Politically incorrect about CGT crash

By the way- the morals of the case will be decided at the end of the case, in the settlement. Who has to pay and how much, etc. Just because she brings a case doesn't mean she has to win...

 

I agree...at this point it is just a claim against all of the parties. But, being that our judicial system found it necessary to compensate a woman for spilling McDonald's coffee on herself, I am worried. In regards to tracks, I only have experience at 2 tracks-VIR and Roebling. At both tracks, one enters onto a straight and the possibility exists of being hit by another vehicle. I was taught to enter (from the pit) the straight fast, staying to the right, checking my mirrors for cars approaching on my left, and safely and quickly moving to my left...regardless of the flagmen waving me on. So, I am not sure that the design of the track in question is so sufficiently different as to have contributed to the crash. I guess we'll see...I just hope that this does not result in a backlash to tracking days and clubs in general.

 

The track marschal may have made a mistake. Keep in mind those guys are volunteers when you go out. They are not paid. Most do it for the simple pleasure of racing. They are the ones that help you in corners and run with the fire extinguishger when your car is on fire. They prevent more deadly situations than they cause.
The Ferrari driver made a mistake if he went out too slow. However, there is no minimum speed limit posted as to how fast you have to go out so your on your own. Judgement call.

If this goes anywhere nobody will ever be safe in driving their cars on the track ever again. You may get sued for being there. Very sad news.

Reminder for all of us:
make sure you know who you are getting into the passenger seat with.

 

I think those left a loooooong time ago...people are *******s and we just have to live with it...what an awesome world...

 

I've noticed that certain cities have traffic patterns that actually encourage anti-social behaviour.

I suppose that, once you've converted the population into jerks, it's easier to convince them that they have to pay Big Brother to protect them from all the other jerks.

 

The possibility that a track marshall or flagger will make a mistake; or a tow truck driver; or the pace car driver; or the guy who mounted your tires; etc etc - is all part of the sport. You cannot swagger around the paddock in your shiny nomex suit on the good days, but cry like a baby when the inevitable bad days come.

 

I think that while its sad these people died it is even sadder what they are doing to all the other folks that love the track. Because of these moronic lawyers (who more than likely planted the idea in the familes minds) folks that love going to the track are going to have a harder time or have to pay bigger dues.

I know the risk each and every time I step onto the track are fairly high and get higher the more you push the car. There is a reason I haven't stepped up to a faster car and thats just because the more power I have the more chances of a little mistake become a big shunt. With the power of cars like the CGT you sure as heck better know how to drive before putting it on the track and accept the risks.

The marshal may have made a mistake but it could just have easily been a mistake by the drive on the track as well. No one knows what happened unless its all on video.

 

Great post Ethan, and welcome.....

I join the others in condolences but you have the greatest view point on it I've ever heard articulated..

 

Martin,

Valeria says she still feels safe in your 360C, even now that she knows you.(???)...LOL!

There is a niggling seed already planted, in my brief reading of the litigation....

(Rumor) Man, these cars are FAST!
(Rumor) What's that squirmy feeling from the rear under hard braking..man, I'd better be careful....
(Rumor) Something was broken/wrong/loose bolt on the suspension...


(Fact) Wow! That was a hard hit to a concrete wall....I think my neck is broken.....(FADE TO BLACK)

Rest in Peace guys.....

When I flipped a car once on public roads to avoid a car in an illegal move, in front of me the Police Officer wrote it up as "Faulty Avoidance"...think about that for a minute.....

 

I can relate to that .....

thats why its always safer to play on track than on public roads.
.

 

Although I wholly disagree w/ the action, the only surprise here is that it took so long for the lawsuit to surface. I guess they wanted to make doubly sure they identified anyone and everyone w/ even the remotest possible connection. Sad.

 

I completely agree.....

 

Wherever possible, I always have a peek myself at oncoming traffic when a marshall waves me on. Some tracks this is not possible however. Four eyes are always better than two.

