Ya..........big hit. Think it's a goner.
Ya..........big hit. Think it's a goner.
Jalopnik on GRM violence 
Pretty sure it was GRM on Jalopnik. 
Word is that Stef gets a one year ban due to the 'Why am I upside Down? Rule' as well.
In reply to mazdeuce:
either way sucks for all parties, I'm glad that everyone is okay though. I like Stef, I hope that she is able to find wheel to wheel time.
sergio wrote: Good to hear everyone is alright. Too bad they ruined a nice looking car and a chance at a great finish. Accidents like that is why I quit Lemons. There are too many crappy running cars with big speed differentials with the fast cars. I've seen many wrecks on straights!? The car count is another problem. It's not safe. Well it is safer than the freeway, because everyone has a cage and all the other safety gear. I know the same kind of wrecks happen to the pros, look at Memo Gidley at Daytona, but we aren't pros or have their budgets. Race on!
that is the only major crash I've ever seen at a LeMons event ... they really police the contact part of "racing" better than any other sanctioning body I've ever been around
also regarding car counts, if you don't have 20-30 cars per a mile you're lapping, not racing.
Glad everyones ok.
Everyone's okay. Friend of GRM John Pickle was driving, and he's fine. Heck, he even cooked us a nice dinner afterwards.
Apparently, the Nash was stalled on track in the dip, just over a blind hill. Before the corner workers noticed and threw a flag, our driver came over the crest at full speed three wide with two other cars, and complete mayhem ensued. The 944/Miata freight train flipped the Nash, and they red flagged the race while everything was untangled. It was a completely unavoidable accident.
As far as the Miata–it's totaled. Definitely. We're planning our next build. 
And here's where the 944 hit:
Do not like :\
Glad everyone made it out okay though, extremely glad.
Wow, that is a hard hit. Glad the injuries were not any worse.
let us know how sore John is come Sun 
... again thankful for mandated safety equipment ....
this would be a good time to say thanks to the LeMons leadership for having decided that foam horseshoes were no longer acceptable as HNR's ... John might not be feeling so good if he was one of the ones that wore those type of HNR's
sergio wrote: Accidents like that is why I quit Lemons. There are too many crappy running cars with big speed differentials with the fast cars. I've seen many wrecks on straights!? The car count is another problem. It's not safe. Well it is safer than the freeway, because everyone has a cage and all the other safety gear. I know the same kind of wrecks happen to the pros, look at Memo Gidley at Daytona, but we aren't pros or have their budgets. Race on!
BullE36 M3. These types of incidents are rare at LeMons. Yes, there are speed differentials between classes, but that's true at Daytona/Lemans as you point out. Drivers do a good job of being aware of their surroundings, for the most part. Sounds like this was just "one of those racing incidents".
Glad everyone is OK. Stef ran with us at a race last year.
Glad everyone is OK
Nobody hurt is the best news but it's still a shame. That was a good car.
Tom Suddard wrote: Apparently, the Nash was stalled on track in the dip, just over a blind hill. Before the corner workers noticed and threw a flag, our driver came over the crest at full speed three wide with two other cars, and complete mayhem ensued. The 944/Miata freight train flipped the Nash, and they red flagged the race while everything was untangled. It was a completely unavoidable accident.
It sounds like a E36 M3 design in the course layout. I've not raced there but if there is a blind spot being entered at speed it seems like there should be a flag tower overlooking it.
It may have been "unavoidable" as you say, but track officials need to take a look at the safety management of the facility.
The only thing that sticks out in my mind is "running 3 wide". While fun and exciting, seems pretty unnecessary in a race like this. Bad things often happen running 3 wide, and there's no place to escape to. Took me 2 wrecks to figure this out. I hate fixing my own wrecked race cars.
KyAllroad wrote:Tom Suddard wrote: Apparently, the Nash was stalled on track in the dip, just over a blind hill. Before the corner workers noticed and threw a flag, our driver came over the crest at full speed three wide with two other cars, and complete mayhem ensued. The 944/Miata freight train flipped the Nash, and they red flagged the race while everything was untangled. It was a completely unavoidable accident.It sounds like a E36 M3 design in the course layout. I've not raced there but if there is a blind spot being entered at speed it seems like there should be a flag tower overlooking it. It may have been "unavoidable" as you say, but track officials need to take a look at the safety management of the facility.
There were a few flag stations that could see the stalled Nash, and would have been seen by our driver before cresting the hill. None threw a flag.
Tom Suddard wrote: Apparently, the Nash was stalled on track in the dip, just over a blind hill. Before the corner workers noticed and threw a flag, our driver came over the crest at full speed three wide with two other cars, and complete mayhem ensued. The 944/Miata freight train flipped the Nash, and they red flagged the race while everything was untangled. It was a completely unavoidable accident.
Sounds pretty similar to the Nein-11/Miata crash at Sears Point a few months ago.
what I don't understand is why the Nash was stalled in the racing line ... I've had troubles with a stalled car, but as soon as the motor cut off, I was in neutral and had plenty of "speed" to coast OFF track ... I never ever felt the need to stop ON track ... I was going to have to come in anyway ... it's one thing if I've spun and ended up stalled on track ... but I haven't heard anyone say the Nash had spun and ended up stalled like that
Who knows, Stef would have to speak to that. It's possible she wasn't able to. The Nash is an IOE build, and goes around the track rather slowly even when under power. If she was in the middle of the track when it died and there was traffic going around her on both sides, she may not have been able to get to the side. I've driven several cars like this, and I always make it a point to stay to the right the entire time, so that not only do cars know exactly where to pass me but also if the car dies, it's a simple yank of the wheel to the right and I can pull safely into the grass.
As for the flagging, let's just say at times it leaves something to be desired.
The problem of very slow cars and fast cars and blind turns is always going to be a problem but sometimes Lemons seems to encourage these "slow" cars to the detriment of safety and good racing.
That Miata sure took it up the butt I do have to say. Glad everyone walked away.
It's funny though about my first statement as I helped build and prep the white van that's running in that race set up as a "Star Wars" fighter. They are slow but the team is full of smart guys and know how to stay out of other cars way, or at least so far.
In reply to codrus:
Sears point was avoidable by safe reentry onto the track. Flaggers should've done a better job of alerting cars on track and informing the car attempting to reenter in that instance. Flagger evaluation and bi yearly retraining needs to be considered. Endurance races are difficult for Flaggers as acute attention and quick reactions fade after 4 hours and you don't have the adrenaline flowing as those running a double stint in car would have to carry you through.
Stef says "Died at the top of a hill. I couldn't tell if I was over or not, but I'd pulled over to the side of pit out to bring it in and the car died. I had nowhere to go and got nailed trying to restart it."
Someone would have to post a track map to see if that makes sense.
hard to believe she was going so slowly as she crested the hill (keep in mind that this was before the Nash stalled) that she couldn't move sideways 20' ?
whatever.. she has her story and I'm sure she'll write it up
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