We first worked with Chris Albin on magazine stories some 20 years ago. His car has even graced our cover. When we saw this weekend’s video of his familiar, yellow VW Golf crashing into the trees, our heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, he emerged okay.
Then, we saw today's article on The Drive,…
Things that make me happy:
1...Chris is okay, which is what counts. 2...The positive attitude on display by the Albins. 3...That people at the top of SCCA are still club racing affordable cars.
Ha, looks like they have since edited their article, removing this line: “Sadly for this Volkswagen Golf driver, he got a bit too ambitious and overheated the brakes, leading to an aerial act that can't be missed.”
So, reading between the lines because it's never actually stated - it was a brake line failure?
By the way, this is why we research things before putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, or whatever metaphor have you. Yes, it takes more time than just just spouting off the first thing that comes to mind but, in the end, I feel better about our place in life.
No, we are not a click bait site. We are here for the long haul, and this is our community.
End soap box.
Keith Tanner wrote: So, reading between the lines because it's never actually stated - it was a brake line failure?
Yep. There's a photo in the main story.
Looks like they changed the title too. They also refer to this as a "hot lap" and the filming Miata as a "track car" - seems like race and race car would have been more appropriate.
Typical internet "news site" asshattery.
David S. Wallens wrote:Keith Tanner wrote: So, reading between the lines because it's never actually stated - it was a brake line failure?Yep. There's a photo in the main story.
Ah, found it. Failed at the crimp.
So the followup article is to get that brake line to a specialist and figure out why it failed. Obviously it's not a new line. Are they a consumable? Why did he have two failures in short order? What can we collectively learn from this?
We sell SS brake lines. which means I get to hear about any problems over a reasonably large install base. The failure rate is extremely low and nonexistent as a catastrophic failure.
I look at stainless lines, made who knows where by who knows who, using components from who knows where, and then I go buy OE equivalent rubber ones that show evidence of failure for quite a while before, and have DOT numbers stamped on the hose.
I fear I have too many years of quality concerns with aftermarket parts of any type. Heck, I don't trust OE stuff all the time.
cmcgregor wrote: Looks like they changed the title too. They also refer to this as a "hot lap" and the filming Miata as a "track car" - seems like race and race car would have been more appropriate. Typical internet "news site" asshattery.
It's basic hack writing. I won't even call it journalism. It's lazy. L-A-Z-Y.
It's obvious that the video was posted by Eric Prill. One minute on Google would reveal who he is: F Prod Miata racer and SCCA VP and COO. Have a question about the incident? He's easy to reach.
It's extra work, but sometimes you need to do a little research before hitting the "publish" button.
David S. Wallens wrote:cmcgregor wrote: Looks like they changed the title too. They also refer to this as a "hot lap" and the filming Miata as a "track car" - seems like race and race car would have been more appropriate. Typical internet "news site" asshattery.It's basic hack writing. I won't even call it journalism. It's lazy. L-A-Z-Y. It's obvious that the video was posted by Eric Prill. One minute on Google would reveal who he is: F Prod Miata racer and SCCA VP and COO. Have a question about the incident? He's easy to reach. It's extra work, but sometimes you need to do a little research before hitting the "publish" button.
I would lament the state of automotive journalism (present company excluded, of course) but it's unfortunately not limited to just our little corner of the world. Research doesn't drive those sweet sweet clicks!
I first met Chris when I was Club racing in improved touring in the early nineties. Never have I seen someone squeeze so much out of a low-budget race car. Even when he was starting out the racing on a shoestring his cars were always meticulously prepared. And to top it all off he is one of the most self-effacing and truly nice guys both on and off the track. Glad you're okay, Chris.
True story, Chris was first featured in our mag for his Solo Nats effort--his Blazer From Hell. Yes, like the truck. This might have been in the '80s.
cmcgregor wrote:David S. Wallens wrote:I would lament the state of automotive journalism (present company excluded, of course) but it's unfortunately not limited to just our little corner of the world. Research doesn't drive those sweet sweet clicks!cmcgregor wrote: Looks like they changed the title too. They also refer to this as a "hot lap" and the filming Miata as a "track car" - seems like race and race car would have been more appropriate. Typical internet "news site" asshattery.It's basic hack writing. I won't even call it journalism. It's lazy. L-A-Z-Y. It's obvious that the video was posted by Eric Prill. One minute on Google would reveal who he is: F Prod Miata racer and SCCA VP and COO. Have a question about the incident? He's easy to reach. It's extra work, but sometimes you need to do a little research before hitting the "publish" button.
