A different kind of track accident...

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

This is one of those 10,000-word eBay listings, so be warned.

The salient point here is that somebody drove his nice 993 TT in track events and ended up off course in the weeds with a hot exhaust which ignited the foliage and burned the rear corner of the car and got the title stamped 'salvage'.

The guy who got & repaired it is asking way too much for the car, but that's not the point. I've seen this happen at Buttonwillow, and I'm sure there are other tracks where the weeds aren't cleared. Let's be careful out there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=2472538503&rd=1

Zeke · 04-12-2004, 07:54 AM

See my thread on the AutoX and Racing forum about "Don't take anything to the track you can't afford to walk away from."

Point made here.

Az911 · 04-12-2004, 07:58 AM

Why would an $85K car get a salvage title for only having $10K worth of damage?

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

"Why would an $85K car get a salvage title for only having $10K worth of damage?"

Salvage titles are entirely random. I've seen balled-up cars with clean titles and cars like this with no more than 10% (of value) damage given salvage titles. Generally, insurance companies run like hell when they fear wiring is damaged on a late car.

MOMO3.2 · 04-12-2004, 08:28 AM

Yes Milt. I kind of quoted you in another post and got accused of using "scare tactics." I, for one, appreciate that peice of wisdom.

Thanks.

Mike

cowtown · 04-12-2004, 08:36 AM

For someone (like me) who wants a 993TT as "the last car I'll ever own," that will be a great car.

One you can keep forever, drive the wheels off it, and not worry about resale.

Anyone want to loan me 50K?

ZCAT3 · 04-12-2004, 08:51 AM

That happened to a 993TT at Buttonwillow last year. If this car wasn't from Texas I would have thought it was the same car. It was the cats and/or turbos that caused the fire at BW and the whole rear end of the car was pretty toasty. Certainly salvagable though. I think if this guy is being honest, the car is fairly priced at 45K. The problem is you never really know. Not sure where he comes up with $25K in extras based on what he lists. Wheels, exhaust, suspension - maybe 10K.

Wavey · 04-12-2004, 10:09 AM

Here's a lovely Vette that lost it at last weekend's PCA event at Gateway in St. Louis. Apparently the guy spun it and got the wall with every corner. Car appears to be a total write-off, other than for mechanical parts salvage.

slater · 04-12-2004, 11:40 AM

Guy took some weird pictures.... "and here is the seatbelt!"

Dantilla · 04-12-2004, 11:45 AM

A different kind of accident? I thought maybe a 911 went off nose first.

Naw....... That'l never happen.

Zeke · 04-12-2004, 11:50 AM

Wavey, that's what I'm talking about. Wow! Too bad, but I've seen that same movie at least every other trip I've made to Willow Springs (big track) Someone is always going home in pieces, hopefully the car not the the driver. That happens too, but TG, less freqently.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by slater
Guy took some weird pictures.... "and here is the seatbelt!"

He's highlighting the dual-restraint setup - you can swap in 5-point harnesses if need be. Note the harness bar.

I've seen grass fires started by hot exhaust, but by hot tires? I looked it up - 300-400 degrees. Can tires get that hot without disintegrating?

ZCAT3 · 04-12-2004, 12:02 PM

Thom - I doubt they know exactly what started the fire. Hot tires would not, but hot rotors certainly could.

Zeke · 04-12-2004, 12:18 PM

IF tires could get that hot, that would be the reason he was off the track.

It's a tough call for BW, apparently. Weeds help contain dust which is a problem there. It also costs money to abate them. But it's not right that someone, or more than one, has lost a car due to a weed fire. that won't happen at Willow or Spring Mtn, me thinks.

rcwaldo · 04-12-2004, 12:24 PM

What startled me was how high the ebrake handle was? Did you see that thing? My car takes about three clicks to set the brake..

Chris

Thomas Owen · 01:06 PM

I would love to see the 'before repair' pictures of this one. I know, I know, the salvage title can be random, but this damage seems very slight (so they say) compared to the value of the car...

Edit - I see the before pictures now...thanks speeder.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Scroll down. There are several 'before' pictures.

speeder · 04-12-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
He's highlighting the dual-restraint setup - you can swap in 5-point harnesses if need be. Note the harness bar.

I've seen grass fires started by hot exhaust, but by hot tires? I looked it up - 300-400 degrees. Can tires get that hot without disintegrating?

I doubt that the tires would ignite the weeds, but the turbo itself certainly would. It would be glowing red-hot under track driving conditions.

Jack Olsen · 04-12-2004, 01:04 PM

I've driven at Thunderhill during the dry season when they warn you to try to keep the car rolling if you have an off. The exhaust, not the tires, is what's going to start the fire.

Emission · Emission's Garage

I wouldn't imagine ever seeing tire temps much over 300F. At that temperature, you'd have to worry about blistering.

I seem to recall that optimal temps for track tires are 160-220F or so...

300F won't light brush fires.