How common are crashes at the track?
10-30-2014, 09:57 PM
#16
Three Wheelin'
That seems very high. It also depends on the track. Around here, Sonoma and Laguna Seca have lots of walls, so accidents are a little more common. It's very rare to see any damage at Thunderhill or Buttonwillow. Even at Laguna Seca, I think I see body damage maybe once every 4 days at the track. Only once have I ever seen car on car contact, and it was my first time on the track, and two idiots driving way too fast their first time out.
10-30-2014, 10:03 PM
#17
It happens more often than you think and it could happen at any time.
It's more likely to happen to you if you're more advanced and are pushing it.
The problem with cars like the GT3 and a lot of modern supercars on track is that they're so fast and they give you so much control. But when you do mess up or you do lose control, it's not at a speed where it's easy to correct.
It's more likely to happen to you if you're more advanced and are pushing it.
The problem with cars like the GT3 and a lot of modern supercars on track is that they're so fast and they give you so much control. But when you do mess up or you do lose control, it's not at a speed where it's easy to correct.
10-30-2014, 10:04 PM
#19
That seems very high. It also depends on the track. Around here, Sonoma and Laguna Seca have lots of walls, so accidents are a little more common. It's very rare to see any damage at Thunderhill or Buttonwillow. Even at Laguna Seca, I think I see body damage maybe once every 4 days at the track. Only once have I ever seen car on car contact, and it was my first time on the track, and two idiots driving way too fast their first time out.
I've heard of a number at places like Buttonwillow and Chuckwalla, but have never seen it myself.
10-30-2014, 10:09 PM
#20
Nordschleife Master
I've only tracked 8 days, all at Watkins Glen, but only saw one bad wreck. Driver and instructer were ok, but car was totaled. It was a guy trying to move up to the next class at the end of the second day, not a good idea.
10-30-2014, 11:34 PM
#25
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Depends on a lot of factors. In the northeast US, at PCA events, I've seen about 0 to 3 crashes per event, for 2 or 3 day events with 100 to 150 cars. Substantial injury in crashes at the track is fairly rare, fatality even rarer. Crashes are somewhat more common for 'advanced' drivers as compared to students.
10-30-2014, 11:53 PM
#26
Three Wheelin'
Depends on a lot of factors. In the northeast US, at PCA events, I've seen about 0 to 3 crashes per event, for 2 or 3 day events with 100 to 150 cars. Substantial injury in crashes at the track is fairly rare, fatality even rarer. Crashes are somewhat more common for 'advanced' drivers as compared to students.
10-31-2014, 12:16 AM
#28
Interesting. That's not been my observation. I see a lot more breakdowns in the advanced groups, mainly because the cars are usually modified. Almost all of the damage I've seen is from people pushing too hard in fast cars before they should have. For instance, in just one day I saw 2 different people hit the wall on the last turn at Laguna. It's a very slow speed turn and there is really no excuse for an experienced person to hit the inside wall. Drivers without a lot of experience turn off the traction control and get on the gas too early on exit.
10-31-2014, 12:24 AM
#30
Let me clarify: I saw a red GT3 *that got munched* on that same turn (didn't see it happen live, but was at the event where it happened). It was HOD event at Laguna last August 1st. Drooled over the car at the start of the event, and saw it getting towed away with the entire back / side crunched in towards the end of the day. I asked some folks what happened, and they said the car fishtailed coming out of turn 11 and hit the inside wall.
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Last edited by Mech33; 10-31-2014 at 01:34 AM.