gersar928

Hopefully at least you come away with the lesson of using all of your safety equipment . There is nothing worse than that feeling of wishing that you had taken the time to put on all that you own. Trust me on this, I am the guy that slamed the wall right in front of you a few go-karting get togethers ago, as I saw the wall aproach, I thought "damn , I should have worn my rib protection vest". BAM , too late. Obivously the speeds where significantly lower in that example but I am sure the feeling was the same one as you discribed.

Gerry

BC

Now that its clear Mark was not seriously injured, all I give a **** about is if that engine is still okay.

linderpat

Mark - glad you are okay.

BC

Its more than a loss for you. You are talking about putting the "holbert" engine in another 928.

What about the "dozens of people on rennlist, Wisconsin heroes" engine?

UncleMaz

Thrilled you are healthy and in one piece.

Temekun

Mark,

I'm glad you're OK.

Now would be the time to let Porsche put the Holbert car where it belongs, in its museum exactly as it went on the flatbed. The 928 heritage was always about going fast and that's how the Holbert VIN number wentout, on the track upholding the honor of the 928 legend.

They can put the next generation 928 (Panamera coupe) next to it after it sets the next speed record and in 2033 when it goes out racing, as Porsches' are supposed to do put it next to yours.

Does anyone from Porsche know the history of your car? I hope they understand what it represents to the marque. Hell it's one of the reason I bought a 928 and not a corvette.

BTW, after running at Blackhawk on Saturday with cars that I closed on with a 50mph+ difference I am rethinking DE events. Your incident reinforces how I was thinking at the end of the day. At the very least I learned something from your wreck.

Tim

mspiegle

Glad to hear you're ok! After you take some time to sort everything out (including your health), I'm sure we'll see you racing again in another 928.

schwank

Once a gladiator, always a gladiator. While the car is an unfortunate deal, your health cannot be transferred to a new tub. Be thankful for that! Given your posts it is obvious you will be back out there in the future, and if there is any way the car can be repaired, it will be.

Godspeed!

6mil928

This is terrible. What a shame a beautiful car. Glad your OK!!!!!!!!!!

mark kibort

I cant thank you all enough for the thoughtful, notes. I just sat down after working on the holbert car to see how bad its hurt, and logged on to be amazed by the number of messages . As they say in racing, you shouldnt get too attached to your race car, but I think all racers and their egos think that bad things only happen to the other guy. Well, there was one variable that i discounted a little too much, just dumb luck. I had really become attached to that car. Not only for all the work it took to piece it together and resurect it from near abandonment, but its history. World speed record, IMSA rescue car, and then it went racing! Heck, i won the poster of this car breaking the speed record in a raffle at Devek 15 years ago, and then ended up own it to race. Crazy!

I also appreciate the wishes. Ill be ok, just really sore right now. A lot more neck pain today, but its nothing serious. As I mentioned, i did get a few once overs by doctors at the track. It was stupid to not have been wearing my H-N restraint system, but next time you wont see me without it. Talk about a free pass, I really was pretty scared that it might be it. Thank god for the tires, the angle of the K-wall and the car for taking the brunt of the force. (or is it power, energy etc? nevermind ) All the care and concern has been incredible and I thank you all again.

I would love to think that the chassis has a chance, but the more I look at it, the more incredibly distorted it looks. I pulled off the fenders, bumper and swaybar and things look pretty bad.
I also tried to start it and I just couldnt get it to run without the flywheel or clutch making some noise. sounds like things are rubbing, plus, I just noticed a large crack at the top of the bell housing. So, its toast.

Here are some more pics:

heinrich

Depends Mark, on whether you were in a high enough gear ... Looks perfectly repairable to me and this time perhaps have somepne repair it to save it as an icon for the 928 histpry books, and take Mark up on the gift of a chassis. For racing.

jmccabe

Mark,
Sorry about the Holbert car, but......get busy already, and make a new racing Shark !

jcorenman

Mark,

Really glad you are OK, but I don't think that's going to rub out. But even if you wind up swapping what you can to a new chassis, I think it will always be the "Holbert car".
Sort of like "grandfather's axe"... new handle, new head, another new handle, but still grandfather's axe.

And +928 on getting checked out again by a doc... hopefully that will just be a waste of time and money but you can't tell from where you sit.

Mako 928

O.K. so things are not looking good for the "original" Holbert car. So lets start focusing on the "Memorial" Holbert car.
In other words what might help take some of the pain out of what alot of us are feeling now is to get to work on building "Holbert II"
1. Take anything off of the car. Mirrors, drivers side door, engine/trans, hood emblem, rear wing, etc. and transfer on to a donor car. Think of it as a mechanical heart/soul transplant.
2. From all of the photos of the car as reference paint it and decal it exactly as it was. Even see about getting Derek Bell to sign it as a memorial.
I would rather see Mark racing like this with the memory and passion of the "Holbert" car rather than just another S4 with parts from a "wreck"

IcemanG17

Mark will race again......it might take a little "help" to make it happen...but it WILL happen......