GT500 POV Class A Mishap

[Bud]

First 11 posts consolidated from other thread.

No test of the new one tonight, fatal on-track accident, very bad situation.

Oh fuk, very sorry to hear it

 

[psfracer]

No test of the new one tonight, fatal on-track accident, very bad situation.

What happened?

 

[JEWC_Motorsports]

Its being reported the driver lost control of his cobra, rolled over the guard rail and hit a tree. Sad situation.

 

[kdanner]

What happened?

13-14 GT500, stock, regular street tires and all. Right lane, turned right and got on top of the guardrail at about the 1/8th mile, so 90ish MPH I guess. Probably what, a high 11 second car? Guardrail cut the car in half right around where the driver seat would be. Back part with the trunk, rear axle, fuel tank, and one of the seats stayed on track upside down. Front part that had no roof left was over the guardrail with the driver inside and finally came to a stop when it struck a tree. Part of his helmet laying in the grass. This happened right in front of me. Those trees on the right side of this track and some poles on the other side have always been a concern of mine. Metal guardrails are notorious for cutting cars but lots of tracks still have them.

Then to make it worse you have all the idiots running for the fence with their phones out to get pictures. No common decency whatsoever, photos were on facebook within minutes.

Not the first time I've seen it happen, I've even seen it happen to a friend. It never gets any easier. Guys with cars a lot faster than this one was, turbo cars being the worst, you're fucking fooling yourselves thinking these new cars don't need the same safety equipment the older ones do. That kind of weight at that kind of speed is a very bad recipe.

 

[Mystickeith50]

It's really the biggest reason I don't take mine to the track....I have zero safety. I have been in two very bad accidents on the street at 50-60 mph. I couldn't imagine 90-130 with no safety.

 

[SSPSTANGBANGER]

I think the biggest issue is street tires on a car with that much power combined with a sketchy track.
That track has has a dip right near where he lost control and been known for wrecks.

 

[psfracer]

13-14 GT500, stock, regular street tires and all. Right lane, turned right and got on top of the guardrail at about the 1/8th mile, so 90ish MPH I guess. Probably what, a high 11 second car? Guardrail cut the car in half right around where the driver seat would be. Back part with the trunk, rear axle, fuel tank, and one of the seats stayed on track upside down. Front part that had no roof left was over the guardrail with the driver inside and finally came to a stop when it struck a tree. Part of his helmet laying in the grass. This happened right in front of me. Those trees on the right side of this track and some poles on the other side have always been a concern of mine. Metal guardrails are notorious for cutting cars but lots of tracks still have them.

Then to make it worse you have all the idiots running for the fence with their phones out to get pictures. No common decency whatsoever, photos were on facebook within minutes.

Not the first time I've seen it happen, I've even seen it happen to a friend. It never gets any easier. Guys with cars a lot faster than this one was, turbo cars being the worst, you're fucking fooling yourselves thinking these new cars don't need the same safety equipment the older ones do. That kind of weight at that kind of speed is a very bad recipe.

Holy crap, what track was this?

There was a couple races back east I was thinking about going to last year, but the tracks were older and had guardrails. I didn't go for that reason. I hate guardrails.

As far as the safety equipment, I agree -- all though with what the guardrail did to the car in this case I am not sure if it would have made any difference.

As far as people grabbing phones vs trying to help:

 

[SSPSTANGBANGER]

Holy crap, what track was this?





As far as the safety equipment, I agree -- all though with what the guardrail did to the car in this case I am not sure if it would have made any difference.

It was little river
it's a shit track for sure

Agreed a 6-point which is all that's required for a 9.99 legal car would have done little to nothing where that car roof was cut by guardrail.

 

[kdanner]

I think the biggest issue is street tires on a car with that much power combined with a sketchy track.
That track has has a dip right near where he lost control and been known for wrecks.

It was little river
it's a shit track for sure

Agreed a 6-point which is all that's required for a 9.99 legal car would have done little to nothing where that car roof was cut by guardrail.

I have to ask, have you actually been down that track, or even seen it in the last couple of years? I've made lots of passes on it. It was repaved, there is no dip, it hooks awesome, the owner even says "if you spray it, they will come". It isn't known for wrecks, that would be San Antonio. I think you're still talking about the old track with the old ownership, and that place simply doesn't exist anymore. There's other misinformation out there too, over on the short bus forum people saying it happened at 1000 feet, which is absolutely untrue.

