Accident at 180 KMPH - Brake Failure- Weldborough Pass - Targa Tasmania 2010 -Stephen Bradford

Caused by an ABS Brake failure, due to wiring snapping in half through a dip in the road. We were running top 10 after day 1, a lot of cars had accidents in Wet conditions the previous day. Car was running really well and we were ready to start pushing with consistent top 10 times.
At 3:34 on the video the car bottoms out after going over a crest (wiring to ABS is snapped), then into a dip in the road on a left hand bend -- there is very loud noise as the cat bottoms out. For the next 200 meters I feel the steering and suspension still feels in check & then press on at full pace. I drive for about another 2km at full pace with no sign that the wiring to the ABS System had snapped in half when the car bottomed out. Over the next few km's under hard braking the tyres don't lock up without the ABS functioning. At high speed close to 200KMPH (4:14 on video) the car gets light over a few bumps and locks up over a few reflectors on the centre of the road under brakes. As a driver this isn't something you are expecting to happen, especially with no warning light on the dash for the ABS having had failed (explained below). After washing off some speed we leave the road at close to 100 kmph, then the fence hooks underneath the car as we get airborne and we pull out at least 30* posts -- this most likely stopped the car from rolling and washed off a lot of speed -- a bit like the hook on an aircraft carrier (we still ended up 200 meters into a paddock). Luckily there wasn't a tree in the runoff area....
The workshop that re-wired the ABS ran it along the ridge of the internal guard and when the car bottomed out it snapped it clean in half. Also the previous owner of the car had removed the light globe for the ABS system (which would tell you if it was faulty), when it was refitted the workshop didn't mention the globe wasn't connected & nor was it tested by them........ Ended up being an expensive exercise, but thankfully nobody was injured. Cars can always be repaired or replaced.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Weldbourough
• Pass

[sorryunlucky]

4:16 Jump to the crash.

[driftae76]

abs is for pussies

[GodlessMartyr666]

lucky stuff, very lucky

[Bobbit323]

Good thing they did lock up, otherwise you would've continued down that hill..

Also isn't it illegal to interfere with the abs system? (Minus qualified persons)

[Dfrogman]

What a beautiful area that is

[dmied1]

4:18, Lost brakes, nah just figured i'd just go paddock bashing

[jaymanxxxx]

good vid & story SRBRACING1

[Oldsellerros]

lucky driver

[mgospeed31]

Glad you're alright! 

[dsmluck]

How did your co-driver not shit himself?