Big crash during 1986 IMSA Riverside race

Lynn St. James, Chip Robinson and Doc Bundy crash during the 1986 IMSA Camel GT race at Riverside. In her book, "Ride of Your Life" St. James writes "Coming through Turn One at over 180 mph, I was hit from behind by a driver named Doc Bundy. It wasn't intentional, if was just aggressive racing, but the results were catastrophic. My car hit a third car, and all three cars became missiles. I hit the pit wall, flipped, spun , and slid upside down on the edge of the track. I remember seeing dirt, gravel, and oil spray over the windshield, and for a split second I thought I was plowing a ditch in the earth. I'd never seen so much debris on a windshield. That was before I saw and felt fire." Amazingly, all three drivers were only slightly injured in the crash.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• IMSA
• crash
• Riverside
• Bundy
• Porsche
• Jaguar

[sykondar]

I was at that race, all the drivers walked away. That Probe wouldn't stop burning. I think they closed the track for a condo development, losers.

[bajamilton]

I worked for RIR at that time were driving by right at that point when the wreck happend . We Stopped for crowed control and we actually had to go over the fence and chase down 3 souvenir seekers that were trying to get at peices of the cars these guy's almost made it to the asphalt when we caught up to them . The race was under yellow but the track was still hot .The guy I grabbed acted all put out I just wanted to smack him upside the head fo putting his ass and mine in a dangerous spot.

[cakraft24]

was right across from the pits when this happened. my 5 year old daughter had gotten Lynn St.James autograph on her race hat just before the race started. Doc Bundy wasn't being very smart, but i guess that's pretty obvious.

i loved those Ford Mustang/Probe GTP cars.

[Porsche996driver]

Was a wild track. No real safety considerations even in 1986. All those great old tracks.

[105kissy]

imagine being inside the crash helmets of lyn st james and chip robinson

[Creigs9]

Half of the track is a shopping mall ( the freeway side). A housing track in the middle. Mixed businesses on the other end. Wikipedia has a nice section on RIR.

[shironissan]

I miss this track. I grew up here.

[klepetar]

a day at the office

[MRooter]

Killer cars...always loved IMSA. Yeah, 3 cars wide there when the outside starts turning left...not good.

[SamFisherOO]

those spectators were lucky with all that debris flying around everywhere

[SamFisherOO]

those spectators were lucky

[timcomeau]

@timcomeau ...and another thing...I have pics of the Holbert Special #14 throwing flames on the upshift between turns 1 and 2! Plus other cool pics. Al Holbert is the reason I answer my crew chiefs inputs with a calm and simple, "Thank you." ....Just like Al did...............just like Al did.