993,951,944

A very scary thing just happened.... In the C4S, I came
to a stop light at a freeway on-ramp and decided to rev
to 4-5K RPMS and drop in the relatively new clutch.
The car launched perfectly, even breaking loose the tires,
a launch that makes any driver grin...


Suddenly, I realized I was in trouble.
My vision started to fade like being under water and
my eye ***** were beginning to roll back into my head.
I felt an intense heat and ringing in my ears.
I couldn't believe it, this only happens in movies.
I was actually blacking-out from the G-force! I had to
quickly pulled over and spend a minute recovering.
I was really embarrassed.


The only thing I can think of besides the G-force causing the
near total black out was the fact I had skipped breakfast
and drank lots of coffee to recover from a slight hang-over
after having entertained some guests the night before at my
home. I rarely drink, and I consider myself to be in better
than average health, blood pressure and weight are normal.
Yes, like everyone else, I think about doing more exercise
more often, and I will continue to think about it in the upcoming
years... I have one of those new unused exercise machines
floating around if anyone wants it...


I wonder if any drivers were lost due to G-force black outs.

Has anyone else had a similar experience ?

I also wonder if the Twin Turbo is too dangerous to be in my
" wish-to-own-some-day " list.


All the best,

Chris W. - '96 Targa

Hmm. Never heard of that happening in a car. I believe with fighter pilots such blackouts occur when the g-forces are pressing *down* on the pilot (i.e., when the jet is in a steep climb), as the blood rushes out of the brain and down into the rest of the body, thereby causing the blackout. I doubt in a car you're pulling more than 1 G on acceleration; I wouldn't think that's enough force.

Have you ever had that happen before? I gather not in a car, but how about when an airplane takes off?

As a software guy, I'd say you need to go back to the on-ramp and try the launch again to see if it's a repeatable condition. Might not be the best idea, or you might want to have somebody with you.

Any thoughts on seeing your doctor to ensure there's nothing else wrong physiologically?

<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

-Chris

Skytop

From your detailed recreation, you clearly have been shaken by this experience.
A blackout, briefly going unconscious could possibly signify a siezure event. For your own safety, a doctor examination would be advisable. Hope all turns out favorable for you.

Craig W.

The G forces produced by a 280 HP car on launch are not nearly enough to produce that sort of reaction in a normal person.

I suggest you get yourself checked out by a doctor ASAP.

Anir

David,

Since I'm a doc, I'll chime in. I agree with the others that you should run it by your primary care physician. It could have been something as simple (and relatively harmless) as low blood sugar levels ("hypoglycemia"), but could also be a harbinger of something more significant. Don't blow it off.

AndrewM

David,
Since I'm a doc also, I totally agree with Anir. No way you'd be blacking out from that run. You need some baseline studies at least to begin with.
Drew
89 C4
86 930 (400hp+ and no blackouts)

993,951,944

Thanks guys,

This experience was a first for me. I returned to the
launch site this morning, waited for a clear run way,
expecting this to happen again. I didn't bring anyone
with me fearing for their own safety. I had the same
launch again and nothing happened, just a very tiny
"buzz" which I probably noticed due to being too
cautious. I ran two more launches and felt nothing.

I had a doctor's examination about a year ago and
everything was normal. They even thought I had been
exercising. I think the combination of alcohol from the
night before and drinking lots of coffee and skipping
breakfast caused this near black-out manifestation.

I agree with your responses and medical staff; I should
see a doctor, even if it was a one time occurrence, as
even the "TT" drivers haven't posted any similar experiences.


Thanks again,

two left feet

Being a little prone to this type thing myself - it sounds very much like a hypotensive incident. Hung over means reduced blood volume - coffee being a diruetic doesnt help at all.? Does this type of thing happen when you stand up too quickly ?? Again get it checked out - I hate having to sneeze while driving, let alone a possible black out.

