Gene

iTrader: (1)

Anyone gonna be there?

ArmitageGVR4

iTrader: (13)

I'll be there running in DE3. I noticed at least 4 RX-7s in the roster for this weekend which may be some kind of record I also see Rob Robinette is instructing and running TT, although he's mixed up with that shady s2000 camp these days Looks like clear skies and decent temps for this late in the season. Looking forward to it!

Gene

iTrader: (1)

Cool, I'm the red FC that launches ridiculous fireballs, come say hi if you see me.

mazda6guy

iTrader: (1)

I am coming down after my son's soccer game. Hope to meet some of you guys and get some pointers for my ITA/7 build.

Don49

iTrader: (3)

Does anyone who was there have any info on the accident involving the Honda S2000?

ArmitageGVR4

iTrader: (13)

No idea. I had left the track in search of some replacement rear brake pads after chewing down to the backing on mine and finding only 3 in my spare parts box. When I got back, the accident had already happened and they closed down for the day.

Gene

iTrader: (1)

Ah **** you should have come by my paddock, I had some I could have given you.

I don't have any info on the S2000 either. I heard so much conflicting information that I won't repeat any of it here. The only solid information I have is that a helicopter landed at turn one, and that the day ended early because the on-site ambulance used up enough supplies that they wouldn't be considered fit for service if another incident occurred.

Even if the track had reopened I doubt many people would have gone out, everyone at the track went from "whoo this event is going awesome" to totally bummed out in a hurry.

Don49

iTrader: (3)

The driver of the S2000 worked at Hagerstown Airport, where I also work. I was told today that he died as a result of the accident and people here who knew him are naturally pretty upset. I was hoping to get some info that I could pass along. It won't stop the pain, but it sometimes helps to know more about what happened.
Thanks for any info anyone may have.

Gene

iTrader: (1)

My best information is that he suffered a brake failure and went off T1 at the end of the front straight.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...ic=647468&st=0

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Don49

iTrader: (3)

Fritz,
Thank you for the link. I have passed it along here at the airport.

Don Walsh #47 EP 2nd gen

Gene

iTrader: (1)

I have a terrible mind for names and faces and didn't realize until a friend told me... I paddocked next to this guy at a NASA event a while back, he was a good guy and will be missed.

I think I'm going to be picking up a HANS device of some type before next season. I didn't think I really needed it for DE, but freak accidents can happen at any time.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

Here's a paste and copy of a post from my thread when a similar thing happened to me and also guy racing a 350Z. This stuff happens more than any of us realize and whether you're driving in HPDE or SCCA racing there's a good chance you could become a victim of a mechanical problem that could end up costing you your life because there isn't much difference between racing and driving hard in HPDE advanced/instructor sessions. Half the drivers in those sessions are likely active racers, taking time off or former racers.

I've been cavalier about safety for years and bought a HANS 2 or 3 years ago but I rarely wear it because it's uncomfortable and likely wouldn't of helped me in my accident or this accident. You really need the HANS and a seat w/ lateral head support made for the HANS which I plan on buying this winter so I'd suggest you get BOTH the seat and the HANS Had I been strapped in with a full harness and race seat when I hit sideways I don't think I'd be alive because my head would of been thrown sideways with a 5lb helmet attached while my body was harnessed in. I had bad luck that the brakes failed but good luck in surviving a brake failure at 100 plus MPH.

See paste and copy below:

Last Oct I was at Summit (shenandoah circuit) going 110 when the brakes failed on the back straight (fastest straight), I pushed the pedal and it was rock hard, the car literally didn't stop at all. I pulled the e-brake and jerked it sideways to take some speed off and hit with one thud into the concrete wall with no more than 2 rows of tires at probably 80mph. When I hit the wall I flew out of my seat bending the ebrake to the right, hitting the passengers helmet (passenger was fine) which may of saved my head from going further right and damaging or breaking my neck. I also had both feet on the imovable brake pedal one slid off hitting the clutch and bending it sideways, the impact forced the brake pedal to the floor shooting brake fluid out of the reservoir and all over the engine bay. While sitting in the car after the wreck I pumped the pedal a few times and it felt normal again This was in my daily driver which was mostly stock w/ Just seat belts and helmet for safety equipment. Following the accident I was dizzy for 3 months because of the whiplash and it could of easily cost me my life. Had I not scrubbed any speed and driven straight off I really don't think I'd be alive. I'm still a gong ho HPDE instructor who realized then and now the risk we all take but like Al Pacino said in Heat (one of my favorites) you can get killed walking your doggie.

