914R makes contact, But not the good kind |
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914R makes contact, But not the good kind |
campbellcj |
Jan 19 2015, 10:53 PM
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#1
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California |
Saturday I had my first car-to-car contact in 15 years of track driving. This was at Streets of Willow counter-clockwise direction, at the end of the front straight where you have to haul down from >100mph to make a 180° left sweeper. A guy in a significantly modded GMG WC-Turbo 997TT (600+ HP and brakes the size of my wheels) missed his braking point and dive-bombed on the INSIDE of me as I was starting to turn in hard to the apex.
This was time-attack (time-trial) not cup racing, so we were under controlled passing but regardless he was NOT making a pass, he was out of control. I was done braking and clearly owned the corner and there was no possible way he was going to make the corner. He was a new-ish driver and otherwise would have done the no-brainer thing of staying to the outside and simply running straight off. Several course workers saw this and reported he was at fault, which he did not deny. He said he was fully into ABS and could not steer or stop any quicker. So now he is suspended (POC rules) with a 13/13 but zero damage to his $100K car. I have a clean record and my health but 914R has a caved-in door and fuched-up paint and decals. I count my blessings as it would have been MUCH worse had it been a split-second later with my car rotated farther into the turn. As it was, I saw him in my peripheral vision in the last milliseconds and jinked right slightly, lessening the impact to a glancing side blow off his wheel/tire. I'm not sure of the moral of this story, other than be careful out there, especially with the newer drivers in very fast cars and more money than skill. This has actually motivated me more to bump to the race group to run exclusively with the more experienced/consistent/situationally-aware guys. I'm aiming to do my first race clinic at Spring Mountain in March! |
sixnotfour |
Jan 20 2015, 01:16 AM
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#2
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,433 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
That bites...I had a turbo do the same thing except he went sailing past me and of track.. He did apologize afterwards...but really, I doubt he was gonna pass me in the up coming twistys..
Glad to see ist relatively minor damage to your fresh 914.. |
brant |
Jan 20 2015, 07:26 AM
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#3
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 11,625 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
Chris
Truly sorry. That sucks. |
campbellcj |
Jan 20 2015, 11:19 AM
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#4
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California |
Thanks guys! It was truly an accident and the other driver did apologize, but it still sucks... I'm gonna try to push the door out from the inside and just run the car for a while as the whole left side will probably need to be resprayed. The left rear fender damage is due to losing a tire at Buttonwillow, not from this. Luckily 914 doors are relatively cheap/available if it comes to that.
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SirAndy |
Jan 20 2015, 12:45 PM
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#5
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,651 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
I know this sucks but it could have been much worse. Glad you're OK ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
bulitt |
Jan 20 2015, 12:52 PM
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#6
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Achtzylinder Group: Members Posts: 4,188 Joined: 2-October 11 Member No.: 13,632 Region Association: South East States |
If he's got the coin for a 600hp997 he should pony some up to help cover your cost.
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stuttgart46 |
Jan 20 2015, 01:51 PM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 305 Joined: 17-December 07 From: Santa Monica, CA Member No.: 8,474 Region Association: None |
Glad you're ok.
Nice that he came over and apologized. Hopefully I'm never the reason for a wreck but if so I'd do the same thing. |
ThePaintedMan |
Jan 20 2015, 02:13 PM
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#8
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,886 Joined: 6-September 11 From: St. Petersburg, FL Member No.: 13,527 Region Association: South East States |
So sorry to hear it Chris. I think the more any of us run though, it's always just a matter of time.
A friend of mine taught me a lesson early on when I started getting into racing and track stuff - basically to never get too attached to a car. There is no sense ever running a car if one can't afford both financially and emotionally to see it wadded up into a little ball. Hopefully it never happens to anyone, but in the eventuality that it does, I always remind myself that it was my decision to be out there in the first place and to never risk my financial (or mental) stability over it... especially because there is always the chance "that guy" will be there on track with me. Best wishes man, and glad you're okay - most important. |
ChrisFoley |
Jan 20 2015, 02:57 PM
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#9
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I am Tangerine Racing Group: Members Posts: 7,928 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Bolton, CT Member No.: 209 Region Association: None |
Sorry to see that Chris, at least only the door was damaged.
I wasn't quite so lucky at the 2005 Runoffs. But I had it looking this good in 2 days: |
ThePaintedMan |
Jan 20 2015, 03:54 PM
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#10
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,886 Joined: 6-September 11 From: St. Petersburg, FL Member No.: 13,527 Region Association: South East States |
What about when you got loose in the water at Lime Rock and hit the parked car in 2009? That still scares me to watch. Can't believe you were able to salvage the car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3r5tV9q4Jw |
ChrisFoley |
Jan 20 2015, 04:27 PM
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#11
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I am Tangerine Racing Group: Members Posts: 7,928 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Bolton, CT Member No.: 209 Region Association: None |
Well, that was my own fault, although I'm still not sure how the back end got away from me.
We had to cut off the RR fender so the tire would move. I replaced the rear fenders with FG flares so I could have the car ready for another race 4 weeks later. I still want to go back to my steel flares though. This was right before the next race: |
campbellcj |
Jan 20 2015, 08:40 PM
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#12
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California |
...There is no sense ever running a car if one can't afford both financially and emotionally to see it wadded up into a little ball. Hopefully it never happens to anyone, but in the eventuality that it does, I always remind myself that it was my decision to be out there in the first place and to never risk my financial (or mental) stability over it... Well said! Although I LOVE this car, I built it to be used hard, so I have tried to condition myself to not get upset about the inevitable rock chips, dents, bent wheels, broken windshields, and so forth. After confirming there was no functional/safety issue, I went right back out on track. Onward and upward. Keep the shiny side up everybody. |
Trekkor |
Jan 31 2015, 12:06 AM
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#13
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I do things... Group: Members Posts: 7,809 Joined: 2-December 03 From: Napa, Ca Member No.: 1,413 Region Association: Northern California |
Having ridden in your car back in '04 at the WCC and following your progress, I'm super happy the car isn't more damaged.
Reading the OP, I was fearing we were going to see a really hard hit and bad damage. Glad all is well. Pedal down! |
Heater Guy |
Feb 3 2015, 07:17 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 74 Joined: 20-October 09 From: Walnut Creek, CA Member No.: 10,960 Region Association: Northern California |
[It happens. I was taken out by a 911 GT-3 at Sears Point last year. They don't realize 914's are sometimes faster than they think. Here is a YouTube of the wreck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Le7LfdDNE |
stugray |
Feb 5 2015, 01:29 PM
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#15
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,824 Joined: 17-September 09 From: Longmont, CO Member No.: 10,819 Region Association: None |
Glad to see you are OK and the damage is purely cosmetic!
This is one reason that I am going to wrap my car in vinyl instead of paint. If I need to redo one panel, it will be much easier than getting out the spray gun. (Silver Lining? - At least he didnt break your stock mirror ...$$$) |
campbellcj |
Feb 5 2015, 08:29 PM
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#16
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California |
(Silver Lining? - At least he didnt break your stock mirror ...$$$) True story - right after this happened I was thinking "this is a 914 - the mirror and graphics probably cost more than the door - and the mirror is OK!" Also the doors are gutted with no glass/regulators/locks so none of that was there to get broken. |
Cracker |
Feb 8 2015, 06:46 AM
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#17
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,148 Joined: 2-February 10 From: Atlanta (area) Member No.: 11,316 Region Association: South East States |
In my years at the track...I have become quite adept at "dealing" with ALL forms of disappointment (my car last October at Road Atlanta). Oh well!
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