Literally!
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:29 p.m. DukeOfUndersteer Dork
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:35 p.m. mistanfo Dork
Hello State Farm, I need to submit a claim...
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:38 p.m. mel_horn Dork
New CL ad: Never raced or wrecked...
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:42 p.m. Keith PowerDork
Ouch. Although pulling the engine looks pretty easy.
Any backstory? Is it the Ring? Any word on occupant condition?
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:43 p.m. oldsaw HalfDork
DukeOfUndersteer wrote:
Literally!
The Mini (in the background) gets a flat-bed, while the Bimmer gets a death bed.
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:46 p.m. DukeOfUndersteer Dork
We have seen some car crashes over the past few months, but this one definitely gets you thinking and puts you with both feet on the ground. The BMW E36 M3 crashed during a trackday at the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife track, also known as the ‘Green Hell’.
The M3 was driven by an experienced driver. The cause of this accident was due to traffic. The M3 entered a blind curve where it hit a Mini Cooper driving a lower pace. After the impact the M3 got fire. In the end the vehicle was completely a total loss. The driver survived due to the build-in roll cage.
http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/11/13/car-crashes-bmw-e36-m3-at-nordschleife/
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:55 p.m. bludroptop Dork
That might not buff out.
Glad the driver survived.
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Nov. 16, 2009 12:59 p.m. Tetzuoe Reader
"ran when parked"
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Nov. 16, 2009 2:04 p.m. Ian F HalfDork
Ouch, indeed... and looks like the cage did its job and kept the passenger space intact... I can imagine the Ring could be even scarier in the wet... as the speed differences between slow (inexperienced) and fast (experienced) would be greater than normal...
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Nov. 16, 2009 2:55 p.m. Raze Reader
bludroptop wrote:
That'll buff out.
Glad the driver survived.
FIXED
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Nov. 16, 2009 3:08 p.m. oldsaw HalfDork
Raze wrote:
bludroptop wrote:
That'll buff out.
Glad the driver survived.
FIXED not really
Optimism is good, but realism is better.
Optimism sees that the passenger-side door glass is intact. Realism sees that this was a very expensive learning experience.
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Nov. 16, 2009 4:44 p.m. docwyte Reader
This is why open track days are so dangerous.
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Nov. 16, 2009 4:48 p.m. Appleseed Dork
Best rat rod I've ever seen.
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Nov. 16, 2009 5:07 p.m. dyintorace Dork
docwyte wrote:
This is why open track days are so dangerous.
Out of genuine curiosity, do you think there are safer alternatives? I'm preparing to buy a track car and would like to mitigate the risk as much as possible, either through event choice, sanctioning bodies/companies, equipment, etc.
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Nov. 16, 2009 5:54 p.m. Hal HalfDork
dyintorace wrote:
docwyte wrote:
This is why open track days are so dangerous.
Out of genuine curiosity, do you think there are safer alternatives? I'm preparing to buy a track car and would like to mitigate the risk as much as possible, either through event choice, sanctioning bodies/companies, equipment, etc.
First, it is unlikley that you will find a track day in the US like "running the Ring". I have been to "track days" run by most of the organizations on the East Coast. All of them split dirvers into groups based on ability/experience and require beginners to have instructors.
You will still have the speed difference in groups because of having different cars but it seems to be mitigated by the drivers having similar experience levels.
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Nov. 16, 2009 6:27 p.m. Keith PowerDork
Also, on most tracks there aren't blind corners - and if there are, corner workers would be there to help.
Still, you'd think the M3 driver would have caught a glimpse of the MINI at some point beforehand, enough to get an idea of closing speed. Even the 'Ring isn't that blind. Unless the MINI was spun out, parked or did something weird when the BMW came up behind...
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Nov. 16, 2009 6:53 p.m. dean1484 Dork
Yikes Glad the driver got out. With respect to getting a safe car I think that photo about said it all. Drivers compartment is all but intact. The rest dissipated energy by destructing. That car died a hero. Speaks volumes for the engineering of BMW's. This is a major reason why I will always have BMW, Porsche and Mercedes Benz on my short list. There cars are designed for occupant survival at much higher crash speeds. To do this it costs money and is a major reason why these cars cost more. You are paying for the Engineering.
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Nov. 16, 2009 7:00 p.m. Keith PowerDork
It's probably fair to give most of the credit to the aftermarket roll cage, not BMW. Those are some pretty serious door bars with nice gusseting, and indicate a high quality and complete cage.
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Nov. 16, 2009 7:03 p.m. oldsaw HalfDork
Keith wrote:
It's probably fair to give most of the credit to the aftermarket roll cage, not BMW. Those are some pretty serious door bars with nice gusseting, and indicate a high quality and complete cage.
Excellent point; you beat me to it.
There's also a lot to be said for a damn good restraint system and helmet, too.
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Nov. 16, 2009 7:11 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork
Am I the only one that looks at the quality of the build on that car and thinks that must have been a really fun car before it gave up it's life for the driver?
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Nov. 16, 2009 7:48 p.m. gamby UberDork
That looked like one badass E36.
They seem to be like the Camrys of the 'Ring.
That level of carnage is exactly why a setup like the 'Ring (being open to anyone at anytime) could NEVER fly in the states. Lawyers have trouble looking past all of those fatalities.
That driver was damn lucky he put a rollcage into that thing. It certainly saved his life.
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Nov. 17, 2009 12:33 a.m. MitchellC HalfDork
Who else is eternally bitter that we didn't get the "real" E36 M3?
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Nov. 17, 2009 7:56 a.m. Ian F HalfDork
Keith wrote: Still, you'd think the M3 driver would have caught a glimpse of the MINI at some point beforehand, enough to get an idea of closing speed. Even the 'Ring isn't that blind. Unless the MINI was spun out, parked or did something weird when the BMW came up behind...
That was what I meant about the conditions being a factor. If conditions had been drier, the MINI driver might have been going faster. The M3 driver probably did see the MINI cresting the rise far ahead of him, but was too far away to see how slow it was going... at the same time, the M3 driver probably should have lowered his speed approaching such a blind rise, given the conditions.
Pictures like this remind me of why I will go to the track ONLY when I am driving a car I am comfortable walking away from. Until then, I'll have to stick with chasing cones...
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Nov. 17, 2009 9:33 a.m. Keith PowerDork
The BMW driver should have been able to see the MINI several times. Even with a 40 mph closing speed, you still don't have a car suddenly pop into view. I suspect the MINI did something unpredictable - saw the BMW come up behind and went off-line to let it past, right into the path of the faster car. Or the MINI was just a tourist, as the 'Ring is a public road and anyone can drive on it. Inexperienced and slow drivers are one of the risks there, one you don't find on a normal track event.
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Nov. 17, 2009 10:43 a.m. alex Dork
DukeOfUndersteer wrote:
World's fastest Z3 conversion?
