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Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member
Username: Artherd

Post Number: 252
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 4:41 pm:   

I've spun (stayed on track thang christ) in the same area, Sears has new pavement there that is ultra-slick. It's a fast corner, and Sears is an absolutely UNforgiving track!

I am glad he has 'only' fractures, and hope for a speedy recovery.

Here is a video of me getting sideways around 100mph coming out of turn 6 (same spot, you can HEAR the pavement transition in the squeal of the tyres.)

http://dreamwithyoureyeswideopen.com/ferrarichat/carousel.mpg

Race cars get dinged, deal. (and this one with 750bhp and a race car's torque curve, combined with only 1800lbs weight, and true slicks, I can easially see how this could happpen to the absolute BEST of us.

It's people we really cannot fix.

Best!
Ben.
Matt (Matt_lamotte)
Member
Username: Matt_lamotte

Post Number: 294
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 2:30 pm:   

Here is the post with the pics

http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/21/213596.html

Now let's play "Guess how much repairs cost"?
Jere Dunham (Questioner)
Member
Username: Questioner

Post Number: 321
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 1:59 pm:   

James,

You might know of his company,
Ultratech Stepper, Inc. UTEK
Jere Dunham (Questioner)
Member
Username: Questioner

Post Number: 320
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 1:48 pm:   

There were some pictures here several weeks ago. I looked but could not find them in the archives.

I spoke with Mr.Zafiropoulo recently and he said it was driver error. Cold tires and speed. Will do it to you everytime when you have a car with the performance this one does. He says he does not want to see the car again until the repairs are finished. I can see why. Can you imagine seeing your "baby" crunched rather badly?
David A. Spear (Detailman)
Junior Member
Username: Detailman

Post Number: 79
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 12:53 pm:   

has wrecked exotics got any pictures of it?
Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Intermediate Member
Username: Benjet

Post Number: 1094
Registered: 1-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 12:08 pm:   

Mike, I was there, and I believe Dave Burch (Merlyn) was there (along with a few others from the Fchat family) as well, altho from my position in the grandstands I could not see the "incident" itself, all of the aftermath was plainly visable.

Robert (Rjklein4470) - The F50gt1 (and driver) was ALONE on the track, first lap out (2nd time out that day), warming up. As far as I can recall there were no incidents on the track in the session(s) before that would indicate fluids on the track, and I believe it is checked between each run group. This particular turn/point where he lost control of the car is a very common "problem area" for drivers at that track (which I do believe he was VERY familiar with), I have seen many cars off track at that spot. Tires were just cold.

-Ben
Mike (Dollartaker)
Junior Member
Username: Dollartaker

Post Number: 97
Registered: 7-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:47 am:   

Someone might want to ask Mr. Zafiropoulo what happened. It is easy to speculate on what happened unless someone was there.
Dan (Bobafett)
Member
Username: Bobafett

Post Number: 365
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:31 am:   

I've met Johannes a few times - very capable driver and a very nice guy.

Given that most of the car is CF, is it repairable?

--Dan
Tenney (Tenney)
Member
Username: Tenney

Post Number: 343
Registered: 2-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:25 am:   

Would suspect that Johannes is likely the one who has the best handle on what occurred. Agree w/those who say accidents can happpen to the best of them. Senna, while perhaps not blessed with internet chat room level skills, was still a fairly decent talent, for example. Too bad about the car. Glad the driver's okay.
Robert (Rjklein4470)
Member
Username: Rjklein4470

Post Number: 252
Registered: 3-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:12 am:   

Do we even know how the accident happend, where there other cars on the track? Was Johannes avoiding another slower car, fluid on the track, or did he just loose the car. Or did the car fail first?

