Short video clip of an autocrossing corvette that goes off track and hits spectators


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Oh dear God! I hope they are okay! That is horrible.

 

Were they hurt? Did they live? Inquiring minds need to know...

 

The weird part is that the video ends when the car hits the guy. I can't help but wonder what happened next.

 

AAAAHHHHH OH MY GOD :evil:

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wow that sucked

 

That one has been around for a while, I could show a lot more, if I had somewhere to host them.

X2

 

Oh my Lord. God be with them.

 

Yeah that ones been around a while. I think i remember someone saying that the guy who was hit ended up being ok, just banged up a bit.

 

 

I believe that was a Corvette club event in KY. It is a few years old.

However, it is a good indication of how all clubs do things differently. The location of the worker areas in that video wasn't all that good. I've seen other event videos with similar problems. This is a reason to get to know your local safety steward if you run SCCA events. Most of them are VERY thoughtful, and the SCCA has a stringent set of regulations that must be followed regarding course layout, "hard" objects, and worker stations.

Of course, the most important thing is to NEVER put yourself in a situation you are uncomfortable with, and if you don't think something is safe, make it known.

 

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I guess you found the video amusing?

 

Stupid freaking corvettes! :evil: If that guy was driving a mini that would not have happend!

 

oh is that video copywrighted? i would like to put it on my site telling people to be carfull

 

My take: I really can't/don't fault the driver. When that flag drops... your mind (& reflexes, of course) goes off. Anything can happen. Those cones aren't placed there for decoration ==> they're there to baffle you silly ("no duh, Erik&quot. I truly apologize for saying this: those workers/spectators were way too close

 

>>Stupid freaking corvettes! :evil: If that guy was driving a mini that would not have happend!

WTF? Are you really that dumb/ignorant? What makes you think the reason this happened was because it was a Corvette?

 

Bad course design. Operators should've been more aware of potential problems areas and placement of workers/spectators. Its not the Vette owner (besides, they can't help themselves )

 

hrm....I've been to many autocrosses and several times I have seen corner workers sit in really dumb places on the track voluntarily.

I remember one kid who was taking video. He stationed himself at the end of a long straight that leads into a 90 degree turn. If someone had lost their brakes or wasn't paying attention he'd be a goner especially since he was sitting down real low.

 

Workers should never be sitting down!

 

Whoah! As mentioned above PLUS:
A photographer should NEVER be without a spotter, and never be in harms way.

Folks, if this is the way events are run, I suggest you don't attend anything other than an SCCA sanctioned event. If these things are happening at SCCA events, they should be reported immediately.

Be Safe,
Brian Garfield
WDCR SCCA Solo II
Novice Coordinator

 

I'm not doing SCCA. The SCCA events out here in Chicago land easily have two or three hundred cars.

I do lots of smaller events that start at 10 am and end at 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I'll probalby have at leaste 15 events by the end of this season and probably more next year.

I personally always play it safe and try to find good places to watch from.

 

I guess there's a reason they run that many cars, usually because the events are more fun, challenging, cheaper, or something.

I'm not sure how Chicago does things (we all operate a little differently), but your commitment at D.C. events is a half day, 8am-1pm or 12pm-5pm. Sounds the same as the events you choose to go to.

And since you mention the length, keep in mind the SCCA are volunteers and most are probably there ALL day for no pay. So racing and getting out of there is not something they get to do for their salary...er..volunteerism...

Regardless, without a strong structure in place, I have seen VERY few autocrosses in the mid-atlantic as safe and well put together as SCCA events. Chicago may be different.

Am I biased? No, I saw what was happening at events and decided to go the direction of the SCCA based on the organization.
Prior to that, I was the Chairman of the entire D.C. Council of Autocross clubs (BMW, Porsche, Saab, and several smaller organizations).

Brian

 

There are that many cars because SCCA is the biggest club in the nation and Chicago area is close to so many states, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan...

I know it's volunteer work, I do many autocrosses a year with smaller clubs.

I'm sure all SCCA chapters are run very well since SCCA is so huge and organized.

 

I'm almost sure this is Kentucky, check in the video (about 1/3 way thru) and you will see the standard GM plant sign saying "Bowling Green Assembly" were the Corvette is assembled. I'm pretty sure thats what it said (zoomed in on that part of my screen with the video paused- rather pixelated).

I can say for a fact this happens, at a recent open track day at the Pontiac Silverdome, I saw a few NAM members (no names- to protect the innocent) spin and go well outside the cones. It happens, in fact I'd expect it to- to get the best times you need to be right on the fulcrum edge of grip... Hey better in a controlled environment than screwing around on public roads

Positioning and were you are in respect to the track is critical... When I used to watch the Lake Superior Pro Rally, we'd always be mindful of our position. I can remember vividly when a Golf GTI lost it after launching off a bridge- and ended up in the weeds next to us. Were we not standing on an elevated palteau and on the proper portion of the corner, we'd have been pinned between trees and car