2 injured in crash in Idaho "no speed limit event"

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

Not quite right, at least at Potomac region. Yes you can run a production car, but there are rules. I was chief steward for a time and helped with tech for DE cars. The requirement was to have your car teched by certified folks or bring it to our tech session where knowledgeable Porsche folks would do the tech. We were sticklers for brake fluid age, tire stamps (date of production), brake pads, front suspension bits, etc. At grid there was someone to walk the line to check lug nut tightness. We never had an incident due to component failure.

As was I. I created a tech form to be completed by the Porsche dealer or one of the indy shops in town. Like you, brake fluid HAD to be changed atleast at the beginning of the season.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

Not quite right, at least at Potomac region. Yes you can run a production car, but there are rules. I was chief steward for a time and helped with tech for DE cars. The requirement was to have your car teched by certified folks or bring it to our tech session where knowledgeable Porsche folks would do the tech. We were sticklers for brake fluid age, tire stamps (date of production), brake pads, front suspension bits, etc. At grid there was someone to walk the line to check lug nut tightness. We never had an incident due to component failure.

I'm sure this varies by region, or even by who is in charge in any given year in any given region.

The Pacific Northwest Region used to require an "annual", a tech inspection at a recognized Porsche shop. They used to check lug nuts, seat belts, harnesses, dates in helmets and on harnesses, battery hold-downs, wheel bearings, etc while we were waiting in line the day of. No more than a bunch of useless theater, really, with their "tech inspectors" being absolutely unqualified mechanically. Nice of them to volunteer, but most were pretty clueless.

I had one round off about five of my aluminum lug nuts one morning before I noticed what he was doing. He was using a 12 point steel socket in a clicker type torque wrench set at 120 ft/lbs. I brought the DE chair over to take a look at the carnage, who immediately offered to replace them. I still had to get them off, though.

Another time a different highly qualified "tech inspector" would not let me go out because my front wheel bearings were "too loose". Once again, had to hunt down the DE chair to straighten it all out.

I could go on. Suffice to say that having unqualified volunteers in a "tech line" is probably worse than not doing it at all. Our region of the PCA now leaves it entirely up to the owner of the car. No "annual", no "tech line", nothing.

The types of speed events under discussion here probably face the same obstacles. False sense of security provided by unqualified "tech inspectors". Unless they can provide qualified personel, with real backgrounds in racing, it's just a wast of time. At that point, it's probably better if left to the drivers. You wanna drive that thing at 200 mph? O.k., then, the line forms here... You pays your money and you takes your chances...

[wildthing]

Personally I'd rather go 110-120 tops and then have to hit the brakes hard for the next hairpin. 150mph, nah. Maybe in a spec series but not a production car.

[CurtEgerer]

I looked up the website and they do have an inspector who does a basic inspection similar to an autocross or DE event. $2200/run. They do recommend a helmet but - like the Seinfeld bit about skydiving helmets - a helmet without Hans, cage, harness, etc.? Well, the helmet is wearing YOU for protection at 150-200mph


https://sunvalleytourdeforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-SVTdF_Driver_Packet_Interactive.pdf

[HardDrive]

I can't cast stones, I regularly drive 120+ on public roads. F around, find out.

[A930Rocket]

I do all the work on my 330 and prep it for each DE. I keep all belts up to date yearly, nut and bolt everything, check brake pads, bleed the brakes etc. I check my lug nuts after each session. I do more than what a recommended tech shop would do.

I haven’t worn my firesuit since I started tracking the 330, but will going forward, after my big off at Roebling Road in the spring. I always wore it in the 930, because I felt I was going fast enough to wear it. False reasoning.

No way I’d would be going that fast in a cab, without further safety equipment.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I looked up the website and they do have an inspector who does a basic inspection similar to an autocross or DE event. $2200/run. They do recommend a helmet but - like the Seinfeld bit about skydiving helmets - a helmet without Hans, cage, harness, etc.? Well, the helmet is wearing YOU for protection at 150-200mph


https://sunvalleytourdeforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-SVTdF_Driver_Packet_Interactive.pdf

I always wondered why Kamakzi pilots wore helmets.