I will agree that a roll bar likely wouldn't have done much in this case. I don't know what kind of helmet that was, so I can't really speculate there either. Concrete walls are absolutely superior at keeping cars on the track.

 

[Bud]

Pretty sobering. Gains come "easy" in these cars and it is easy to lose perspective of how fast we go and what kind of energy we have built up in these heavy cars down track. Safety equipment is a pain, expensive, and somewhat unsafe on the street but the reality of the situation is, it's needed. Who knows if it would have made a difference in this case with what the guardrail did.

RIP to the racer. Sucks hearing his brother was there, can't imagine having fun with friends/family at a usually uneventful T&T in a stock car and then having that happen. Shitty for sure

 

[weather man]

Little River dragway horrible wreck. 2013 GT500 lost control at the 1000' mark.

First off, RIP driver.

2nd, what the fuck are trees doing next to the track. How did the insurance carrier ever let those stay.

3rd, I admit that having just punched up the power, not having a cage makes me nervous. I am just not the type to hit it hard for 300 feet and then let off to avoid getting kicked off the track. Been a couple nasty wrecks lately. The way this car was destroyed, not certain a 6 point cage would have saved him. It wouldn't have hurt though.

4th, thoughts?

 

[Wicked GT]

Holy shit, that was a violent frigging crash.... I wouldn't expect any survivors without a full cage.

 

[Rasmus]

He was there with his brother, and according to eye witnesses, it wasn't the trees that tore the car apart.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?1034957-May-he-rest-in-peace

 

[weather man]

He was there with his brother, and according to eye witnesses, it wasn't the trees that tore the car apart.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?1034957-May-he-rest-in-peace

From all I read, he was in the front of the car, which hit the tree. The metal guard rail is definitely part of the story also. He may have been dead before hitting the tree.

 

[GallopingFord]

Apparently it was caused by a driveshaft snapping in half and digging down on the asphalt, which split the vehicle and sent it flying. He did not have a DS safety loop. ASAIK, some are saying it was a 13 GT500, but I can't tell or see what reports said and if it was the factory DS.

 

[JEWC_Motorsports]

My thoughts are to leave it the fuck alone. Let his family and friends have some peace. Its bad enough seeing this all over facebook and the idiots on svtp acting like they know wtf happened. That is all. Ohh and kdanner posted this in another thread with view on it. Kinda helps he was standing there when it happened.

 

[Bud]

Extremely tragic. Can't imagine going to the local T&T with family to have some fun in a stockish car and have it end like that. Very sad

 

[ILW84U]

If it was a 13 or 14 I wouldn't think a driveshaft would do that. The carbon fiber would just shatter.

 

[weather man]

Ohh and kdanner posted this in another thread with view on it. Kinda helps he was standing there when it happened.

Not a thread everyone follows or would expect to see that post.

kdanner
Senior Member



Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,063
iTrader: 4 / 100%

Quote:
Originally Posted by psfracer
What happened?

13-14 GT500, stock, regular street tires and all. Right lane, turned right and got on top of the guardrail at about the 1/8th mile, so 90ish MPH I guess. Probably what, a high 11 second car? Guardrail cut the car in half right around where the driver seat would be. Back part with the trunk, rear axle, fuel tank, and one of the seats stayed on track upside down. Front part that had no roof left was over the guardrail with the driver inside and finally came to a stop when it struck a tree. Part of his helmet laying in the grass. This happened right in front of me. Those trees on the right side of this track and some poles on the other side have always been a concern of mine. Metal guardrails are notorious for cutting cars but lots of tracks still have them.

Then to make it worse you have all the idiots running for the fence with their phones out to get pictures. No common decency whatsoever, photos were on facebook within minutes.

Not the first time I've seen it happen, I've even seen it happen to a friend. It never gets any easier. Guys with cars a lot faster than this one was, turbo cars being the worst, you're fucking fooling yourselves thinking these new cars don't need the same safety equipment the older ones do. That kind of weight at that kind of speed is a very bad recipe.
__________________
NA 2011 GT Auto [email protected]
TX Mile - 180 MPH mile/152.8 MPH half mile

 

[04compgt]

Sad to hear this, prayers to the friends and family.