Me = 0 / vir tire wall = 1
 

So, according to eyewitnesses, I started losing a little oil about ½ way down the front stretch at VIR. Then at about 120mph, and 20 yards before the braking zone, something gave way. I am assuming it was either a fitting or a hose rupturing on my oil cooler, we will have to figure that out once I get it taken apart. Overall though, the damage looks fairly light, and I’m very lucky I hit on the front quarter rather than a rear one.

When I hit the brakes to slow, the car immediately went into an instant spin from the oil on the back tires and I slid about 150 yards into the tire wall. I think I was probably going about 10mph when I hit.

Fortunately, no damage to the headlight. Need a new bumper and fender, and I think the door and hood dents can be repaired and then all 4 things repainted.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/820/crash4.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/167/crash3.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8746/crash2ty.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4875/crash1z.jpg

i think i wanna cry....

For 100mph that does not look that bad, glad to hear you are fine.

So sorry to see those pictures. I guess going from 120 to 10 before the collision is really a good/lucky timing thing.

I'd like to see the verdict on the cause.

If you need a spare black hood I have one.


Take care

I'm very sorry about your crash, but at least you're okay and the damage is bad considering what it could have been.

I definitely would like to see what caused this though.

Sorry Mike.

Remind us what oil cooler you went with...kit or DIY?

NOT THE BEAST!! Glad ur alright boss, sure you did some serious driving to get urself to a speed that kept the damage and injuries minimal. She'll be fine, and you'll be back at it soon.

Wow, that sucks, Mike! You were very lucky, though... I can think of a few places at VIR where you would have hit at more than 10 mph if that happened!

It was a long scary spin. They always say both feet in and look where you want to go, so I looked at the farthest clear area I could see a d luckily got it to go there somehow, although I really was more of a passenger at that point.

It's the modshack diy cooler

Glad to hear you are ok! I hope your ride is fixed soon!

Hopethe new stillen bumper is out soon! Either that or maybe the nismo. Gotta make an opportunity out of it

As I can see , there has been 3 reported problems with oil cooler offered from company or DIY
if I'm right it was Travisjb who lost his engine then another guy couple weeks ago with a well known company who made the oil cooler kit , now Mike

I'm glad you came out OK and no injuries reported !

Mike, that sucks. But, I do think the score is VIR = 2, 370z drivers = 0. I'm glad you trailered it. This is another reason why I would caution others to track your DD. **** happens, and you need to be prepared to right the car off. Fortunately for you, it happened at a turn with lots of runoff, but there are many others there where that could have been very bad. I remember my first race there, 10 years ago, I spun at the last turn before the straight, and spun probably 100 yards off drivers left and never hit anything, but did get stuck in the mud, in my racecar. 5 laps later, another car spun off and hit me (100yds off track). **** happens.

Well, don't run at 10/10ths and buy track day insurance if you are going to run your DD! That's what I plan on doing.

sad to hear that man, seeing it on sunday was nice before the wall