Monterey Historics

[dougie]

Here' a heart stopping photo of David Love "at flight" in is '58 Ferrari 250 TR. Laguna Seca's corkscrew is not forgiving at all when things go wrong.
See the rest of the pictures at the Octane site: https://www.classicandperformancecar.com/news/motorsportnews/240259/monterey_historic_races.html

Dougie

 

[UltimateQuestion]

That's an expen$ive flyin' machine! Hopefully he had a good landing. Or at least good insurance!!

 

[TRMark]

Looked at the rest of the pictures. Ouch!

 

[PC]

Nothing that can't be straightened out with the proper application of brute force and hard cash. :hammer:

 

[pjsmetana]

Its not that bad. I think its good he didn't get hurt. That cork-screw is a devil.

 

[aeronca65t]

Wow! What an amazing photo!

 

[AngliaGT]

I went to Laguna in the early 80's.A (wiser) friend
& I walked the course.He explained to me that you race
to the top of the corkscrew,brake HARD (almost to a stop),
& accelerate down the hill.It made sense in my MKIII Cortina,
when I was fortunate to drive the course at a celebration of
Lotus's 50th anniversary.
Maybe if he'd known that,he wouldn't have been in that
situation.

- Doug

 

[dougie]

I went to Laguna in the early 80's.A (wiser) friend
& I walked the course.He explained to me that you race
to the top of the corkscrew,brake HARD (almost to a stop),
& accelerate down the hill.It made sense in my MKIII Cortina,
when I was fortunate to drive the course at a celebration of
Lotus's 50th anniversary.
Maybe if he'd known that,he wouldn't have been in that
situation.

- Doug

To his credit David Love is more than a capable vintage racer. A founding member of CSRG in 1968 and having own and raced (no trailer queens here) his '58 Ferrari 250 TR for over 40 years. I know he's navigated Laguna's Corkscrew hundreds of times with great success. I haven't heard the whole story, but I think his "off" came while trying to avoid car-to-car contact with another Ferrari that had spun.

Dougie

 

[apbos]

Dougie
I thought that at first also. But unless he changed numbers in mid-flight I do not think this is a pre-accident picture.

Paul

 

[UltimateQuestion]

If you look closely in the background you can see the #9 approaching the incident

 

[tiga2]

...Here is a "before" shot I took last summer. Dont worry, he's got the $'s!

 

[dougie]

...Here is a "before" shot I took last summer. Dont worry, he's got the $'s!

I agree, he probably thought it was due for a new re-spray anyway.

Dougie

 

[Silverghost]

Knowing almost nothing about what to do in a situation such as this, I ask this question. In the series of pictures in that link, picture 8 of 16 shows the car at about a 30 degree angle to the tire barrier and the front wheels are straight. No indication of trying to steer away from the barrier. Wouldn't reflexes have initiated some attempt to turn? Or is the best thing to do is let the front corner absorb the impact to save the rest of the car? Just curious about technique here.....

 

[skippymga]

The Corkscrew isn't nearly as evil as some say. As long as you get your car slowed down early, then rollin in as fast as your car will allow and roll back into the throttle.. aim for the top of the second tree from the left and you should be good.

David Love lost his brakes making for quite a ride. He was fine car is easily repairable.

Best - Scott
MGA #41 - The Pile

 

[skippymga]

Hi Doug.. how goes the H car? Will we be seeing you in 3 weeks at Sears Point?
Scott

...Here is a "before" shot I took last summer. Dont worry, he's got the $'s!

I agree, he probably thought it was due for a new re-spray anyway.

Dougie

 

[dougie]

Hello Scott-

I'm glad you found the Racing forum on the BCF. We definitely need more left coast vintage racers to chime in. With your knowledge and experience of the tracks here in the West you'll be a great addition.

Now about the Healey, well....I was planning on the final at Thunderhill until this last weekend. I was feeling so confident (a little cocky even) before the SOVREN Columbia River Classic so I decided to hit the Lotus track day at PIR prior to the Labor Day Weekend event. Heat cycled at new set of TD's with the 1st hot laps and then proceeded to blow past every 356 in our race group the rest of the day. The big Healey was spot on revving to 6500 rpm in a blink and pulling like a freight train. They delayed our fourth session due to some street vehicles needing to cross the track while we were still on the grid. I shut of the engine off for a few minutes and between you and me I think I forgot to reactive my accusump when I started up again. My oil warning light flashed while entering PIR's chicane at speed and 1/2 lap later drop in oil pressure, rise in oil temperature and water temperature. I pulled the oil filter and sure signs of a destroyed bearing spilled out. My weekend was over before it even started.

So the question stands do I have time to refresh before Thunderhill, short answer yes. Reality is once I have the 600lbs monster 6 cylinder out again, I want to do a few things I didn't have time for in April, a little crank massaging and a set of Carillo rods to help eliminate some future fatigue.

I'll most likely be seeing you in the spring.

Dougie

P.S. It rained all weekend here and the track was a swimming pool. (made me feel a wee little better) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRbJb4Sb2pM

 

[skippymga]

Ouch...! Understood, sprint in Northern CA is beautiful. We usually run at Laguna in March, Sears Point in April.

Glad to be here and will help any way I can. Only ran Portland once in 05 and loved it - fun and quick track that doesn't suit the low HP of the As to well.

Stay in touch.
Best - Scott

 

[Twosheds]

P.S. It rained all weekend here and the track was a swimming pool. (made me feel a wee little better) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRbJb4Sb2pM

What an eclectic Group!

Thought I saw Peyote in there.

 

[dougie]

Sure enough, that's Bill Babcock in his '59 Peyote MKII a NW fixture in the vintage race scheme.

Dougie