 Fatality at Buttonwillow this morning, Factory Five Race series death |
|
|
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
|
  |
| nine14cats |
 Apr 9 2006, 11:49 AM
Post
#1
|
|
Bill Pickering -- 914-6 GT aka....Leeloo  Group: Members Posts: 2,618 Joined: 10-February 03 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 287 Region Association: None  |
I was at Buttonwillow last week and will be there with many of us next weekend. It's terrible to hear when something like this happens. Always makes me think....and then I get back in the car.
Here's a link to the story: Cobra Driver Fatality at Buttonwillow The early info is that it may have been a car in front of him going off course and coming back on hitting him, and causing him to go off course and flip several times. One thing I've always wondered is if the cage design of the Factory Five Series Cobra's has enough protection in the front. I know I really like the idea of the full cage I have around the front windshield as well. My thoughts are with his family. I've also attached a picture of the type of cage allowed in the series. This car IS NOT of the gentleman involved in the crash. Bill P. Attached image(s) 
|
   |
 
|
| McMark |
Apr 9 2006, 11:54 AM
Post
#2
|
|
914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) That's horrible. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)
My thoughts go to his family. |
|
|
|
| grantsfo |
Apr 9 2006, 12:06 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Arrrrhhhh! Group: Members Posts: 4,327 Joined: 16-March 03 Member No.: 433 Region Association: None |
Very sad and a sobering reminder about safety.
When I was looking at Factory 5's as a possibility I saw him on their website. I too was learly of the Factory Fives roll over protection. |
|
|
|
| Brando |
Apr 9 2006, 02:10 PM
Post
#4
|
|
BUY MY SPARE KIDNEY!!! Group: Members Posts: 3,935 Joined: 29-August 04 From: Santa Ana, CA Member No.: 2,648 Region Association: Southern California |
I am very sad to hear a fellow enthusiast is no longer with us (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)
All the safety equipment cannot protect you from stupid idiot drivers (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) |
|
|
|
| SirAndy |
Apr 9 2006, 02:32 PM
Post
#5
|
||
|
Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,651 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
nowhere in any of the postings do i see anything about a "stupid idiot driver" ... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) Andy |
||
|
|
|
||
| DanT |
Apr 9 2006, 03:43 PM
Post
#6
|
|
Going back to the Dark Side! Group: Members Posts: 4,300 Joined: 4-October 04 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 2,880 Region Association: None |
You are pretty exposed in one of those cars....
not much around you, except a little tubing. (very little) the 914s are much more substantial....even with just the targa bar and windshield hoop. If he did an endover like the posting said, he may have broken his neck from the impact of hitting as the car went over. We had a 911 do and endover last year in the TT series. Car landed on all 4s. Driver restarted the car and drove it into the pits. Driver had a concussion but was otherwise OK. Should have seen the dent in his helmet where it hit the rollbar. Car was totally tweeked, but it still drove and all the glass remained intact. Car was flat towed home and salvaged. German tank....vs.....fiberglass toy. IMHO. I am very sorry for his family's loss. |
|
|
|
| lapuwali |
Apr 9 2006, 04:18 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Not another one! Group: Benefactors Posts: 4,526 Joined: 1-March 04 From: San Mateo, CA Member No.: 1,743  |
It's a sad thing to hear.
