MarcD147

Lee Carpentier lost his brakes going into T17 at Sebring this weekend and probably saved himself from a larger impact and possible injury by flicking his car around so he backed into the wall instead of head on. Luckily he is ok.
looking at the videos the flicking around clearly rubbed of some critical speed and by going in backwards you get protected by the chair.

looked like he did it very skillfully and I was wondering how do you do this? (without rolling the car or other consequences that make it worse instead of better)
is this different based on car? eg cayman vs 911?

jwasilko

I lost my brakes at Watkins Glen T1 last year. I was able to get the car to spin, which scrubbed quite a bit of speed. I did end up going in nose first, but only at around 45 MPH. Scrubbing speed is the key...

Gofishracing

Lost brakes? What failed? Is the cause / failure known?

RossP

Depends on the turn, but either try to spin it, or downshift to use engine braking. Not much time to react in those situations though. For example Turn 10A at Road Atlanta, I would just go straight off into the gravel pit and hope I did not have enough momentum to make it to the turn 11 bridge.

jwasilko

Mine was a failure in the front circuit of the master cyl (in a miata). The data system showed pressure in the rear system, but it appeared that the prop valve didn't allow much pressure to reach the rears (since the front had none).

MarcD147

I am more interested in understanding the process to spin the car.

SkeerRacing

Ideally, it's done as much with the pedals as it is with the wheel. Scandinavian flicks are the easiest way, doing all you can to destabilize the rear tyres for an instant. If you dont have brakes, the best way is to engine brake as hard as possible (H pattern, im flying down the box. Paddles, im spamming the left one). to put as much weight on the front tyres as possible. Less weight on the rears means less force pressing them into the road.

If im heading into Sunset, im using as much of the road as possible, so most likely would very quickly turn hard left (90* on the wheel) and instantly turn it hard right (more than 90*) once the car takes initial load to go left. If the Left Front bites hard enough, it'll cause the back to go around. Hopefully that side is enough to stop the car before any barriers, if that isnt enough though, most likely would whip it hard left again and try to get the car to 180 and face left. In a way, it's a bit like skiing, flicking the car hard from side to side and trying to scrub the speed off and simultaneously cover as much distance before finding a barrier.

Gary R.

The induced spin popped my alternator belt off and cost me a 1st place finish with 1-2 laps left to go, but the 944 driver came over and thanked me for not killing him.

996AE

Plus one.

Did the same at AAA Speedway three years ago. Had to pitch it at the end of the flats. I was lucky to have kept from hitting anything. Braking, nothing. Pumped brakes a few times and nothing. Too late. Scrub speed, try to make turn, too hot, two feet in. Years of experience helps when quick reactions and skills are most needed.

mglobe

996AE

Experience.

Der ABT

do you have the full speed non slow mo video up anywhere?

Blue Chip

fatbillybob

Best part about running a lower HP car the runoff if relatively linger than smoking fast GT3 cup car

SkeerRacing