Rip #96

[Moberg12]

Jim after my near miss with Fred at RA in June I have also be rethinking safety. I would love to get a run down on things you would do different as you tear the car apart.

Greg

[jlevie]

So far the list of things that'll be done differently next time looks like:

NASCAR door bars
Foot Protection
Battery relocated to between the shock towers
Full cradle for the fire bottle
RaceTech Viper seat
HANS specific harness

While not my safety related, the exhaust will have one or two tethers so it can't come off the car.

[tim88325is]

Glad to hear you are safe, thanks for the quality posts and info you contribute to this forum.

[namsayin]

ouch :(

sad to see her go down like that.

good luck on what you start next!

hopefully into another e30 :)

[IsItElectric?]

Track days are one thing, W2W racing is another. The risk at any well run HPDE is minimal. Just about the only risk you run at an HPDE would be from making a stupid mistake (like driving beyond your current abilities) or from an equipment failure. Car to car contact in a DE is almost unknown.

I don't have the video yet and it may be a few days before I do have. When I get it I will post it.

Jim,

I totally agree with you RE: W2W vs. HPDE's on safety and incidents. I have seen people ball up their cars at HPDE's, but it's always due to driver error. Better to make those mistakes on track, however, than on public roads putting others at risk.

Things like this are sort of why I've chosen autox for my motorsports fix at the moment. A buddy and I were building a SE30 for awhile but realized the costs were getting high and the potential for something going wrong were very high. Running on a tight budget wouldn't allow us to recover from something like what happened to you.

In any case, sorry about that. The guy in the Miata should probably be penalized in some way. I did an SBRS 3-day @ Road Atlanta, and you're absolutely correct; T4 is NOT the place to make a pass, especially after you're committed to the turn.

[Miatamania]

Damn. That is a lot of damage. :(

I'm assuming it was a smash miata (SM)? Those guys are fucking crazy and more than a few that I've seen should not be driving.

[jlevie]

Yes it was a Spec Miata. It wasn't my first encounter with an SM that showed poor judgment and/or overly aggressive driving. Just the worst. I'd venture to say that there seems to be a cultural problem in that community.

[BimmerTom]

Looks like your Paul Poore Exhaust might make it's way back into the new car? It's already removed... :)

Sorry to see though, and even more disappointing about the SM driver.

Best of luck!
Tom

[kilgojr]

oh man Jim, that is wild! glad to see you are okay. RA is tough on those Huntsville cars, Matt, now you...all within 8 months.

[jlevie]

There's no damage that I can see to the exhaust. I'm guessing that it just slid back and off on the first hit. I'm going to add tethers this time as I've seen an exhaust come off during a race.

[nando]

I'm assuming it was a smash miata (SM)? Those guys are fucking crazy and more than a few that I've seen should not be driving.

smash miata? lol. that's scary, and also hilarious at the same time.

[jlevie]

smash miata? lol. that's scary, and also hilarious at the same time.

In my experience (unfortunately) that is all too accurate a term. this wan't the only time, just the worst!

[Charlie]

"smash miata"? Lame. Everyone knows the better term is "Spec Pinata".

-Charlie

[rwh11385]

Sorry about the loss, but great luck that you are alright. Glad to see you are already building the replacement.

Joe, stop being a pansy. HPDEs are safer than being on the street and a lot more fun that shopping cart racing. You also a much more driving time for the day and for your money.

[Jean]

Wow, that looked nasty! Glad you are ok!