I had a pretty scary ride last night and I still don't know for sure what happened. I'll give the play by play here.
Time trials went well, the car was running consistent 12.20's and hooking good so when eliminations started I dialed 12.15 to allow for the cooler air and felt I was ready to go.
First round I got matched up with the guy I think is the best driver in my class, so I knew I needed to be sharp. He was dialed at 11.30 so I got the head start.
I had a decent light and hooked up good. The car was running straight and strong through the first three gears. A glance in the mirror told me that he was not gaining on me fast enough to beat me to the stripe, so I thought everything was under control.
Then I hit fourth gear and my car broke loose bad. I was able to stay in my lane, but was swerving all over the place trying to regain control. I lifted right away and still crossed at 92 mph so I figure I was a little over 100 when it happened. I honestly thought the car was going to get full sideways and roll. It was like when you hit black ice in the winter, totally unexpected. I've made close to 200 passes in this car and never had anything like that before.
I'll admit I was a little shaky when I got back to the pits and my wife was pretty upset. She said the crowd gasped when it happened because they thought I was going to wreck.
I still don't know what exactly caused it. I was not leaking anything and none of the tires were going down. The next car down the track in the same lane had no problems. I can't find anything wrong with my car. You can bet my next run will be an easy, make sure everything is ok type, before I go all out again.
I will say this though. I'm glad I built my car to meet the sub 11.5 safety standards even though I don't run that fast. I am confident that if I had rolled the car the 8 point roll bar and safety harness would have protected me. You can bet I'll make sure the belts are cinched up tight every time.
Excitement at the track can be a good thing, but I hope I don't have that kind of excitement again.
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OFR - old fart racing
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
If you're not having fun, then you're taking this stuff too seriously!
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
I like this line from your signature. But there seems to be a fine line between fun and tragedy. I'm glad you stayed on this side of the line this time.
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2008 Shelby GT500 torch red with black stripes + sequentials
2001 Cobra mineral grey with 2003 Mach 1 shaker hood
1996 Cobra color-shifting mystic paint + sequentials
Is there any chance that the car in front of you might have dropped some water?
It wouldn't be on the track long but would sure cause a problem if you got in it.
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2007 Mustang GT Vista Blue 740RWHP/motor 904RWHP/spray 9.01 @ 152 mph 1/4 mile, 1.40 60' 2008 Clash of the Titans World Finals Champion 2009 Strictly Street Points leader/ET & MPH Record Holder
2009 GT500 Grabber Orange Vert 594 RWHP 11.5 @ 120mph it's my slow car!
Glad you are alright, and I hope you never have that much excitement again.
I have never been to the track, please help me understand. Do the Pro Racers watch the other drivers in the mirrors or do they just press as hard as they can to the line and how ever it turns out it turns out? I ask because, that split second it takes to look around for that other car must be a huge distraction and the cause of many crashes. I guess in round eliminations that you only need to push the car as hard as you need to, so as to beat the car next to you. Do you think that the moment you realized that you had the other car beat, you got out of "the zone" for that split second and that was the cause of the slip?
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2008 GT Vert, Manual, Perf. White, Red Leather, Black Cloth Top, I-UP, Active Alarm, HID's, Heat'd Seats, GT Scoop, Sirius, Ford Nav, 18" Polished Aluminum Rims w/ Pony's, Ambient Lighting, Gentex Mirror (Electro/Comp/Temp/Homelink), Jaeger Flaps.
Is there any chance that the car in front of you might have dropped some water?
It wouldn't be on the track long but would sure cause a problem if you got in it.
You know that's a good point. I was thinking that if there was a bit of oil down, sooner or later somebody else would have had a problem too but that didn't seem to be the case. I hadn't considered that it could have been water. It sure seemed like I ran over something that caused a sudden lack of traction.
It was hot out and for all I know some newb could have went down the track with his A/C on!
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OFR - old fart racing
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
If you're not having fun, then you're taking this stuff too seriously!
Glad you are alright, and I hope you never have that much excitement again.
I have never been to the track, please help me understand. Do the Pro Racers watch the other drivers in the mirrors or do they just press as hard as they can to the line and how ever it turns out it turns out? I ask because, that split second it takes to look around for that other car must be a huge distraction and the cause of many crashes. I guess in round eliminations that you only need to push the car as hard as you need to, so as to beat the car next to you. Do you think that the moment you realized that you had the other car beat, you got out of "the zone" for that split second and that was the cause of the slip?
Not trying to speak for mmb617, but from what he described I think he meant the rear came out from under him not that he made an error.
You know that's a good point. I was thinking that if there was a bit of oil down, sooner or later somebody else would have had a problem too but that didn't seem to be the case. I hadn't considered that it could have been water. It sure seemed like I ran over something that caused a sudden lack of traction.
It was hot out and for all I know some newb could have went down the track with his A/C on!
Yep, it's that time of the year when people forget to turn off their A/C's.
That's why I asked. Can be enough to get you loose but will evaporate before too long and no more problems.
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2007 Mustang GT Vista Blue 740RWHP/motor 904RWHP/spray 9.01 @ 152 mph 1/4 mile, 1.40 60' 2008 Clash of the Titans World Finals Champion 2009 Strictly Street Points leader/ET & MPH Record Holder
2009 GT500 Grabber Orange Vert 594 RWHP 11.5 @ 120mph it's my slow car!
Glad you are alright, and I hope you never have that much excitement again.
I have never been to the track, please help me understand. Do the Pro Racers watch the other drivers in the mirrors or do they just press as hard as they can to the line and how ever it turns out it turns out? I ask because, that split second it takes to look around for that other car must be a huge distraction and the cause of many crashes. I guess in round eliminations that you only need to push the car as hard as you need to, so as to beat the car next to you. Do you think that the moment you realized that you had the other car beat, you got out of "the zone" for that split second and that was the cause of the slip?
I don't know how the pros do it, but for bracket racers like myself knowing where the other car is at the 1000 ft mark is important. Often he's close enough beside you to see without having to turn your head or anything. Other times a glance in the side mirror will tell you what you need to know.
I don't usually dial myself a cushion, but instead dial as fast as I think I can go then run it hard all the way unless I'm well ahead approaching the stripe. In this case I did notice that he was farther back than I thought he would be, so maybe I did have a loss of concentration.
Racing's a lot of fun, but there is also a very serious side to it. I don't want to ever forget that.
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OFR - old fart racing
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
If you're not having fun, then you're taking this stuff too seriously!
How long did it take them to remove the seat from your sphincter......
One of my friends asked if I needed a change of underwear after the run, but it was just the opposite. I was clamped up so tight there won't be anything coming out of there for days!
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OFR - old fart racing
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
If you're not having fun, then you're taking this stuff too seriously!
At least you live to run another day...... It is always best to let out of it and come back around. It sounds like a good save. Congrats.
I read a post on HC50 a while ago titled "when the voice in your head says lift, listen to it".
The author had tried to drive through a problem and had crashed his car. In retrospect he knows he should have lifted but didn't want to take the loss.
I don't like losing either, but I prefer to have my car all in one piece at the end of the night so I hope I'm never too proud to make the right choice in that situation.
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OFR - old fart racing
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
If you're not having fun, then you're taking this stuff too seriously!
This ride was a little too exciting 
