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Vezna31
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« on: May 30, 2008, 03:41:47 PM » |
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This is a good time to remind everyone that even though most of us are not traveling at F1 speeds on our track days, the danger is still very real and I hope that everyone drives within their and the car's limits.
Death at Willow Springs
The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) regretfully announces that Joe Drey of San Juan Capistrano, CA has succumbed to injuries suffered in an accident on May 24, 2008 at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, CA. Joe was participating in a NASA event behind the wheel of his beloved Mini Cooper S and despite the best efforts of the rescue team onsite and the medical teams at the hospital, he has now left us.
Speedform from SoCalEvo posted: "NASA has been trying to keep a tight lip on the incident but from the reports we got from the safety crew on sight, the MINI went air-born and rolled multiple times. The car did not have a rollbar but the driver was wearing a 4 point harness (the smaller 2" kind from what we heard). After that the details become sketchy. Some were saying that his seat collapsed (which if you saw the car could easily understand how that would have happened), that the driver was partially ejected and a few other items that are a little to gruesome to discuss here. Again, how much of this is true or just rumor I cannot say. I did see the car later that day and from some angles was nearly impossible to tell what it was. A truly horrific crash.”
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Vezna31
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« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2008, 04:04:08 PM » |
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Satisaii
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« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2008, 04:39:59 PM » |
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I had heard about this.
As a taller driver, I am concerned about rolling the car. I have got it set-up such that I am beneath the roll bar, but if I slide up at all I am at risk. It does make you think, though.
So far, I have been avoiding Big Willow due to that high speed sweeper. I want some more experience before I get there.
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Vezna31
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« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2008, 05:17:29 PM » |
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Even my head is above the roll hoops with my helmet on...about 2 inches. I would hope that I am careful enough not to go way beyond my limits to put myself in that danger. And if i do, i want it to be quick...VERY quick.
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s2keepup
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« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2008, 05:32:49 PM » |
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yeah thats definitely very scary... makes a roll cage a VERY wise investment. i wonder how the hardtop would hold up?
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Vezna31
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« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2008, 05:48:04 PM » |
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The guy had a full roll cage, racing seat, and 4 point harness and still managed to get partially ejected from the car.
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Satisaii
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« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2008, 06:28:38 PM » |
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The hard top will help keep your soft parts inside, but that is about all.
Speedventures added a seatbelt category to the Tech Form this week. I wonder if they have some inside info on what happened.
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Vezna31
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« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2008, 06:36:46 PM » |
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I have a feeling the car would shed the hard top rather quickly in a roll over accident.
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s2keepup
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« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2008, 12:57:12 AM » |
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I have a feeling the car would shed the hard top rather quickly in a roll over accident.
ya makes me wonder now how high i sit compared to the roll bars now haha. who am i kidding tho.. im so mild when i drive. im still paranoid i think. i would never be in a situation where i took my car past its limits. |
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monkeymaker
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« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2008, 09:38:42 AM » |
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who am i kidding tho.. im so mild when i drive. im still paranoid i think. i would never be in a situation where i took my car past its limits.
The difficulty is staying within your limits as a driver. Unless your car control skills are well developed, your limits should be well below the car's, especially in a car as well-suited to performance driving as an S2000. Sucks that this dude didn't make it. What a nightmare. Makes me feel really lucky that my S didn't roll in my Streets incident. As short as I am, my helmet too is a couple inches higher than the roll hoops. |
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s2keepup
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« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2008, 02:45:58 PM » |
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who am i kidding tho.. im so mild when i drive. im still paranoid i think. i would never be in a situation where i took my car past its limits.
The difficulty is staying within your limits as a driver. Unless your car control skills are well developed, your limits should be well below the car's, especially in a car as well-suited to performance driving as an S2000. ya and one of these days i need to sit with an instructor too. |
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