BEST CAR YOU EVER CRASHED?
02-27-2009, 02:15 PM
#1
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BEST CAR YOU EVER CRASHED?
In the spirit of the seller's regret thread, how about the other way to let a great car slip through your fingers?
I had a nice RS-look 1973 that was three turns away from clocking the fastest time of day at an Alfa Romeo Club time trial up at Laguna Seca. It was the first timed lap of three; the end of the weekend. I'd switched to this event from a regular DE because it saved me something like $200. My track insurance would have covered the damage if I'd been at the DE -- but this was an event with timing.
I went through the corkscrew and into turn 9 -- and put two wheels off at the exit. The track was dry, but it had rained the previous day so the infield areas were wet. First, the mud grabbed -- then it felt like the car actually accelerated when I left the pavement. I shot into the wall with enough force to break the steering wheel in my hands. The car stopped, but the windshield didn't -- it sailed over the wall.
Because of the way the human brain works, I immediately tried to restart it so I could finish the lap. (I figured I could at least get te little trophy.) But the car wasn't going anywhere.
I totaled the car. I'd driven the six hours up there with no trailer. It was a Sunday evening.
I rebuilt with the same drivetrain, but I still miss that car.
Anyone else willing to admit to wrecking one of their favorites?
I had a nice RS-look 1973 that was three turns away from clocking the fastest time of day at an Alfa Romeo Club time trial up at Laguna Seca. It was the first timed lap of three; the end of the weekend. I'd switched to this event from a regular DE because it saved me something like $200. My track insurance would have covered the damage if I'd been at the DE -- but this was an event with timing.
I went through the corkscrew and into turn 9 -- and put two wheels off at the exit. The track was dry, but it had rained the previous day so the infield areas were wet. First, the mud grabbed -- then it felt like the car actually accelerated when I left the pavement. I shot into the wall with enough force to break the steering wheel in my hands. The car stopped, but the windshield didn't -- it sailed over the wall.
Because of the way the human brain works, I immediately tried to restart it so I could finish the lap. (I figured I could at least get te little trophy.) But the car wasn't going anywhere.
I totaled the car. I'd driven the six hours up there with no trailer. It was a Sunday evening.
I rebuilt with the same drivetrain, but I still miss that car.
Anyone else willing to admit to wrecking one of their favorites?
02-27-2009, 02:32 PM
#3
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Wow, looks like you could have titled the thread Best Crash you ever filmed.
I totaled this one in '99. Got sideswiped by a truck which put me head-on towards the V-shaped start of a highway guardrail. Didn't even get to pick which side would take the blow. The driver side - from quarter panel to quarter panel - looked like it had gone through a meat grinder. Truck never stopped. (suspect illegal day laborers). The real insult was getting the fine for the guardrail damage.
I totaled this one in '99. Got sideswiped by a truck which put me head-on towards the V-shaped start of a highway guardrail. Didn't even get to pick which side would take the blow. The driver side - from quarter panel to quarter panel - looked like it had gone through a meat grinder. Truck never stopped. (suspect illegal day laborers). The real insult was getting the fine for the guardrail damage.
02-27-2009, 02:48 PM
#4
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Does this mean the car I was driving or the car/cars I ran into? 
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The apex of performance, comfort & safety since 2011.
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02-27-2009, 02:53 PM
#5
Agent Orange
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This, at Lime Rock in 2007:
The guy in front of me dropped his coolant at the apex of West Bend. I wasn't aiming for the wall, but that's where I ended up. The car's now in Canada, refreshed as a wide-body.
The guy in front of me dropped his coolant at the apex of West Bend. I wasn't aiming for the wall, but that's where I ended up. The car's now in Canada, refreshed as a wide-body.
02-27-2009, 03:58 PM
#7
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..
Last edited by Veloce Raptor; 03-20-2009 at 11:10 PM.
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02-27-2009, 04:02 PM
#9
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Hey, I was going to start this thread!
The best car I ever crashed was identical to the little red beauty below. Bought it when I was 18. It never made it to 19. 
Got boxed out by a truck on a 4 lane road and ran into the back of a VW. Folded up like an accordian. Never made that driving mistake again.
Got boxed out by a truck on a 4 lane road and ran into the back of a VW. Folded up like an accordian. Never made that driving mistake again.
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Larry Herman
2016 Ford Transit Connect Titanium LWB
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Electricity can be fun!
Retired Club Racer & National PCA Instructor
Past Flames:
1994 RS America Club Racer
2004 GT3 Track Car
1984 911 Carrera Club Racer
1974 914/4 2.0 Track Car
CLICK HERE to see some of my ancient racing videos.
Larry Herman
2016 Ford Transit Connect Titanium LWB
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Electricity can be fun!
Retired Club Racer & National PCA Instructor
Past Flames:
1994 RS America Club Racer
2004 GT3 Track Car
1984 911 Carrera Club Racer
1974 914/4 2.0 Track Car
CLICK HERE to see some of my ancient racing videos.
02-27-2009, 05:07 PM
#10
Knock on wood I've only been in one accident
I was 16 just bought a used Fiat 850 Spyder and it was Spring time in NH and the day was too nice to go to school...
We dropped the top and proceeded to go cruising in downtown Nashua, NH. Saw this smokin' babe walking down the street and proceeded to give her a good looking over...until I ran smack dab into a huge suburban with one of those monster rear bumpers...
Didn't put a scratch on the burb but almost totalled my little Fiat.
There's a lesson in there somewhere but I'll let others decide what it should have been.
BTW that was over 35 years ago.
I was 16 just bought a used Fiat 850 Spyder and it was Spring time in NH and the day was too nice to go to school...
We dropped the top and proceeded to go cruising in downtown Nashua, NH. Saw this smokin' babe walking down the street and proceeded to give her a good looking over...until I ran smack dab into a huge suburban with one of those monster rear bumpers...
Didn't put a scratch on the burb but almost totalled my little Fiat.
There's a lesson in there somewhere but I'll let others decide what it should have been.
BTW that was over 35 years ago.
Last edited by smlporsche; 02-27-2009 at 06:46 PM.
02-27-2009, 05:49 PM
#12
Drifting
Driving to work in my G35 Sedan and was in the process of passing one of these driving down the road at 15mph. When I was nearly beside him he turned left and ran over my front end. The entire front end. The driver was an illegal, and the machinery was not certified to be on the road; no turn signals, brake lights, etc.
I was cited for the accident because it was a double yellow.
I was cited for the accident because it was a double yellow.
02-27-2009, 07:35 PM
#15
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1968 911L, built as C Production SCCA car in the day. At Kent, at the end of the front straight entering T-1, the left front spindle decided it had enough. I still don't remember the entire event, as I was knock unconscious at about the second endo. The car was done, but it was my first real race car.