Racing is dangerous.

[ELVA164]

Serious question though, is HPDE just driving kinda faster on a track? Any times, grouping, anything like that? I mean 8/10 is pretty quick, relatively. It's basically just practice, I guess?

[James Crivellone]

I guess I don't really...get HPDEs, if I'm honest. If you can go out there in a t-shirt and shorts, you're either not taking any risks at all or you're taking far too many. The general "you," not you specifically.

HPDE's are also completely different than racing (obviously)

I race as well, ICSCC, BMW Club Racing, etc.. and my mentality in the race car is completely different compared to taking my M5 out for a nice track day. 8/10's I consider my max with a street car on the track, maybe 9/10's if I'm feeling it without a passenger, however the seatbelts in a factory car just don't hold me in well enough to really have the control I feel is required to really push a street car to a controllable and safe limit, plus we want to drive the thing home at the end of the day.

On the racecar, I have two fire systems, 6 point harnesses, window and center safety nets, full nomex, hans, yadda yadda, and only with that setup will I ever push to a qual/race limit.

What I love about racing:
1) Its a total rush and for me comforting
2) You get to push yourself, your car, to the ragged edge, hell we've interlocked mirrors sliding into a corner before, very fun
3) Makes me a better drive on the street, and satisfies my drive fast need

What I love about HPDE's
1) I don't need to trailer anything, seriously racing with a dedicated car is a logistical nightmare, especially with a 32 foot trailer
2) You show up, you put on a helmet, you go fast, get some seat time in, and you drive home
3)Like racing, makes me a better driver, I know more about every street car of mine thanks to HPDE's compared to anytime on the street.

Now, with all of that said, I know the risk every time I get into the car, I've been hit, I've had my accidents, have always walked away (so far....). Racing requires a huge amount of respect, not only can you get yourself in trouble, you can always kill the guy next to you, in a car that's 30+ years old going 120+ MPH

[nando]

Not everyone can afford a "real" race car. It's still fun, it's still good experience, and still safer than driving like an idiot on the street.

also, if you're pushing it that hard with zero safety equipment, you're doing it wrong..

[ELVA164]

I guess I don't really...get HPDEs, if I'm honest. If you can go out there in a t-shirt and shorts, you're either not taking any risks at all or you're taking far too many. The general "you," not you specifically.

[nando]

Motorcycle helmets should not be allowed for use in any car, as they are built differently and do not have the same amount of fire retardant. Get a car helmet.

well, duh. Unless you've got a full nomex suit, an fire rated helmet isn't going to be very effective. :p

They're fine for that purpose - there's not really any difference in the crash protection, but again, without a full fireproof suit a fireproof helmet isn't going to help either.

Most HPDE's don't require fire proof clothing - or a harness, cage, race seat, or HANS. You could show up in a T shirt and shorts. I'm just saying, I'm not sure I want to take that risk anymore.

[ELVA164]

Yeah. Jeez. Sounds like Summit Point with the burms which can launch a car. A good friend of ours lost part of his finger amongst other injuries when his car launched into the trees after turn 9.

[LateFan]

Good - off to rehab and PT, that's good.

A guy on the AlfaBB (who also has an E30 I believe) was in the Spokane heat. This is his description:

"Some vintage racing fans will find out, if they don't already know, that a racer died at his race in Spokane. I was in his group. Second to last race of the weekend on Sunday. He was racing an Elva Mk7s (with BMW power). He was a front runner in our mixed group. Halfway through the first lap, where he was already a few seconds ahead of me, I saw a cloud of dust, and large chunks of rock and gravel on the track, but no wreckage. We were given a full course caution with pace car for a couple laps before the session was called off.

What I learned later was that there was a suspected mechanical failure, possible front suspension, that led to his car suddenly veering off to the infield of the track at the end of the back straight. There's an embankment there, and it catapulted him high up in the air, barrel rolling multiple times, landing deep in the infield and out of sight from the track. He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead.

I like the Spokane track a lot. It might be my favorite, but it's unforgiving. I know of 2 racers who have died there, one in a car and another on a motorcycle, and several who have been maimed. This is just in my experience with this track in car and motorcycle racing over the last 10 years. It's better now than in the past, but in my opinion it definitely needs improvement in run-off space and fewer embankments."

[ELVA164]

Scary - after that guy posted about his brakes going out at 110mph, and thankfully he wasn't seriously hurt - I'm not sure how much I want to track my E30 these days without proper safety equipment. 30 year old sport seats and a motorcycle helmet aren't going to do much good..

Motorcycle helmets should not be allowed for use in any car, as they are built differently and do not have the same amount of fire retardant. Get a car helmet.

Good to hear that your pops is on the mend.

Safety is super important, but even with all the boxes checked, things can still go horribly wrong. Someone in Spokane this last weekend didn't fair as well while running a '64 Elva.

I have been in a few incidents while racing and been front row to some pretty bad ones - though most, the drivers have walked away from. Anything that is that exciting comes with some risk, and I think we are all very much aware of it. But that doesn't mean we can ignore safety - and as you have said in your example, it's come a long, long way..

Hoping for your dad to be back in the swing of things soon, wish him well!

I read about the guy in the MkVII...very sad. Don't know any specifics, but it doesn't really matter at the moment.

Thanks again for all the well wishes, everyone. Dad walked for the first time today and he was transferred to a physical rehab center for the next few days.

[djjerme]

Good to hear that your pops is on the mend.

Safety is super important, but even with all the boxes checked, things can still go horribly wrong. Someone in Spokane this last weekend didn't fair as well while running a '64 Elva.

I have been in a few incidents while racing and been front row to some pretty bad ones - though most, the drivers have walked away from. Anything that is that exciting comes with some risk, and I think we are all very much aware of it. But that doesn't mean we can ignore safety - and as you have said in your example, it's come a long, long way..

Hoping for your dad to be back in the swing of things soon, wish him well!

[nando]

Scary - after that guy posted about his brakes going out at 110mph, and thankfully he wasn't seriously hurt - I'm not sure how much I want to track my E30 these days without proper safety equipment. 30 year old sport seats and a motorcycle helmet aren't going to do much good..

[gofredo50]

Glad to hear he's making progress. Thanks for spreading the good word on safety.

[ELVA164]

Thanks, everyone. They tried to get Dad up yesterday but he was too dizzy, so today is take 2. He's got a sling for his arm and a back brace for when he's out of bed. Pain level seems to be okay thanks to the meds.

[roguetoaster]

Wishing your father a full recovery, and that this doesn't stop him from enjoying time on track or fixing old race cars.

[estoguy]

Sorry to hear and hope your dad recovers soon!

[parkerbink]

Sorry this happened, hope he is as comfortable as possible and makes a full and speedy recovery.