Sad news at SCCA Nelson Ledges
05-25-2008, 03:44 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Youngstown Ohio
Posts: 1,544
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sad news at SCCA Nelson Ledges
Long time Corvette racer David Pintaric/BuckeyeZ06 heavily damaged and possibly totaled his Viper on Saturday. David is fine. Just a shame to start the season this way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50lGdQvVF3Q
On a positive note Joe Gaudette is running well with a few issues, cracked exhaust etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50lGdQvVF3Q
On a positive note Joe Gaudette is running well with a few issues, cracked exhaust etc.
Last edited by 73-84 IMSA Widebody; 05-25-2008 at 03:59 PM.
ouch
I'm very sorry to hear about your incident, but very glad to hear you and everybody else are all right.
05-25-2008, 06:35 PM
#9
Safety Car
Member Since: Nov 2000
Location: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 0
Received 27 Likes
on
24 Posts
Ouch - that was a major off !! Glad the driver is OK, cars can be replaced. This is a prime example pf why folks should invest in the safety equipment if they are going to track their cars.
05-25-2008, 07:11 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Hey guys! I am still alive! Remember Monte Python and the Holy Grail? "I'm not dead yet!" Gawd, I have a sick sense of humor.
Tough day at the office on Saturday. Friday started off real nice, my third lap on the track since last October yielded me a 1:09.9, just s tick under the track record set by John Buttermore (finished 2nd at the Run Offs). I did this on four heat cycle tires, so I was fairly happy about the weekend's potential. When I combined the data from Friday's first sessions and last year's July race, the computer said my "Best Theoritical Lap" is a 1:09.16...8 tenths under the record. I wanted a 1:08 before the weekend was over!
Saturday I went out on new rubber, you can see the results. Not good. The owner of the track talked to me today after watching the youtube video and he said I didn't do anything wrong. However I think I laid a tire a few inches (6 maybe) wrong, and Nelson Ledges is a very unforgiving track.
The car slid into the driver's-side-right tire wall catching the back end. It then spun on its nose will climbing the tire wall and ending on the corner station stand. The SCCA corner workers were sent for a run. Thank goodness I didn't hurt them!
The car is pretty well damaged. Written off? Don't know yet until we tear into it. I should know more later in the week. I was already thinking of my "next step" before the car was taken off the tire wall.
The blessing as well as a curse I have is that I do have options. Now I have to think things through and figure out what I want to do for the next three years.
The toughest part of this ordeal is the attention paid to me by so many people at the track. Most of you know my brother and I do this racing stuff together. Seeing the ashen look on his face when he came over to the crash site was tough, real tough. Then Sandi Kryder, our "race mom" was holding back tears. The biggest thing was one of the T3 racers who I don't know too, too well. But this guy (big dude, 6' 4" and all) came up and was all choked up and put his arm around me. Trust me, I am not used to this type of attention.
Then I had to call my wife. It's no fun making a phone call and starting with, "I am not hurt, I am OK." Her reply was, "What happened?" She would NOT take my word that I was OK, she needed to hear from someone else.
I made it home late in the afternoon and cut my grass. Best thing to do to get back to normal. Joe and Rhonda Gaudette are staying at our house, so we had mucho things to talk about over pizza and pop.
If the red Viper is repaired, it will take some time. If it is stripped and replaced, I can be back in action next week. I have had numerous offers to drive other people's cars (some before my car was on the flatbed) plus I have identified replacements. I just have to decide what I want to do.
Tough day at the office on Saturday. Friday started off real nice, my third lap on the track since last October yielded me a 1:09.9, just s tick under the track record set by John Buttermore (finished 2nd at the Run Offs). I did this on four heat cycle tires, so I was fairly happy about the weekend's potential. When I combined the data from Friday's first sessions and last year's July race, the computer said my "Best Theoritical Lap" is a 1:09.16...8 tenths under the record. I wanted a 1:08 before the weekend was over!
