Wreck at Pocono

[JClark]

In honor of my 1000th post, who doesnt love crash pics? Figured I'd post it over here.

Copied/pasted from Adam's thread on Shift:

Ok here's the story. Dont let it cause you to rethink becoming a high performance driving instructor until you read all of it....

Before anyone bashes the guy, my student was a great guy. He didnt have any prior experience; this was his first track day with no autox. He also had a LOT of car for a new driver.

He made a basic student mistake which EVERY student is entitled to do while learning. It's just a shame that it ended with such a rough outcome.

I was riding shotgun obviously as we came off the front straight as the North Course bends into the infield. Driver lost control of the car; a combination of sudden throttle lift, sudden braking, and sudden steering inputs. Like I said, common student mistake, no biggie.

Here's the bad part: Pocono is a NASCAR track and Pocono North course is a road course that uses one turn and one straight from the NASCAR course and then it dives off into a quick, darty infield.

The North course is on the left. Right by "Gate 3", we leave the NASCAR banking and dive down into the infield. There is a fence that runs along the NASCAR straight, the END of which points right toward that turn. Turning into the infield is a hairy corner for anyone. Tom and I (driving my car) were taking it at around 110mph or so.


Abrupt inputs pitch the car to the side, I scream "BOTH FEET IN!" but its too late. Tank-slapper, the car pitches to the OTHER side. The car skids sideways punching my passenger door into the END of the fence and small stack of tires. Corner workers said we hit at around 70-75mph. They also said if not for the fence we would've rolled...at 70-75mph.

(Car->) || x--- (<-Guardrail)





Car is a total loss, insurance pretty much told the poor guy to go F himself. The door punched in around 6-8 inches but for the kind of impact the car held up extremely well.

I crawled out through the drivers side and was swarmed by 6 EMTs who loaded us up in ambulances and checked us out.

I spent the next hour or so in the ambulance and the following hour doing paperwork for the BMW chapter.

My buddy told me "It's part of the risk you accept getting in the passenger seat" and he's completely correct.

I'm ok, just beat up. I was told to expect headache and neck pain and they were right. If it persists for 48 hours without improvement I'm supposed to head for a doctor. Thanks for the concern guys. Tom/DJ and some other guys we went with or met there all called me this morning to check on me.

[JClark]

On a positive note, the car ran great and 1stgen/Tom and I had a good time beating the living daylights out of it.

This is an fun slide through turn 4. DORIFTO! Dunno who's riding shotty at this point, it might be my student actually.

I'M LOOSE! DOOO SOMETHING!!!


Same thing, different session, no passenger. We started just showing off for the camera:

[Steve J.]

This is why I am doing Impaxx side protection. This is half of it, there is another 4" of impaxx between the cage and the door skin (total of ~8"). This is an E46 m3, same as the silver one pictured above. The space by the apillar is also filled, its seperate b/c the block is only so long. The outer foam block is a lower (softer) density than the inner block, this is to aid in the impact energy "control" and decelerate the impact with the least amount of "shock" to the driver.

[JClark]

You'll be fine in a side impact. The silver car hit directly on the door with nothing other than the stock impact protection and we were both fine.

How's progress coming Steve?

[Rocket Punch]

oh, snap!

This is EXACTLY why you should get trackday insurance......and always wear a neck brace.

[rjteeter]

That is nuts! crappy way to learn =(

[JClark]

Neck feels fine now, headache was gone by Saturday at noon. One sore morning/afternoon is MORE than fair I'd say. Good thing I'm INVINCIBLE!

Originally Posted by Rocket Punch

oh, snap!

This is EXACTLY why you should get trackday insurance......and always wear a neck brace.

I haven't brought a neckbrace with me since I bought a HANS device but the HANS obviously doesnt work with a stock 3-pt belt. Who knows if it would have helped, those things are pretty squishy. Ah well.

[Steve J.]

Originally Posted by JClark

How's progress coming Steve?

Got my first coat of paint on tonight Tomorrow is 2nd/final coat (Por15 FlexCote - White)...and then assembly

[91rs13]

Originally Posted by JClark

[b]

Before anyone bashes the guy, my student was a great guy. He didnt have any prior experience; this was his first track day with no autox. He also had a LOT of car for a new driver.

.

Must have been the instructors fault then ...........

Glad you are OK --His Insurance covered him BTW

[JClark]

^^ I heard. And then I slept much easier that night.

I called you while you were at the Glen. Tom posted pictures up, COM pulls in a serious crowd!