1st race of 2009, set fastest time in class then crashes the car
My little pit area next to a Viper trailer
Wow it’s been awhile since I updated the blog. I’ve been busy with random stuff and preparing for a trip out of the country. Some of you are probably wondering how my season is going. Well, my 2009 racing season started and ended on the 1st race at willow springs.
Ready For Battle !
Ahh, it was quite an weekend…. On March 7, 2009 I competed in my 1st NASA race of the year in the Time Trial D class.. Saturday I was on pace right away and kept getting faster every session, the car felt great with the RA1 tires, at the end of the day my time was 1.36.4, 1st place in TTD, I’m a whole second faster than the 2nd place car, a spec Porsche boxster. Got a 1st place trophy at the award ceremony, everyone was shocked a rookie won 1st place, esp. since my time was only 1.5sec off the Scion factory backed car in a higher TTC class. After looking over the datalog over night, I realized a 1.35 is definitely possible, maybe even lower ! So I went out Sunday determined to break the class record that was set in 2005. Morning warm up session went great, I was already on pace at 1.37 flat 1st session out. Session 2 I started to push hard, on lap 3, going through turn 8 I pushed about 90% just barely lifting throttle, the rear end slid out alittle bit at 100mph at the apex, but it was an easy correction, I chuck it up to the track being cold and didn’t think too much of it, the day before the car sticks pretty well going through there flat out. Actually I was thinking, damn I’m good, I can control any slide this car throws at me….. Yeah I’m an idiot ! I know… The next lap, I went into turn 8 flat out with no lift. At the apex, the car slid out again, oops, this time it was a much bigger slide, I caught the slide, but the car was still heading sideways towards the dirt at 120mph, I did all I could, and the car flew off track at 100mph. I slide on the dirt in what seems like an eternity, and then finally impacted the plastic barrier, probably at about 40mph.
The redflagged the session, emergency crew came out, my door wouldn’t open, so I had to climb out the window. They tow the car back into the pit, all 4 doors were dented, hood is damaged, front bumper is damaged beyond repair, driver side rocker panel is pushed in, both fenders are gone, quarter panels were dented. The 3 was a tough little car though, I ziptied the bumper up, and drove all the way back to LA with no driverside mirror lol…. You shoulda seen the look on people’s face as they drove by me ! I’m okay surprisingly, I’m alittle sore this morning, but honestly I’ve had far worse crashes in karts…
So the lesson here is leave some margin for error in a highspeed turn like that, if the car goes in a slide in a place like that there’s only so much u can do. This is quite an expensive lesson……………..
The Aftermath...
Unfortunately this means I have to say farewell to the car and my racing plans of 2009. But fear not, the adventure will continue, stay tuned for more exciting projects !
Last but not least, the video of the incident
Track Stories | Randy | 
June 9, 2009 11:13 pm
6 Comments
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By Derrick Wansom, June 10, 2009 @ 10:25 am
I’m sorry for your loss!! You’ve provided invaluable information for the ms3 on this blog, you will be missed! If you are parting out your car I would LOVE your K-mac custom pieces, I just bought a set of plates and will be putting them on my Mazdaspeed coilovers also. Please let me know!
By JamesD, June 11, 2009 @ 4:23 am
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting
By Roman, June 12, 2009 @ 8:00 am
sorry to hear and see this. but it happens.
really glad you’re ok. GL fixing MS3 ) and keep us posted
By Andrew, June 15, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
You’re a crazy nut job.
By Joe, June 19, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Sorry to hear this. I was most appreciative of your write up on installing the harness bar. Hope it works out in the end. Also glad your ok and live to race another day.
By kevin, September 2, 2009 @ 1:11 am
I drove my mazdaspeed3 and slided out at the same place as you last year. My car was stuck in the sand and had to be towed out. I also want to get K-MAC and put in on my mazdaspeed coilover .However, I am not sure where to make your custom adaptor because I am come back to my country -Taiwan.