Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Well I thought I would go to the RS owners club day at Donno Park and took my helmet just incase !

A few of my friends drive big HP Cossie's as well as the ones that drive Scoobs, so was given some tickets and Pit passes for the show

A friend of mine had bought his track car along and I decided to go for some passenger laps to see if he was as good as he said he was ! But seriously he wanted advice on some of the lines

Left the pit and into Red gate and as we went through holywood a Saphire Cos braked into Craner causing us to run wide on cold slicks.

We left the circuit and onto the grass and I thought we would get back on but then grass and cold slicks (Like an ice rink) through us towards the kitty litter head on. At the last minute the car dug in and spun sending us into the kitty litter sideways and into a roll (Still not sure how many rolls). Tried to keep by hands down but the right flicked up and through the sunroof. The car came to rest at 45 degrees against the tyre wall. MAte who was driving was ok but I had dislocated my thumb and cut my wrist along with the top of my thumb hanging off. Lots of blood but surprisingly not painful

All credit to the paramedics and Doctors at the tracks medical centre. Soon had me round there and thumb relocated, bleeding stopped and pain killers. The same to DRI who got me settled and operated on my hand last night. Now in a thick bandage and a few days off to rest

Anyway I have sat back over the last few days and asked myself if I will ever go on track again and came to the following conclusions which I am offering as sound advice regardles of who organises and who's event it is


1. I will never got out in a road car that is more or less standard as a driver or passenger without it has
(i) Roll Cage fitted
(ii) Cut off switch
(iii) Good seats (Bucket)
(iv) Four point harness
(v) A person who I know builds uplap times as the session runs

2. I will from now on always wear then following protective equipment
(i) Good quality approved helmet (I did have one but is going in the bin now as I am not sure if its damaged or not)
(ii) Good quality Race approved glooves (Sparco or similar)
(iii) A race suit - with adequate fire protection
(iii) Protective race underwear (Nomex)
(iii) Race footwear

I know above sounds expensive but Its worth it if it reduces the risk

3. Always go to events that are arranged by specialist track day companies such as Book a Track - Expensive but well organised

4. Make sure I am in a group suited to my ability - The groups seemed very mixed this weekend)

5. Make sure car is fully warm and build laps times up through the session (I do this anyway)

6. At new circuits get tuition to understand the circuit (Usually only about £20 for 20 mins. Well worth. Got me going much quicker round Cadwell)

6. Ensure that there are adequate medical facilites at the track and enough marshalls

7. I will probably only go out in a Caterham/Westfield type car with low centre of gravity in future with me driving aor next to someone who know doesn't suffer with 'Red mist'

Anyway I hope this helps. It has certainly made me think about track days differently to the past as its not always you but someone else thatwill put you in danger

Prior to this I had done hundreds of laps without any problem

Not sure if this is in the right section but at least it gets exposure here and gets you thinking about it

Comments would be good and additions to the above. Maybe a good list of things to consider could be put up in the track day section. ???

Regards

Steve

Swen6

I understand what your saying, but i'd be more inclined just not to go out in cars with a sunroof?, from what your saying the car and it's contents protected you pretty well.

Your injury was caused by the sunroof, and no saftey device will ever stop your arms from moving/waving around the car in an impact?.

Either way glad to hear your ok, i was there but must have left before your off. Regarding the levels of driving, i totally agree, i don't think i watched one session where some one didn't come off

BOB.T

You're now obsessed with safety but you'd still go in a westie?

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

Well a Westie doesn't have a sunroof does it

Tall Paul

Glad to hear that you came out of it OK!

billythekid

I try to get back out on track asap after an off, its all about the learning cycle and tbh everyone is going to have an off at some point its just about reducing the risk. I run with full cage, fire system, 5 point harnesses, Nomex race suit, boots, gloves and balaclava, neck restraint and bag tank.
The only upgrade I can do now is HANS but its quite expensive (need to get chassis mods and a new lid) and I am never really going to hit more than 120mph, so by the time I get to a barrier the most I am going to be doing is 80-100 and the 1 o'clock hit @ 100mph is unlikley to be fatal.

Sounds like you have a good approach and dont let it put you off, get yourself to an airfield and do some hooning to get back into it

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Yeah the sunroof didn't help, but leaving my race gloves in the helmet bag didn't either! Stupid yes! but didn't expec to be having a mad ride. I am happy to be in a westie just for the fact the cockpits are very tough and with an added roll cage are actually quite safe. Tend not to roll due to low centre of gravity. Ive driven quite a few now. All I am trying to do is offer some considered advice after lying awake in hospital bed for 48 hours.

Cheers for the support. Not looking for sympathy

Steve

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Cheers Billythekid.

I intend to get back on as soon as my hand is 100%. It hasn't put me off, has just chaged my approach from having fun to haveing fun with reduced risk. You certainly seem to be going along the lines of my thoughts and putting it into practice. Nice one

Steve

billythekid

Nice one, you are right, if you want to reduce the risk you stay at home and walk round an a bubble wrap suit. You can still have great fun on track and for not too much outlay you can reduce the risk down to a point where its going to be a fluke if something happens. Arm restraints are also worth getting - about 20 quid (stops your arms going up into the air if you roll).

"MADDOG"

iTrader: (3)

Just thank that you are ok...ish, I was one of the track officials on both Saturday / Sunday ( in the pit lane ) there were some more serious off's over the weekend aswell. Steve777 when the driver are getting their briefing prior to going on the track they are told all about warming their cars up, but sometimes this goes in one ear and straight out the other, I have seen cars go out the pit lane ( on slicks ) then roll their car at Redgate ( first bend ).