Nothing can protect you from 100% of all possible accidents, so I'm not sure I'd be waving my fist at the car just yet. |
|
|
|
| Flat VW |
Apr 9 2006, 04:23 PM
Post
#8
|
||
|
Illegal Soapbox Derby Racecar Group: Members Posts: 1,692 Joined: 13-November 04 From: Phoenix, AZ Member No.: 3,105 |
Not exactly as I might have said it, but, (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) John P.S. Sad Stuff |
||
|
|
|
||
| Brando |
Apr 9 2006, 05:15 PM
Post
#9
|
||||
|
BUY MY SPARE KIDNEY!!! Group: Members Posts: 3,935 Joined: 29-August 04 From: Santa Ana, CA Member No.: 2,648 Region Association: Southern California |
If you go off-track, wait for the pack to pass and you've got a clearning... At least, I'd do that instead of come back with a car I can't control, and hit someone... |
||||
|
|
|
||||
| SirAndy |
Apr 9 2006, 05:21 PM
Post
#10
|
||
|
Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,651 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
the way i read it, the car went off track and spun back on track. nothing the driver can do about. you'd be surprised how often that happens, usually, they'll hit the wall on the opposite side from where they went off track ... not that uncommon at all. unless i mis-read those posts, the guy did *not* intentionally drive back on track and into the other car ... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool_shades.gif) Andy |
||
|
|
|
||
| DanT |
Apr 9 2006, 05:21 PM
Post
#11
|
|
Going back to the Dark Side! Group: Members Posts: 4,300 Joined: 4-October 04 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 2,880 Region Association: None |
Andy, we must have written our responses at the same time...I agree
Folks, this is racing...sometimes you go off and you have no control of the car. You are just along for the ride. You don't know if the car is going to spin off and stay off or spin off and shoot back across the track. At Buttonwillow, there are several places like the exit of 13 (sunset I believe) lots of folks go 2 wheels off there, freak out and jerk the car back onto the track....then the car shoots across the track completely out of control. Don't know where this incident happened, so you can't say what exactly happened....but it is racing and stuff happens...some of it not in yours or anyone elses control. This post has been edited by Dan (Almaden Valley): Apr 9 2006, 05:23 PM |
|
|
|
| scotty b |
Apr 9 2006, 05:21 PM
Post
#12
|
|
rust free you say ? Group: Members Posts: 16,375 Joined: 7-January 05 From: richmond, Va. Member No.: 3,419 Region Association: None |
I wouldn't call a 911 a tank. There was a fatality last year or 2 years ago at Summit point when a 911 went off the track and hit a tree sideways (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)
|
|
|
|
| DanT |
Apr 9 2006, 05:24 PM
Post
#13
|
|
Going back to the Dark Side! Group: Members Posts: 4,300 Joined: 4-October 04 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 2,880 Region Association: None |
It's a tank compared to a tube framed, fiberglass body replicar. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)
|
|
|
|
| MattR |
Apr 9 2006, 05:49 PM
Post
#14
|
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,279 Joined: 23-January 04 From: SF Bay Area Member No.: 1,589 Region Association: Northern California |
I was there when it happened. Very sad indeed...
I didnt know he died. When I left after the racing was over he was in a coma. They didnt bring in a chopper so it must have been pretty bad. |
|
|
|
| Rufus |
Apr 9 2006, 07:24 PM
Post
#15
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 314 Joined: 8-April 06 From: Central NC Member No.: 5,840 Region Association: None 
|
Hi Folks - I've been "lurking" on this forum occasionally for a year or so, but haven't registered 'till now. I'm attracted by fellow "lunatic fringe" car fanatics!
I know this is a funny place for my first post, but I'm deeply saddened by the Cobra fatality. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) Two weeks ago was the 1 year 'anniversary' of my own Cobra fiasco. I feel truly blessed to have survived; let alone walked away from the wreck. In considering whether to build another, I had similar thoughts to what others have already expressed here: they have as little driver protection as a '50's USAC sprint car and who knows the power to weight ratio......7, 6, 5, or ?? lbs/hp. (Mine was about 5.0 lbs/hp.) On the street, the temptation to 'use it' is just too great! Anyway, hello (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wavey.gif) , and as I sure everyone else here is, I'm distressed seeing someone lose their life pursuing the hobby we all love and enjoy. P.S. Better look out: the "stupid idiot" drivers are switching over to teeners from Cobras!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif) Attached thumbnail(s) 
|
|
|
|
| SirAndy |
Apr 9 2006, 07:29 PM
Post
#16
|
||
|
Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,651 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
holy sh*t ... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) glad you made it out of there OK ... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/welcome.png) Andy |
||
|
|
|
||
| drew365 |
Apr 9 2006, 07:33 PM
Post
#17
|
|
These are the good old days! Group: Members Posts: 2,004 Joined: 29-December 02 From: Sunny So. Cal. Member No.: 37 |
That little tree sure did a number on your Cobra!
|
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 21st May 2024 - 03:42 AM |
Invision Power Board
v9.1.4 © 2024 IPS, Inc.