Saturday I went out on new rubber, you can see the results. Not good. The owner of the track talked to me today after watching the youtube video and he said I didn't do anything wrong. However I think I laid a tire a few inches (6 maybe) wrong, and Nelson Ledges is a very unforgiving track.
The car slid into the driver's-side-right tire wall catching the back end. It then spun on its nose will climbing the tire wall and ending on the corner station stand. The SCCA corner workers were sent for a run. Thank goodness I didn't hurt them!
The car is pretty well damaged. Written off? Don't know yet until we tear into it. I should know more later in the week. I was already thinking of my "next step" before the car was taken off the tire wall.
The blessing as well as a curse I have is that I do have options. Now I have to think things through and figure out what I want to do for the next three years.
The toughest part of this ordeal is the attention paid to me by so many people at the track. Most of you know my brother and I do this racing stuff together. Seeing the ashen look on his face when he came over to the crash site was tough, real tough. Then Sandi Kryder, our "race mom" was holding back tears. The biggest thing was one of the T3 racers who I don't know too, too well. But this guy (big dude, 6' 4" and all) came up and was all choked up and put his arm around me. Trust me, I am not used to this type of attention.
Then I had to call my wife. It's no fun making a phone call and starting with, "I am not hurt, I am OK." Her reply was, "What happened?" She would NOT take my word that I was OK, she needed to hear from someone else.
I made it home late in the afternoon and cut my grass. Best thing to do to get back to normal. Joe and Rhonda Gaudette are staying at our house, so we had mucho things to talk about over pizza and pop.
If the red Viper is repaired, it will take some time. If it is stripped and replaced, I can be back in action next week. I have had numerous offers to drive other people's cars (some before my car was on the flatbed) plus I have identified replacements. I just have to decide what I want to do.
05-25-2008, 07:41 PM
#13
Race Director
Glad you are OK! 
05-25-2008, 07:51 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
05-25-2008, 08:01 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Dave, I am sorry about your car, but like everyone else has said, I am glad you are OK.
Oli
Oli
05-25-2008, 08:16 PM
#16
Race Director
Member Since: May 1999
Location: Plymouth MI Formerly Milford, MA MI
Posts: 14,267
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
W. Detroit Events Coordinator
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VII Autocross Champ
Glad you are OK, damn that was a hit.
I know it could happen at any track but I sure don't like the ledges
I know it could happen at any track but I sure don't like the ledges
05-25-2008, 08:58 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Sep 2001
Location: Lancaster County PA
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
05-25-2008, 11:16 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Wow! Glad you are okay, Dave. That was some hit. Modern safety gear and cars are impressive.
I had a small meeting with Buttonwillow's tire barrier in March. Those standing nearby were more shookup than I was. The scattering tires were "impressive" I imagine. Several people helped me check the car to see if it was safe to drive, as well as get it cleaned up. Some I had just met that day. It turned out to be minor body damage only. When I went out for a "hardship lap" the corner workers were applauding. Back on the horse and all that. The car was raced the next day. The sense of community is strong in racing, even amongst people you have just met...and may only know from forums.
I had a small meeting with Buttonwillow's tire barrier in March. Those standing nearby were more shookup than I was. The scattering tires were "impressive" I imagine. Several people helped me check the car to see if it was safe to drive, as well as get it cleaned up. Some I had just met that day. It turned out to be minor body damage only. When I went out for a "hardship lap" the corner workers were applauding. Back on the horse and all that. The car was raced the next day. The sense of community is strong in racing, even amongst people you have just met...and may only know from forums.
05-26-2008, 10:27 AM
#20
Safety Car
Member Since: Jul 2001
Location: TurtleCreek Twp Ohio
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cruise-In III Veteran
Holy sh*t. That was a wild ride Dave. I am so sorry. You have been very helpful to so many. Best of luck getting things back together, or with your new ride. Whatever direction you need to go.