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?

Recent videos
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! 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. 

You'll need to Log in to post comments.

More like this
Our Preferred Partners
nXiBTvVnM13XoPTFIxpG2apx8CudD60x45Gj37o4ksSDAtHXYM09Byk3vPXImplg