M758

I am not sure if this has been posted here before or not.

This article is a link to the settlement of the Carrera GT crash at Cal Speedway. I know there was a long discussion about this after it happened and just wanted to inform you guys of the outcome if had not already heard.

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/content/carrera


If you feel the thread is not appropriate I will delete it.

SA Mike

Tragic, my condolences to the familes

OCBen

Why would you think the thread could possibly be inappropriate?

Ben Keaton was a Rennlist member and that tragic accident was posted on multiple threads in multiple forums on Rennlist.

M758

Personally I think it is something that all track drivers be aware of, but at the same time due to Ben's connection with Rennlist I also want to tread lightly and with as much respect as I can.

gabbagabbahey

Big thread on topic:

https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-supercars-carrera-gt-918-960/253838-cgt-lawsuit-filed.html

From the article: Tracy Rudl also believes that the lawsuit will benefit others. "My loving husband was an innocent passenger in an expensive sports car that inexplicably failed to incorporate a modern, life-saving safety feature."

If memory serves, her deceased husband owned a Lambo Murci, which I believe has no stability control.

1AS

Yes, but i don't think he spun it three times prior to the big one. AS

rmrmd1956

I posted a similar thread on 6speed and it was immediately erased without a trace. Whatever happened to "free typing"?

Nordschleife

better check your memory

R+C

scott watkins

Interesting discussion on PP.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=373570

XSpeedFreakX

Traction control only. No stability control for the Murcielago. This is a fact.

Edgy01

As the article stated, he continued to drive the car although others suggested something wasn't right. He signed off himself on the track-worthiness of the Carrera.

Nick

I suspect every CGT owner at one time has spun the car especially if they drove it as it was intended to be driven.

The mechanic who took it for an unauthorized ride was driving it at over 150mph felt that the tail end was a little loose. Nothing more. The mechanic CERTIFIED the car for track events.

Ben was so upset with the mechanic for taking his car on a high speed jaunt without his permission he posted his name on one of the Porsche sites complaining about what the mechanic did. As a result, the mechanic became a witness against Ben's estate.

If Ben thought or was TOLD there was something mechanically wrong with the car he would have NEVER driven it. The issue with Porsche was whether they should have equipped it with PSM and whether if it was so equipped it would have made a difference.

pole position

The deceased driver real talent was to make money and money indeed he made. But that money making talent only transfered ego not driving talent/skill/mental strengh and focus to operate a genuine supercar. The history books are full of these type of "gentleman racers" who ended up early at the graveyard due to inferior car control and poor judgement. Killing someone else ,like a innocent bystander or passenger, in the act is the norm not exception by those guys with further proof by this pilot commmiting the cardinal sin of being a total noob showing a passenger how "hotlaps" are done.........

PSM my a**, this guy was a timebomb ready to go off at any time. Doing donuts in front of dealerships and "racing" in the canyons further illustrates my point. His inadequate mental make up to see his " a man got to know his limitations" made it not a if but when he would hurt himself or someone else.

He accomplished both.

Zed Homme

I remember reading about this, what a terrible tragedy.

However, I dont quite understand Porsche's liability in this. If the car had stability control and it failed, thats one thing. However, the car didnt, and the driver was plainly aware of this before he started driving. Is it Porsche's responsibility to protect us from ourselves? What about older cars? From what I can tell, the car performed as designed... Besides, the first thing that should ever be done on the track is switching all the electronic nannies off.

Oldnslow

Seems to me the suit was mostly BS. Porsche probably settled just to avoid litigation costs/uncertainty of outcome of a Kalifornia jury---and the amount Porsche paid was more of a nuisance figure. The only GROSS negligence I can see here is the track for not moving the barrier back to its proper position. That led directly to the two deaths. The settlement against the Keaton estate was ridiculous, and the Ferrari club was at most guilty of simple negligence in their tech inspection.