My NJMP crash :(

[savage217]

Guys here it is. The video you have all been waiting for. Contributions welcome to the fix my car fund.

No need to explain what happened, here is the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS4b43dgV2E

I think Nate Hine was right about the fact that if I did not have ABS I would have saved the car by staying on the track

[dinoracer]

NIck

Try to remember to shut off the car first; worry about the camera second...

[RyanC]

Sucks to see the crash. How exactly would no ABS have saved you in this situation?

[escortracer]

This is my moment not as good as yours. I was thinking of you when I was looking at the wall.

[brucesallen]

were both feet in and ABS prevented the desirable spin?

[paultg]

Nick, glad you are ok. I've never been to the track so it's hard to gauge the speeds from the video, the impact was harder than I expected.
Also thanks for sharing so others can learn from it! - Paul G.

[MiataSteve]

This is my moment not as good as yours. I was thinking of you when I was looking at the wall.

nice save...your reaction says it all!

[Ivan B]

Sorry to see this. How bad is the car?

[cfossum]

The speedo shows fairly high speed through the first half of the slide, continuing all the way to the left side of the track until you started heading back over to the right. Either both feet not in yet in an attempt to make a RobReady-type save, or ABS prevented lock up. Glad to see you completed the time trial anyhow.
-Carl

[savage217]

I had both feet in as I was on the track but the abs would not allow the tires to lockup. The car is fine structurally it just really needs a fender, nose panel, and door dent pulled to be presentable.

[CP]

Bummer. Based on all the tire marks on the track there, you obviously weren't the first to cross the track and blast into the inside wall.

There is a teaching point here. I'm not sure if it's what COM encourages (I'm no instructor), but it's the way I handle a situation like yours. At a track with lots of runoff like NJMP, you can go off track in alot of places and not hit anything. Don't be afraid to leave the track surface. Then get the car under control before trying to find pavement again. I've found myself in the grass/dirt a bunch of times over the last few racing seasons (sometimes my own fault, sometimes not) and this is my typical thought process:

Ok, I know that I'm about to leave the racing surface b/c that's going to be safer and (probably) cheaper than trying to save it.
Am I going to hit anything directly in front of me?
Is there anything I can do to slow my pace before I leave the asphalt?
What are my feet doing on the pedals right now?
Are my front wheels mostly straight?

OFF

Now I'm on the dirt/grass; DON'T try to yank the car back onto pavement or I'm going to spin across the track and probably hit something.
Get the car moving straight and let it slow itself somewhat...don't touch the brakes.
Gently steer the car towards pavement and safely re-enter the track.
Remember to check my suspension and my shorts after the session.

It's a thought process that comes with experience after driving off the track numerous times. Everything slows down in these situations, so you've got lots of time to think before acting, right? Meh, not so much. When I do finally make it down to Lightning, part of my first session will be spent giving a close look to the corners where the car may get light to see what sort of runoff room is provided, and whether there are any car-killing solid objects to hit out there.

I should probably practice my next statement more often, but it helps to have a plan in place BEFORE you may experience a situation. Like what's my exit strategy if my car catches on fire? If I botch corner X badly, what do I have to work with as far as runoff room? If a wheel falls off, what should I do after I crap my pants? Where are the safe areas to pull off the track if I need to do so?

Again, sorry that you damaged your car.

[nateh]

Cy is right on with this:

Don't be afraid to leave the track surface. Then get the car under control before trying to find pavement again.

Yes, we teach it - but probably not enough.

[escortracer]

I wasn't going as fast or off to the left as much as Nick did but as soon as I came back on track I put two feet in and felt the tires lock and my direction changed so fast I was off the brakes.

[John F]

Cy is right on with this:

Don't be afraid to leave the track surface. Then get the car under control before trying to find pavement again.

Yes, we teach it - but probably not enough.

Probably right! My first reaction during my left-side off in one was the get back on track which turned me around and my correction induced a snap turn in the other direction. Then it was both feet in and at least I stayed on the track surface. There were at least three offs there that hit the tire wall.

[breakaway500]

Most tracks are designed to have runoff for a "normal" spin..however,when peope attempt to save a spin,they can end up driving into an area where there are no considerations for impact,or worse. I watched an instructor "save" a spin through turn 7 at Mt.Tremblant, and end up on top of the 6 foot high (and wide) tire barrier to the inside of the track surface. The Porsche was totalled. Later in the paddock,he was explaining how he thought he could drive out of the spin. If he had gone both feet in,the car would not have travelled into the barrier. It's a tough call to make,and like Cy has mentioned..a good plan ahead of time is your best defense. There are certain turns where you really don't want to mess around with an off... turn 9 at the Glen comes to mind... I had a tank slapper there the last NEQ event.I lost control in 6 qts. of oil dumped there from the car directly in front of me.... All I could see was a tunnel of Armco closing in on me..luckily,no impact... I came in for fresh undies.
If you pass the point of no return,it's best to put two feet in. Not heroic,but it is usually safe.