http://kcal9.com/california/CA--SoCa...rces_news_html
"FONTANA, Calif. (AP) Two men were killed when their car crashed and caught fire at the California Speedway, authorities said.

Benjamin Miles Keaton, 39, and his passenger, Corey Nicholar Rudl, 34, both of La Jolla, died Thursday when Keaton's 2005 Porsche Carrera GT left the track and slammed into a barrier. The engine compartment then caught fire, according to a sheriff's report.

Rudl was pronounced dead at the scene. Keaton was airlifted to Loma Linda University Hospital, where he died about an hour later, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.

The accident occurred while the track was being rented by the San Diego chapter of the Ferrari Owners Club.

The men are the fourth and fifth fatalities at California Speedway since it opened in 1997."
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How sad. Especially at a car club event.

 

Condolences to the loved ones left behind.
I'm very curious about the circumstances that led to the crash.

 

Envisioning the track here..
Since there is grass this may have happened at one of three places. 1) The end of Nascar turn 2. At this point you'd be under heavy braking, dive to the left(infield track) and a quick right into short straight. At the end of this straight(2), long left onto another long staright(3) All heavy braking areas.

 

Makes you double think tracking your car. Especially without cage, harness, and extinguisher.

 

I wonder what kind of safety equipment they had.

 

Sorry to hear this. We all think we are safer than we really are

 

I know someone who was there when it happed - devastating crash, probably hit the wall in excess of 100 MPH. Top was down - car had regular street seatbelts, both men were wearing helmets and strapped in and neither was ejected from the car. They were not burned - the fire didn't get into the passenger compartment.

The Track Emergency Services were there very, very quick - fire was put out, and EMTs were there almost immediately to do what they could.

Such a terrible, horrible, unimaginable thing...........My heart goes out to the family members left behind.

 

Pictures say it all. They had none except for what comes from the factory.

 

they were going about 160-175mph. the owner/driver has been a long time customer at my buddies shop. the passenger is a murcielago owner who went along for the ride due to mechanical problems with his own car. pics are here http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/4566122/detail.html
i met the owner a couple of weeks ago when he just purchased the car. he came into the shop to buy some race gas.

 

Dam man they hit hard considering that concrete barrier moved. That and the Porsche GT is a very unforgiving car.

 

well the body is mostly made of carbon fiber

 

Yes 6-2-2005 was a tragic day,
I knew Ben from the Carlsbad Car Shows, He was a very friendly guy and always willing to share his knowledge about cars. He would always give people rides in his CGT. Ben left behind a loving wife and daughter, It’s a shame I just saw him at the last show 5-28-05. From my understanding Ben was on his Second Lap of the day giving Cory a ride, Cory's Murcielago overheated earlier in the day and Cory was interested buying a CGT so Ben showed him his. It was not Bens fault, Ben was an excellent driver, if you have been to the Carlsbad meets you know what I mean. From what people say over at FerrariChat is that Ben was coming down the straight pushing around 150-160mph when a Ferrari was waved out of the pits, Ben swerved to avoid a collision with the Ferrari but lost control, the collision was over 100+mph. The FCO has setup a charity in there names to donate to a charity: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61760
If only the Pit crew never waved the Ferrari out 2 lives would have been saved..
My condolences to both families

R.I.P Ben Keaton @ Cory Rudl

 

[QUOTE=_WiCKeD_]Yes 6-2-2005 was a tragic day,
I knew Ben from the Carlsbad Car Shows, He was a very friendly guy and always willing to share his knowledge about cars. He would always give people rides in his CGT. Ben left behind a loving wife and daughter, It’s a shame I just saw him at the last show 5-28-05. From my understanding Ben was on his Second Lap of the day giving Cory a ride, Cory's Murcielago overheated earlier in the day and Cory was interested buying a CGT so Ben showed him his. It was not Bens fault, Ben was an excellent driver, if you have been to the Carlsbad meets you know what I mean. From what people say over at FerrariChat is that Ben was coming down the straight pushing around 150-160mph when a Ferrari was waved out of the pits, Ben swerved to avoid a collision with the Ferrari but lost control, the collision was over 100+mph. The FCO has setup a charity in there names to donate to a charity: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61760
If only the Pit crew never waved the Ferrari out 2 lives would have been saved..
My condolences to both families



So this would imply the Ferrari driver had drove his car right onto the track from pit lane instead of driving/following the "pit out" lane. We're missing something or it was a tragic bonehead move!

