Another track fatality...

[Emre]

Bad news. There was yet another fatality on the track this summer. This one occurred at an EMRA time trials (Solo 1) at Lime Rock Park.

Details here:

http://www.autox4u.com/adamzimmerman.htm

The driver was a physician who was driving a Radical at the time.

Emre

[diskace]

that is very sad, security is very important !

[Emre]

Thankfully, the BMW CCA and CC have never had a fatality at any of their events. However, the PCA and some other organizations have not been so lucky. There was a highly publicized fatality at Watkins Glen during a Riesentoter Region PCA event over the summer. There were two killed at an FOC event earlier in the season.

Overall, I find that most clubs are making it WAY too easy to get signed off these days. In the Watkins Glen incident, the driver of the Boxster S was in the Green group (i.e., complete novices) but was signed off to solo for the last session of the last day. This is a BIG problem for a variety of reasons I don't want to get into again. And the Riesentoter Region is generally considered one of the safer PCA chapters!

The bottom line is that the popularity of track days is exploding. There are HUGE differences in ability levels, attitudes, and knowledge among the students. At the same time, cars are getting faster and faster...consquently demanding more and more skill from the driver.

When the BMW CCA started offering driving schools in the 1960's, people were driving 100hp 2002tii's on skinny 165mm tires mounted to tiny 13" wheels. And they would go for several seasons of 1-to-1 instruction before anyone would ever dream of signing them off to solo. Nowadays, people are showing up with 300+hp Corvettes, STi's, and M3's running R-compounds, big bake kits, and even coilovers. And they're getting signed off after 1 or 2 schools. There is a SERIOUS problem here!

If event organizers don't do something about it soon, this sport we love so much will disappear.

Emre

[Emre]

BTW, I should mention that the above post refers specifically to the Watkins Glen tradgedy. From what I understand, the driver of the Radical that died during the EMRA time trials was a very experienced track junkie. So, obviously, what I wrote above does not apply to that case.

But, overall, I find there is a serious safety issue that we need to deal with fast.

Emre

[Andrei]

I don't think the good old days were safer. From what I heard what we have now in PCA as driver's educations used to be racing or at least time trials back in the 60s.
In addition to fancier more powerful cars the amount of driving on the track increased in general. As it is a relatively risky activity bad stuff happens. I just hope we keep our heads about it. People die in alpine skiing accidents all the time but nobody is seriously considering shutting down ski resorts.

I would not characterise the Watkins Glen fatality as a "complete novice". From what I heard he had about 7 events done. And we are not clear on the fact that his inexperience had anything to do with the accident.

But in general I agree that signoffs should not be taken lightly.

[Lee]

Cars are way more powerfull now than 10 years ago. When the 1995 US M3 appeared at driver schools, they were much quicker off the box than most BMW racecars. Run those cars with R Compound and you have a fast racecar. Instructors were a bit uncomfortable at the beggining, having to be passenger in a "racecar" driven by a novice. Going fast and not having yet the talent to drive the car is not a good recipe.

[Nano]

Cars are way more powerfull now than 10 years ago. When the 1995 US M3 appeared at driver schools, they were much quicker off the box than most BMW racecars. Run those cars with R Compound and you have a fast racecar. Instructors were a bit uncomfortable at the beggining, having to be passenger in a "racecar" driven by a novice. Going fast and not having yet the talent to drive the car is not a good recipe.

Imagine a novice showing up with a modified 600hp Z06!
I wouldn't want to be the instructor..

I hope the schools have evolved as well in the last 30 years! A sports car with 300hp is almost average nowadays... and so is a familly sedan with 260hp.... and these figures still seem to be rising. Maybe some "mobile" chicanes would be in order in the begginer's group (and maybe not only)... on a side Note, this killing business seems to apply to novices just as much to advanced drivers... so it's not a novice "inexperience" issue only.

Where there flaggers at this event? Sounds like he crashed in a imobile car who had crashed moments before... that should have been yellow flag.

[Andre]

It's a very sad state of affairs indeed.

It also makes one think that a Hans or Isaac device is not such a bad idea.
Not that I want to treat the sympton as opposed to treating the cause but it would be one more item that would put the odds in one's favour should something go wrong.

-andre-