Road Atlanta practice shunt
#1
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Road Atlanta practice shunt
I understand that Michael Flaska was NOT hurt in a Thursday evening shunt at turn 3. The brand new GT3 Cup car (20 miles on the odometer - immaculate speed yellow car) was totaled. Looks like a combination of cold track, cold tires, over aggression.
Does anyone have any more details?
Does anyone have any more details?
#3
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More details on the damage: front & rear are a mess, suspension ruined, one wheel torn off, gearbox cracked. It happened on his third lap out.
I'm not sure what "group" had the track Thursday evening.
I'm not sure what "group" had the track Thursday evening.
#4
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Whoa, that's gonna be an expensive repair, assuming the tub isn't bent. Musta been a very hard hit to crack the gearbox. Glad to hear that the driver is ok. Those Cup cars are strong.
I think Greg Fishman was down there today, maybe he'll give us a report later.
Karl
I think Greg Fishman was down there today, maybe he'll give us a report later.
Karl
#6
Three Wheelin'
One mistake... It does not matter how much exp. you have. How many pro drivers crash??? all of them at one time or another. Cold tires, oil/sand on the track, another car making a stupid move, rain... pick any one of these.
#7
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Turn 3 at Road Atlanta can be quite tricky IMHO because it comes right after Turn 2 which is a blind uphill left hander that leads to a very short braking zone for 3. I've seen a lot of people, including some pros, screw this up, get into 3 too hot, bang off the inside curb and get tossed off the track to the outside before turn 4 (the start of the downhill esses).
If the grass there is wet, it will be difficult to save the car and there isn't a lot of runoff before the tire wall.
Karl
If the grass there is wet, it will be difficult to save the car and there isn't a lot of runoff before the tire wall.
Karl
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#10
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I was not at that private test but I heard it was on his out lap. But I can't account to how accurate that is.
There were over 20 996 Cup cars out there for the weekend though, our version of a US Carrera Cup.
There were over 20 996 Cup cars out there for the weekend though, our version of a US Carrera Cup.
#11
Thursday was a 5:00 - 7:00PM tire test by K. Buckler with the track shared with the Kelly-Moss boys. The car in question was on lap two going very slow (as he should as the factory advises to seat the half shafts at < 100k for 100k) when the track announced that the track was red and the ambulance called to turn three. The track was closed for about an hour while the driver was removed and the car flat towed back to the trailer and promtly put away. Lots of damage to the car, tub, transmission and obviously bodywork and yes, only 20 miles. No claim as to the cause.
#12
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Sounds like it must have been a mechanical failure. Brakes failed or throttle stuck open or soemthing like that. Since the car was new, this must have been the first time out, so it could have been anything.
Karl
Karl