Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
03-30-2010, 05:40 PM
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Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LnmD7kxHUw
I was 2 cars behind when his wing snapped off.... didn't realized it was his wing I was dodging (he was way ahead 
) until I looked up and saw him rolling.
Originally Posted by Element Tuning
First off I can't thank the VIR Emergency crew enough for being responsive, professional, and gentile! Not only did they take great medical care of me but we barely had to lift a finger and they put our wrecked car right into our trailer. Thank you!
Also, VIR what a great place to crash! The two tire walls, armco, and jersey barriers I'm sure helped absorb the impact to have allowed me to escape without even having to visit the hospital!
If you hadn't heard of me I race TTU in the Element Tuning Subaru STi. Prior to this season we needed more downforce to compete in other racing organizations. In NASA TTU I'm power limited but have managed a 1:59.00 which is fast but without power limitations were looking to run sub 1:57s. Ultimately one of the modifications we made was to raise the carbon APR wing into "clean" air to gain downforce. The carbon wing structurally couldn't handle this and it failed coming off the car leaving the first set of esses (I didn't realize this as I headed into the climbing esses).
A big special thanks to my crew: James Fournier, Eddie Echols, and James Mulhern for handling everything over the weekend or for showing me a good time on Saturday night!
Thanks,
Phil Grabow
Also, VIR what a great place to crash! The two tire walls, armco, and jersey barriers I'm sure helped absorb the impact to have allowed me to escape without even having to visit the hospital!
If you hadn't heard of me I race TTU in the Element Tuning Subaru STi. Prior to this season we needed more downforce to compete in other racing organizations. In NASA TTU I'm power limited but have managed a 1:59.00 which is fast but without power limitations were looking to run sub 1:57s. Ultimately one of the modifications we made was to raise the carbon APR wing into "clean" air to gain downforce. The carbon wing structurally couldn't handle this and it failed coming off the car leaving the first set of esses (I didn't realize this as I headed into the climbing esses).
A big special thanks to my crew: James Fournier, Eddie Echols, and James Mulhern for handling everything over the weekend or for showing me a good time on Saturday night!
Thanks,
Phil Grabow
) until I looked up and saw him rolling.
for saftey equipment.
03-30-2010, 05:50 PM
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Re: Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
He had his arm in a sling Saturday afternoon when he got back to the pits and it was off Sunday... he was fine. He was pitted right next to me. They think the wing failed becuase it wasn't designed to be mounted up high in the clean air. It was one of those wings with the "hump" in the center. When putting a wing up high it needs to be flat accross.
03-30-2010, 05:51 PM
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Re: Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
Shit like that makes me scared to take my shit out there cause A: Never done it. B: I would cry like a bitch if I wrecked C: No money to fix so back to B
03-30-2010, 05:53 PM
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Re: Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
03-30-2010, 05:54 PM
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Re: Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
No reason to be scared.... just need to respect what you're doing. When you're a noob you won't be doing anything anywhere clost to what Phil was doing there.... you'll be going about 1/10th the speed and be learning so much you don't have time to go fast.
You don't magically wreck.... you only have to drive as fast as you want. You can look at it like a nice backroads drive w/o any cops when you're new to it all.
You don't magically wreck.... you only have to drive as fast as you want. You can look at it like a nice backroads drive w/o any cops when you're new to it all.
03-30-2010, 06:00 PM
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Re: Element Tuning Subaru STI crash @ VIR @ near 150 mph.... Phil walked away...
It his his legs.... hard to see in the video, but that's what he said at the track.
