Pony Express results update
08-28-2007, 02:47 PM
#17
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Bill, We used my notes and turn speeds from the 160 class. We were going to see how well
the Z06 (and Paul) could run. In the 2006 Pony, I ran a 171 mph avg before the Gap, but that
was with a 180 tech (as opposed to 172 for the 155 mph class). The best I've done through
the Gap has been 139 mph, but it's usually around 135-138 mph depending on conditions.
So Paul did very well. When we got out of the Gap, I asked Paul if he wanted go for target
speed or bank some time for the return leg. With the weather being so bad, and the start
time delayed, we figured there would be no return run, so we slowed to go for target speed.
As it turned out, we didn't even get to go for that. After the the Red Flag we slowed to below
60 mph for about a mile, and at the next mile marker, we were still ahead of time.
the Z06 (and Paul) could run. In the 2006 Pony, I ran a 171 mph avg before the Gap, but that
was with a 180 tech (as opposed to 172 for the 155 mph class). The best I've done through
the Gap has been 139 mph, but it's usually around 135-138 mph depending on conditions.
So Paul did very well. When we got out of the Gap, I asked Paul if he wanted go for target
speed or bank some time for the return leg. With the weather being so bad, and the start
time delayed, we figured there would be no return run, so we slowed to go for target speed.
As it turned out, we didn't even get to go for that. After the the Red Flag we slowed to below
60 mph for about a mile, and at the next mile marker, we were still ahead of time.
08-28-2007, 04:05 PM
#18
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Here are a few photos from the Pony.
1 Matt and Rich at pregrid
2 Matt at the Starting Line (taken by Paul M)
3 Matt going past me (~200 ft from the start)
4 Tim and Cheryl at the Starting Grid talking to the Race Director
5 Tim's car with Paul's Z06 in the background
6 Tim in the Gap (taken by my stepson Vince)
7 Paul in the Gap (Vince again)
1 Matt and Rich at pregrid
2 Matt at the Starting Line (taken by Paul M)
3 Matt going past me (~200 ft from the start)
4 Tim and Cheryl at the Starting Grid talking to the Race Director
5 Tim's car with Paul's Z06 in the background
6 Tim in the Gap (taken by my stepson Vince)
7 Paul in the Gap (Vince again)
08-28-2007, 04:05 PM
#19
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Jeez, Matt and Rich didn't even get on the road until after noon. Was this the first leg? That's almost a 4 hour delay, and this is before the accident. What a day!
08-28-2007, 04:11 PM
#20
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Bill, Yep, first (only) leg. The road was closed after the first 11 cars had started. A BLM
fire truck was let on the road to responded to a brush fire about 50 miles out. Then a
local had an emergency and was let on the road (after the fire truck had passed). Then
rain was reported in the Gap and the Helicoper was called out for an emergency in Elko.
fire truck was let on the road to responded to a brush fire about 50 miles out. Then a
local had an emergency and was let on the road (after the fire truck had passed). Then
rain was reported in the Gap and the Helicoper was called out for an emergency in Elko.
08-28-2007, 06:06 PM
#23
Race Director
08-28-2007, 06:14 PM
#24
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which is a three day event, I got 6,500 photos. You have to remember there
are up to 3 people taking photos at a time, and we can shot up to 8 frames
a second.
I put over 4,000 photos on the Event CDROMs:
4,100 photos:
4,500 photos:
08-28-2007, 06:48 PM
#25
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Here is a 25 shot animated gif from one of Tim's practice runs (there and back):
You figure there are 86 cars running, that's a lot of shots from just one shooter...
You figure there are 86 cars running, that's a lot of shots from just one shooter...
Last edited by jorj7; 08-28-2007 at 07:07 PM.
08-28-2007, 07:59 PM
#26
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Update on Don and Greg's condition from the MKM forum this afternoon:
Rich
Mike ,
I know that you know most of the emails of the folks from MKM. Would you be able to pass on this information?
They're both doing very well!
Greg has a lot of bruising and a few burns on his hand. I did take him home, yesterday and he had another visit with his doctor. If he has a concussion, it was minor enough to not mention. He will enjoy a full recovery in a few weeks.
Tracy drove his truck and trailer to Don's home. RT Green (Dave Carpenter's Nav) and Deana followed behind in their RV. They stopped by the hospital in Reno to check up on Don. He seemed in good spirits and looked better than expected. Zero bruising on his torso, some on the arms from the restraints, and did have some around his left eye.
Don on the other hand will have a longer recovery time. In Reno, they made a 'tortoise shell' immobilizer cast for his back. There is a compression fracture of the disk located around T12. This will heal in time. He also had a small fracture in his left shoulder. That they did not cast but with limited mobility, will heal as well. I did not hear anything regarding the orbital fracture - in any case, that is not something they generally treat (based upon my own experiences working for an ophthalmologist) and heals very well on its own. He will be picked up by family in Reno, today and will go home to recover.
