Massive crash at Laguna tody?
10-15-2018, 12:31 AM
#16
Here is a good video that shows where the corner workers are. THIS IS NOT VIDEO OF THE CRASH (not even the same day)
must have been the worker at the top of 8a.
Very sad,
Charley
must have been the worker at the top of 8a.
Very sad,
Charley
Last edited by CharleyH; 10-15-2018 at 01:45 AM.
10-15-2018, 01:15 AM
#17
AutoX
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was in the red Lotus about 50m behind the GT3RS. I saw him lose traction as he crested and slowed way down. I also went through oil. It was difficult to tell what had happened with all of the dust... but I did see the wrecked RS facing the opposite direction in the left hand wall before the corkscrew, all air bags deployed, and the shoe in the middle of the track. Im not sure if the worker was outside of the barrier when he was hit - I couldn’t tell as I went through. But I don’t think he would have had enough time to go onto the track to help anyone from the time of the first crash to the time of the second.
10-15-2018, 01:38 AM
#19
Rennlist Member
My wife and I have already started a fund through CFRA (Checkered Flag Racing), here in Northern California We will have a link soon for you to donate to the family. Please keep in mind, our corner workers are volunteers and are there for the love of "the sport". They are not receiving any financial reimbursements for their services. They are here to protect us, not to die for us while doing so.
10-15-2018, 02:01 AM
#21
Rennlist Member
I was there. I was in the mclaren 720s .
It was the 12:30 PM session and happened on the second lap.
I was the third car in the lead group. On the out lap one of the trailing cars (1991 White RWB) spilled a lot of oil somewhere between 6 and corckscrew.
I was the third car car in a four group lead group and we had separated from eveyone on the second lap. Lucky for everyone behind us that we did as it gave everyone a big enough warning as they approached the area after us. If we were all in a pack then there would have been a lot more carnage then there was.
I had a white GT3 with an aftermarket big wing in front of me. As I was approaching turn 7, I saw the gt3 rear in front of me rotate and then a cloud of smoke and a bang. At literally the same time, a gt3rs behind me lost traction on that same oil and went off the to the left and straight into the wall between 7 and corckscrew.
I lost a bit of traction when I saw the GT3 in front of me rear rotate but I was able to catch it.
As I went into the corckscrew, I saw the corner worker about 10 yards down the tire wall at the turn in face down on the gravel motionless.
A very sad situation. I'm not sure how experienced that corner worker was because in the first session of the day I got a black flag from him and I should have received a meat ball flag due to sound. (He used the wrong flag).
It was the 12:30 PM session and happened on the second lap.
I was the third car in the lead group. On the out lap one of the trailing cars (1991 White RWB) spilled a lot of oil somewhere between 6 and corckscrew.
I was the third car car in a four group lead group and we had separated from eveyone on the second lap. Lucky for everyone behind us that we did as it gave everyone a big enough warning as they approached the area after us. If we were all in a pack then there would have been a lot more carnage then there was.
I had a white GT3 with an aftermarket big wing in front of me. As I was approaching turn 7, I saw the gt3 rear in front of me rotate and then a cloud of smoke and a bang. At literally the same time, a gt3rs behind me lost traction on that same oil and went off the to the left and straight into the wall between 7 and corckscrew.
I lost a bit of traction when I saw the GT3 in front of me rear rotate but I was able to catch it.
As I went into the corckscrew, I saw the corner worker about 10 yards down the tire wall at the turn in face down on the gravel motionless.
A very sad situation. I'm not sure how experienced that corner worker was because in the first session of the day I got a black flag from him and I should have received a meat ball flag due to sound. (He used the wrong flag).
feel so horrible for everyone who was involved in this tragic crash.
So much unknown, it would not make sense for corner worker to be on the hot track if both cars crashed seconds apart ... I would assume red flags would be up before he entered hot track and in that case the second crash would not happen ...
