The Demise of the 944 Spec Budget Build (Putnam Wreck)

[Sterling Doc]

Well, after many years on track, it took building an all new one to wad it up.

Fortunately, all the safety built into the car paid off, and I am unhurt.

The blow-by-blow:

Went out for qualifying on a newly dried track after heavy rains overnight. As I got clear of some traffic for an open hot lap, it began to drizzle (or "red mist" :wink: ). As I squeezed the the brakes to set the nose for turn 4, I found a newly slippery spot, briefly locking the wheels. Not alarmed (yet), but knowing I wouldn't make the corner, I got the car straightened out to drive straight off rather than spin. This was all good until I realized my trajectory was going straight to one of the very few bits of guardrail at Putnam - in front of a drop-off from a drainage ditch. As the overnight rains had soaked the grass, there was no steering around it, especially without risking hitting it sideways (bad at 60+ MPH), so I braced for impact.

I hit the hay-bales before the guardrail, then knocked over the guardrail, launching the car over the drainage ditch, Dukes-of-Hazard style. I saw sky, grass, then mud as nose dropped and augured in, standing the car staight up on its nose for long enough to wonder if it was going to over, or land on its wheels, before it went over on its roof. I was very thankful for the extra roof bar I put in the cage, and the HANS device. After a moment to assess myself, I wriggled out the side window - a bit of a tight fit with the car buried a bit in the mud, and the side mirror folded in.

The aftermath:

[mistertate]

Oh nooo! Well with all the parts into it and the cage it might be worth just putting a new front clip in it. Might also be a good excuse to delete that sunroof...

[barney911rs]

Cars come and go, glad to hear you came out OK.

[cstreit]

Eric,

Glad to hear you're okay. This will open up the door for "Spec budget build 2, what we learned from before..."

[175K911]

1) you're ok
2) the safety equipment worked
3) all else is just metal and can be replaced

Glad you're ok. That can't be replaced.

[EJnMN]

wow. Congrats on the succesful test on all the safety equipment! Glad you're ok.