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Track night didn't go well for me last night, though I am fine and the car only has cosmetic damage so could have gone far worse. Hard to say what caused the spin beyond driver error, best guess is high rear tire pressure built up. This was the first session of the day and was only pushing maybe 7/10ths at most, car was feeling very good until that point. I had been at this track multiple times without getting lose.
Car might have to sit for awhile - I am currently searching for work so even this limited cosmetic damage will have to wait. I plan to do an in-depth look later today and make a list of parts I need.
That sucks, glad you are ok! From watching the video it looked like you got on the throttle too early and hard coming out of the corner, the car was also a little unstable on the corner entry as well...tough experience and props to you for sharing with us.. Instructors I have had are conservative but have always told me not to accelerate until the steering wheel is straight...these cars can bite you very fast as you experienced. I hope she is fixed up soon.
Last edited by JayhawkCPA; 07-17-2019 at 11:57 AM.
From watching the video it looked like you got on the throttle too early and hard coming out of the corner, the car was also a little unstable on the corner entry as well...tough experience and props to you for sharing with us.. Instructors I have had are conservative but have always told me not to accelerate until the steering wheel is straight...these cars can bite you very fast as you experienced. I hope she is fixed up soon.
I try not to play Monday morning quarterback, as I wasn't driving the car. However, I would agree with you. Personally, I would have counter-steered/corrected a little earlier. It seemed late in the video. It also looked like the back of the car got unsettled right as he downshifted before the turn. The whole turn was pretty much a drift, I think.
275/35r18
305/30r19
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO 2s - probably 75% life all around
I run the same tires, but was going to put together a track-specific set of 200TW tires for next season. How do you like the Hankooks overall on the track (well, besides now)?
sorry !!!!!! we just had a big debate at a Auto X meet, that Auto cross is not racing ????? my wife and I don't want to even take the chance of hurting our C 6 Z06 on a road course !!!!!
Well, you're OK and the car looks completely fixable, so other than the time you're gonna spend rewatching that video trying to figure out what you did wrong, the only real loss is of the monetary variety.
I salute you for tracking the car. I honestly don't have the cojones to do so.
Ouch! sorry! glad you are ok.
Looks like understeer through the corner, hard on the throttle a bit early, whipping into snap oversteer.
Tires were yelling loud. How do the EVO 2's hold up to track use? I would image the get hot & greasy pretty quick.
I did HPDEs a bit in my old RX7 and did go into the weeds more than once. No damage luckily. I was prepared to take that risk b/c the car was worth maybe 7k. I'm not prepared to take the same risk with the C5, since speeds go way up and an off is going to be a lot more dangerous. It'll eventually see some cones, that'll be it.
I run the same tires, but was going to put together a track-specific set of 200TW tires for next season. How do you like the Hankooks overall on the track (well, besides now)?
The tires felt pretty good - sidewalls felt good and didn't feel like they had lots of flex, the car felt pretty consistent with each lap.
The grip was pretty solid up until the end - I wasn't sliding around. The front had 26 and rear had 28 PSI cold so I knew the rear needed a good amount of air taken out and probably a bit in the front - so I was not pushing the car so hard that I was expecting it to spin, I passed several cars and never had anyone catching me but that was just because the car was feeling good and solid not that I was pushing to get by everyone.
I will use them again at the next track session I think.
As for the cause of the crash - after getting feedback from you guys and others and time to reflect, I think it was a combination of the rear tire pressure getting too high and I didn't drive that corner well (coming in faster than before, rear was unstable before starting turn in, shifting into 2nd near the apex, and too much throttle too soon).
Oh man!!! Damaging your car on a voluntary activity (tracking) is always painful in every way. Best news is you weren't hurt. Cars can always be replaced or repaired as awful as that sounds. Best wishes and hope you get her back on the road soon. Take care!
Yep, ive heard of similar stories of the V12 tires being unpredictable on track. Get yourself some decent track day tires, or at least some Michelin's.
07-17-2019, 11:32 AM
C5Z crash at Blackhawk Farms Raceway
The car seemed to be doing well for the entire video. You definitely weren't pushing her hard.
