st3ph3n Posted October 22, 2005 Posted October 22, 2005 Yes, I am tonight the luckiest man in Scotland. For those who don't know the first turn at Knockhill then you're slowing down from 100ish into a quick 3rd gear right over the crest of a hill into quite a drop. So now picture the scene - I've just gone past the old yellow lotus elan(?) on the straight, probably should have hung off though. I get on the anchors for the first corner but brake later to finish the pass, and get out of the way of the lighter and more nimble on its brakes elan. As I round the first turn the back steps out and I try and steer into it. The back continues to wander round and I know I'm now in for the ride. I'm now heading just about backwards, with the front (or is that back?) wheels pointing in a direction that would swing me into the tyre wall. I then start winding off the opposite lock used to try and correct the slide and put on lock the other way to stop an impact. The car hits the gravel and I do almost a russ swift style J turn, missing the tyre wall by what must have been a baw hair. To say I needed new underwear would be the understatement of the year. I composed myself briefly before trying initially unsuccessfully to get out the gravel. I managed on the second go but when I engaged forward I heard some not so good noises. The marshall guy came running down from his post and we had a quick check of the car, recovered an inner splash gaurd from the gravel trap, and I then drew forward again and he said "it's alright, just the gravel in the wheels". I tootled round the rest of the track, trying not to drop gravel everywhere, before pulling into the pits to be stared at by everyone. Big thanks to the Marshall for helping out and also JohnS for telling me to get my ass back on the horse straight away. He was right as leaving it any longer would have probably ended my track career. Now with a picture:
jcscoob Posted October 22, 2005 Posted October 22, 2005 Well done mate !! how was the car on the way home ?? You must of $hat a brick !!
st3ph3n Posted October 22, 2005 Author Posted October 22, 2005 Car had no probs mate. Did plenty of laps afterwards as the spin was quite early in the day. I did take it a bit easier for the rest of the sessions though.
Gumball Posted October 22, 2005 Posted October 22, 2005 i heard just as i got there !! glad your OK. It just shows you that if the car is hurtling along you cant always recover from the spin. is it the transmission splashguard that came off?
st3ph3n Posted October 22, 2005 Author Posted October 22, 2005 NAhhh, if you look in the wheel arch there's a splash guard between it and the bumper, about 50p worth of plastic. It should clip on fine, but it's covered in muck and I've lost 2 of the 5 plastic studs. My splitter survived intact oddly enough. I spotted you lurking Chris, but you disappeared quite quickly.
FastScooby Posted October 23, 2005 Posted October 23, 2005 i just seen you in the mirror going sideways... glad to hear its fine
IanJ Posted October 23, 2005 Posted October 23, 2005 Did you buy a lotto ticket, or do you reckon you've used up all your luck!! I had a similar moment through duffus in my last scoob while driving 'spiritedly' with a 911 turbo. I didn't get quite as close to the tyres as you did, but it still gives the sphincter some excercise
st3ph3n Posted October 23, 2005 Author Posted October 23, 2005 You know, if the shell station had a lottery machine I was going to buy a ticket. In the end I settled for a sausage supper at the local chip shop on my way home.
stuboo Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 nice one steve glad to have talked to you on sat after your spin just hope your last run went ok as me and baz left just as you went on track
johnnyr6 Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 I saw a similar off a while back when a guy in a mk2 rs2000 lost it going down duffus and slid backwards towards the tyre wall. He also stopped about 6 inches from the tyres, got out , had a look then once he realised it was ok gave the applauding crowd a wave and a bow. 10 secs later some nutter in a bucket did exactly the same thing ploughing straight into the rs2000. The guy was gutted, perfect rear end and knackered nosecone, wing and bonnet.
spooks Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 Glad you didnt do damage, the picture tells the story of how close you came mate Spooks
ANDYJDMSTI Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 you are right.......................lucky lucky lucky!!!!
Gumball Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 who are you ? Kylie minogue? << lucky lucky lucky!!!! >>
~ ~ Cal ~~ Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 God damn ! That was v.lucky indeedio ! Looks reminiscent of the poor Chinese chap who canned his yellow S2k there a while back Glad to hear it any put you off !
st3ph3n Posted October 25, 2005 Author Posted October 25, 2005 Rather coincidentally me and Gordy were talking to him and he was telling us about it. He asked Gordy to take him out in the WR1, and as they headed out I headed for the batmobile to get out too. And a lap later I was in the kitty litter.
Guest G6RAY Posted October 26, 2005 Posted October 26, 2005 Glad your ok mate at least you did it in style with no damage unlike me rolling before i even got to k/h
st3ph3n Posted October 26, 2005 Author Posted October 26, 2005 The advantages of having a spin on the track I suppose Gordon. Things progressing alright with you?
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