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Lost it in Turn 8 at Willow Springs

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Old 01-29-2008, 01:26 AM
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akinla
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Default Lost it in Turn 8 at Willow Springs

http://www.corvettekillstories.com/p..._Howie/GT3.mov

(try using firefox broswer to view)

Doing about 130 mph, lost it just before the apex. Did two full 360 rotations.

What do you believe I did wrong?
Old 01-29-2008, 02:50 AM
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crispenigl
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Wow.

What tires were you on?
What were the pressures?
Were the tires cold?
Did you brake?

What were you doing before the spin?

My guess is that you tapped the brakes and spun.

Car looks ok though.
Are you ok?
Greg
Old 01-29-2008, 03:34 AM
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C.J. Ichiban
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doesn't look like the brakes were applied from the way you kept a constant distance from the guy in front of you...

looks more like your right front touched the inside of the turn, maybe hit some oil/coolant/water/ something like that. at these speeds something like that would be pretty instant, with not a lot of ability to countersteer out of
Old 01-29-2008, 09:56 AM
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eclou
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Cannot tell from that view. If I had to bet, it would be a momentary lift of the throttle mid apex.
Old 01-29-2008, 10:13 AM
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wbrownie
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Originally Posted by eclou
Cannot tell from that view. If I had to bet, it would be a momentary lift of the throttle mid apex.
That's what it looks like to me. Got in a little tight and lifted.
Old 01-29-2008, 11:11 AM
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4porsh
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There are some bumps on the inside of the track. If you breathed the throttle over the bumps it could disrupt the balance of the car and put you into a spin. I stay a car width or two from the inside of the track before the apex and stay on the gas. Some times I get into the bumps and the car moves around a lot, just stay on the gas.
Glad you and the car are ok.

Joe
Old 01-29-2008, 11:17 AM
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SrfCity
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Originally Posted by C.J. Ichiban
looks more like your right front touched the inside of the turn.........
This was my thought without really analyzing the video too much.
Old 01-29-2008, 11:23 AM
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akinla
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It all happened a bit fast to remember all the details.
It was toward the end of the session, runing on mpsc.
I remember thinking I could catch the turbo by the entry to turn 9.

Lifted slightly just before turning into 8, applied more throtle at the entrance, the tail got figity just before the apex, I think I lifted slightly and a half a second later I was kissing my own ***.
Old 01-29-2008, 01:20 PM
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eclou
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Originally Posted by akinla
It all happened a bit fast to remember all the details.
It was toward the end of the session, runing on mpsc.
I remember thinking I could catch the turbo by the entry to turn 9.

Lifted slightly just before turning into 8, applied more throtle at the entrance, the tail got figity just before the apex, I think I lifted slightly and a half a second later I was kissing my own ***.

You have answered your own question. Lifting under a high cornering G load is always going to lead to excitement
Old 01-29-2008, 01:23 PM
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just remember- if you lift you spin, if you mash the throttle you track out...somewhere in between is the best cornering you've ever felt...glad to see you're safe. did you throw it in neutral as soon as you lost it?
Old 01-29-2008, 10:40 PM
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///Mous3
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Unhappy ...

Originally Posted by crispenigl
Car looks ok though.
I wouldn't say that until you can look at the underside of the car.
That track is so nasty if you get off-track...

Hopefully I am wrong because my experience came from motorcycle crashs on Willow Springs... A few have lost their lives at the turn 8 and 9.
Old 01-30-2008, 01:38 AM
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jrgordonsenior
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You stayed in the turn way too long. You wern't entering 8, you were in the middle of it and should have been opening up the wheel and tracking out left to set up turn 9.
In order to stay down that low that long you had to be steering the car right. If you did lift, that would shift the car's weight forward on the front tires making the rears looser. The front tires bit sending you right where it was pointed. Had you lifted with the wheel straight you would have been Ok, but down low like that with the wheel turned right the car just went off track. I think you're lucky the car didn't catch a bump and flip....
Old 01-30-2008, 02:06 AM
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StickShift964
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yikes! That musta puckered up your bunghole!
Old 01-30-2008, 02:21 AM
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Originally Posted by jrgordonsenior
You stayed in the turn way too long. You wern't entering 8, you were in the middle of it and should have been opening up the wheel and tracking out left to set up turn 9.
In order to stay down that low that long you had to be steering the car right. If you did lift, that would shift the car's weight forward on the front tires making the rears looser. The front tires bit sending you right where it was pointed. Had you lifted with the wheel straight you would have been Ok, but down low like that with the wheel turned right the car just went off track. I think you're lucky the car didn't catch a bump and flip....
i have only driven WS a handful of times but i understand the pucker factor of T8.
you are way inside. i saw the "toyota bldg" on the outside of T8. i use that as marker. by the time i reach the bldg, i will be full track left, quick lift, and feed throttle for T9. the apex of T8 for me is very early, clip it and AIM for the toyota bldg.

yeah, the "flip" is what i fear most at WS. good thing it is the fartherest track from me ;-)
Old 01-30-2008, 01:32 PM
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Jack
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Originally Posted by jrgordonsenior
You stayed in the turn way too long. You wern't entering 8, you were in the middle of it and should have been opening up the wheel and tracking out left to set up turn 9.
In order to stay down that low that long you had to be steering the car right. If you did lift, that would shift the car's weight forward on the front tires making the rears looser. The front tires bit sending you right where it was pointed. Had you lifted with the wheel straight you would have been Ok, but down low like that with the wheel turned right the car just went off track. I think you're lucky the car didn't catch a bump and flip....
Ditto -- what John said -- you were very lucky.


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