Anir

[quote]Originally posted by two left feet:
<strong>it sounds very much like a hypotensive incident.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Andrew and David,

Check out this link on <a href="http://www.mcevoy.demon.co.uk/Medicine/Neurology/Syncope.html" target="_blank">"Syncope" (Fainting)</a>

There is a type of fainting / passing out that can occur from coughing, sneezing, or even "micturition" (peeing). These activities increase the pressure inside your chest and abdomen, transiently resulting in decreased blood return to the heart. This, in turn, temporarily decreases blood flow to the brain, which makes you feel light-headed and woozy.

Andrew also points out that both alcohol and diuretics (such as caffeine) can dehydrate you and lead to decreased blood volume, which could make you feel faint, especially in combination with bearing down.

You can even pass out from excessive emotion, as in a "vasovagal response". This is what happens to people at the doctor's office so often.

There is probably a straightforward explanation for what happened to David based on one of the above, but it nevers hurts to be careful and get checked out. After all, people do develop more serious conditions, such as irregular heart beats ("arrythmias"), which can produce similar symptoms. "An ounce of prevention..."

mpm '95 C4

As the doctor's said, go see a doctor...

The G's need to blackout (like fighters rushing off the deck) are past 6 G's. Turbos have a great launch, but not like that.

Seriously, as a multiple concussion sufferer - get to a doctor those symptoms are not something to joke around with.

Stuttgart951

Definately listen to the Dr's - this is most definatly health related - probably something minor, or even a fluke, but get it checked out none the less.

The forces required to cause G-LOC are not even found in F1 cars - they are more often associated with blood rushing away from the head (ie positive G pull in an aircraft) and this only begins to happen around 5-6 G's if you are trained in combating the effects - even so, some pilots (the smaller the better) are able to withstand upwards of 9G's for more than a few seconds without blacking out - youre in F-16 territory here - no way a P-car can do this.

Robert Henriksen

[quote]Originally posted by 993,951,944:
<strong>This experience was a first for me. I returned to the launch site this morning, waited for a clear run way, expecting this to happen again. </strong><hr></blockquote>

You *are* a software engineer!! <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Seriously, glad you're listening to the docs... and Rennlist rocks! Car *and* medical advice, who'd'a thunk it.

Allen

If you have an unexplained near blackout, your a fool if you don't get it checked out. You've even got a couple of docs suggesting the same thing. Personally, I think it was due to the "standing up too quick" effect that seems to be extremely exagerated when your hung-over...but I would absolutely get it checked

brandon

Hi folks,

Thought I might add a little about "G forces" here for general info. The positive G force felt by aviators (i.e. pushing downward through the body) are very different than the transverse G's felt on acceleration of a car (also called transverse G). They are normally felt when pulling back on the stick (a loop, steeply banked turn, etc.)

GLOC stands for G-induced Loss Of Consciousness and occurs when G- forces essentially prevent oxygenated blood from reaching the brain while the remaining blood is forced to lower parts of the body, and occurs after several seconds of sustained high G.

Normal resting tolerance for most people is 3.5 G's without any noticeable physiological effects (this can vary by + or - 1 G depending on body size, hydration, etc.) above about 3.5 G, without any straining maneuver (sort of like pushing while constipated) or "g-suit" (essentially chaps that inflate), vision will start to grey out near the edges of the field of view. Higher G will cause vision to tunnel and fade, followed by loss of auditory cues...which is usually just microseconds before loss of consciousness. This is in the 4.5+ G range for most people

With a straining manuever, high G (the F-18 operates at 7.5) can be sustained for significant lengths of time (minutes).

Transverse G's are easily sustained by the body (I believe this is why astronauts lie flat on their back on launch...I'm an aviator, not an astronaut, so I don't know what the G forces are exactly).

All that said, your body may have some condition that is aggravated by transverse G...get thee to the doctor & figure out what's up!

I hope it's something simple like a lack of doughnuts

A.J. - 95 993

[quote]Originally posted by mpm '95 C4:
<strong>Turbos have a great launch, but not like that.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

...and Top Fuel drag cars briefly see a max of 4 G's.