Cyberbug Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) Karl , I didn't even check out the car yet But what everyone said - glad you are okay everything else is secondary. Now to Lime Rock, its a great little track. My Miata can do 1min laps on a good day once or twice 58-59sec. The crest is a tricky one, you could be doing 80-90 coming over it on a hot lap and you get light and your tires can come off the ground, getting the steering straight is key so corner entery and straighting up early is good but once you go over you have to lift off before the wheels grips again. In your case I think you were pretty straight and you did not get a chance to correct left. I think light car, cold tires and may be not lifting off. I have never gone off there in reality but in Iracing I do get into trouble there. and the if you are too left it can be bad too. I think I'll need a full cage Edited April 9, 2012 by Cyberbug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 Karl - Glad to hear there is no "day-after" damage to you as you seemed good at the track. The car in front of you was mine, with my wife driving in the Yellow group (I instruct and run in Red). Having run 1000's of DE and Racing laps at Limerock I can offer a couple things, please take them for what they cost.. nothing! 1. You were running a very light car on Michelin slicks. They take a couple laps to get anywhere near maximum grip under the best of circumstances. 2. You came over the peak of the hill under power in a light/powerful car while still giving some steering input. If the wheels were straight or even better, had some counter-steer applied you may have steered out of it. In my car 185HP/2700LB I automatically have counter-steer input at every crest of that hill at around 90 MPH. 3. You appear to have lifted off throttle the moment the rear started to go, trailing throttle oversteer may have added to your predicament. Staying at least neutral on the throttle may have helped. Here's to you getting your beautiful car back together soon and incident free track days! Best, Gary Gary, Thanks for the feedback and taking the time to reach out via the forum. I was probably trying to keep with your wife! I'm sorry to have ruined her last session -- the early group of cars she was with looked very quick! I was not thinking much about the heat in the tires as it was a nice day out and at the end of the day. I thought I was neutral on the steering input, but probably was on it just a touch (I knew better). The spin happened so fast, I let up on the gas to put "both feet in" when I felt no response at all from counter steering. There were a number of little discisions I could have made, but did not, that would have avoiced the accident. Not the least of which was taking the last run with the Green group so we could leave early (as my wife suggested). All I wanted to do was to get a good clean lap with a quick time. I learned to take it easy on the last session of the day. The event was a very well run Hudson Valley PCA event, top notch in every way. Thanks for having me. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvl Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Glad to hear your OK. Sorry about the car. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) Karl , I didn't even check out the car yet But what everyone said - glad you are okay everything else is secondary. Now to Lime Rock, its a great little track. My Miata can do 1min laps on a good day once or twice 58-59sec. The crest is a tricky one, you could be doing 80-90 coming over it on a hot lap and you get light and your tires can come off the ground, getting the steering straight is key so corner entery and straighting up early is good but once you go over you have to lift off before the wheels grips again. In your case I think you were pretty straight and you did not get a chance to correct left. I think light car, cold tires and may be not lifting off. I have never gone off there in reality but in Iracing I do get into trouble there. and the if you are too left it can be bad too. I think I'll need a full cage The cage is in the works from Caged in the UK! If you want to see the car, it is at Radical Motorsports in Ramsey, just tell Joe or Bert I said to show you the car. I'm already working on the replacement parts list. I'll get off my soapbox soon, but I can't say how glad I am to have had the neck restraints on. They did there job well. I use the Simpson Hybrid Pro because it was the only thing that fit with my size and seat configuraiton. The SCCA now requires neck restrants for all of its events, and I agree it is a good idea. While the tires were like jumping into a waterbed, had it been Armco I would have been much worse off. Going to look in on my baby at the shop now. I'll be back very soon. Edited April 15, 2012 by blubarisax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryR Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Now to Lime Rock, its a great little track. My Miata can do 1min laps on a good day once or twice 58-59sec. Are you talking about iRacing laps? Last I knew the track record in a SPM was 1:02.1.... or do you have a V8 conversion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Not spec miata Thank Karl - but I wan to see it in its full glory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) So, I have seen the car up on the lift and we have looked over the chassis. Fortunately, we think the chassis did not sustain any damage, other than the steering rack platform which should weld in easily. That said, the entire front suspension is a goner. The nosecone and suspension bits took all the real damage. There are some minor dents in the body, but the shop thinks their dent wizard guy can get them out, good as new. Edited April 10, 2012 by blubarisax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 That is about as much good news as you can extract from this situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryR Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 The cage is in the works from Caged in the UK! Going to look in on my baby at the shop now. I'll be back on track very soon. Now that the door has been opened to track safety i'll add what I thought when I saw you sitting in her when i drove in. After getting over how nice she looked I noticed how very exposed you were. While that rollbar may meet the letter of the rules I can't imagine it holding up and not just rip the tail off the car in a heavy impact. You have no side protection whatsoever and would be a pancake if a car came up over the hood. You were on the track with sedans that weighed up to and over 4000 lbs. and all I could envision is you spinning and having one of those tanks hit you broadside. The results would be catastrophic. Please put a proper cage with side and frontal protection in. It may look hokey and add weight but it WILL save your life.. Sermon over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) Gary, Not taken as a sermon. Yes, I do like to drive with the PCA guys because they are all (at least all the ones I've hung out with so far) good people and they put on great events. I started researching cages as I am driving a lot faster than I was last year. Caged is building me a tall (yes I am 6'6") cage with an extra side intrusion bar as we speak. Something like this, but with a second bar just above the side bar in the photo with a ladder style setup. Edited April 15, 2012 by blubarisax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Glad to hear that you are ok and are getting a full cage as well. May I also recommend the use of arm restraints if you are not using them already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryR Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Glad to hear that you are ok and are getting a full cage as well. May I also recommend the use of arm restraints if you are not using them already. Excellent advice and a requirement in most places for open top cars. Karl - glad to hear you are going to go with a containment cage.. and I told everyone I thought you were a good 6'8"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 I was wearing arm restraints. Gary is right, they are a requirement for all PCA events and they have become a habit. Neck restraints are going to be as well. For the full cage, it will be a good motivation to keep in good enough shape to climb into the cage through the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Great news I also need arm restraints, any advice on which ones and from where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 I got mine from OG Racing, very quick shipping to NJ. I have two pair, one from Simpson (my favorite) and one from M&R, also nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 My Megabusa rollcage is from Caged in the UK. I'm 6'1" and can climb in through the side. I use Simpson arm restraints and a G-force 6 point harness. Pics can be found on my website below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabbot Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Glad to know you are OK and wishing your car a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Karl - Sorry to hear about your car, but glad you're ok. Good luck with the rebuild. Gary - Thanks for stopping by and adding your input. Wish I could have made it up to LRP over the weekend.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryR Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Karl - Sorry to hear about your car, but glad you're ok. Good luck with the rebuild. Gary - Thanks for stopping by and adding your input. Wish I could have made it up to LRP over the weekend.... Set your calendar for the Saturday, April 28th PCA Club Race! Sold out in 36 hours this year, lots of cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william robert Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Glad to hear that you're O.K. Metal can be replaced..not so much, flesh and bones. I've been around the track many times. In your post, when you said you hit the tire wall, I knew exactly where it was. Coming up the hill on the power every car gets light. Depending on where you are on the track, and how fast you're going, it moves the car slightly to the left. If your wheels are even slightly cocked...you know what happens. When your car is fixed, get right on tht horse again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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