Major crash at Road America

[farrbar]

No Vipers, as it was group 6, but this past weekend a significnat number of vintage cars crashed.

See pics
http://www.pbase.com/atrltd/image/46317466
http://www.pbase.com/atrltd/bric2005

 

[DT04R]

Damn! What a major bummer - I'd rather see a new $1M exotic wrecked than those classic rides! Hope everyone walked away without any serious injuries!

DT

 

[Hirohawa]

That isn't an accident it's a tragedy.

The bent aluminum on the Cobra almost made me cry.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Unbelievable, and what did they feel was the cause. Seems like about the strangest place to have a accident at RA. I assume this happened right at the start ( flying ) , but give us a synopsis.

 

[Viperfreak2]

Ouch. I hope no one was seriously injured. Any TV coverage? I'd like to see who's fault it was. Just normal racing accident or a jacka$$ who couldn't drive...?

 

[farrbar]

Two Rumors:
Both involve the pace car going too fast, and the back of the pack trying to catch up.

1) They did not waive green, lead car and front of pack slowed up. Back of pack was racing to catch pace car hit the rest.

2) Mustang blew engine, dropped oil. One car hit wall, and then a few other cars.

At this point injuries believed to be minor.

 

[FLYNLO]

That can be buffed right out...

On a serious note, if you partake in any sort of "speed" competition, doesn't that make your insurance useless?

 

[Hirohawa]

Not if it is an "instructional" course on a track.

 

[Dave T (BADVENM)]

I was told it was at the beginning of the race. Also notice, for the class of cars running there are pics of some with NASCAR type motors, not vintage racing types. also second hand, they only inspect the cars at the beginning of the season so anything is possible come race time for the rest of the year. One guy was supposed to be banned for a year but was in the accident as well. they are reviewing the various cameras from the track.

 

[Dave T (BADVENM)]

heres a quote from one of the officials:

"I was the operating steward for this race. The pace car did what was the right thing to do. We gave them instructions for each group. The two pole guys admitted to running up the hill at 5000 rpm in 3rd gear. The fifth place guy was racing well before the green flag and tryed to force his way between the wall and the car in front of him. He started scraping the wall and the guy behind him checked up and the car that hit him started to spin and then it was one after another into them. I am amazed that no one was killed. All the drivers except two had hans
devices.

The green flag was in deed thrown. I red flagged the race with in 3 seconds of the green. Even with the red flag the drivers in the back just keep driving into the rear. The red was shown at corner 15(the walk over bridge). The drivers just did not pay attention. All drivers were forced to attend a meeting right after the incident. They were all yelled at. Interesting that in a few classes they are not allowed to pass until after turn 1 (Historic Gran Prix) and turn 3 for Can Am. One historic Gran Prix driver was banned from their series for life due to an incident in the kink.

I have to agree that the drivers in this group are some of the most agressive drivers I have ever seen. More istrubing to me were how many fist fights started after drivers started getting out of there cars. I feel that if they were able to get out they should have been happy they could even move after a incident like this.

I was very happy with how all of our crews came together to work in the heat. We had a steady flow of water for all the rescue crews, ambulance crews and wrecker crews while they were working in over 90 degree heat. What a great team."