"...People *will* move out of your way." | FerrariChat
Buy

"...People *will* move out of your way."

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by ricrain, Oct 9, 2005.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Page 1 of 2
  1. ricrain

    ricrain Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
    213
    Dallas Area
    Full Name:
    Ric
    #1 ricrain, Oct 9, 2005
    "Motorsports are dangerous. No warranty or representation is made as to products' suitability for use or ability to protect the user from any injury or death. The user assumes that risk. XXXXXXXXXXX shall not be liable to purchaser or to any third party for any damages arising out of the purchase, installation or use of any item."

    I had just read that warning a few days before, having purchased a new set of driving shoes. But that wasn't on my mind right this particular moment. What was on my mind was catching the F40 ahead of me. It was the first time I'd ever driven my own 360 at TWS. But, after all, I had run at least 800 laps of the 1.8 mile course at TWS, and maybe, just maybe, the F40 driver hadn't. Maybe he wasn't quite as bold as I was.

    You see, in driving psychology, you need to focus on goals rather than the mechanics of driving. This pushes the actual neuromotor activity of driving into the subconscious, forcing you to internalize it as a motor skill. I had a goal: “Hang with the F40”.

    We had just been bunched up behind a slower car coming onto the main straightaway. I got as close as 40 ft before he got around the other car. Of course, he pulled some distance on me as we traversed the straight. He went deeper into turn one than I was willing to, but I outbraked him. Crossing over the threshold into the infield at around 160, I braked later than he did. The F40 was about 60 yards ahead at turn 2. My resolve doubled.

    In the braking zone for turn 3 and throught the next complex, I actually made up some time. Probably because I was on Hoosier's, and he might have been on street tires. By the time we got to the back straight, I had closed even a little more. Round the infield and back to the main straight. He pulled quicker down the straight, gaining back his advantage. I was now about 1 second behind, using the start/finish line as a marker. OK, new goal :), “Don't loose any more time to the F40”.

    The next lap was very similar except I was now about 2 seconds behind at the line. That wasn't bad, considering my car was probably 400-600 pounds heavier. I dunno, but it sure was fun. Into the infield at turn two the "low gas" icon shows up on the 360's dash. One more lap and the icon was now on full time. "Rats", I thought, as I had a good groove going.

    OK, into the infield garage, grab some gas at the slightly-overpriced trackside gas pump. Run over to the garage space to find my wallet. Back into the car, helmet back on and ready to go. Where is that F40? :)

    Back on the track. Tires are still hot, traction is good, no more "low gas" icon. The car is a little heavier, but not enough to really notice for a novice like myself.

    Through the infield, back to my first flying lap down the straightaway. 160 again at the threshold, brake heavy for turn 2, down to about 100, start the turn, roll onto the throttle, starting to accelerate for turn 3. Check the rearview for closing cars, and, "HOLY SH%%" the entire rear view is Orange. Not, OMP Orange, like a fast moving challenge car. Not sunset orange, like a beautiful Texas sunset, but looking-in-the-mouth-of a-kiln fire-breathing-dragon orange. The glass rear window of the 360 offered up a glorious view of an engine bay completely (and I mean totally) filled with *FIRE*! I'm going 105 MPH and the car is vigorously ablaze!!!

    All my life I wanted to be in a Ferrari. But at this moment, all I wanted to be was OUT of a Ferrari...

    I stopped a quickly as physics would allow and exited the car. I distinctly remember thinking about the “14 seconds” that the driving suit was rated for. I ran a safe distance away, and made frantic motions to the corner workers. After a LONG 45-60 seconds, the track fire team showed up and proceeded towards my Car-B-Que with a dry chemical fire extinguisher. I was thinking a messy engine bay is probably better than a totally-roasted car. About this time, another Ferrari stopped (a safe distance away) and hopped out with Halon extinguisher. He stopped the track fire worker and used his unit to put out part of the fire, but it had spread to the dry grass below. Well, concatenating a soap opera of small arguments, the fire was put out. And it the fire restarted, and it was put out. Then a third time. Finally, it seemed to be out and we pushed the car onto some pavement. And it started up again, and was put out. Geez, what in the hell?

    Ferrari of Houston's tech staff had now showed up and began to inspect the car for the possible cause. After very short order, they check the gas cap. While I was running to find my wallet earlier, the trackside gas attendant had incorrectly replaced the gas cap on the car. It was nowhere near sealed, and was sloshing gas out down the side of the car as well as through the overflow drain tube. The overflow drain tube drains just in *front* of the rear tire, which then proceeded to throw the gas all back up in the wheel well and engine bay.

