Experienced Competetion Drivers..., What did this guy do wrong? Options

[MikeInMunich]

Hey Guys! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wavey.gif)

I can't figure out what happened in this crash, which you may or may not have seen on You Tube. You can easily find it by searching "914 Accident".

Here is the URL: https://youtu.be/BHYYlTZIZQ4

I estimate that in the video the guy covers about 125m in 3 seconds (while sliding), which is 2500 per minute...150 km/hr or 91 mph. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

So he's going into a curve which isn't sharp at just under 100 MPH with nearly optimum tires and suspension, and he loses it. I can't speak from experience at all here. I've never been in a curve at that speed, athough I can say that my car, with 195-50 Goodrich G-Force Sport Comps (HIGHLY recommend, by the way, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)) front AND rear sway bars and Bilstine performance struts, can easily handle much sharper turns (exit ramps) at about 60 MPH with no problem. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I'm interested in hearing opinions of what happened here and why he seems to have not counter steered at all to regain control. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Looking forward to your comments, opinions and insights! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

Thanks!

By the way, anybody heading over to Munich for the Oktoberfest? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

M.i.M.

[carr914]

Fractional error. He was at 11/10's and had only 10/10's talent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I would give him a 7.5 out of 10! I might have given him a 8 but he kicked the car like it was at fault!

[ConeDodger]

Fractional error. He was at 11/10's and had only 10/10's talent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I would give him a 7.5 out of 10! I might have given him a 8 but he kicked the car like it was at fault!

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt T.C. He might be a member here. This was all driver error. Evidenced by what he kicked. That photographer some of you are blaming is within a few feet. If it was my car and a photographer just caused its destruction, I may not kick the photographer (well, ok, probably would) but I don't kick the car.
Some of the hardest corners near the limit which he is just ever so slightly beyond through most of the video, are decreasing and increasing radius turns. When you're at the limit of your lateral acceleration, you can't change direction, even slightly without inviting the devil to lunch. All hell will break loose and it did.
As for the cage? Dude hit a rock at XX MPH and got out. If I were him, I'd be singing the praises of my safety equipment for the rest of what's left of my life. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[DM_2000]

As for the cage? Dude hit a rock at XX MPH and got out. If I were him, I'd be singing the praises of my safety equipment for the rest of what's left of my life. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

That crash likely would have been survivable even without a cage.

The car , in effect, did a right side IIHS "small overlap " ( RE near side swipe ) crash test where there isn't much structure to absorb impact. Remember, any metal that folds outside the passenger compartment is desirable when riding down a crash. Had this taken a hit on the left, the cage would have helped the situation by keeping that side of the passenger compartment intact.

One of the faults I see with the cage install is not adequately tying the main roll bar into the rear window structure ( Upper seat belt mounting point is an easy attaching point ). This allowed the right side of the main hoop to push rearward. Rear facing tubes to the rear shock towers would be the standard way to make a roll cage and much better.

Also, the RF wheel well / rocker / floor crumpled and folded the RF down tube rearward. When caging unit body cars for circle track applications, laying 2" x 3" square tube just inboard of the rockers ( 2" facing up ) then welding the cage to that is standard procedure. If the down legs of a roll cage are not tied together left / right and front rear, they will fold as the floor crumples.

Given the 914 front wheel wells intrude into the foot box, I'd be putting some structure there to protect the drivers feet.

Lastly, this crash was more of a grinding scrape than a solid impact, if the car was a foot more to the right, it would have been much worse.