I would definitely want the top up for a top speed run. I'd want the aero benefit, and potentially, the top might help protect your arms some in the event of an issue. But in a violent multiple axis roll like the cab went through, I'm not sure if the top would have helped or hurt.

A Porsche running 203+.
Looks like the "course" has some significant bumps when you get up around top speed. I saw the guy hit a moderate bump when he went through the trees at ~:40 which I think may have been where the cab lost it. I wonder if the bump contributed.
<iframe width="1510" height="849" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iDt1-9DvVYI" title="Sun Valley Tour de Force 203.39 mph on Phantom Hill" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Regardless of everything else, I hope the folks in the car make a full recovery.

I wasn't even thinking about the crash protection (nil), I was just thinking about the buffeting. It would be so much more comfortable with a lid above the head, and surely faster.

I'm sure. I hit ~145 in my old '88 targa once with the top off and the windows up. It was LOUD! I remember it seeming violently loud. It was so loud that I kept expecting to see the back window take flight. I've been skydiving once. Having your head in the wind at terminal velocity (120-125) is also REALLY LOUD! I'm sure that behind a windshield is much better, but I'm sure it's not fun. I assume helmets would make a big difference WRT noise.

I've got a boxster, and a factory hard top. It's not loud with the soft top, but it's much more quiet with the hard top. I haven't done any high speed runs with the top down.

Been trying to find out the conditions of The driver and passenger. Tried Looking up online. But all I could find were the families thinking the police and first responders.

I did the same, a few searches to see if I could find any mention. All that I've seen is "survived" and "family wants privacy". In a way, it's great (and surprising) that the media is respecting their privacy. That so rarely happens these days.

I didn't go down the reddit rabbit hole. There could be info there.

Me as well. I hope they will be OK.

Just too much to go wrong running at speeds like this on a public road, even a closed one. Deer, gravel/dirt on the road, a bump that upsets the suspension..... Heck, I've been at races at Pacific Raceways when the safety crew suspended a race to get deer off of the track.

I know that road well. Almost hit a deer towing a boat down from the lakes up north.

The speed event out of Ely makes more sense... lots of open desert.

Not criticizing anyone for putting this together or participating.

There is a reason that they do speed record attempts in the desert or on the salt flats. I’m not pretending that a tire couldn’t blow out at speed in the desert or on the salt. There is just less stuff around for the car to hit if something does go badly. Also less likely to hit wildlife.

That road looked very rough

Could have been debris on the road as well.

This is a view that's supposed to be from the "finish line".

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ekTpcghnas" title="Porsche 911 Turbo S Crash" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And this is supposed to be the skid marks from the turbo.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1722019322.jpg

It's supposed to be a modified 800+hp turbo run by a guy named Ron.

If it was at/after the finish line, maybe he was on the brakes and a brake locked up on a tire went or the front suspension was compressed under braking and then the car hit a bump.

Have you ever lifted the throttle @ 150+, its done very very gently with immediate follow up throttle or else you do what this driver did.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1722025330.jpg

twice at 150, once at 145. I wouldn't expect letting off in a straight line to cause a spin, especially in a modern Porsche 991 twin turbo, but then I've never gone 190-200 in one.

Now, if you jumped off of the throttle and into the brakes hard, and then hit a bump... I could see that leading to some instability.

I think the fastest I’ve gone was 150+ in my 930 at VIR. It felt good, but it was set up for the track with a cage, race seat, 6 point harness, etc.

At RRR, I hit 120 on the front straight and that’s fast enough in the 330ci.

I’m surprised one of them actually lived.

Update, July 24, 2024, 3:00 p.m. EST: Zack Alder, one of the crash victims, is lucid and in good spirits following the crash. In a video posted to TikTok by his sister on Monday, he says he “broke my back, broke both ankles, I have seven broken ribs.” A GoFundMe has been set up for his medical expenses. No further information on the other person involved in the wreck has been released.

https://www.tiktok.com/@emilyalder123/video/7394106334959947051?lang=en

Looks like the brakes locked up right after the finish line.
Brakes cooled from the long straight.
Initial bite on cold brakes, pad knock back and some brake pull?

Miracle!

man that is horrible to watch.