AutoX Oopsie

[usakubko]

Came across this thread on b15sentra.net forum. Thought everyone might find this interesting...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3197431

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/bandit027/auto-x/IMG_3000.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/bandit027/auto-x/IMG_3002.jpg

[MrPickles]

Wow! And I remember that porsche at a few national events!!!

So the rookie that didn't know what he was doing...looks like he will be paying for a LOT of cars!!

This is why I always design my finishes to have plenty of room, if something like this were to happen

[tfaucett]

I just saw that gt3 at San diego and El Toro. That is so wierd to see it now totaled:eek: . That is one really crappy day for everyone involved.

[cdorsey]

Actually, the driver that caused the incident is a VERY experienced driver... been autocrossing Corvettes for well over 20 years from what I understand. The problem is that he went from an automatic 'Vette to a MT Porsche and was caught off guard by the pedal arrangement.

In addition, the course design was not as big of a player as you all may think. The grid area was a sufficient distance from the course and the finish was very typical.

Fortunately, nobody was injured (not sure how, but very thankful).

-Chris

[mannix]

Uggh. Precisely the reason I don't drive other people's cars very often. Scary stuff. I've never hit anything autocrossing, but with my luck, the first trip around in a GT3....shudder.

Lame. No one was hurt, that's good, I can't imagine being the driver of that car. Rough day of autocrossing, to say the least - if you're going to wreck four cars, at least OWN one of them.

Too bad for all involved (us included). I hope it works out.



Iain

[leggwork]

and the white celica was the safety stewards car ... uggghh

[usakubko]

Just a thought thou, but couple of the last events made me a little nervous on the finishes... Last event for example, timing lights right after a tight exit. I plowed straight through that corner on my first run (rookie+cold tires+too much speed). Wasn't anywhere near the lights thou since I just went straight out, but I was concerned about that turn during the walk (especialy for the faster RWDs).
Also at Coors, the finishing box seemed a little short (and I drive a slow car)...

[mannix]

Timing lights are cheap:). I've never hit one, but I don't mind the prospect of doing so that much - it'd bum me out to ruin everyone's day (or delay the event), but I'd get over it.

The last WA event was OK - I never felt like I was threatening the lights; I saw several people get squirrley, but it worked out OK every time. We've had a couple of CF courses in the past (one of which I designed, so I'm not throwing stones at Everyone Else:) that had stop boxes pointed at curbs - there was "plenty" of room to slow down, but only if there were no weirdofactors. Fortunately, we got off OK, but still.

Cars, though, hummmm. I don't want to hit a car, person, pole or moose. That'd be Bad.




Iain

[Tom Hunsinger]

Back in '72 I was at a parking lot event in Columbus, OH. A 340 'Cuda had a stuck throttle and plowed into the staging line that was much too close to the starting line (back then, the same light was used for start and finish). It totalled three cars plus the 'Cuda. No one was seriously hurt in that one also. It took a year or so for us to look back on it with a little gallow's humor but we did. Out of the mangled cars the driver of an old Dodge Dart (slant 6) crawls out of his car, bleeding with superficial cuts. He looks at his car, looks around at the other cars and yells, "Who is going to pay for my car!" The guy is lucky to be alive and he's yelling about a $500 car. Yes, he is a friend of mine.

[RAB]

Wow! And I remember that porsche at a few national events!!!
Yeah wow... Picture of the car at El Toro this year.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s169/baumgara/ElToroProSolo520.jpg

[MrPickles]

Also at Coors, the finishing box seemed a little short (and I drive a slow car)...

When you cross the lights, you are supposed to take the foot off the gas. Sometimes newer drivers dont lift off the gas until way after the lights. Remember the lights are at the "double cones". I am pretty strict on my myself in regards big stop boxes, mainly since i drive a powerful car...and I make sure the stop boxes are safe and plenty of room for any car to stop.

Safety did pass off on the stop box and course for the event you are mentioning, and there were no incidents either. If I recall, if you drove through the stop box..you would hit 2 cones and probably coasted along the timing trailer. I still keep about 70-90 feet between the edge of the stop box and anything else that is solid.

if you feel there is an issue(at event) with something like a stop box, please bring it up to a safety stewart immediately. Keep in mind, that this complaint has to be safety related and not just problems you have with the course.

[usakubko]

Don't take me wrong please. I'm not trying to attack your course setup skills and I especialy don't want to offend anyone. I had a blast at that track. That's the fastest I've ever gone through slaloms (legally). Although the box seemed short to me, I had no problems slowing down and exiting. And I've never said there was not enough room, just seemed short.

Btw, it's not just the noobs that don't brake when they're supposed to. What about the original culprit in this thread (GT3)? And remember this one? http://youtube.com/watch?v=zwrsUpFKaI8 (Clayton, don't mean to bash you either, just using you as an example :p )

Sorry if I offended you or anybody else.

[RAB]

In my opinion any driver that is aware the course and his or her surrounding WILL break appropriately in the stop box, i.e. they know where the lights are and know that once you cross the lights its as simple as breaking. Is there any reason to accelerate after you cross the lights?

[MrPickles]

Is there any reason to accelerate after you cross the lights?

Remember the Denver Pro.. where the finish was 1/8 mile from the start. You had to get back quickly so you can at least get your pressures checked :)

[dapper]

Regarding the YouTube flick. Michael F. made a change to the last salmon feature, (with the successful intent to reduce the speed at the finish) during the safety walk. Lengthening the finish box was not an advisable option because of the damaged pavement. The change to the salmon challenged the driver and reduced the speed so the finishing area would be satisfactory. Remember, at 40 mph, you're traveling at 58.7 feet per second. Personal accountability? :)

[alby426]

Kubo, it's interesting to see Clayton go over that cone and we had some issues stopping the GTI too, due to fading brakes. The most important that should have been taken from that course, is that it was perfectly safe at the end because there was at least an other 1/8 of a mile past those cones with absolutely no obstacles.
I liked that Exit because it was forcing drivers to finally consider the finish as part of the race course!
I do exactly what Michael does, and as soon as I get past the double cones, I apply the brakes to 80-90 percent to slow the car down as soon as possible. I agree that a lot of people accelerate well past the finish lights, and that is WRONG!!!
You are still racing until you park the car! Hitting that braking point is exactly as important as nailing all other braking areas on course.
Drivers need to practice the finish braking and consider it part of the race. Don't stop driving the car as soon as you see the end lights, but "drive it" to parking.

Let's keep our races safe and fun, so make even the end part of your routine, as it should be.

[Built-By-Bones]

If you drive at National Tours or Pros you may encounter a course that requires braking before the finish lights. Fontana 05 (I think) had a very tight finish box that required some degree of braking before the lights to avoid hitting cones.

all part of the challenge of Solo.