Some fun at Watkin Glen HPDE

[Bug@5speed(US)]

Just got done with the last HPDE for the year... It was with BMW club at Watkins Glen this past weekend. Not with my Bug yet, but fun none the less..

Had a good time, lot of E36 M3 as well s M5's, in my group.. Weather held up and only minimal carnage.. Less 2 M3 in this world.

Did make some "friends" but they were not to happy having a 200 Hp Taurus chasing them around when they had 300-400 Horses on tap.

Its funny driving an Ford SHO, as a momentum car.. with 3200+ lbs I would normally not put it into the same category of say a miata.. but when your chasing an M3 or M5, you have to drive it that way.. and when you get caught behind some traffic or slower cars and they catch up, it really is not fair, sitting there eating M dust..

Here are some pics of the event.. Enjoy
Alex

Some carnage







Our Track Vehicle a 91 Ford Taurus SHO.. and its owner Tom.




And our Buddies, 911 (930 turbo)

[Ozzie]

The crumpled metal photos add a shot of reality to it all. We had a guy screw up at an autocross & nose it right into a concrete wall. Both airbags, front windshield, front clip, bad scene. 9 month old WRX Sti. About 40 k-bills.

[WD-40]

The crumpled metal photos add a shot of reality to it all. We had a guy screw up at an autocross & nose it right into a concrete wall. Both airbags, front windshield, front clip, bad scene. 9 month old WRX Sti. About 40 k-bills.

Dunno about your area, and I certainly don't know about the circumstances of the incident, but around here if someone crashed that bad in an autocross there would be a LOT of questioning with regards to the course design....

[FJCamper]

AutoX is generally a safe environment, but I've seen several spectacular accidents at them over the years.

1. Mid-1970's: Subaru pole vaulting over it's own front bumper after braking in a hard turn and nosediving, and a VW SuperBug (Gold Edition) smacking a VW-sized concrete planter at speed as the novice driver lost control.

2. Recent: Bad course design that allowed two cars to cross each other with real bad luck and timing. One driver saw it coming and braked, the other driver was so in the zone he never knew what was happening. Very close call. And then one of those WRX's spinning sideways way off course, hitting a curb sideways, and stopping in the grass (sans wheels and suspension) just feet from a row of spectators and parked cars.

Here's the word. If you put it on the track you should be prepared to lose it.

[WD-40]

Here's the word. If you put it on the track you should be prepared to lose it.

Agree 100%.

You're right - you truly never know just what is going to happen. Take this one, for example: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kyMDNzhfwn0

The story is, the guy bought new lug nuts right beforehand... they were the wrong size, but the threads just barely bit enough to screw on and torque down. But they weren't strong enough for the side loads. It's hillarious, but I feel bad for the guy at the same time.