autxr
12-03-2001, 10:01 AM
Well, it's been enough time that the wounds are starting to heal so I thought I'd share...
Anyhow, a few weeks ago (Nov 18) our Celica had a little autocross mishap.
The scene is Virginia Motorsports Park, the weather was 70's, with a moderate track temperature (asphalt).
On my wife's first run (cold tires), the tail end of the car stepped out in a fast (50 mph +) slalom. There was no warning, it didn't wag, it just went sideways.
She quickly passed the point of no recovery and put both feet in. The car went into a slide, left the pavement and headed for a dumpster. The time with 2 feet in allowed her to get her bearings, see the dumpster and get off the brakes in time to start avoidance maneuvers. Unfortunately, the rear quarter panel and the dumpster made contact.
The car was drivable, but we parked it for the rest of the event. Aside from the damage to the car, and the damage to Sally's pride/confidence/ego, etc, all was well.
Not that seeing a car carsh is a good thing, but it did help Sally when 2 cars later a Z06 'vette went off at the exact same location and hit the same? dumpster (or one next to it). They changed the course after the Z06 went off.
We've spent too much time (over)analyzing the situation looking for something Sally did wrong, and we just don't find anything. She went out and drove agressively, and had a spin. Nothing too out of the ordinary, only this time there was a dumpster in the way. Had it been a spin elsewhere on course, it wouldn't have mattered.
Here are some pictures:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=998383&a=14005629&f=
Picture 6 is the Celica (background) about 0.1 seconds before going into the slide. Picture 7 the damage on the passenger rear is evident. A few pictures later the corvette sequence begins.
Interestingly, the 'vette driver reports a similar experience. All was well (he may have been a little behind), but the car let go with NO warning, not a wag one way, then a spin the other, just a large sidestep of the rear end followed by a lot of vehicle movement in the wrong direction.
Sally is doing well, she's getting used to her first car wreck (never one before this), though, I think we will run street tires a few events just to get her back in the groove at a more comfortable limit.
The car is at the body shop, and the bills are mounting. The original estimate was $2200-2300, based on initial examination. Once they cut off the damaged panel, they found some unanticipated bent substructure, so the estimate went up to $3100. If all goes well, I will hopefully have the car back next week (or the week after). The target is for the next event on Dec. 16.
Insurance (USAA) is covering things (less the $500 deductible), and picking up our rental Ford Ranger to boot. I have no clue how our rates will be effected. I'll post when that becomes evident.
Scott
Anyhow, a few weeks ago (Nov 18) our Celica had a little autocross mishap.
The scene is Virginia Motorsports Park, the weather was 70's, with a moderate track temperature (asphalt).
On my wife's first run (cold tires), the tail end of the car stepped out in a fast (50 mph +) slalom. There was no warning, it didn't wag, it just went sideways.
She quickly passed the point of no recovery and put both feet in. The car went into a slide, left the pavement and headed for a dumpster. The time with 2 feet in allowed her to get her bearings, see the dumpster and get off the brakes in time to start avoidance maneuvers. Unfortunately, the rear quarter panel and the dumpster made contact.
The car was drivable, but we parked it for the rest of the event. Aside from the damage to the car, and the damage to Sally's pride/confidence/ego, etc, all was well.
Not that seeing a car carsh is a good thing, but it did help Sally when 2 cars later a Z06 'vette went off at the exact same location and hit the same? dumpster (or one next to it). They changed the course after the Z06 went off.
We've spent too much time (over)analyzing the situation looking for something Sally did wrong, and we just don't find anything. She went out and drove agressively, and had a spin. Nothing too out of the ordinary, only this time there was a dumpster in the way. Had it been a spin elsewhere on course, it wouldn't have mattered.
Here are some pictures:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=998383&a=14005629&f=
Picture 6 is the Celica (background) about 0.1 seconds before going into the slide. Picture 7 the damage on the passenger rear is evident. A few pictures later the corvette sequence begins.
Interestingly, the 'vette driver reports a similar experience. All was well (he may have been a little behind), but the car let go with NO warning, not a wag one way, then a spin the other, just a large sidestep of the rear end followed by a lot of vehicle movement in the wrong direction.
Sally is doing well, she's getting used to her first car wreck (never one before this), though, I think we will run street tires a few events just to get her back in the groove at a more comfortable limit.
The car is at the body shop, and the bills are mounting. The original estimate was $2200-2300, based on initial examination. Once they cut off the damaged panel, they found some unanticipated bent substructure, so the estimate went up to $3100. If all goes well, I will hopefully have the car back next week (or the week after). The target is for the next event on Dec. 16.
Insurance (USAA) is covering things (less the $500 deductible), and picking up our rental Ford Ranger to boot. I have no clue how our rates will be effected. I'll post when that becomes evident.
Scott