Rob
Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member
Username: Merlyn

Post Number: 53
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:03 am:   

While I agree in principle that race cars ought to be raced, and accidents do happen, this was a guest driver in a collector car on the first lap of the session of a FCA track day, not a race.
A driver of that caliber ought to have the capability to drive with some constraint under those conditions. Everyone else out there in the FCA sessions did.
neal (95spiderneal)
Junior Member
Username: 95spiderneal

Post Number: 126
Registered: 3-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:58 am:   

was this during an exhibition with amateurs? as a frequent participant in non competitive track day events, i agree with "accidents happen" only to a point. these events are supposed to be for fun only with drivers staying well within their abilities but frequently devolves into pseudo races with the obvious consequences.

a driver should participate in a true sanctioned race with proper equipment if they're at the edge where tire temps determine control. i will be at limeroc tomorrow in the rain and do not want to share the track with anyone that drives at that level, daytona trophy or not
Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Intermediate Member
Username: Benjet

Post Number: 1093
Registered: 1-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:50 am:   

I don't think the driver was hurt much at all as no medicos were sent to collect him, he may have been looked at when he cames back into the pits, but I can hardly believe he broke any bones (of his own).
Jere Dunham (Questioner)
Member
Username: Questioner

Post Number: 319
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:50 am:   

Yes, S/N 001.

He was found to have fractured not broken ribs and leg. Sorry for the misinformation.

I have no information on who is paying for it. The owner let Johnny Rutherford drive it at Motorsport Ranch in Fort Worth two years ago when the FCA Nationals were held in Dallas. I understand he allows other drivers who have exhibited a high degree of proficiency to drive it at different events. I only wish I drove well enough to be allowed a shot at that. Can you only imagine?
Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member
Username: Maranelloman

Post Number: 1074
Registered: 1-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:37 am:   

Von Overbeck is a better driver than 100 of us, IMO. Accidents happen, as Schumi found out last weekend. I agree with Jim Glickenhaus here.
DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member
Username: Sickspeed

Post Number: 3267
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:30 am:   

Rock on, James.
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis

Post Number: 957
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:29 am:   

This is what happens to race cars. They crash you fix them. IMHO a bent race car is a lot less sad then a piece of history rusting into entrophy in a garage or a museam.
Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member
Username: Merlyn

Post Number: 52
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:27 am:   

When I got there, I was about 10 or 15 cars back, he was standing outside by the drivers door looking at the car with a sour expression. He didn't look that hurt. It was an out lap, the first lap of the second session, but no yellow flag, the session started on a green flag. Yes, It was SN/001.
Manu (Manu)
Member
Username: Manu

Post Number: 695
Registered: 2-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 10:14 am:   

Bit critical aren't we? The guy is clearly a quality driver (Porsche factory!!) - everyone makes mistakes - even the greats (see Schumacher last w/e in Brazil).
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts

Post Number: 4340
Registered: 12-2000
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 9:55 am:   

Johannes Von Overbeck is an extremly fast driver... on warm tires.
Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member
Username: Miami348ts

Post Number: 4263
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 9:47 am:   

fit to drive again????

looks like he was never fit to drive in the frist place. Heck I know not to push it when the tires are cold and you drive a ar that you don't know and you have new rubber on and I did not drive in the Rolex Daytona 24h.
MFZ (Kiyoharu)
Junior Member
Username: Kiyoharu

Post Number: 206
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 9:40 am:   

When was this? Damn, only 3 in the world, and now one of them is crashed. Was it F50 GT s/n 001?

Oh sorry, will Mr von Overbeck be fit to drive again, or are the injuries too serious?
DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member
Username: Sickspeed

Post Number: 3260
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 9:35 am:   

Uh-oh... Here come the anti-Porsche comments...

Jere, is the driver okay...? i mean, he'll drive again, right...?
Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member
Username: Squidracing

Post Number: 453
Registered: 3-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 9:34 am:   

He....he will pay (not my typo 'we' in my previous post) for the repair.

Sometimes I just can't type!
Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member
Username: Squidracing

Post Number: 452
Registered: 3-2001
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 9:33 am:   

I presume since he caused the damage via such an foolish move, that we will pay for the repair????
Jere Dunham (Questioner)
Member
Username: Questioner

Post Number: 318
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 8:12 am:   

I found out who was driving the GT1 F50 when it hit the wall at Sears Point. It was Porsche factory driver Johannes Von Overbeck. He was one of the drivers of the Racers Group Porsche that won at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He broke a couple of ribs and a leg.

He hit the wall at an estimated 120 mph.

The car is being sent back to the factory to be rebuilt as many of the GT1 parts are very model specific and cannot be obtained through normal channels.

It was due to not warming up and scrubbing in the new slicks that had just been put on the car. He did it on the outlap.

Just thought you might like to know.

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