Bad Autocross course: Vette curbed *hard*
#1
Bad Autocross course: Vette curbed *hard*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=BB-KBaevPqM
The driver loses it and hits a curb before the car can stop.
Main issue (IMHO): No course should run that close to hard stuff.
The driver loses it and hits a curb before the car can stop.
Main issue (IMHO): No course should run that close to hard stuff.
#3
it is not normally expected that straight sections have runoff on both sides.
he came out of the last turn with unloaded suspension, rolled forward a bit, nailed the throttle, started sliding, put half-hearted correction in and froze up. what could possibly go wrong?
"main issue" has nothing to do with the course setup.
he came out of the last turn with unloaded suspension, rolled forward a bit, nailed the throttle, started sliding, put half-hearted correction in and froze up. what could possibly go wrong?
"main issue" has nothing to do with the course setup.
#5
it is not normally expected that straight sections have runoff on both sides.
he came out of the last turn with unloaded suspension, rolled forward a bit, nailed the throttle, started sliding, put half-hearted correction in and froze up. what could possibly go wrong?
"main issue" has nothing to do with the course setup.
he came out of the last turn with unloaded suspension, rolled forward a bit, nailed the throttle, started sliding, put half-hearted correction in and froze up. what could possibly go wrong?
"main issue" has nothing to do with the course setup.
#7
Melting Slicks
Well, a very competent driver got his CRX up on two wheels and when it came down it hooked and shot off at an angle...
You knew this was coming....
and hit one of the hangars at about a 45 degree angle. the car went halfway thru the wall of the steel building. He went in at a soft spot, had he hit the structure where the door was mounted he would have been killed. Needless to say the car was totaled the driver was OK but it pretty much shot the use of that site.
Cars at speed can (and if they can somebody WILL) do a tank slapper and leave the course in ways that are totally unexpected. Just because the normal momentum of a car under control isn't in the direction of the curbs, doesn't mean a car can't get out of shape and go that way. Part of the problem is that in an autocross the speeds are low so it allows drivers (particularly inexperienced ones as this driver was) to be more aggressive and when that is in the mix crazy things can happen. In this case you had curbs too close to the course. The proof of that is exactly what happened.
It's also the reason you never turn your back on a car when you are working the course. Just because the normal momentum won't take a car in your direction doesn't mean somebody won't lose it and end up in your lap.
#9
Drifting
course workers seemed concerned about his condition. Hope he was ok most likely just rang his bell a bit or pulled some things that have not been pulled before. That side impact can do more to your body as the stock belts and safety built into the car are more geared towards a frontal impact.
#11
watch weight transfer when he hits the gas - way too abrupt for a low gear, it only takes a small difference in traction between left/right side to start you sideways . maybe paint lines on the pavement, oil that someone dripped down 2 years ago, crack in the surface, etc.
#14
Drifting
#15
Burning Brakes
#16
Race Director
#18
Safety Car
I watched this a few times, I do not understand what happened. Straight and then around? Did something break, the wheels where never turned.
I think having less HP is a good thing sometimes, especially in low speed situations like auto-x. I know 300HP is plenty to get into trouble with.
#19
Melting Slicks
Wow, here in SoCal I have an expectation of having nothing close when I Auto-X. We use Stadium and Race Track Parking lots (Qualcom, California Speedway, etc) with plenty of runoff room with no worries of hitting anything.
Road Course is something else, you know there are thing to hit there if you go off....
Road Course is something else, you know there are thing to hit there if you go off....