Redefining CODE BROWN...
03-26-2014, 07:58 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Vacuuming Cal Speedway
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There was a similar video from a fellow Rennlister on here maybe 7 years ago at Mid Ohio IIRC. He too got damn lucky when it came off. I can't find it, anyone remember the source?...
03-26-2014, 10:02 PM
#18
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03-27-2014, 05:56 PM
#20
Rennlist Member
horrifying, even when they save it. Personally, I subscribe to the theory that Ayrton Senna was victim of a broken steering column. No chance to recover there, and obviously steering loss is almost always devastating. On a bicycle, it's an instant face plant to the pave.
03-27-2014, 06:07 PM
#21
Race Car
Yeah, under the bridge isn't a bad place, there. I'd hate to be tracking out of 10B and have it happen......or even worse, 12!!!! Seems I recall a guy wadding up a car when it came off going into 6 a few years ago. If memory serves, was (as it past tense) a nice 80's 911.
03-28-2014, 12:03 AM
#22
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Ok - I've had a disconnected steering wheel leaving the pits in our old (RIP) Chumpcar. But that was after the usual pit driver change rush, and it wasn't bad to re-mount it while chugging down pit lane. But I wonder about the condition of the clamp mechanism in the two videos - these should not easily come off after several turns. A bright alignment indicator line on the wheel hub and steering shaft would have helped that second video driver!
03-28-2014, 10:17 PM
#23
Drifting
Holy "code brown" ****!!! This is a scary place to begin with...
03-29-2014, 06:45 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
Pre-Rothsport, I had a steering wheel come off after hard front wheel to wheel contact coming out of T17 at Sebring. Slower BMW went from wide into pit in (or tried to, as I went inside).
Fortunately we were through the corner and straight more or less as the wheel was off and the concrete divider to the pits loomed. I got it back on, went around and came in to pull the fender out, changed front wheels and continued.
It jammed my thumbs in the wheel and tore a ligament in one that will never be the same. If I'd had a Rothsport hub at the time it might not have come off but I likely would have broken my thumbs. Still, I rather that than have the wheel come off again. Steers better with one, than without.
Fortunately we were through the corner and straight more or less as the wheel was off and the concrete divider to the pits loomed. I got it back on, went around and came in to pull the fender out, changed front wheels and continued.
It jammed my thumbs in the wheel and tore a ligament in one that will never be the same. If I'd had a Rothsport hub at the time it might not have come off but I likely would have broken my thumbs. Still, I rather that than have the wheel come off again. Steers better with one, than without.