[Geneman]

Rtrorkt: You guys at Potomac run a very tight ship .. I started out with DE a decade ago at Summit with you guys. I still remember the guy walking up and down the grid with the torque wrench checking everyone..... now doing the great , in fact one of the best , PCA Club races at Summit every year. ( plus the unique beer golf carts filled with ice help a bit at end of day...) 🙏

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Supposedly a tire blew out, at somewhere close to 190 mph. Not sure how people knew, but that's what I read.

Turbo Cab?! I guess you're doomed at that speed, no matter what, but I certainly would have wanted more protection around me in event of a misadventure like that.

Heat related most likely. Tires have a speed rating for a reason.

[unclebilly]

By having volunteers do tech, this implies that the car is safe.

I imagine lawyers could have a field day in a situation like this where there are serious injuries and 6 figure damage to the car on a vehicle that was deemed safe by a tech inspector who presumably inspected the tires…

This is why I created the form for the mechanics to use. The local dealer even did it for free for our club members. The Indy guys charged around $100 iirc.

[911 Rod]

I have a hard time believing those people survived.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by Geneman

Rtrorkt: You guys at Potomac run a very tight ship .. I started out with DE a decade ago at Summit with you guys. I still remember the guy walking up and down the grid with the torque wrench checking everyone..... now doing the great , in fact one of the best , PCA Club races at Summit every year. ( plus the unique beer golf carts filled with ice help a bit at end of day...) 🙏

Glad you think so. I took over from Fred Smartt in 1987 or so. Was chief steward through 1999. We prided ourselves in our safety record, both on the tech side and on the track. We had no issue with taking suspect cars or drivers off the track. I think our reputation was pretty good. I like to think our program is the reason for Club Racing since we kept pulling Alan Friedman and his running mates off the track for rules violations. I think he got so fed up that he started Club Racing. Since I kept telling him, DE was not racing.

I am now safety chair for the Arizona region and am trying to instill the same sort of safety culture. Not easy but worth it.

As for the comment about volunteers doing tech, the session was always at a shop we could trust and there was always one of the shop techs (or the owner) available for questions. As you all know tech is not a thorough inspection, it is focused on wear parts and those known issues on each car. Nothing is fool proof, but you can try to make events as safe as possible

[masraum]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I can't cast stones, I regularly drive 120+ on public roads. F around, find out.

My commute is ~84 miles and mostly Interstate 10 with speedlimits from 60-75. If I was a scofflaw, I might hit 100+ several times per commute. I might also more infrequently hit 115+, 125+, and maybe even 135 on a rare occasion. If I was a scofflaw, I may have been 145-150+ 3 times between the boxster and my old '88 911 (that'll get the blood flowing).

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I have a hard time believing those people survived.

Modern vehicles are impressively built and the human body is surprisingly resilient. I'm sure it sucked and they aren't doing well, but it wouldn't surprise me for them to be alive.

[ted]

Originally Posted by masraum

Modern vehicles are impressively built and the human body is surprisingly resilient. I'm sure it sucked and they aren't doing well, but it wouldn't surprise me for them to be alive.

Impressive speed yes.
The crooked driver seat, no wrist restraints, folded windshield frame.

[David]

I thought modern Porsche convertibles had pop-up roll bars. Not really bars but two fast deploying extensions behind the seats.

EDIT: nevermind, I looked closer and they're there.

I could sure use their old brake calipers

[masraum]

[pmax]

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Tobra

They may live, but their lives will never be the same
...

[herr_oberst]

Discuss the "top down top speed" run. I was under the impression that Porsche spends lots of time and money optimizing the cabrio top for the speeds that the car is capable of, and while I have little doubt that the factory did high speed top down runs, wouldn't you think that top up for a timed run wouldn't be preferred?
I know it would for me.

(and pmax, I'd be more surprised if there wasn't a go-pro on the dash)