SLAP!!!

Long story short, I had a very fast off road excursion while in Alabama at the Little Talladega Gran Prix track event put on by Trey. I got airborne, not quite as good as the Duke of Hazard, but still got 4 off the ground at once. When I came down, the front lip and lower rad support nailed the edge of the berm I flew over. Then the front end poped up again, rear end hit, front end came down again.... BOOM.

I had been getting progressively faster through the quick left at the end of the front straightaway, trying to get close to my speeds from Saturday when I was on Victoracers. (I was on Trey's bald Falkens on sunday, very impressive!) I tapped the brakes, shifted to 3rd, back on the gas, the rear end stepped out considerably, I hit the gas, the car caught and went straight! oh shit! both feet in.... the rest is a blur.

The reason I went off was that I broke so deep that I got way off camber in the turn, pushing me left instead of back right to setup for the skidpad. I did what you're supposed to do - both feet in and don't fight it. I just didn't have the brakes to stop.

Amazingly....
The only damage really was the lower rad support, which was pused in right up against the header, but not damaged. The header and oil pan have small scratches. I have a feeling my suspension saved me from ruining the front end as it absorbed a great deal of the impact. The skunk2 arms bottomed out on the shock towers. I suspect the driver's side arm is bent. I had to adjust the camber on that side.. so something is bent, but its hold its alignment, which is good.

There are two small SMALL stress marks on the driver's frame rail, but I'm talking 1-2mm long/wide. We'll see what the frame shows us up on the frame rack. Also amazingly, the lip/bumper is not that bad. we bent it back to shape and used a heat gun to get out a large dent in the bumper under the lip.

We used the come-along to bend the lower rad support out to get the radiator and fans out of the header heatshield. Worked like a charm. Amazingly, nothing is destroyed or permanently messed up besides the lower rad support, which needs to be cut off, straightened, and re-welded. (or a new one put on)

Pics:
Saturday




Pre-damage (maybe the same lap!!) -
http://www.8400rpm.com/talla/chris1.jpg

Post-damage
http://www.8400rpm.com/talla/chris3.JPG
http://www.8400rpm.com/talla/chris4.JPG

And my triumphant "I'm going back on the track, bitches!!" pose.
http://www.8400rpm.com/talla/chris2.JPG

I actually did go back out there for about 50 miles of track time.... car is good. Got an alignment in Murfreesboro, now I just need to get the frame checked, fix the rad support and put the fender liners back in. The bumper was already nasty in front, so i'll leave it. I hope to have a video of 4-5 laps soon, and maybe more detailed pics.

The car was amazingly fast on Victoracers.... almost as exciting on bald falkens, and a dog on full tread Kumho MX. It is amazing what tires do for you. The suspension felt REALLY nice. the car was predictable, fast, oversteered on command (mugen rear sway, wow), had great turn in, trail braked nicely, didn't dive, etc. Too bad it is going back to JIC to get revalved and to get the correct rates, lol.

Thanks to Trey for his help, contacts, and hospitality. and for the invite.

Thanks to all j00 f00ls down in AL and TN that I got to meet, hang out with, etc. You guys rox.

THANKS to Stephen for pics.

 

Thumbs up...glad to hear the car isn't worse. I remember listening to your message at work on Sunday. You seemed remarkably calm considering what had happened.

Let me know when it's time to fix it.

 

Where is the mid air rally photo?

 

oh I love those post-incident calls..

I remember calling ppl at 3am when I ran my truck into a tree, couldn't stop laughing

My offs at the track have not resulted in damage so I'm lucky there.. I did run over a tree at expo2 tho.

 

Stupid tire wall and stands were in the way of photos. I'm not sure where the 'damaged ground' photos are yet....

 

If I had been going about 5mph faster, I would have been able to YeeeHaww! as I would have cleared the berm completely. 5pmh slower... car would not have been a car anymore as I would have gone nose first straight into the other side of the berm......

Here's my 'nice to meet you/thanks suckas' list:

Mortimer/Trey, STi Trey, Nathan, roommate Dave, stephen, Tony, Billy and Brian from Fastech, Mike in Murfreesboro for the alignment, Norman and Oscar the dogs who get neglected by Mortimer, Jeff, Arno, John, Casey (who had his first Chappelle show experience, lol), Ryan (Mr. I was born in the ****ing 80's!!!!), and a couple of others whos names are escaping me.

 

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Chris: I'm free this weekend if you need any help on the car -- or just someone to stand around and make smart-assed comments

 

CHris, you guys made the weekend alot of fun. I think Brian summed it up best while we were on the lift at Fastech. 5mph slower and the R would have been a big yellow lawn dart stuck in the dirt!

 

I'll go ahead and second that!
You better be down here the next time we rent the track, y0!

 

actually, this works out well as far as the JIC's go. would you rather have had them take that impact after you got them back? i don't think so.