Crash at Thunderhill turn 14

In-car video of what happens when your brakes fail

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Crash
• at
• Thunderhill

[mikkars250]

Nice Job avoiding the emegency brake ciculating the track in front of you. I just have to ask.... Why the fuck is that wall there anyway? I guess you will be replacing brake lines every season now ;).... but I would assume it was a manufacturing defect that caused the failure.

[92AI]

@mikkars250

Wall is there to prevent crossing the infield entirely and going head-on into traffic on the other side of the track. Unfortunately, this happened years back resulting in a fatal collision. Although they can be really annoying when they trap cars and delay races, a nice addition to that part of the track would be a serious gravel pit. Definitely would have reduced my rebuild cost and for those with less of a cage, probably save their lives or prevent serious injury.

[92AI]

Special thanks to Alan Blaine for not only building an amazing cage that saved at least my legs if not my life but for all the safety guidance throughout building this car. Alan steered me in the right direction at every step along the way of the build and acquiring the safety gear which allowed me to walk away.

Great job NASA for having top notch safety crew and running great events!

[zanick2]

the morons on the porshe list think that this was caused by driver error, but it sure is clear to me that it was a brake failure, due to the engine speed slow decrease, and the classic "pitch the car to slow" tire squeeling. Ive been there before. on my videos, but no wall to hit. I was able to grab a lower gear that was like massive braking, but this guy didnt have the time or the room. Glad he is ok!!! UNREAL impact!!

[92AI]

@zanick2 Yeah..... good point...I was not being spoon fed caviar while this happened so by Porsche standards...... pretty clearly driver error. In the real world, when a high quality stainless braided brake line fails and you loose all brakes, 1- don't take out anyone else if you can avoid it 2- scrub off all speed however possible without losing control so you can ideally control point of impact. Maybe the Porsche standard protocol would have been to use the car in front of me as brakes

[zanick2]

@92AI Yep, thats what I thought. I know Alan, raced with him a few times.  He builds nice stuff! :) . I'll tell you , my situation was driver error as I was running on 20 year old stock porsche rubber brake lines. Moved to stainless braided lines on all 4s after that. I dont think stainless or plain stock matters, but age does.

What was the cause of the brake line failure? Old, defective? scary stuff, having been in your shoes, having the pedal go to the floor and then "nothing".

[92AI]

@zanick2 Lines only had about a season on them. Probably manufactured in 2008 or so. The place where the stainless hose crimps into/onto the fitting that bolts to the caliper with the banjo bolt came apart. looks like the crimp failed and allowed the hose to simply be pulled out. They checked out ok visually before the previous race weekend when I was replacing the calipers. there was nothing wrong with the calipers, just preventative. Apparently I should have also replaced the lines ;-(

[peakskir]

Brake failure huh, but what is truely amazing is 22 seconds into the video his car has come to a rest, and NASA Safety was on scene less then 25 seconds later. That is AMAZING response to a crash. Kudo's to the NASA Safety crew.

[jeffjeske]

Any pictures of the car? Please post a link!

[maaximus5]

That was an INTENSE crash......... you were air born due to impact. That is amazing, I am glad you made it out ok. it can always be better and it can always be worse.Cheers!

[panhandle55]

Was that a screw-driver banging around in the cage at the end of your accident?

[mikkars250]

@92AI That thought did occur to me but yeah, gravel trap for sure. Even having that wall a bit further back?

Anyway great to see you walk away and glad you are having another go.

[Specialized1989]

wow, this is insane! glad you're ok

[robainscough]

Great job at saying yourself and the other driver in front! Well done! Brake failure is always my biggest fear ... especially when I'm not running a full cage in a tiny Lotus.

[NJ03Mach1]

"Dude that was spectacular" haha glad to see your ok..

[hoov100]

When you're car does that to a concrete divider and the driver gets out like nothing ever happened, you know you have one HELLUVA good cage.