Get well soon "MADDOG"

dazzaTypeR

Glad your not too badly damaged. Best advice is get back into asap but nice and steady. Problem with trackdays is people have ego's and dont want to be in the "slow groups" doesn't sound impressive down the pub type thing. You end up with people who go in the next group up and don't really know what they are doing, okay they might be able to keep up with some people but they concentrate so hard they aren't so aware of who's around them or who's about to pass them.

Why the hell was matey braking into craner if he was on an outlap like yourselves, sounds like he did'nt know the circuit or too much about what he was doing.

I think that instructors should be responsible for gauging who goes in what group, they can tell in an instance if someones upto the grade to be in the right group that will suit their capabilities.

I've done hundreds of bike T'days and on several occasions have seen problems caused by people just not being in the right group to match their ability. Some companies I've known in the past dont care who's in what group so long as they have all the places filled. I always remind myself "It doesn't matter how much I know what I'm doing but does the guy infront or behind".

Hope you recover soon and although it's an expensive option, all the safety gear is worth every penny if it prevents an injury, some damage to yourself can never be repaired no matter how much money you have.

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Cheers guys

I wasn't driving but always drive slow on outlap so that I can check handling brakes tyres etc and then build up. Thats why I can do a 1:28 in a standard Caterham 1.8 Sv. Its taken a lot of time, but once you get donington consistant it a nice track to drive. Redgate is one hell of a corner and one that you must turn in and apex correctly otherwise Hollywood, craner and old hairpin can loose time, The same with Mcleans to a degree but more so Coppice.

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for the text messages off some of you guys

Dazza01

Good cos you ain't gonna get any from me ya big girlie don't worry too much about your thumb mate you have another one , typical Sheep


but on a serious note, glad your ok mate, tis always scary when ur in a smash, reguardless if its on a track or on the road, trust me im waiting for my 4th

Dazza

pwhittle

I did Stock Hatch club 750 racing for a year, and 3 racers were killed that year. IIRC all in Carethams or similar

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

I'm well aware of the risks you take and upto now excluding Sunday I have had no problems. Having saidm that I'm usuallt in control and can go at my own pace.

To me track days are about the experience of driving on a circuit. It isn't a race to me.

You can see this on one of my trackday DVD's that I did with MarvSti5. We had a great day ourselves and were not interested in what everyone else was doing. Some of our laps were quick, some not so.

It was all about doing it and sharing the experience.

But anyway you take a risk everyday getting in your car, walking to the pub, going to work.

But I am Ok and I am listening to everyones advice and point of view. Next time I go on track the circumstances will be different

Cheers

Steve

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Picture of how the car ended up here from RS owners BBS

http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77341

tmo

Couldn’t agree more with the safety equipment, especially the personal stuff.
These things are sadly overlooked, it’s worth spending the money. I’ve seen the results of people who have scrimped on fire resistant overalls and especially underwear (one had very nice boots but nylon socks !! not a pretty sight)
I always wear the right stuff at all times, not worth the risk to end up looking like a piece of burnt pork !!!

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Maybe there should be a safety forum on here ?? Would be useful. Deals on gear, group buys and stuff, share of experience etc.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

That's not pretty Why do arseholes have to cheer at big accidents though on the video of davecos going off at combe the rs crowd were cheering then too

Edcase

just slow down for the corners...

Edcase

Hey Steve, sorry for the crap memory, are you one of Trousers mates I gave a passenger lap around Donno in my old mean green machine last summer???

Swen6

You were in a nova!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

billythekid

Steve, you a blatchatter then??

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

Hi Ed,

I sold you a bug eye grille a couple of years back and yes I know Paul C.

Paul P

Sad that they cheer, I agree. It wasn't very funny rolling down the circuit at 80+

Yes I know it was a Nova but it was quicker than most stuff on Sunday inc all the Scoobs. A wolf in sheeps clothing. It just looks like a Nova

No I ain't a Blatchatter ! I was just having a passenger ride that didn't last ver ylong. Well about 20 secs !!!

Edcase

Aye I remember the grill I was trying to remember if it was you I have the PAX lap to also. It was very very hot day at Donnington either last summer or the summer before, it was early evening and I think you came over after work with Paul. The guy was definitely called steve, may not have been you tho

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

It was me

Edcase

ah thought so, was looking back over some of my video footage last week and some of those laps are on my camera.

now if only I had spare time to do something with it....

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Steve glad you OK ish

i had loads cheering me at Japfest2004 when i hit the tyreWall @ Camp. Peeps do and that's life i'd have accepted the applause if I'd have saved it

SIDC 2002 @ Donny PX in a 4dr Scoob on slicks lost it at craners, backwards down the Grass and hit the Tyre wall at the Old hairpin. the car was then thrown onto the good side.

But Marshall, paramedics were all there in a blink of an eye if any of these accidents had happened on the Road there would have certainly been Fatality's. Only minor bruising and the odd cut from broken glass.

On the Road

A) stone walls and tree's or Cars coming the other way nothing would have been Padded,

B) The Emergancy Crews would need to be called, if able then reach you and get you to Hospital.

The Track is Very safe in comparison to the Road as long as sensible precautions are Taken. Most serious crashes on the track usaly only involve minor injuries. With the exception of open top cars.

IMHO

Tony

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Seems a very simular accident to the one I was PX in @ Donny.

Speaking afterwards to Rob Mac (I think) he said it was fairly common @ craners for peeps after correcting some oversteer then to "lift off" and get massive "lift off oversteer" then backwards down the Track/Grass and all ends in tears