10-15-2018, 02:59 AM
#22
Rennlist Member
My wife and I have already started a fund through CFRA (Checkered Flag Racing), here in Northern California We will have a link soon for you to donate to the family. Please keep in mind, our corner workers are volunteers and are there for the love of "the sport". They are not receiving any financial reimbursements for their services. They are here to protect us, not to die for us while doing so.
PM me the link please.
10-15-2018, 05:00 AM
#24
Rennlist
Basic Site Sponsor
Basic Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Durham, NC and Virginia International Raceway
Posts: 18,681
Received 2,837 Likes
on
1,671 Posts
Very sad. RIP.
10-15-2018, 06:10 AM
#25
Rennlist Member
Very sad and heartbreaking news. Most of the workers at WRLS are retirees that live in the area, or even live in the Camp ground, and do it for basic wages, over the years I come to know (by sight and name).
Mark
Mark
10-15-2018, 07:47 AM
#26
AutoX
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why was the corner worker outside of his station?
I was at the event today where the corner worker was struck.
While I was not on track at the time of the incident, I have what I believe is a possible theory as to why the corner worker was not behind the wall at the time the gt3’s and 720s approached.
As the 720s driver notes, the two Porsches lost control almost simultaneously. To other commenters points, there was not enough time for the worker to respond to the first accident, to be on track in order to be struck by the second car if they both lost control at nearly the same time.
My suspicion is if the car that dropped the oil had gone through maybe 10-15 seconds before, the worker decided to leave his post and run down the track in order to warn cars to slow in advance of the very large oil slick which was right in the braking zone at one of the fastest points on track.
This is the only feasible theory I can imagine given the situation. And if true, the worker gave his life to go above and beyond his responsibilities to try and warn drivers and try and keep them safe.
An unspeakable tragedy. But what shakes me the most is that it was no fault of anyone’s. Oil spills can happen to anyone or in front of anyone. After that, everyone is a passenger.
While I was not on track at the time of the incident, I have what I believe is a possible theory as to why the corner worker was not behind the wall at the time the gt3’s and 720s approached.
As the 720s driver notes, the two Porsches lost control almost simultaneously. To other commenters points, there was not enough time for the worker to respond to the first accident, to be on track in order to be struck by the second car if they both lost control at nearly the same time.
My suspicion is if the car that dropped the oil had gone through maybe 10-15 seconds before, the worker decided to leave his post and run down the track in order to warn cars to slow in advance of the very large oil slick which was right in the braking zone at one of the fastest points on track.
This is the only feasible theory I can imagine given the situation. And if true, the worker gave his life to go above and beyond his responsibilities to try and warn drivers and try and keep them safe.
An unspeakable tragedy. But what shakes me the most is that it was no fault of anyone’s. Oil spills can happen to anyone or in front of anyone. After that, everyone is a passenger.
10-15-2018, 08:27 AM
#27
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
RIP, just did Rennsport Reunion first time on Laguna Seca as at all tracks the corner and emergency workers deserve our respect and appreciation.
Rich
Rich
10-15-2018, 08:45 AM
#28
Rennlist Member
Oh my gosh 
RIP
RIP
10-15-2018, 09:06 AM
#29
Rennlist Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mid-Atlantic (on land, not in the middle of the ocean)
Posts: 12,443
Received 3,798 Likes
on
2,196 Posts
Very sad. My scariest moments on track have been when hitting fluids dumped by other cars. Sometimes that can be due to inadequate car maintenance or prep. It would be worth looking into whether that was a factor in this case. We should learn whatever we can from these incidents to help prevent them in the future.
10-15-2018, 10:22 AM
#30
Rennlist Member
This is awful... Tragic.
And a reminder to us that the flaggers are out there, often baking in the sun, often without adequate barrier protection at more risk than most realize: For our safety.
They are there for us... RIP
Please do post the link for the fund.
And a reminder to us that the flaggers are out there, often baking in the sun, often without adequate barrier protection at more risk than most realize: For our safety.
They are there for us... RIP
Please do post the link for the fund.