Dave

 

No one else has mentioned the following:

Is it not the responsibility of the driver exiting the pits to check his mirrors before merging into a "hot" track area.

Only way I can see the driver being totally absolved of any responsibility is if the pit exit leads onto the "racing" line. At most tracks the pit leads onto the portion of the track that is off line (inside lane).

I realize the Carrera GT was most likely doing in excess of 150 mph but I am assuming the Carrera GT was on line and that the Ferrari should have been entering the track to the inside "off line".

Anyone confirm this ? If true the driver of the Ferrari bears much of the responsibility.

 

At Fontana raceway if cars are using part of the oval then they do exit off of the normal pitlane into turn one under the line much like you see in regular NASCAR races. At the Ferrari club events I've been to at Fontana they DO NOT use any part of the oval, only the infield in which case cars enter from the paddock area onto a straight in the infield. Unfortunately that entrance is indeed in the racing/braking line of a turn a little less than 100 meters away.

Also, someone mentioned the "money grubbing" wife and I think they got the parties confused. To the best of my knowledge, Cory' and his wife did not have children and in fact had only been married a short period of time. Cory's wife is the one suing everyone including the estate of Ben who did have children. I never met Ben but had seen him at the track. Only spoke to Cory once in my life and eerily enough the topic was marriage. Specifically his thoughts on marrying this woman now suing everyone which about a year before this instance had him..unsure as he said she could be quite the nasty person. Obviously he was worried about his fortune should a divorce happen. My exact words were, "well if you've seen her be nasty and vindictive with others it would be foolish to imagine that spotlight won't fall on you at some point. It's like being in the vicinity of a lighthouse, you're gonna get hit at some point." He replied, "you're right", and that was that. I was suprised to hear later that he went ahead with it. Sadly it'll be Ben's family getting the business end of her nonsense.

 

hi.

my 2 cents.

I think that some of the posters above have given the impression that once
you sign up for a track event , you cede all your rights. And the corollary of
that being if anything 'bad' happens , well , hard luck for you.

I think that that is neither the correct legal position nor is it the correct
'moralistic' position to take.

On the 4th of June I tracked at my local track and whilst exiting the pitlane,
just before coming onto the end of the pitstraight (waved on by a marshall,
no less) , a dog cross my path and went onto the end of the pit straight
and cross that too ... onto the end of the g/stand area.

it sounds funny. made me laugh too.

but it could have amounted to something else if cars coming down the
straight had swerved to avoid the fella.

you guys get the idea.

there is a line there somewhere , which probably hasn't been properly defined
nor laid out , as to where the responsibilities lie and what is the level of risk
that is to be apportioned.

I track because its fun , non-competitive and nice to know your car/you and
the limits in a 'safe' enviroment.

But it certainly doesn't mean that when I put my sig down on that disclaimer
form , I write off all my rights which allows anything to happen to me on track
without anyone having to explain/answer for it.

.

nb : this is also the reason why I never give taxi-rides on track. I can live it
down myself , but I can't live it down if my 'actions' takes someone else with
me.

cheers and good discussion.

 

Burden of proof in a civil case is 51%... odds are that they will win in one form or another; most likely they will settle. Very sad case

 

While at a local track event Saturday, a deer crossed the track in front of me close enough I had to brake for it, plus they usually have friends that follow. If it crossed a second later, could have been serious, I was doing about 100. Afterwards, I thought "who could I (or my widow) have sued?" I guess the state wildlife department for not having a long enough deer season. (ha ha). Anyway, tracking has hazards from critters to newbies to busted parts.

Dave

 

I've been lucky enough to take a ride in a racecar, driven by a friend. I'm a single guy, my few assets would take care of my few liabilities. Nobody is getting a payday when I die.

Last time I went, I saw my brother that morning, and I told him I was about to take a ride around a racetrack with a friend. I told him that if something did happen, I didn't want anbody suing anybody. I knew when I got into that car, that there was inherent risk.