Heartbreak Saturday

Kamshaaft · 29-03-2012, 07:34 AM

Nobody needs to be reminded that any and all race tracks be it circuit or strip can become very dangerous places within a moment. Inexperience, heading too deep into the braking zone, quick surfaces and even pushing your luck just a little too far in a challenging manouvre can lead to heartbreak, like that endured over the weekend (and probably for some time in the future) by the owner of this once stunning race car.

He wasn't doing anything irresponsible, and he certainly had plenty of experience at Lakeside. This isn't a thread about paying notice to danger whilst driving on the edge, of your seat of tyre deformation of your nerve. This is a thread to pay tribute to one man's XY GT.

Blood, sweat & tears.

This was credited in the 50 years of Lakeside magazine as being a genuine car. For the owner, this was half a life. Nothing even left for the vultures.

phillyc · 29-03-2012, 07:53 AM

I feel awful for him and the car. Terrible situation. It would be like losing a friend.

aussie muscle · 29-03-2012, 09:26 AM

it'll buff out. i'm sure if the chassis isn't too bad it'll be back on the track.

jcxr · 29-03-2012, 09:34 AM

They dont have a chassis. Interesting to see how the bonnet has gone back into the screen. A sad loss, but if you wanna play, sometimes you have to pay...............

fordman302 · 29-03-2012, 09:38 AM

wow i couldn't think of anything worse, at least it died doing what it was made for and not getting rear ended by a landruiser or something

sprint347dave · 29-03-2012, 09:40 AM

hopefully the driver is ok,,,,

ms33 · 29-03-2012, 10:17 AM

What a sad site to see, From what i read it rolled under the bridge and driver walked away.

kaniSS · 29-03-2012, 10:20 AM

Why race a classic? I'm in tears here.

Jim Goose · 29-03-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaniSS

Why race a classic? I'm in tears here.

Remember that 40yrs ago these classics were raced sucessfully in almost stock trim, with no 4 point harness... and a roll bar if they were lucky....

Its a two edged sword...

Do you spent plenty of money on a " static memorial" (ie it sits in the shed never to be seen) or do you spent some money and have some fun in it and take the risks?

If the driver walked away without a scratch... he is a lucky man!

Kamshaaft · 29-03-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms33

What a sad site to see, From what i read it rolled under the bridge and driver walked away.

Rolled 3 times, as you can see from the bonnet and the damage he was very lucky to live. Even with the bar work inside saving his life that bonnet could easily have ended it. Of course he was shaken, and sore. Walked free though.

The driver was of course pretty shattered but held himself well, especially considering the magnitude of his loss not just in an exceptionally nice Falcon that was his love but in the other love for racing - He won't be able to afford to race anymore. It's not like that can be rebuilt (and there's no insurance payouts on race tracks, of course).

BHDOGS · 29-03-2012, 10:36 AM

It sucks that he lost a nice car but its replaceable even if there over priced for an old car least he didnt lose a leg or his life.

Geez Louise · 29-03-2012, 10:37 AM

Sad to see so much damage done but glad to hear the driver walked away.

Unfortunately, it is true....you play, you pay.

Those of us that race on the tracks know that there is a chance we can damage our cars...but isn't there a chance everytime you drive on the roads anyway?

Hopefully the owner will find another project and get back out on the track.

Shonky. · 29-03-2012, 11:28 AM

Rip :(

blackf6 · 29-03-2012, 11:46 AM

Sad sight to see.

04redxr8 · 29-03-2012, 01:41 PM

Very sad to see. Glad to see the driver walked away ok. Lakeside is a deceptive track and will bite the second your not careful.

It is a shame that it has ended the owners ability to do track days.

Angeldust · 29-03-2012, 02:35 PM

ouch..

Grippy · 29-03-2012, 02:41 PM

The roll cage certainly did its job, the roof held its shape well. Very lucky to walk away from such a big incident.

disco · 29-03-2012, 04:38 PM

That is a terrible, terrible shunt! I feel so sorry for the poor fella - but the main thing is that he's alive and ok! Cars can be replaced - lives can't!

Incidentally was this an XW GT or a South African XY GT? Just noticed the small tag on the radiator support.

Also any shots before in all it's glory? That will make a fitting tribute to the car. People can remember it like it was.

Cheers,
Dave.

Johnnyboy · 29-03-2012, 05:31 PM

It's a pity there isn't a local TAFE that can rebuild it overnight for him...

Pedro · 29-03-2012, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms33

What a sad site to see, From what i read it rolled under the bridge and driver walked away.

Never like to see any car crashing on the track. He was very lucky the bonnet didn't come through the screen and get him. Can be a bit tricky if you get out wide there. Before it was resurfaced there was a dip off line towards the outer edge. I hit it once and my car snapped sideways and next second I was looking through the screen at the Gemini pits on top of the rise. Definitely had my attention.

ms33 · 29-03-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disco

That is a terrible, terrible shunt! I feel so sorry for the poor fella - but the main thing is that he's alive and ok! Cars can be replaced - lives can't!

Incidentally was this an XW GT or a South African XY GT? Just noticed the small tag on the radiator support.

Also any shots before in all it's glory? That will make a fitting tribute to the car. People can remember it like it was.

Cheers,
Dave.

That tag looks South African but theres also an aussie tag on it.
A photo from boostcruising in all its glory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

Never like to see any car crashing on the track. He was very lucky the bonnet didn't come through the screen and get him. Can be a bit tricky if you get out wide there. Before it was resurfaced there was a dip off line towards the outer edge. I hit it once and my car snapped sideways and next second I was looking through the screen at the Gemini pits on top of the rise. Definitely had my attention.

I can only guess it happened on that kink just before the bridge. In the same catergory three torrys got written of there last year.

disco · 29-03-2012, 10:44 PM

Actually heard somewhere else this wasn't a genuine GT, nevertheless it doesn't matter. I would be just as heartbroken damaging a replica as I would a genuine GT.

dylancox · 29-03-2012, 11:38 PM

If it was Eric Banana's he would have fixed it and got it back on the road