When you're being paid by the article, they have a shelf life of about 35 minutes and the only way to put food on the table is to publish 20 articles a day - research is not a priority.
The sad thing is that clickbait headlines are based on what actually works.
cmcgregor, you're totally correct. Sometimes I'll read a piece in the New York Times and think, Dang, there's a ton of research in there. I know we're getting totally off-topic here, but this article in particular impressed me. How many hours are in that piece?
As hydraulic hoses are a big part of what I do to make a living, I can add some insight, it might even be worth more than .02¢. (but not more than .04¢)
Since it failed at the crimp, and in fact, looks like it pulled out of the fitting completely, it was a manufacturing defect.
The hose may not have been fully inserted into the fitting before crimping, or the crimp was not tight enough. That could happen for a few reasons. The few times that I've had braided stainless hoses made, the very top of the hose that goes down inside the fitting were wrapped with tape like packing tape to keep the braid together. If there is too much tape, the tape is sloppy or the braid for some reason starts coming apart, it will be very difficult to 100% correct crimp. It will probably be loose, but look good. Certain types of crimping dies will more likely to have this problem than others.
When they break in the fitting, or just past it, the crimp is usually to tight or not centered in the die.
So, would there have been any way to determine from a visual inspection that there was an issue with that line?
I see in 1st post it suggests that the failed line was the one that was replaced the day prior. What are the odds that it really was the other side that failed and not the replaced line? I know I've learned the hard way when it comes to brake components to replace in pairs or all. If one side failed, the other side is soon after. After all, the have pretty close to the same wear. Sometimes the other side fails because it becomes the weak link after putting a new component on the other side. Learned that with brake cylinders, one fails replace both because the other will fail soon after.
Glad he's okay!
I'd be curious to see the failure rate of the hoses that shop made.
Have you guys ever had a stainless brake line fail?
I've been in the hydraulics industry before, and I still have a friend that makes stainless brake lines. His machines all have a dot number crimped in every line sold so it could be traced back in the event of a failure. Last I asked (a few years ago), he never had a failure. I wonder if that's changed.
I had a ss brake line failure at the crimp that thankfully made itself apparent as a weep. Operator error was the cause since I installed them. They looked groovy at full droop with the wheels off but bad things were happening in use.
I've seen that with some of the ones we've sold. You get a bit of leakage at the crimp as soon as it's installed. Naturally the line gets replaced immediately. Never had one blow apart.
I have recovered a Jeep that suffered a line failure. The line was rubbing against the tire and had eroded away the sheath so the Teflon inner liner was exposed. The guy taking care of the Jeep knew it, too. Can't blame the line for that one.
I have had a braided stainless line fail by pulling out of the crimp like that. Mercifully at an autocross with lots of room and not much momentum.
I was really hoping never to hear of another instance.
Very glad he is ok. When I had my Golf, I used his advise for set up and tuning. Really great guy.
Never had a brake line failure but I had a rear shed the entire block of friction material from the backing plate while braking for Turn 5a at Mosport. That foot to the floor moment was the biggest pucker incident of my racing life and I am still amazed that both car and driver emerged unscathed. I was off pace slightly from overtaking a slower car in 4 and I am certain that was what made the difference. The brake pad supplier recommended we countersink rivets through the friction material as a safety measure, I changed manufacturers instead.
David S. Wallens wrote: By the way, this is why we research things before putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, or whatever metaphor have you. Yes, it takes more time than just just spouting off the first thing that comes to mind but, in the end, I feel better about our place in life. No, we are not a click bait site. We are here for the long haul, and this is our community. End soap box.
I've crossed paths and observed in action some of the people that write there. They seem to make up some stuff in a quest for grandioseness and getting articles out quickly :)
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