 

The Ferrari Driver is a well-seasoned driver, with 30 years of Pro SCCA experience and was waved onto the track out of the pits. He understood the proper way to come onto the track out of the pits, and this was what he was doing. It was the second session of the day.

It is clearly the responsibility of the track officials to signal a driver to enter the course when it is safe.

JMO

 

they were finishing the pace lap when Ben swerved around car number one(which was the official car controlling the pace of the whole first lap) and accelerated to 160+mph. the track official waved the other car to go becuase nobody is supposed to be going that fast before the pace lap is over. the official had no idea that Ben was coming that fast.

 

To quote Carl Byck:

Here's another account; Below is what I got from another website

Quote:
"The person driving the vehicle who was behind him (Ferrari Stradale) just called us and told us what happened from his view. He was first on the scene. He said the GT past him at over 150mph as they eased onto the straigh a way and was traveling close to 165mph when he saw the car swerve. He got his car stopped and was first on the scene. One person was DOA and the other (driver) passed away in the helicopter enroute to the hospital.

What happened with the pit marshall:

Marshall saw the GT coming and gave the Ferrari owner the "GO" Ferrari guy hesitated.. looked back at the track.. passenger was shouting "GO".. then marshall says "STOP" and the Ferrari guy takes off."

Quote:
"Ben died on the track with a fellow lover of cars Corey as his passenger. He was nearing a the end of a high speed straight away when another car was waived on to the track causing Ben to swerve to avoid the collision striking a concrete retaining wall head on. Corey died instanteously and Ben died as he was being flown to the hospital."
another account of the incident:

"I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I witnessed the whole thing.

IT WAS NOT BEN'S FAULT!!! THE ORGANIZER HAD PICKED THE 150MPH ZONE AS THE ENTRANCE TO THE TRACK AND THE F-CAR DRIVER PULLED IN FRONT OF HIM NEAR THE END OF THE STRAGHT. THERE WERE NO CORNER WORKS AND NO FLAGS!!! HE TRIED TO AVOID HIM AND SPUN OUT AND HIT THE WALL AT NEARLY THAT SPEED. "

Regardless of the cause, a very good guy, healthy contributor to many sites, husband & father to an infant daughter lost his life.

Carl

 

It's hard to believe that anyone would organize a race where cars would enter the track where others are driving that fast.

 

This should be a wake-up call for anyone wanting to organize an event. Safety Stewards, club exec's, moniters, ANY support or emergency personell should NEVER be spared. ALWAYS HAVE MORE SAFETY CREWS then needed, this is an unfortunate accident caused by a momentary gap in line of sight for the Steward leading the pit exit... I belive that ANY driver would have reacted the same way under those conditions. Also, if you're going to track your car, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, wear proper gear. Harnesses, Helm's Device, fire retardent clothing, Helmets so on. Plain and Simple, THAT PORCHE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED ONTO THAT TRACK WITH OUT HARNESSES. The Stock Street Shoulder Straps ARE NOT ADDIQUITE for that high-end of driving. God be with the families of the deceased, and may it serve as a reminder to us all the importance of safety devices and regulation. RIP


(my apologies for my spelling errors if any)

 

I'm not sure if they could've survive that impact even if they had a cage, harness...etc.

 

at thunderhill the entrance is at the end of the straights, so i don't think it's that uncommon.

 

On track accidents happen and sometimes no amount of precautions can prevent tragedies like this.
As sad as it is, at least they went doing what they love.

I've only seen one of those porsches in person and it was right after it had run along a wall at Laguna Seca last November after leaving the track. The whole drivers side was wasted. Diver was shaken but fine nonetheless.

 

That sucks......

Anyone got any info on the track, Im really surprised to see grass in a turn.... That seems pretty FRUCKIN retarded if it is in the turn....

 

^^ Well if you happen to look at TTB's avitar 2 posts above yours... There just happens to be a picture of a car racing on a track with grass around a turn.....

 

really? Is that what that is? Im asking about this perticular track, since REAL tracks have sand in the tight corners.

 

Perhaps you haven't been to many 'REAL' tracks?