Summit Point DE Fatality

Pinecone · 07-01-2014, 08:43 AM

I searched, but did not see anything.

But there was a fatality at HyperFest on the Jefferson circuit. During HyperFest on Sat, they run a sort of DE like event called HyperDrives. The participants sign up for single track sessions with an instructor (no solos).

Last session, the car hit a tree, sideways, and crushed the instructor.

Some reports state the driver exited the turn, hit the throttle and the rear end came out. The driver stayed in the throttle and the car exited the paved surface. Supposedly the student had done multiple sessions.

It was stated a left turn, without runoff area. I am thinking it was exiting the downhill left hander onto the straight (counter clockwise direction).

Car:

JST · 07-01-2014, 08:47 AM

I've seen some news reports about it. I think there was a long comment thread at Jalopnik. I haven't driven that part of Summit, but the videos posted show that there are basically no barriers and very little run-off room.

Terrible tragedy, but it looks like a pretty worrisome course.

bren · 07-01-2014, 09:08 AM

Yeah, I read something somewhere about trees and no safety barriers. Tragic.

*Plaz* · 07-01-2014, 09:22 AM

That's awful.

ZBB · 07-01-2014, 09:48 AM

Sobering...

Not being familiar with the track, I looked it up on Google Maps. Do you think its the southernmost corner? If so, you can see a few trees not far off the track in sat view mode...

JST · 07-01-2014, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZBB

Sobering...

Not being familiar with the track, I looked it up on Google Maps. Do you think its the southernmost corner? If so, you can see a few trees not far off the track in sat view mode...

Here's the Jalopnik thread.

http://jalopnik.com/instructor-kille...way-1588064352

According to one of the commenters who claimed to see it happen, it was in turn 7, a 90 degree left-hander. It wasn't entry speed--it was too much throttle on exit. Power on oversteer, IOW.

ZBB · 07-01-2014, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Here's the Jalopnik thread.

http://jalopnik.com/instructor-kille...way-1588064352

According to one of the commenters who claimed to see it happen, it was in turn 7, a 90 degree left-hander. It wasn't entry speed--it was too much throttle on exit. Power on oversteer, IOW.

Thanks... For reference, my question on "southernmost turn" from Google Maps was for Turn 5. Turn 7 was going to be my second guess.

The witness comment at Jalopnik said two things -- that he kept on the power and never turned the wheels. Hard to figure out why he didn't let off or attempt to turn. I still remember my dad going through driving scenarios on how to handle a skid when I was 15 -- and "steer into the skid" was burned into my brain...

JST · 07-01-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZBB

Thanks... For reference, my question on "southernmost turn" from Google Maps was for Turn 5. Turn 7 was going to be my second guess.

The witness comment at Jalopnik said two things -- that he kept on the power and never turned the wheels. Hard to figure out why he didn't let off or attempt to turn. I still remember my dad going through driving scenarios on how to handle a skid when I was 15 -- and "steer into the skid" was burned into my brain...

He panicked. He didn't know the basics of car control. The track, FWIW, is a shitty place to learn car control--probably worse than the street.

Honestly, if I were motorsport god I wouldn't let anyone on the track until they'd autocrossed for at least a few years. And then I still would make them take a real track driving course, like the Porsche school. If I were an instructor...I would never get into someone's car unless they'd done both of those things.

Nick M3 · 07-01-2014, 08:28 PM

For context, this was the "Hyper Drives" event, which involves taking spectators with their adrenaline up and throwing them on track for a few minutes to see how it is. It's basically an awful idea. The Jefferson Circuit is not very forgiving, but it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be in this incident.

jpgurl · 07-02-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick M3

For context, this was the "Hyper Drives" event, which involves taking spectators with their adrenaline up and throwing them on track for a few minutes to see how it is. It's basically an awful idea. The Jefferson Circuit is not very forgiving, but it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be in this incident.

Husband is a DE instructor. Of the handful of events I've tagged along, they won't let students on track until after a half day of classroom instruction.

Spectators aren't allowed to drive on track.

07-01-2014, 08:43 AM	#1
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	Summit Point DE Fatality I searched, but did not see anything. But there was a fatality at HyperFest on the Jefferson circuit. During HyperFest on Sat, they run a sort of DE like event called HyperDrives. The participants sign up for single track sessions with an instructor (no solos). Last session, the car hit a tree, sideways, and crushed the instructor. Some reports state the driver exited the turn, hit the throttle and the rear end came out. The driver stayed in the throttle and the car exited the paved surface. Supposedly the student had done multiple sessions. It was stated a left turn, without runoff area. I am thinking it was exiting the downhill left hander onto the straight (counter clockwise direction). Car: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

07-01-2014, 09:22 AM	#4
Plaz ••••••• Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M Location: Churzee Posts: 17,741	That's awful. __________________ 2011 1M

07-01-2014, 09:48 AM	#5
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,821	Sobering... Not being familiar with the track, I looked it up on Google Maps. Do you think its the southernmost corner? If so, you can see a few trees not far off the track in sat view mode... __________________ ZBB

07-01-2014, 08:28 PM	#9
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,458	For context, this was the "Hyper Drives" event, which involves taking spectators with their adrenaline up and throwing them on track for a few minutes to see how it is. It's basically an awful idea. The Jefferson Circuit is not very forgiving, but it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be in this incident. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

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07-01-2014, 08:47 AM	#2
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,609	I've seen some news reports about it. I think there was a long comment thread at Jalopnik. I haven't driven that part of Summit, but the videos posted show that there are basically no barriers and very little run-off room. Terrible tragedy, but it looks like a pretty worrisome course.

07-01-2014, 09:08 AM	#3
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	Yeah, I read something somewhere about trees and no safety barriers. Tragic.