Doug,=20
I co-drove a small bore car (Sprite) at the SVRA Road America race =
enduro this spring. We were grouped with the Camaros, Mustangs, Vettes, =
etc.=20
I'm pretty fast through the Carousel at RA. I'm able to pass inside or =
outside if there's room. Of course, from the exit of the carousel to the =
Kink, a small bore will beat no one. I always watch my mirrors. I'm wide =
open, 4th gear from the entry of the Carousel, through the Kink, all the =
way to Canada Corner. A Group 6 Camaro blew by me right at the point of =
last weekends fatality. I did not see him coming... did not expect it. =
If you're on the gas at this point, your car is very light, in a drift =
to the edge of the track. Once committed to speed (as opposed to lifting =
prior to entering the Kink), you have very few options. Because of the =
length of the Carousel, the angle of the Kink, slight elevation change, =
narrow track lined with concrete and Armco, heavy trees and foliage, =
etc., it is easy to be surprised either overtaking someone right after =
the kink or being overtaken.=20
This not an issue specific to SVRA, but rather our sport as a whole. At =
VSCDA IRP last fall, the small bore folks ran with Winston cup cars. I'm =
sure the Monoposto guys have horror stories to tell.=20
This tragic incident over the weekend which resulted in the loss of a =
fellow racer's life touched us all. I hope that we can learn something =
by careful study of the contributing factors. We may learn that it was =
unavoidable... those situations exist. I'm sure the Camaro driver will =
have to deal with the emotions of this incident for the rest of his =
life, as will the victims husband, who was a participant in the same =
race.=20
If you believe history repeats itself, (and as a student of history, I =
do), then we as vintage racers need to examine the path of our sport as =
it relates to the path taken by SCCA. I'm troubled by repeat offenders =
that seem to be involved in incidents every year, but never seem to be =
13/13'd. I'm not a fan of SVRA's new point system where you can work off =
assessed points by volunteering for an event. How does that improve =
someone's conduct?=20
There seems to be many avoidable incidents in vintage racing... a =
combination of inexperienced drivers that should never have been granted =
a license, and overly aggressive types that should forfeit theirs for an =
extended period of time.=20
Wm. Severin Thompson
Team Thicko
-----Original Message-----
From: S800Racer@aol.com [SMTP:S800Racer@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 1997 9:45 AM
To: fastcars@home.com; alfasun@esslink.com
Cc: vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: fatality at June Sprints
A quick comment on the thought about SVRA running "many of its =
enduros
with virtually all cars". =20
That is not at all accurate. Almost all of the SVRA enduros are =
set up
for compatible classes. Small bore cars do not run with big production =
cars
(Camaros, Mustangs, etc.) and fast sports racers.=20
I did run one SVRA "all comers" enduro several years ago but I =
don't
recall seeing such an arrangement for some time. The noise and exhaust =
blast
from passing Camaros almost blew my 850cc Honda S800 right off the road! =
The
speed of the Chevron B19s was even more awesome. They would pass me at
incredible rates when I could swear I had just looked in my mirror and =
had
seen empty track. If I saw a Chevron in my mirror, the next corner was =
his
no matter how far back he was. Nothing bad happened, but I am not =
interested
in doing that again. =20
Of course, huge speed differentials in endurance racing is =
certainly
nothing new. It has always been part and parcel of endurance racing =
from Le
Mans to Sebring to the Mille Miglia (they even made the fast cars start =
last
there!) =20
I am not saying that it should be done in vintage racing. It =
creates a
danger which can and should be avoided. =20
As for the new owner of SVRA, I understand that he has experience =
in a
variety of cars and classes right down to small bore production cars. I
expect that he would be as sensitive and informed as anyone to the =
potential
dangers of mixing cars and classes.
As a final disclaimer, none of the above is a comment on the June
Sprints fatality as I don't race SCCA and didn't witness the accident. =
My
heart goes out to the friends and family of the deceased. Regardless of =
the
circumstances that caused the accident, it is terrible tragedy.
Doug Meis - Team Escargot "Rub shoulders, not fenders"
1967 Honda S800
Inside every racers head: "...a little more power and get this =
beast to
handle better and I'll be kickin' some butt!" =20
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