Doc Bundy Injured in Carrera GT

[cegerer]

My Cayenne mechanic was in Atlanta the last few days for Carrera GT training. Apparently, they were having a 'press day' as well and Doc Bundy was a passenger in a Carrera GT piloted by a journalist. They went off-track at 100MPH and hit a concrete barrier. The car was destroyed. They both survived and have unknown injuries. Anybody know anything more about this?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Yeah, but it wasn't a Carrera GT, it was a new Turbo Cab. Journalist driver was Joe Rusz of Road & Track, and it happened at Daytona during--maybe just after--the Rennsport Reunion. Joe apparently went into turn one way too fast--estimates I heard were around 160--and my friend John Phillips of Car and Driver, who was there, said "the parts flew so far I think some landed in the surf." Bundy suffered a broken arm and nose, Joe suffered great embarrassment. There but for the GoG...I've done enough of those hero runs as a car writer that I feel sorry for Rusz. But sorrier for Doc, who was my instructor.

Stephan

[Joe Bob]

Embarressed....wait till he gets the bill....

[ckissick]

Steve,

It's been a few months since I read your book, but isn't there a similar story to this in your book?

Charlie
Montara, CA
1970 911E
1950 VW

[cegerer]

Daytona? Hmmm, I guess I must have misunderstood. We were talking about Rennsport as well, but I'm sure he said it was in a Carrera GT just last week??????? Thanks for the clarification. -- Curt

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I think the story from my book is the one about Nicholas Bisson-Dath, the "journalist" from Car and Driver, crashing the sole Lamborghini Diablo prototype before most of the other journos, brought to Italy at typical business-class expense, were even able to drive it. A waste of time for everybody involved.

When I went to the introduction of the Carrera GT in Germany some months ago, two had already been crashed by the time we American writers got there, by European writers who in a sense consider such events to be feathers in their caps.

Stephan

[speeder]

160mph into a wall/solid barrier in a (relatively) small sports car, a soft top at that, and both passengers survived??

That's some pretty impressive safety engineering, if you ask me. A few short years ago, this magazine writer's incompetence behind the wheel would have landed him in the morgue.

[atlporsche]

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
I think the story from my book is the one about Nicholas Bisson-Dath, the "journalist" from Car and Driver, crashing the sole Lamborghini Diablo prototype before most of the other journos, brought to Italy at typical business-class expense, were even able to drive it. A waste of time for everybody involved.

Stephan

NBD did!!!???

He was my boss when I worked at Roush in detroit.

LOL!!! that sucks....

sjd
...it's a weird small world.

[WhyDoIBother]

That must be one safe car!

[R. Aster]

Originally posted by WhyDoIBother
That must be one safe car!

Quoting Inspector Jacques Clouseau: "Not anymore!"

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I'm not saying they hit the wall at 160 but that somebody reasonably knowledgeable judged that to be their entry speed. And I'd be careful about calling Joe incompetent. He's driven and written about more Porsches than anybody I know. I've ridden and driven with him, and he's far from "incompetent."

Stephan

[masraum]

Well, I'm guessing he probably scrubbed off a fair amount of speed before he hit the wall, but either way, any accident that starts at 160 has a high probability of not ending well, and all things considered I think this one did.

[project935]

I think the story from my book is the one about Nicholas Bisson-Dath ...

I know Nick from my past Roush background as well ... he's at GM now.

atlporsche - PM me and let me know who you are ... we may have worked on something together.

[ted]

What should I think of someone that crashes someone elses car?

Now what should I think of this persons opinion of that car when they are the ones that couldnt bring it back without crashing it?

I can't imagine crashing someone elses car then writing an article about what a great car it is,,,, if its so great how come I crashed it? Maybe it is a great car but I just don't know how to drive it right? In that case what qualifies me to write about this great car when I drive it so poorly that I just crashed it????

The journalists that review ariplanes seems to have avoided this.

[masraum]

Everyone crashes at some point, if they don't then they weren't really driving all that hard. If you don't crash or at least lose it from time to time then you must be below the limit all of the time.

That's just plain silly, you never know when you are going to hit a slick spot, debris, gravel, sand, have something mechanical fail. In a car control is mostly an illusion. You may have a degree of control, but in then end it's all down to God, luck, kharma, whatever.

I bet Joe R is a better driver than many of us.

[juanbenae]

who is this doc bundy you speak of?

[Cornpanzer]

Ahhh Ye armchair quarterbacks

Joe has been around forever and I have to imagine that he is a pretty trusted journalist if Doc and Porsche was letting him operate the car at those speeds.

Stuff happens. Last weekend I watched the F1 motorcycle points leader crash his bike on the warm up lap at Imola! I doubt anyone was questioning his skills.

[ted]

Originally posted by masraum
Everyone crashes at some point, if they don't then they weren't really driving all that hard. If you don't crash or at least lose it from time to time then you must be below the limit all of the time.

Yes you hit oil on the track, mechanical failure (hopefully not due to poor prep) or some guy that can't find his limits safely can crash you.
I guess we'll just have to disagree on this one.
Specifically in this case we are talking about a joy ride in an unfamilier car, this was a non competitve event and he had a passenger in the car.
You take chanes on the last lap of an important race, not at a new car review. Frankly none of my races are near that important, to crash.

With regards to your theory that you must crash a car to find your limits????

If you really believe what you wrote I suggest you buy all the best safety gear, advise your family you expect to crash and put a pink X on your car so I know you expect to ball it up soon. That way on the track (are you talking about the street too cause then I'd be worried about my family too) I can stay very far from you and your wild ride.

Imho you don't know your limits if you are spinning, going off track or worse crashing a car. You don't know how to approach your limits safely, you are trying to make gains in yards when you should be making incremental changes in feet or inches.

I'm just from the opposite school, I respect the drivers that are fast and never crash or spin. Those are the ones I'd trust 6 inches from me drivers door at 140mph.

Does a pilot have to crash a couple jets to find his limits? no.

[ted]

Originally posted by Cornpanzer
Ahhh Ye armchair quarterbacks

Joe has been around forever and I have to imagine that he is a pretty trusted journalist if Doc and Porsche was letting him operate the car at those speeds.

Ya think Doc trusts Joe now...
I bet Doc's family dosent trust Joe.

Stuff happens. Last weekend I watched the F1 motorcycle points leader crash his bike on the warm up lap at Imola! I doubt anyone was questioning his skills.

Yeah and I had Ferrari spin next to me on the warm up lap Sunday, it made an impression on me too, not a good one.

I've seen cars totaled on the warm up lap.

[Cornpanzer]

Must be sweeeeet being able to comment on a post like this having never put a tire off course in your life
Hope karma (not that I belive in that stuff anyway) doesnt catch up to you!