ed hess
race or get outta the way
In a way I guess I am lucky to be alive and in one piece tonite sitting here typing this.
The truck left at 16psi. Having heard noises from the caltracs before on a launch when I heard a bang I didn’t react immediately. The datalog showed that I got off the throttle at 2.3 seconds. Keep in mind my foot is firmly planted to the firewal the moment I turn on the bottom final stage bulb. We tracked down the guy in the other lane to get the 60ft (ok so there is some humor in this). 60ft was only 1.666 (scary number there). Harry said the axle broke right at the line.
Anyway drivers rear axle broke. C-clip eliminators and aftermarket axles were going to be next in the list. So axle came out and kept going down the track. The truck crossed the line into the left lane as it was doing a 180 degree spin. The datalog showed I shut the motor down (key off at 3.3 seconds). Anyway as the tire is moving down track slower than I am. it apparently hit the front bumper. Small quarter size crack mark in the bumper cover. 1 foot area is really sticky on the paint. (all of it polished up pretty well).
Turns out I hit the mustang in the left lane. (we found him in the pits to make sure he was ok.) we didn’t know the truck hit him till we talked to him. Bent back edge of his door in a bit. So at Applebys I am trying to find damage mark on the truck as to where I hit him. I found a 1 inch rub mark on the drivers rear backup lense showing white residue from the mustang’s white body side molding. My lense has a 1 inch crack in it.
Guess you could say I was extremely lucky to not have done any serious body damage.
Oh and the drivers rear was throwing up sparks as it ground to a halt. Apparently it was sitting on the caltrac after the axle came out. No other damage to the ground effects other than the front bumper mark and a ½ inch crack on the rear drivers corner piece.
Keith expects to have new axels this coming Tuesday morning so we should be back to atco for Sunday december 5.
The employees of Atco Raceway were great in making sure I was ok and helping me get the truck back to the pits and even onto the trailer. Many thanks to them!
Ya know I don’t walk around sounding like a religious fanatic or anything, But I allways say a quick prayer in the staging lanes before a run… Think i will continue with that practice.
ed
The truck left at 16psi. Having heard noises from the caltracs before on a launch when I heard a bang I didn’t react immediately. The datalog showed that I got off the throttle at 2.3 seconds. Keep in mind my foot is firmly planted to the firewal the moment I turn on the bottom final stage bulb. We tracked down the guy in the other lane to get the 60ft (ok so there is some humor in this). 60ft was only 1.666 (scary number there). Harry said the axle broke right at the line.
Anyway drivers rear axle broke. C-clip eliminators and aftermarket axles were going to be next in the list. So axle came out and kept going down the track. The truck crossed the line into the left lane as it was doing a 180 degree spin. The datalog showed I shut the motor down (key off at 3.3 seconds). Anyway as the tire is moving down track slower than I am. it apparently hit the front bumper. Small quarter size crack mark in the bumper cover. 1 foot area is really sticky on the paint. (all of it polished up pretty well).
Turns out I hit the mustang in the left lane. (we found him in the pits to make sure he was ok.) we didn’t know the truck hit him till we talked to him. Bent back edge of his door in a bit. So at Applebys I am trying to find damage mark on the truck as to where I hit him. I found a 1 inch rub mark on the drivers rear backup lense showing white residue from the mustang’s white body side molding. My lense has a 1 inch crack in it.
Guess you could say I was extremely lucky to not have done any serious body damage.
Oh and the drivers rear was throwing up sparks as it ground to a halt. Apparently it was sitting on the caltrac after the axle came out. No other damage to the ground effects other than the front bumper mark and a ½ inch crack on the rear drivers corner piece.
Keith expects to have new axels this coming Tuesday morning so we should be back to atco for Sunday december 5.
The employees of Atco Raceway were great in making sure I was ok and helping me get the truck back to the pits and even onto the trailer. Many thanks to them!
Ya know I don’t walk around sounding like a religious fanatic or anything, But I allways say a quick prayer in the staging lanes before a run… Think i will continue with that practice.
ed