    The stupid thing is: I actually thought of checking the gas cap before returning to the track, but was too eager to "get back in the fight". Oh well, live and learn.

    In the end, the fire was mostly a flash fire, and the damage quite limited. Very little if any cosmetic damage was done. Preliminarily, it looks like I'll need a new engine wiring harness, an O2 sensor (burned through wires), an oil breather hose, and maybe a new wheel well panel. Actually, very mild considering.

    So, chalk that up to a $2000 fill up.

    And in case you don't understand the title line. It's a reference to Richard Pryor's quote: "When you are on fire and running down the street, people *will* move out of your way." :)

    I'll have the car back here later today, and I'll post some pictures later.
     
  2. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    #2 thibaut, Oct 9, 2005
    Feel sorry for you... I hope all can be sorted.
     
  3. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
    Full Name:
    Russ Turner
    #3 snj5, Oct 9, 2005
    wow - what a story!
    Best in getting back in saddle as soon as you can!
     
  4. weimar97

    weimar97 Karting

    May 21, 2004
    130
    #4 weimar97, Oct 9, 2005
    so did you beat the F40? :)

    Sorry to hear about the mishap - at least the damage apparently was minimal. At least it sounds like you had a good time! (until the fire of course - which begs the question: Are we allotted only so much fun in a particular day?)
     
  5. Prova85

    Prova85 Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2003
    1,996
    So. Shore MA.
    Full Name:
    Kenny K
    #5 Prova85, Oct 9, 2005
    Any legal recourse for the incurred damages possible against the track for the ineptness of their employee ?

    You wanna play you gotta pay but you shouldn't have to pay for this I would think.
     
  6. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,056
    Savannah
    #6 thecarreaper, Oct 9, 2005
    great thread, felt like i was there by your description. glad you are ok and the car can fight another day.
     
  7. Dave

    Dave F1 Rookie

    Apr 15, 2001
    2,722
    Little Rock
    Full Name:
    David Jones
    #7 Dave, Oct 9, 2005
    Wow, sorry to hear about the fire Ric.
    I hope all goes well with the repairs.

    It reminds me of a sight a couple of weeks ago.
    Driving down the freeway a car had a cat on fire and the driver had no clue.
    Smoke was billowing out behind his car, and pieces of the burning cat were dropping on the road as other drivers tried to avoid it.
    By the time I caught up to the car it had pulled to the side of the road.
    The trunk was open and the cat had burned a hole through the bottom of the trunk.
    Good thing the gas tank didn't go up.
     
  8. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    85,600
    Texas!
    #8 Texas Forever, Oct 9, 2005
    Wow Ric, I'm glad that you are okay! Man, you really had me going there. What a way to break in your new car. Sounds like you almost had more fun than the law allows.

    Dale
     
  9. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 10, 2003
    22,407
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Juan Sánchez Villa-L
    #9 henryr, Oct 9, 2005
    i'm glad to hear that it was "minor" damage.

    i always try to steer clear of letting others work on my car during track days whenever possible. and/or inspect and check their work to the best of my ability.
     
  10. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    #10 ghost, Oct 9, 2005
    Sorry to hear about the fire, but a well written synopsis.

    Good luck with getting things back to normal.
     
  11. Dave

    Dave F1 Rookie

    Apr 15, 2001
    2,722
    Little Rock
    Full Name:
    David Jones
    #11 Dave, Oct 9, 2005
    Look at the plus side Ric.
    You gained a new handle at the track... The Texas Torch.
     
  12. ronr

    ronr Formula Junior

    Oct 30, 2002
    813
    DFW, TX
    Full Name:
    Ron
    #12 ronr, Oct 9, 2005
    Sorry to hear that Ric. Sounds like you were very lucky. Hope you get it rolling again soon for your next battle.
     
  13. tiara4300

    tiara4300 Formula Junior

    Feb 27, 2005
    650
    miami ,fl.
    Full Name:
    Adam
    #13 tiara4300, Oct 9, 2005
    Let me guess, you ,must be a lawyer. Why is everyone always looking to sue. This guy knows the costs involved in tracking a car (a street car at that) so its just the price we pay for a day of fun.
     
  14. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    35,532
    Victory Circle
    Full Name:
    HUBBSTER
    #14 WILLIAM H, Oct 9, 2005
    similair thing happened to me in Argentina. I was racing a Ford Falcon and some dope didnt even put the cap back on, fuel fell on the hot brake rotors & lit, They race w co pilots there & he lost an eyebrow.
     
