GTs and DEs - Be Careful Out There
#1
GTs and DEs - Be Careful Out There
We had a PCA DE at Road Atlanta this weekend. Lots of fun as always, but two more GT cars found there ways into walls. One was a new, white GT2 that was overtaking a friend of mine coming out of T5. The GT2 was passing on the left and apparently put the throttle on too hard too early, spun the car and hit the entire passenger side of the car on the outside wall.
A silver 996 GT3 lost it coming down T12 and hit the inside wall on the front straight, which I've never seen a car to before.
Not being critical of these unfortunate two. They were OK physically and I hope they are back on the track soon without too much expense. Just pointing out that our favorite cars are a handful on the track and can bite back.
I was told while taking the PCA Instructor's course that 35% of all DE accidents are GT2s or 3s. That is a high percentage given that we don't represent nearly that percent of the participating cars.
A silver 996 GT3 lost it coming down T12 and hit the inside wall on the front straight, which I've never seen a car to before.
Not being critical of these unfortunate two. They were OK physically and I hope they are back on the track soon without too much expense. Just pointing out that our favorite cars are a handful on the track and can bite back.
I was told while taking the PCA Instructor's course that 35% of all DE accidents are GT2s or 3s. That is a high percentage given that we don't represent nearly that percent of the participating cars.
#2
Banned
We had a PCA DE at Road Atlanta this weekend. Lots of fun as always, but two more GT cars found there ways into walls. One was a new, white GT2 that was overtaking a friend of mine coming out of T5. The GT2 was passing on the left and apparently put the throttle on too hard too early, spun the car and hit the entire passenger side of the car on the outside wall.
A silver 996 GT3 lost it coming down T12 and hit the inside wall on the front straight, which I've never seen a car to before.
Not being critical of these unfortunate two. They were OK physically and I hope they are back on the track soon without too much expense. Just pointing out that our favorite cars are a handful on the track and can bite back.
I was told while taking the PCA Instructor's course that 35% of all DE accidents are GT2s or 3s. That is a high percentage given that we don't represent nearly that percent of the participating cars.
A silver 996 GT3 lost it coming down T12 and hit the inside wall on the front straight, which I've never seen a car to before.
Not being critical of these unfortunate two. They were OK physically and I hope they are back on the track soon without too much expense. Just pointing out that our favorite cars are a handful on the track and can bite back.
I was told while taking the PCA Instructor's course that 35% of all DE accidents are GT2s or 3s. That is a high percentage given that we don't represent nearly that percent of the participating cars.
#3
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zmann Thanks for the post and the warning. The cars don't drive themselves and require a lot of driver attention to what is going on. Like 340Elise I give walls a lot of respect but also give the entire track a lot of respect. There is nothing worse than thinking that a fast car will just go fast all on its own.
#4
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Our Western tracks are better. No walls and plenty of runoff. Except for NASCAR Fontana and Leguna Seca that I can think of. Buttonwillow and Willow springs are wide open.
#6
This is not 100% accurate.
I've seen a 997GT3 almost totaled at Streets of Willow just going of track at less than 50mph with wheels straight and still almost flipped (off track is very uneven and forgiving terrain).
I've seen video of a mini flipping 8 times by just dropping 2 wheels at Big Willow .
I have seen cars at Buttonwillow flip, because the sand is so soft and silty it just grabs (Perhaps why that track is called the "car killer").
Any car can be wrecked at any track!!!!! This is why when I drive my car at the track I only drive it at 60%.
Too little to gain and far too much to loose.
What most idiot at the track don't realize, that unless you are running in the RACE groups, you are not racing other cars just the watch. People get obsessed and fixated on passing the car in front of the and thats usually when stupid accidents happen!
#7
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Absolutely...nothing particularly 'safe' about the So Cal tracks. There have been DE deaths at big Willow, SOW, and CA Speedway in the last few years. And of course severely damaged cars.
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#8
GT3 player par excellence
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TH has one wall that's really bad
infineon... you go off, you WILL kiss wall. i went off at the carousel in my RS.... i closed my eyes and prayed..... everyone in the paddock who saw the spin prayed..... i was inches away from the wall...... whew. that's early 07.
#9
Banned
This is not 100% accurate.
I've seen a 997GT3 almost totaled at Streets of Willow just going of track at less than 50mph with wheels straight and still almost flipped (off track is very uneven and forgiving terrain).
I've seen video of a mini flipping 8 times by just dropping 2 wheels at Big Willow .
I have seen cars at Buttonwillow flip, because the sand is so soft and silty it just grabs (Perhaps why that track is called the "car killer").
Any car can be wrecked at any track!!!!! This is why when I drive my car at the track I only drive it at 60%.
Too little to gain and far too much to loose.
What most idiot at the track don't realize, that unless you are running in the RACE groups, you are not racing other cars just the watch. People get obsessed and fixated on passing the car in front of the and thats usually when stupid accidents happen!
I've seen a 997GT3 almost totaled at Streets of Willow just going of track at less than 50mph with wheels straight and still almost flipped (off track is very uneven and forgiving terrain).
I've seen video of a mini flipping 8 times by just dropping 2 wheels at Big Willow .
I have seen cars at Buttonwillow flip, because the sand is so soft and silty it just grabs (Perhaps why that track is called the "car killer").
Any car can be wrecked at any track!!!!! This is why when I drive my car at the track I only drive it at 60%.
Too little to gain and far too much to loose.
What most idiot at the track don't realize, that unless you are running in the RACE groups, you are not racing other cars just the watch. People get obsessed and fixated on passing the car in front of the and thats usually when stupid accidents happen!
I find that cars most often go off (during DE's, especially intermediate groups) when faster cars come up on them. Then all of the sudden they decide that no matter what they need to pick up the pace because they must not be driving fast enough. Happens all the time.
#11
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My first time driving my GT3 on track (2007) resulted in me buying 2 pieces of Armco at Barber, as well as some minor damage to the car. Got signed off for Solo & found the wall in the very next session. The ol' Red Mist strikes again! (with help from some on track fluid)
#12
Nordschleife Master
walls help me stay focused. Most of the crashes seem to be due to a serious case of testosterone poisoning. As the guy that runs our local track states at the drivers meeting: " if you are here to race, your are at the right place but on the wrong day."
#13
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Happened twice at the track yesterday. I was behind a GT-R and he decided to try and stay ahead of me rather than let me pass....he went off at T7b (nothing to hit at our track at that turn). Later in the day a Ferrari 16M Scud came up behind a CGT and the CGT guy went off at the same turn. Most likely too busy watching his rear view mirror.
#15
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That is why I stay with safe and sane SCCA!