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The short DE virtual training is okay for seasoned drivers used to going fast in high performance cars.
When it came time for the on track session, the pool of drivers included a bunch of partying bachelor/bachelorette Vegas tourists. The instructor I had couldn't have been much older than 20 and couldn't speak English very well. At one point he grabbed the wheel from me to put the car on a lower line on a curve, I saw a stalled car facing the wrong way on the curve that he didn't. Cut the session short, just too much risk for my taste.
Given there was a fire it's hard with the exceptionally limited amount of information we have to assign blame to the driver, the instructor, the track and the car itself. Which happened first? Did a malfunction of the car cause the accident and the fire or did a driver error cause the accident which caused the fire?
Chances are we will never know. But it is terrible for all involved.
Wow... how does a car hit a tire wall (soft) and burst into flames?
Just finished equipping my HPDE with roll bar, seat back braces, 6 point harness, etc... Now I feel like we should all have built in fire suppression too...
At some point, insurance for the track owners is going to get really expensive...
I instructed at an exotics event once, and that one was very controlled behind a pace car. Even so, I vowed never to repeat the experience.
I assume the instructor was "one of us"--a local club instructor having fun and earning lunch money for his effort. Our hearts break for all involved.
BTW, this is the third exotics experience death, if we include the dopes racing the ferrari's around the meadowlands parking ramps, killing a passing motorcyclist.
I found that out this morning. He's certainly qualified, so it would be an unfortunate irony if the design of this track was flawed.
It's also possible that the design was fine, but the track safety features weren't built per the design, or the safety features were changed after the initial construction. It's not uncommon for track owners to continue to change safety features, for various reasons.
But to be clear, I have no specific information on the safety, or lack thereof, of this particular track, and my comment was intended to be a general comment.
The aspect of this incident which first jumps out to me is that the car caught on fire. I've seen lots of streets cars crash at tracks, but only a small fraction of them caught on fire.
One name floats around here:
Friends confirm to News 3 the driving instructor killed was 59-year-old Gil Ben Kely. The longtime instructor penned his two-time battle with breast cancer online. Friends describe him as a “fighter” who “really lived.”
Police say they believe the victims died upon impact.
__________________ -Peter Krause www.peterkrause.net www.gofasternow.com
"Combining the Art and Science of Driving Fast!"
Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
Exotic car rentals can demand a VERY strong Instructor. Considering the mentality at times and VERY capable machines. RIP.
I agree.. maybe there is a way to have some type of control for the instructor that can help in these situations. maybe only use supercars drive by wire so the instructor can take over with a special control override system.
dangerous situation: guy pays money, wants to get his money's worth, instructor wants to teach and keep driver and car safe. guy thinks he is better than he is and quickly gets over his head before instructor can respond..........bad things happen!
So sad to hear... sadder for families for such a senseless death especially for the instructor. ugggg!
Given there was a fire it's hard with the exceptionally limited amount of information we have to assign blame to the driver, the instructor, the track and the car itself. Which happened first? Did a malfunction of the car cause the accident and the fire or did a driver error cause the accident which caused the fire?
Chances are we will never know. But it is terrible for all involved.
The real chance is that the combination of speed, high powered foreign car, inexperience and the instructor not able to control the car, caused the outcome. after all... thousands of guys run millions of laps with out incidence. You put all the risky things possible in one driving experience and the chances for bad things to happen go through the roof. Ive instructed with fast guys before , in THEIR car, and have had small mistakes make big problems (with no one getting hurt) It's a shot across the bow to bring back the student's speed when I'm (youre) in the car as an instructor, and let them work on 9-10s on their own time. just not worth it, especially at this level. (basically a quick joyride)
I don't know if it would have changed the outcome for this horrible accident but it is also a reminder that once you get out of the green run group you should start looking for a fire suit.
Fire doesn't know it is only a practice session and not a race.
02-13-2017, 12:01 PM