BOTTOMLINE: Driving anywhere, anyplace is probably the riskiest thing any of us do and whether you are on a race track or on the street very bad things can and do happen. My wife hit an Elk on business out in CO in May and severly fractured her tibia and fibula and she'll be lucky to walk normally if and when it finally heals. Her accident included an emergency flight, emergency surgery (because of compartment syndrome) and 3 more surgeries to try and bolt her shatter leg together. She just started bearing a small amount of weight 3 weeks ago. This is the same leg she's had 10 (yes 10) knee surgeries on

The accident involving the 350Z was VERY bad but he was lucky to have tumbled dissipating the energy and as the driver noted if he drove straight into the sand and turned the front wheels hard to collect/plow the sand as I'm sure he was taught this may of been a non event.

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

Wow, this is really sad. My condolences to all who knew him. I don't say this in any way to make light of the events, but I think a few HANS devices will be put on XMass lists as a result of this.

Don49

iTrader: (3)

Fritz,

I just spoke with the airport manager, who saw Cale in the hospital. He had a number of major injuries that appeared to have been mostly on his left side. Your comment about containment of your head in a side impact is right on. A number of years ago I crashed at Lime Rock and my head movement was stopped by my cage diagonal bar(well padded). I had a headache for a few hours but no neck injury beacause my head movement was limited. In Cale's case, it appears the brain/ neck injury was the cause of death. At the speed he would have been traveling at the end of the straight, a Hans and seat with side head restraints may not have saved him, but would have improved his chances.
It underscores the need for full safety equipment any time you are on the track at speed.
We can never remove all the risk, but we certainly can take a lot away using the technology and equipment available to us.

Don

ArmitageGVR4

iTrader: (13)

Fritz, I am a bit concerned about what happened with your brakes. I can't get my head around what would cause the pedal to become rock-hard unless there was something jamming the pedal. Even a blockage in one of the lines or a failure of one of the calipers should not have caused something that severe. Did you ever figure out what caused it?

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

Still a mystery but people have mentioned:

very bad brake fade (shouldn't of been the case because it never showed up anywhere else and it's actually a pretty slow speed brake point)

vapor lock which I'm not familiar w/ but something about water and brake gases

block somewhere in the ABS pump or malfunction of ABS pump. The car had 140k miles so I'm leaning more toward this one

Like you suggested possibly something blocking the pedal but nothing was on the floorboard side but maybe something on the MC side

check value in the brake line misbehaving but I couldn't move the pedal a frikken mm. It did not even start to go in.

As I mentioned before the pedal was completely soft after hitting the wall and I had to pump it several times but it return to normal after that so I think that was just because I forced it in so hard it spewed brake fluid everywhere.

I'd love to have an answer to what happened as well because it's frikken creepy. I've had the fluid get hot many times and the brakes felt normal prior to this. However I do recall before leaving for the track I was bedding them in and had a hard time getting any kind of lock up or ABS action under threshold braking but I didn't think much of that until after the accident.

Gene

iTrader: (1)

Fritz, this was in your FC right? I'm surprised you had a working ABS unit at all, let alone using it on the track.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

I've never owned an FC it was a 94 FD and she was GORGEOUS

Gene

iTrader: (1)

Some of Cale's friends investigated his accident, there is an update in the thread here:

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...#entry14735596

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

Just goes to show that anything can and will break when pushed to the limit. I've had front rotors crack to the outside but normally you get lots of warning from the pedal vibrations etc.....

It's so difficult to digest this sort of thing happening because I think we all know and understand it could of been anyone of us so it really hits close to home.

RIP Cale.