
fire-suit
fire-extinguisher
neck-protector
upgrade my roll-bar to a 6-pt
race-seat + harness

All this will be done before I start doing faster events than AutoX.
Only live once.

[robz71lm7]

This just goes to show how technology is propelling street cars to insane speeds that they are not safe to be driven at. A lowly Z06 is a good example.

It used to be you modified your car and as it got faster you had to add a lot of safety gear. Now they need it in stock configuration.

I'll definately add a decent 6 pt if I get into open tracking.

[trackbird]

This just goes to show how technology is propelling street cars to insane speeds that they are not safe to be driven at. A lowly Z06 is a good example.

It used to be you modified your car and as it got faster you had to add a lot of safety gear. Now they need it in stock configuration.

I'll definately add a decent 6 pt if I get into open tracking.

I'm not sure that is a fair assessment. I mean, it is correct to a point, but I'm not sure I fully agree with the thought process.

You can get in "big" trouble in a Geo Metro at it's 78 mph top speed (roughly). The car lacks the suspension and brakes to truly be capable at that speed. I'm not saying it will explode as soon as you clear 75 mph, just that it will go plenty fast to be fatal.

A Z06 is an extremely capable car. It is far safer at 130 mph than a Metro is at 80 (at least in my opinion). The point is, you can overdrive anything and the results can be similar. If I were open tracking a Metro, I'd want a roll bar/cage just the same as a Z06. I think you need to consider safety gear based on the event more than the vehicle.

My mostly stock 1989 Formula with a TBI drivetrain would run roughly 140 mph. Would it hold up to an accident at that speed? Not likely. It was rated at 170 hp....

If I was going to spend any time on a track in that car, it needed a cage/roll bar (in my opinion). That's not to take anything away from the fact that you can always write a check for a very fast car. The difference is that they are much cheaper these days. In the mid '80's a Ferrari Testarossa would run 181 mph and cost over $100K. Now, you can buy a Camaro (ok, you could) or a Corvette that will run very close to 170 (unrestricted) for far less (a base Z28 was in the mid to low 20k range). The cost of speed has come down, that's all.

[rmackintosh]

I agree Kevin,

In today's "let's not take ANY responsability for ANYTHING" society, it is too easy to blame the car, or the track, or the sanctioning body for that matter. Fact of the matter is, 9 times out of 10 it is the nut behind the wheel who was responsible/"in control". The cars are just tools, and the fact that they are getting better and better is a GOOD thing....the fact that UNDERQUALIFIED people want to take them out and drive them WAY OVER THEIR HEADS is the problem....not saying that was the case here, but it happens a ton...

[robz71lm7]

I'm in no way blaming the car or not saying it isn't the fault of the driver. I just think if you're going to run like that you should have proper safety equipment.

You still cannot control what other drivers do. That is why we were seatbelts and install roll bars/cages-to protect us from what we cannot control.

[rmackintosh]

I'm in no way blaming the car or not saying it isn't the fault of the driver. I just think if you're going to run like that you should have proper safety equipment.

You still cannot control what other drivers do. That is why we were seatbelts and install roll bars/cages-to protect us from what we cannot control.

...totally agree... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)