A fellow racer told me of your recent discussions regarding the accident
during the enduro at Watkins Glen. It was relayed to me that many people were
faulting my good friend in the MGC (Bill Weller) for contributing to the
mess. I would like to offer that I was the fifth car on the hill. I had been
alongside the white sports racer ("Honda" displayed on the tail) on the
straight and was on my way to a pass when I saw the yellow at the bend. I
pulled in behind the Honda. The waving yellow and flashing lights came up and
I was nose to tail to the Honda. We held our speed without accelerating or
slowing appreciably. As I strained to look ahead I saw three cars across the
track, BUT THERE WAS AN OPENING ON THE LEFT. All of a sudden the Honda cuts
his wheel to the Right, and did a 4-wheel slide towards the cars. I got off
the gas and went through the opening. I don't know what went through the
other drivers mind, why he cut the wheel right when the opening was left, why
he locked up his wheels and lost control, why his car which is built to stop
as good as it accelerates was not as nimble as my MGA, but his actions
deprived subsequent racers of precious maneuvering room. I feel bad for him
and all the cars that got involved. But his actions/reflexes and the
actions/reflexes of others are what make accidents exactly that: an accident.
|