AutoX crash in the BRZ

[ft_sjo]

Originally Posted by dori.

looks like understeer to me

I hope this educates you: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understeer_and_oversteer"]Understeer and oversteer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

[ATL BRZ]

Before I watched the video I was thinking, "how on earth does one crash at an auto-x?" Maybe into a light pole in the parking lot or something, but every autox I've done has had LOTS of open space around the driving line of the course. I can't believe the club set the chicane up right by that hill of earth. How irresponsible of them!

[Guillaume]

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

Other than hand-over-hand in the turn, there was no other criticism of his technique, imo. He used both hands, didn't let go of the wheel in the turnaround & actually fed the wheel back straight (a LOT of people let the wheel go), etc. Granted, he could he reacted quicker, but wheel technique had nothing to do with that.


OP. as stated, glad you're okay & I'm really sorry what should have been a routine spin is dodgy conditions, ended up very badly for you. And as Dave mentioned, that venue was no place to hold an AutoX, with the cones so close to embankments. I'm sure they'll rethink the decision to slalom so closely to that big berm...

The 10-2 position is non-sense. It slows you down and is less precise because you're off balance. Most of the time both hands are going up (or down) simultaneously and it takes a lot more muscles (and force) to achieve. It made some sense when power steering didn't exist but it is totally outdated.

A 9-3 position makes your arms work in opposition, resulting in a more stable position along with faster and easier movement. It enables a better *flow* in your steering input and gives a wider turning angle without letting go of the wheel too.

In this particular case, I believe that the slow and insufficient steering correction lead to the crash. A proper steering technique could have avoided landing that poor BRZ on its roof.

[BRZerk]

Originally Posted by Moshpit37

I'm about to start autocross racing for the very first time next month, and all I've got to say is I'm glad the place I'm going is just a big empty parking lot after seeing this. Glad you are ok, hurts to see the car mangled like that though.

hah DITTO


edit: saw your avatar, are you a Duquesne grad or is that a coincidence?

[ft_sjo]

Originally Posted by Guillaume

In this particular, I believe that the slow and insufficient steering correction lead to the crash. A proper steering technique could have avoided landing that poor BRZ on its roof.

This is the unfortunate truth. But to the OP, get it fixed and get some tuition and you should hopefully avoid doing it again in the future! Don't let it put you off.

[GTB/ZR-1]

Sorry, but faster hands may have been the only way to have avoided this (possibly). Being behind also affected his situation.

And, BTW, a friend of mine who's an SCCA National Champ in Solo & Pro, steers @ 10-2, maybe even 11-1 lol. His hands move incredibly fast on the wheel...

[Guillaume]

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

Sorry, but faster hands may have been the only way to have avoided this (possibly). Being behind also affected his situation.

And, BTW, a friend of mine who's an SCCA National Champ in Solo & Pro, steers @ 10-2, maybe even 11-1 lol. His hands move incredibly fast on the wheel...

Your friend must be the exception... In the mean time, I suggest you watch any on-board video of pro racers in categories using street-like steering racks (Le Mans GT3 and GT2 series come to mind).

[jsooke]

Thanks for the pointers on the hands ... had to go back and review some videos. There is room for improvement. Although to be honest I never felt the oversteer. Planning on some more instruction time this year before this happened.

Did not try to start when upside down, was trying to turn off.

And as for the venue: where we are there are only two venues available and both are short track ovals. I guess the only other option is not to AutoX. There is a venue on the mainland, but that means close to $200 in ferry fares, an hotel room and other associated costs (I know, cheaper than what happened). And it is under extreme pressure from the locals as being too noisy. We do try to make the courses as safe as possible, and you usually drive to the conditions (no room for error in some sections). Accidents are rare, but not as rare as a parking lot / airport course.

[blkwrxwag]

That is an awful autocross design. Since it's in Canada, they probably do not need to adhere to SCCA standards, but no way should a slalom be that close to something you should be avoiding!

[overlookedx]

Yeah I came into this thread wondering how someone flipped a BRZ in autox! But man, that's such an unsafe setup for autox. Also, what were those people doing so close to the track @12 seconds in the video? Maybe they were fixing cones or something, but they seemed to be leisurely walking through the course

[kos]

Crazy. Good thing you had the neck pad.

Crappy situation but cars can be rebuilt. Good thing is you're up to see another day.

[apexaddict]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

That is an awful autocross design. Since it's in Canada, they probably do not need to adhere to SCCA standards, but no way should a slalom be that close to something you should be avoiding!

This. It looks like the distance from the slalom cones to the edge of the pavement isn't much more than the width of a car.

Not everyone is Ayrton Senna... in fact, *most* people are new or aren't very experienced, so the courses need to be designed with this in mind. Of course, the burden of responsibility is on the driver for not going too far beyond their limits, but the event organizers in this case should be doing a better job to mitigate damage and liability as much possible. The most I see in the video is a minor driving mistake at best that should not have led to a rollover. I don't blame the driver at all, and I'm glad they are okay.

[F1_Fanatic]

On another note, this is the first time I really got to see how fast the 86 can change direction. I was quite surprised to be honest when I started watching the video. There was virtually no body roll whatsoever (hard to imagine for me since I drive a Civic right now which has ungodly amount of body roll lol).

[blkwrxwag]

If you want to see a stock FRS on street tires in the hands of a top driver, you'll see how fast in can really change direction...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcT_5bc4kkk"]BFG Rivals vs Dunlop Z2 Round 2 - Rival - 62.7 - YouTube[/ame]