Rip #96

[jlevie]

I'm okay, but the car is done for. I was punted by a Miata in T4 at Road Atlanta in a NASA race on this past Saturday. In case you don't know, that is the entry into the esses and is a pretty high speed section of the track with walls that are really close.

This was just after being released from medical

Fortunately the first big hit was on the rear

The front took the second hit on the wall

[nando]

ouch! looks like it held up pretty well considering.

no injuries? how did the miata fare? I hate miatas too. ;)

[FredK]

HOLY SMOKES!

I'm glad to see you standing after an incident like that. The rear took a pretty huge hit!

[E30_Pare]

well look at the bright side.. at least you have a reason to start a new e30 project. lets see pics of that miata!

[jlevie]

I never saw the Miata afterwards, but based on how light the contact felt I'd hazard a guess that it had little more than scuffed paint. Other than being really beat , there were no injuries.

According to my GPS log, the contact occurred at a speed of 86mph. I went both feet in as the car spun and hit the wall 2 seconds later. The first hit was at 63mph and .3 seconds later the second hit was at 57mph. It took 3 more seconds of sliding through the grass before the car came to a stop.

I'll pick up an 88 325is that has a good body/interior this weekend. The engine isn't running (probable head gasket problem) and a few minor parts have been robbed off of it, but the rest of the car is believed to be in good condition. I'll get it stripped, stuff moved over from the 96, suspension rebuilt, etc, and the cage will go in on the 7th of Sep.

[asubimmer]

doesn't look like there is much point to those 10mph metal bumpers on the track...

Sorry bout your car though. Just be glad that you walked away from it!

[moatilliatta]

is that you in the pic?

Glad youre ok.

NVM: just read the thread again.

[M-technik-3]

Ouch but the car and the passenger compartment held together. Glad to see your not phased and quit racing. Did the Miata driver say he was sorry later? He had to know after the yellow went out.

[jlevie]

The cabin sustained no detectable damage, largely because of the cage. The rear crush stopped at the rear down tubes. Interestingly, I did have a spare in the car (to make weight and add weight to the rear). It did nothing in the way of absorbing energy. Instead the tub the spare sits in ripped away from the trunk floor and it and the spare were just hanging down.

The other driver did come by and say he was sorry, but didn't go so far as to admit that the incident was his fault. There is a video shot from a 944 behind us that clearly shows a lack of good judgment on his part and blatant disregard for the passing rules. He was sent home Sunday morning.

I presume the yellow came out, but not for long at all. They red flagged the course because it was; a) really bad hits with a high probability of injury; and b) the car was in a really bad place.

[87e30]

Sorry to see the crash but definitely glad that you're okay!

(IS insurance type stuff out the window on the track? So people can just plow you and not be responsible?)

[Danny]

Tough old goat aren't ya? ;)

[jlevie]

There are policies that will cover driver schools, but as far as I know insurance for racers is prohibitive except for pro teams. Sometimes the other driver will offer to help pay for repairs, but there is no requirement that they do so. In most cases it works out that you pay for the damage to your car, regardless of who might have been at fault.

I figure that was a $10,000 race.

[87e30]

There are policies that will cover driver schools, but as far as I know insurance for racers is prohibitive except for pro teams. Sometimes the other driver will offer to help pay for repairs, but there is no requirement that they do so. In most cases it works out that you pay for the damage to your car, regardless of who might have been at fault.

I figure that was a $10,000 race.

That's understandable, but unfortunate. Comes with the territory I suppose.

At least you seem to be handling it well.

[Dave]

Wow, Jim. Sorry to hear about/see that. Glad you are okay.

[RoDo]

Wow! I'll add another glad you're okay thought. That looks like some real force went into the hit on back. Yikes!