In car video of a Viper crashing in turn 1 at CMP earlier this year. Apparently the brake pedal went to the floor.
http://www.mindmagma.com/viper/vca/vipercrash.mpg

I don't know who that instructor was, but the presence of mind at that point to get the ignition turned off was fantastic.
Remember to thank your instructor at the next event boys and girls.

 

There is a thread on that video here: http://bbs.sccaproracing.com/ubb/For...ML/001609.html

The WC drivers don't seem to think it was brake failure. If you listen to the clip, it doesn't sound like he is off the gas until about 1 brake marker away from road the that connects the short course. That is WAY late. Esp in a heavy Viper going at "the top of 4th". Plus the instructor was getting nervous a good bit before that point.

Still .. not fun. I hope I don't find myself without brakes at any track.

 

YIKES
I think the guys in that thread are right- it looks like he just went in way too hot and didn't brake until way too late.
the one thing i'm not sure of is his line into the turn. he's obviously way offline but i can't decide it's because he was new and still learning how to drive the line or if right before turn in he realized he's going way too hot and lost focus. (not that driving the line would have saved him) either way *shudder*

on a lighter note- RoadRacer, your 'location' really cracked me up

 

why didnt he pull his ebrake?

 

I think the Viper had massive brake fade...not failure. I remember blowing right thru some cones in my Rx7 off of the main straight off of the banking at pocono raceway for the 1st turn. I knew I should've changed the brake fluid and pads before the event.

 

Oh... he definitely went in wayyyyy too deep. But it does appear that when he hit the brakes not much happened. It's hard to tell in these videos, but you can typically see the nose dive when the driver hits the brake.

So... either there were no brakes, or he plain forgot to brake (this has happened more than once at DEs). But you guys are right, he was screwed anyway because he went in too deep in the first place.

As far as his line, I'm sure that was sheer terror induced panic.

 

Why didn't he just stay going straight into the runoff area??

 

I am not faliliar with the race track, but it is very clear that he went too deep into the corner. He was definitly new and you could see the instructor getting nervous way before he attempted to brake. Brake fade could have been an issue, but the nose didn't dive down at all and there appeared to be no loss of speed, period. This appears to be a combination of problems, driver inexperience and spongy brakes( maybe defective). I am not convinced that it was defective, but I am also not convinced it wasn't . I don't know why he attempted to make the turn, I would imagine there would have been more runoff if he stayed straight. This is always easier to say when your are watching the mistake from your computer. I who has no track experience yet, are not one to criticize.

 

He did hit the brakes, but if you listen closely, you hear throttle being applied again. Powered right through the brakes.

Driver's foot either slipped off brake and hit gas, or was covering both pedals at same time.

I've yet to do a drivers school, but have covered both pedals while autoxing.


[Modified by Mista Bone, 9:25 PM 12/9/2001]

 

The link doesn't work anymore. Searched around for the filename on Yahoo but to with no luck...

 

The runoff at that point isn't any better if you go straight off. It might actually be worse. It didn't really matter what he did once he passed the #2 marker carrying that kind of speed, he was screwed.

 

BTW he was under full braking BEFORE the 4 brake marker.

 

Does anyone have this video saved on their comp? I'd like to check it out, but the link's not working. IM me.

 

yup link dead, anyone else have a link?

thx

 

Send me an instant message with your (non-spam) e-mail address... I have it on the hard drive.

2.83 mb

Will

[or if that will cause spam... send it to my hot mail address]


[Modified by Willard, 9:01 AM 12/10/2001]

 

I put it up on my website.


http://www.codyscafe.com/~mrbone/pic...ipercrash.mpeg

 

woah . . . intense . . .

 

See, thats why I removed my airbags. So when I crash like that, it dosent mess up the cinematographers view of the accident!

ceas

 

scary is right! damn, brings back memories of crashing my accord in traffic a few years back... makes your heart patter!!

 

The manufacturer of that camcorder ought to use the clip in an ad...

Very impressive.

 

Damn.. was he ok??

I can't believe the camera survived..

That guys should have braked harder...If I was in the passenger I would have been yelling "BRAKE BRAKE BRAKE"
..
passenger got out pretty fast though

Too much right foot not enough brain




[Modified by Crazydave, 7:59 PM 12/10/2001]

 

I was at this event and saw this occur from inside the timing building at the end of the front straight - this sits on the inside of Turn 1.

From what I saw and heard, he went off at 125 mph(?). He also didn't hit the brakes until somewhere near the 2 or 3 marker, if that. From what corner workers said, they didn't see brake lights until 50-100 feet before he left the track. The skid marks proved that too. I think this is not a case of brake fade, but brain fade. Human error.

Not pointing any fingers, we're all human. I just hope I don't experience this type of fade at the end of ANY corner ever...

 

holy f!

intense.

Tom

 

WOW,scary stuff.

At 7sec sounds like he locks up.

At 12sec you can see the instructor go for the E Brake.

 

Listen closely to the sound. driver braked before 4 marker, but his foot was on gas also. He just over powered the brakes, hince no skid marks.

It is just a car, can be replaced.