  15. Puff

    Puff Formula Junior

    May 21, 2004
    398
    DC
    #15 Puff, Oct 10, 2005
    Wow Ric. Glad you're okay and that the car isn't a mess.

    And BTW you're automatically a member of the exclusive "been on fire in a ferrari " club. <laugh> Let's come up with a secret handshake later!

    Enjoyed your write up. I related to the part, "But at this moment, all I wanted to be was OUT of a Ferrari..." . Doesn't it sorta feel like being allergic and having a bee in your hair? ...ie "get that thing off of me!!!"

    Puff
    www.exhaust.tv

    My membership application: http://exhaust.tv/308/index.html

    A recent new member: http://www.exhaust.tv/nickspicks/nicksPicks_02.html
     
  16. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,960
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    #16 rob lay, Oct 10, 2005
    Oh man, the way the story was going I expected worse, glad the damage will be minimal. Nothing scares me more on the track than fire. Just had a 20 lb. fire system installed in the RX8. Pull the lever and 20 lbs. on my legs, jewels, body, and head.
     
  17. Driversource

    Driversource Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Nov 8, 2003
    428
    Houston, TX
    #17 Driversource, Oct 10, 2005
    Nothing like a little panic in the pits to liven up an event.

    Glad the damage was relatively minimal, and only to the car, not the driver. Hope you're up and running again soon.

    Good to see some Dallas crew at TWS, though.
     
  18. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    25,964
    Las Vegas, NV
    Full Name:
    Ryan Alexander
    #18 ryalex, Oct 10, 2005
    You must be a generous person to consider the mistakes of others causing damage to your car to be costs you must bear. Forget about it if you get hit by a drunk driver, that's just the price you pay to drive on the freeway, right? Or maybe the price of walking on the sidewalk in Las Vegas?

    You're in auto repair - what if insurance companies decided that people's insurance would now cover damage to their own cars, instead of the insurance carrier of the person responsible for an accident? Insurance for exotics would be unattainable if the costs of repair weren't covered by the responsible party. What if a guy in a Kia hits your 550? He pays $3,000 to fix his Kia and you pay $35,000 to fix your 550? Is that fair?

    It all goes back to whether one thinks that you should be responsible (aka liable) for the problems caused by your own actions, or whether the injured party should just buck up and bear their injuries - because we all injure others it would come out in the wash.

    I think that if that is diagnosed as the clear cause, TWS management (or the gas station, if it's a sub-lease) will cover the repair costs. $2k is a small price for them to compensate for an employee error that could have easily been a fatality. They have insurance for things like that, I'm sure.
     
  19. jaturon

    jaturon Formula 3

    Oct 25, 2004
    1,599
    Bangkok Thailand
    Full Name:
    Zane
    #19 jaturon, Oct 10, 2005
    Feel sorry for you but escaping the fire on the track with $2000 damage, you should consider yourself very lucky!
     
  20. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    #20 riverflyer, Oct 10, 2005
    wow, great story. I was totally in the cockpit with you chasing down that damn f40, and I really knew "we" had a shot at it.....
    sooo glad your baby did not go up and 2k in damages sounds very palatable in comparison to what might have been. Jeez, that must have been a scary sight.
     
  21. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 10, 2003
    22,407
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Juan Sánchez Villa-L
    #21 henryr, Oct 10, 2005
    $2,000 in damages? i thought retail on a new case cap was $1,995.99
     
  22. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 2, 2004
    72,423
    Cloud-9
    Full Name:
    Jason
    #22 TexasF355F1, Oct 10, 2005
    That's an amazing story. Glad to hear you weren't injured. Also glad that nothing serious happened to the car. Hope everything gets straightened out.
     
  23. kpl

    kpl Karting

    Jun 9, 2005
    195
    #23 kpl, Oct 10, 2005
    Absolutely. If the service station's screw up caused your car to burn up, they should pay for the damage.
     
  24. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
    1,720
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Darrell
    #24 DMOORE, Oct 10, 2005
    Increadable story. Good to hear you were OK and the car sustained a "minimal" of damage.
     
  25. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
    Honorary Owner

    Mar 21, 2004
    20,408
    Northern CA
    Full Name:
    Yin
    #25 ylshih, Oct 10, 2005
    Glad you're OK, good story, bad incident.
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page