Brutal GT 3 crash
#1
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#5
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#9
What really astonishes me is the track crew -- does that track have a policy of "we hire the morbidly obese?" I'm a little flabby around the middle, so I know I'm throwing stones and I don't mind if someone isn't interested in keeping fit, but hell, if you take a job where you're expected to save lives and step into the breach ... can those people seriously do any good in an emergency that requires physical strength and stamina?
#11
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Inclined to agree about faith in corner workers at tracks, if not for the reasons stated. I always think of them as saviors, and thus highly. This video, taken at last weekend's ALMS race at MMP, has me wondering about my previous assumptions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXxwWBR1-4k
After the car rolls to a stop, I count:
-7 seconds before the door opens and driver gets out.
-14 seconds until the video cuts with (still) no help on scene. Wonder how much video was cut (enough that it was either boring to watch or indicative of a problem?)
-After the safety truck rolls to a stop, another 17 seconds before the first retardant is sprayed.
Of course, I wonder if the Falken car could have found a fire station, or at least a corner worker with an extinguisher before stopping (which let flames engulf the car). That said, it's gotta be tough to keep your cool when your car is on fire! Then again, the car was rolling around ON FIRE for a bit... one might think some mobilization was in effect.
Glad Sellers was not hurt, and even gladder they got the car back together — but I do wonder what a similar scenario at a track day/DE would look like, and am reminded how important it is for all of us to be able to exit a burning car quickly — especially if the driver's door cannot be opened for some reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXxwWBR1-4k
After the car rolls to a stop, I count:
-7 seconds before the door opens and driver gets out.
-14 seconds until the video cuts with (still) no help on scene. Wonder how much video was cut (enough that it was either boring to watch or indicative of a problem?)
-After the safety truck rolls to a stop, another 17 seconds before the first retardant is sprayed.
Of course, I wonder if the Falken car could have found a fire station, or at least a corner worker with an extinguisher before stopping (which let flames engulf the car). That said, it's gotta be tough to keep your cool when your car is on fire! Then again, the car was rolling around ON FIRE for a bit... one might think some mobilization was in effect.
Glad Sellers was not hurt, and even gladder they got the car back together — but I do wonder what a similar scenario at a track day/DE would look like, and am reminded how important it is for all of us to be able to exit a burning car quickly — especially if the driver's door cannot be opened for some reason.
#12
Inclined to agree about faith in corner workers at tracks, if not for the reasons stated. I always think of them as saviors, and thus highly. This video, taken at last weekend's ALMS race at MMP, has me wondering about my previous assumptions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXxwWBR1-4k
After the car rolls to a stop, I count:
-7 seconds before the door opens and driver gets out.
-14 seconds until the video cuts with (still) no help on scene. Wonder how much video was cut (enough that it was either boring to watch or indicative of a problem?)
-After the safety truck rolls to a stop, another 17 seconds before the first retardant is sprayed.
Of course, I wonder if the Falken car could have found a fire station, or at least a corner worker with an extinguisher before stopping (which let flames engulf the car). That said, it's gotta be tough to keep your cool when your car is on fire! Then again, the car was rolling around ON FIRE for a bit... one might think some mobilization was in effect.
Glad Sellers was not hurt, and even gladder they got the car back together — but I do wonder what a similar scenario at a track day/DE would look like, and am reminded how important it is for all of us to be able to exit a burning car quickly — especially if the driver's door cannot be opened for some reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXxwWBR1-4k
After the car rolls to a stop, I count:
-7 seconds before the door opens and driver gets out.
-14 seconds until the video cuts with (still) no help on scene. Wonder how much video was cut (enough that it was either boring to watch or indicative of a problem?)
-After the safety truck rolls to a stop, another 17 seconds before the first retardant is sprayed.
Of course, I wonder if the Falken car could have found a fire station, or at least a corner worker with an extinguisher before stopping (which let flames engulf the car). That said, it's gotta be tough to keep your cool when your car is on fire! Then again, the car was rolling around ON FIRE for a bit... one might think some mobilization was in effect.
Glad Sellers was not hurt, and even gladder they got the car back together — but I do wonder what a similar scenario at a track day/DE would look like, and am reminded how important it is for all of us to be able to exit a burning car quickly — especially if the driver's door cannot be opened for some reason.
Falken did a great job changing the engine and re-wrapping the car in a couple of hours though and they were able to make the race.
Check out this video from the first ALMS race of the season. It was a similar situation and the response time was slow as well. That's why I always wear fire suits even for DE events which have half the staff. You just never know especially with street cars with no fire extinguishers or fuel cells...
[youtube]Df2-eDLQOuA[/youtube]