Carerra GT Driver & pass killed at Ca. Speedway

still2slow · 11:49 AM

Happened about 10:00 AM today.
Have no other details.

Condolences to family and friends.

Emission · Emission's Garage

I have a friend who was there. Not many details...

Horrible to hear.

Vonzipper · 06-02-2005, 11:49 AM

Godspeed.......

motion · 06-02-2005, 11:59 AM

OMG, that is terrible.

Jeff Higgins · 06-02-2005, 12:00 PM

Just a guy having fun with his car like the rest of us. What a shame. I wish their families well. This could happen to any of us.

addictionMS · addictionMS's Garage

Seems like for every photo I see of a GT on the road, I have seen one of a GT crashed. There was one in a show room here in SJ, and just as I was telling my buddy that very observation, just then another couple of guys started looking at it and commented that someone he knew had crashed theirs.

It will be interesting to get some details, driver error or not? I really feel for the passenger (possible instructor?), you have no control from that seat, if the driver chooses to take the risk that is one thing, but as a passenger, well, you are along for the ride. That is why I gave up instructing, and don't have a passenger seat.

Not good on all fronts. Two broken families, one broken car, bad for the track, bad for driving schools.

Sad.....

Jim

bigrubberjeep · 06-02-2005, 12:18 PM

Wow.......trully a sad day for us track junkees, to think that this guy/girl and passenger probably did not sleep at all last night thinking about tracking the GT, woke up with buterflys like I have on my way to the track.

Condolences to family and friends.

MichiganMat · MichiganMat's Garage

Even "The Stig" on TopGear could barely keep control of the GT, its not surprising that people are crashing these cars.

Condolences.

Vintage911Racer · 06-02-2005, 12:34 PM

Frank,

Thanks for the call. This is very sad indeed. My thoughts and prayers to the family members.

I do agree, such "Supercars" should require a second form of licensing for the drivers. Not just anyone should be able to get behind the wheel of a car like this. Not only will it help protect the owner, but other people on the road as well.

Wonder what this will do for those casual club days at the track?
Speed limits, Pace cars at all times?????

930LDR · 06-02-2005, 12:34 PM

May not be a bad idea although even expert drivers make mistakes or have accidents beyond their control (e.g. Zanardi)

ted · ted's Garage

Yes agree very sad.
Nicholos Cage has totaled 2 or 3 Ferrari's at T 9 at Big Willow in the last year. Luckily he walked away.

motion · 06-02-2005, 12:46 PM

Ted, no kidding? Any links to info on Cage's crashes??

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

very sad

RickM · RickM's Garage

Yes, very unfortunate indeed.

Makes me think of the 930 suit described below by Techweenie...

The ultimate Porsche Urban Legend thread

"The La jolla 930 lawsuit was real. Porsche lost.

It's been 20 years, but I think these are roughly the particulars:

Tipsy woman borrowed husbands car, was doing 65 in a 25, lost control and somebody (her passenger?) was killed in the crash.

She sued Porsche for making a car too dangerous for the average driver and won, when the plaintiff's attorneys uncovered a Porsche internal memo where an engineer described the 930's handling as 'poisonous' -- which Porsche said was like "bad" meaning 'really good' and the jury didn't buy it.

EDIT: just researched this. Wife was 24 and her husband (the car's owner) was killed. Jury award was $2.5 million."

Brad Roberts · 06-02-2005, 01:13 PM

This was a FOC event:

... Ferrari entered the track near the end of the main straight a way (right before the spot where they place the "K" barriers for the chicane) Carrera GT owner Ben Keaton.."twitched" and flipped the car up on the K barrier. From what we gather: The GT owner took a second lap after the parade lap (he wasnt supposed too)

Rumor: there was no pit marshall letting cars out onto the track at the time of the accident.

We had multiple customers running the Ferrari event. Phone calls to the shop started flooding in.

I *think* I have pics of the car prior to accident.

Sorry to hear about this. We knew the guy.

B

ted · ted's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by motion
Ted, no kidding? Any links to info on Cage's crashes??

I don't have a link.
He came out took a couple laps with the instructor and then went back out without the instructor. Totaled the car in T-9 and returned a couple months later with another Ferrari and did the same thing again.
Might of been a 3rd?

One was an F-40 I forget the others. The instructor said the only way Cage could get around the track was when the instructor kept one hand on the wheel.

FenderGuy · 06-02-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
Yes, very unfortunate indeed.

Make me think of the 930 suit described below by Techweenie...

The ultimate Porsche Urban Legend thread

"The La jolla 930 lawsuit was real. Porsche lost.

It's been 20 years, but I think these are roughly the particulars:

Tipsy woman borrowed husbands car, was doing 65 in a 25, lost control and somebody (her passenger?) was killed in the crash.

She sued Porsche for making a car too dangerous for the average driver and won, when the plaintiff's attorneys uncovered a Porsche internal memo where an engineer described the 930's handling as 'poisonous' -- which Porsche said was like "bad" meaning 'really good' and the jury didn't buy it.

EDIT: just researched this. Wife was 24 and her husband (the car's owner) was killed. Jury award was $2.5 million."

First of all " Tipsy woman borrowed husbands car, was doing 65 in a 25, lost control and somebody (her passenger?) was killed in the crash" Tipsy? Do you mean she was drunk? If so, when are drunks awarded for being stupid?

If she was not drunk, she should have never "barrowed" her husbands 930, after all it is not a regular car.

I think its a known fact these cars are not your average car, you should know how to drive these cars if you want to play, if not you will pay.

Condolences to the family

das908kind · 06-02-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
Tipsy woman borrowed husbands car, was doing 65 in a 25, lost control and somebody (her passenger?) was killed in the crash.

Did she at least get a DUI charge? Or was this also someone elses fault?

She could have sued the gov for makeing it legal to purchase and consume a beverage which is known to be "poisonous". (yes, alcohol is a poison).

RickM · RickM's Garage

Please read the Edit that was added to the end of the quote.

das908kind · 06-02-2005, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad Roberts
The GT owner took a second lap after the parade lap (he wasnt supposed too)

Some years ago I did my first driver's ed course in BC. I was in the first-timers group. We were CLEARLY told not to pass, unless given specific instructions, by the tower or an instructor. During the last session, a car from behind decided to take the inside line, brake late, and pass the convoy of traffic that was holding him up. In this case, nothing happened, but It could have turned out really ugly.

I think the guy got a talking to, but that's about it. It PISSES me off; every time I hear about an incident involving death and serious injury, it's someone who thinks they know better and have broken specific rules and instruction. I hope I never eat my words, but racing is dangerous and people need to take this stuff more seriously. I haven't driven on a track in about 5 years, because I've realized after just a few introductions to the sport, how involved it is. I don't plan to return, until I can do it the right way, with all the safety gear, a purpose built car and TRAINING.

I mean no disrespect to those involved, but I hate hearing these stories all the time, especially after living in LA for several years and spending lots of time hanging out with the vintage racing crowd, POC guys and at several of the Fontana events.