How quickly can you exit your race car? What if it’s upside-down?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VvoGaoeecjo

NASA racer Mark Hunter recently shared his in-car video from Roebling Road, where his Mustang went upside-down at the exit of Turn 3.

From his description:

I want to share this experience with everyone so that they may become safer while enjoying racing, time trials, or HPDE.

My safety equipment did its job, and I escaped without injury (other than my pride). The exit took way too long, but I was out of the car before the emergency vehicles and crew arrived.

Among the lessons that he shares, practice your exit drills. Can you disconnect your head-and-neck restraint while wearing gloves?

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/4/23 12:18 p.m.

Watching that made me rethink where I keep certain items–like a window breaker–in my daily.

It also made me realize that I should have a plan in case I get in an accident or rollover with my daughter in the car.

Toyman!
Toyman! GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/4/23 1:45 p.m.

The last time I climbed behind the wheel of the Lemons B210, I decided it would not be fast enough and returned to the pits. The car is built for smaller people than I. 

Ian F (Forum Supporter)
Ian F (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
4/4/23 2:23 p.m.

Interesting how the helmet w/ HANS wouldn't fit through the slightly crushed window opening. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/4/23 2:53 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Seriously, yeah, what if? And what if your driver’s door is only up against something? What’s your plan then? 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/4/23 2:56 p.m.

And some related reading: Advice to the wise: How to always be mindful of safety.

I had zero plans of going ass over teakettle that day. And I still can’t tell you how many times we rolled. It might have been three-quarters, it might have been more.

I can recall the view, though: green, blue, green, blue, repeat. 

The big take-home is that once the earth stopping spinning, we didn’t have an exit plan. 

Rodan
Rodan SuperDork
4/4/23 3:49 p.m.

In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :

An L/XL helmet won't fit through a 6th gen Camaro window opening when it's not crushed... 

This is a good reminder to practice egress, and to have a plan.  

 

z31maniac
z31maniac MegaDork
4/5/23 9:30 a.m.

So this explains Terry's BookFace post. 

The safety aspect, along with money and time, is why I don't track anymore. 

jimbbski
jimbbski SuperDork
4/6/23 5:09 p.m.

In reply to Rodan :

I found this out about 5 years ago. I was instructing at a HPDE and after getting out of the pass. seat I closed the door and then went to place my helmet on the seat.  I figured that I wasn't going to use it again until I rode in this Camaro again. 

 

jimbbski
jimbbski SuperDork
4/6/23 5:09 p.m.

In reply to Rodan :

I found this out about 5 years ago. I was instructing at a HPDE and after getting out of the pass. seat I closed the door and then went to place my helmet on the seat.  I figured that I wasn't going to use it again until I rode in this Camaro again. 

 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/7/23 9:27 a.m.

In reply to jimbbski :

Right now, I see a photo of my old Rabbit GTI on the right of this window. You remember how much bigger side windows used to be. 

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