WGI Fun One Crash

[Seabee]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqRrjFiuIXA[/ame]

Here the ITA crash with me and Bruce Perry.

He tried to save it and car was too unpredictable. Thought I had him cleared on the right.

Sucks.

[DoubleXL240Z]

Dayumm that sucks!! It did look like you had him cleared! Crap, sorry to see that!

[JLawton]

Oh my.........................

[Andy Bettencourt]

Spinning car: no two feet in. Looks like one foot to the floor. If he had gone 2FI, you would have been able to go drivers left. Bummer.

And why all the bump-drafting? You could have been clear of that mess twice over!!!

Glad you are ok. If you want to drive again this year after the NARRC, come get my car.

[StephenB]

I am really sorry to see that. you were minding your own business with a front seat and got pulled on stage.

[gran racing]

Damn. That really does suck.

And why all the bump-drafting?

I was wondering the same thing and why you didn't make two passes instead of bumping the other car?

[ShelbyRacer]

He tried to save it and his driving was too unpredictable.

Fixed that for ya.

A serious second to Andy's question though- it appears to be that if you'd have cleared the other Miata at the exit of T1 (he *gave* you that spot and you refused it) I have to wonder if you'd have even been in the melee. Obviously it's easy to MMQB from the video, and I can't see if you have side traffic there (though it appears not).

I hope you're ok though. That was a hell of a hit, and some good hang time.

[ITA_honda]

How bad was Bruce's car? Mostly cosmetic? or was there damage done to the suspension? looks like you just clipped his left rear without hitting the wheel. Im sorry for what happened to your car Wrong place, wrong time.

[dave parker]

Double post.

[dave parker]

Unfortunate.
If Mr. Perry would have put both feet in neither he nor Mr. Frederick would have to do any body work.
Although I have to agree with Andy, I would have spent less time bump drafting and more time passing.
Too bad. Hopefully there is something left to salvage.

cheers
dave parker

[Bill Miller]

Glad you're ok enough to post that. How sore are you today? And I also have to agree w/ Andy, BFI was the way to go, especially once it was totally sideways in the middle of the turn. Glad no one was seriously hurt.

[Ed Funk]

Don't think Steve would have had time to make either pass (instead of the bump), certainly not between 1 & 2. If he had attempted the passes, he would have been in the same situation as "The Chopper" was on Kirk....just a bumper....and then would have had to breathe the throttle or "PIT" the other Miata. Either of those would have been at best slower than what he did.

Just an old fart's opinion.

[Matt93SE]

I'm with Ed on the passing comments. given the closing speed between cars, he wouldn't have been able to make a complete pass, then he's stuck trying to scrub off more speed to not hit the car in front.

My main question is WTF was the yellow car doing? passed him like he was standing still on the first straight, then he came FLYING by you a couple turns later? did he finally get the nawz hooked up? dang!

[benspeed]

Holy crap! That sucks - I hope everybody is OK and repairs aren't too expensive. When we came up on the scene I was suprised to see a car on its roof! From my in-car video you can't see much, just the emergency vehicles. The in-car of that crash is intense. What fell into the camera view at the end when the car is upside down?

[Seabee]

Both of us are ok. Bruce's car looks like it had LR suspension damage.

This was lap 2 of what was going to be 18 laps. Maybe I am bit more patient with my passes. The black car rushed turn 1 and had a bit slower exit speed. I have never raced against this person so I was a bit more cautious.

On Sat I followed a car passing a Flatout car into turn 2 and he chopped down on me. If I would have had a more typical SCCA attitude I would have spun the kid. But I backed out as his RR came across my nose.

Maybe I am too much of a gentleman racer than most of the bullshit-make-it-happen-right-now effen attitude I see out there.

Sure I could what if all kinds of options. I could have taken an agressive right track line to block Bruce. But for me it was not the time to do that. Too much racing to happen.

I think Bruce was bit upset he messed up turn 11 and wanted to get back asap. Rushed the turn into the bus stop. And tried to save it. I thought his trajectory would go right and I started left. But that gap was closing so I tried the right the same time he decided to step on brakes.

[dave parker]

Maybe I am too much of a gentleman racer than most of the bullshit-make-it-happen-right-now effen attitude I see out there.

Mr. Frederick
I like the gentleman racer attitude that you display.
I wish that more SCCA drivers would realize that is the proper attitude to take.
You can race with me anytime.
I hope that you can come back from this and race again.

We try to teach in drivers school "When you spin, both feet in until you come to a complete stop". Unfortunately, there are many drivers that forget mantra when the moment of truth arrives.
It may save your weekend, it will certainly save someone else's.

I have been where you are now. It is tough. Hang in there.

cheers
dave parker

[Andy Bettencourt]

On the bump drafting, we have to remember here that this is an ITA car with some HP vs. SM's. I think he could have driven right around the first car out of 1-2. In both cases he has a ton of closing speed.

But Steve IS a gentleman racer.

Me, not so much.

[CSPTK]

On the bump drafting, we have to remember here that this is an ITA car with some HP vs. SM's.

Steve is in an ITA car bumping an "S" car (99' without the plate).

[Andy Bettencourt]

Steve is in an ITA car bumping an "S" car (99' without the plate).

Which still has less HP than Steve.

[slopok]

My 2 cents is that bruce perry should have never attempted that pass at that moment from viewing the video. More patience is needed guys.