Generally speaking, time will heal their physical wounds and they should be up and running to enjoy trick or treating for Halloween.
Thanks to safety devices and properly secured roll cages, they will be fine. WOW - Luck prevailed!!
I know that you know most of the emails of the folks from MKM. Would you be able to pass on this information?
They're both doing very well!
Greg has a lot of bruising and a few burns on his hand. I did take him home, yesterday and he had another visit with his doctor. If he has a concussion, it was minor enough to not mention. He will enjoy a full recovery in a few weeks.
Tracy drove his truck and trailer to Don's home. RT Green (Dave Carpenter's Nav) and Deana followed behind in their RV. They stopped by the hospital in Reno to check up on Don. He seemed in good spirits and looked better than expected. Zero bruising on his torso, some on the arms from the restraints, and did have some around his left eye.
Don on the other hand will have a longer recovery time. In Reno, they made a 'tortoise shell' immobilizer cast for his back. There is a compression fracture of the disk located around T12. This will heal in time. He also had a small fracture in his left shoulder. That they did not cast but with limited mobility, will heal as well. I did not hear anything regarding the orbital fracture - in any case, that is not something they generally treat (based upon my own experiences working for an ophthalmologist) and heals very well on its own. He will be picked up by family in Reno, today and will go home to recover.
Generally speaking, time will heal their physical wounds and they should be up and running to enjoy trick or treating for Halloween.
Thanks to safety devices and properly secured roll cages, they will be fine. WOW - Luck prevailed!!
08-28-2007, 09:25 PM
#28
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Wow! That's excellent. It seems the safety equipment saved them from serious injury despite some problems with it. I read that there drysump broke loose too, causing Greg some burns.
08-29-2007, 12:34 AM
#29
The accident serves as a potent reminder of how dangerous a game we play with our cars. That's part of the thrill, along with the competition and camaraderie. Fortunately, all that was lost in this case was a car and some time. The car can be replaced.
George and I were well into an excellent run when we got red flagged and had to pull over 20 miles short of the finish line on the first leg. Our two biggest problems were trying to bleed off enough time to get back down to our target speed before the turn around and trying not to get frostbite from the A/C. Someone told me the compressor would turn off at high RPM above 100 mph, but it turns out that's not true. I wasn't about to look for the button at 170 mph to turn it off.
In any case, it was fun taking photos of all the cars at the start line for George. Hopefully, a few of them will actually be good! Congratulations to Tim and Cheryl for blowing through both traps at 200+. Too bad it didn't count this time. Nice job by Matt and Rich too!
Team Porsche took top honors again and Lincoln even managed to rub it in Looking Glass Corvette's face that Team Porsche has a Corvette as a team member. Sometime's its the little things in life that make it all worth while.
George and I were well into an excellent run when we got red flagged and had to pull over 20 miles short of the finish line on the first leg. Our two biggest problems were trying to bleed off enough time to get back down to our target speed before the turn around and trying not to get frostbite from the A/C. Someone told me the compressor would turn off at high RPM above 100 mph, but it turns out that's not true. I wasn't about to look for the button at 170 mph to turn it off.
In any case, it was fun taking photos of all the cars at the start line for George. Hopefully, a few of them will actually be good! Congratulations to Tim and Cheryl for blowing through both traps at 200+. Too bad it didn't count this time. Nice job by Matt and Rich too!
Team Porsche took top honors again and Lincoln even managed to rub it in Looking Glass Corvette's face that Team Porsche has a Corvette as a team member. Sometime's its the little things in life that make it all worth while.
08-29-2007, 07:14 PM
#30
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Here's another update from the MKM Race Director regarding the helmets:
Sheds a little light on the situation, and hopefully there will be some more information in the future.
FWIW, I wore my Isaac Device and all other personal safety equipment that is required for the Super Sport Class (160+mph) while riding with Matt in the Grand Touring 130mph class.
Rich
According to Craig, about the helmets:
It appears the chin strap of Don's helmet broke during the crash and it is being sent to HANS along with Greg's helmet for examination. Greg's helmet was off when help arrived but Greg does not remember if he removed it in an attempt to free himself from the car. However, what is significant is that there were signs of rubbing along the sides of the helmets from the restraints of the HANS device, indicating in my mind at least that there were indeed extreme forces exerting themselves on their heads and that the devices most probably saved their lives.
It appears the chin strap of Don's helmet broke during the crash and it is being sent to HANS along with Greg's helmet for examination. Greg's helmet was off when help arrived but Greg does not remember if he removed it in an attempt to free himself from the car. However, what is significant is that there were signs of rubbing along the sides of the helmets from the restraints of the HANS device, indicating in my mind at least that there were indeed extreme forces exerting themselves on their heads and that the devices most probably saved their lives.
FWIW, I wore my Isaac Device and all other personal safety equipment that is required for the Super Sport Class (160+mph) while riding with Matt in the Grand Touring 130mph class.
Rich