Crash
Oops.
Saddest day of my automotive life.
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Feel for you Swade.
Indeed, I feel for you, Swade. This is a sad moment captured on film. Really sad……
Looks like you went on two wheels for a sec there. Definitly quite the crash and it’s great that you could walk away from it.
It´s a shame.. But it´s only a car. Thank goodness Saab build safe cars and that you did not bump your head S. That´s what matters the most. I believe there is a Viggen somewhere waiting for you later in life.
Love the sound of that engine!
Cheers/Tom
There’s been at least four other incidents that I’ve heard about on that same corner since I did that (11 months ago now). All ended up doing the exact same thing as I did. One of them was a brand new M3!!
I was able to compel my insurer to cover it as it was an instructional event with a proper instructor in the car. The M3 guy ($170K car here in Oz) did around $50K damage with no cover. Double-ouch
First time you wreck a car, eh? Although I feel for you it’s the way of life… Once you get over, it’ll only make you stronger!
BTW, I’m glad that this blog lives on. You’re the man Swade!
Wow…..that’s enough to bring anyone to tears! You’re a brave man my friend. I would have wept aloud!!
Swade: Thanks for fighting the good fight with the insurance company. It’s a great teaching example for the rest of us. My response probably would have gotten me put in jail; your patient, well-thought response got results.
My arguing with the insurance company would have definitely got me in trouble! You are indeed a patient man!
I am very sorry to see this Swade. But most importantly, you are OK! Couldnt ask for more! : ) Hope you could recover from the accident soon, and find yourself in a new Saab one day.
….. the instructor said “gogogo” before the crash. This is sad…
I don’t really understand ,it’s not so violent and the car is definitively broken ?
Good of you to show this video to everyone Swade, it can happen to anyone. You guys sounded pretty cool considering, after the incident. It shows what a level headed guy you really are mate.
Some people would prefer to hide a situation like this, if it happened to them. Let’s hope it’s a safe and fun day next Saturday at Lang Lang. One we all want to remember for the right reasons.
Etienne,
the impact pushed the chassis our of alignment at the rear. Combine this with the high cost of labour and parts here in Australia, as well as the unknown damage that will be revealed when the car’s stripped down, and the insurance company didn’t really have much of a choice.
Someone who can do the work themselves will pick up a good bargain at auction. Unfortunately that won’t be me, though.
Bummer.
What a superb video, Steane! You’ve not only mastered the Hitchcockian sense of suspense, but have created a kind of drama that evoked C’etait un Rendezvous. I was on the edge of my seat!
Swade, next time beter wear at least a safety helmet.
(I’m not joking, you have too much faith in swedish steel, imagine a rollover in an Alfa next time …)
I concur with all the above, but I, like wilfried, cannot imagine that they allowed you to drive without a helmet. You were up to some pretty good speed there.
What & where was this track & what or who was the school putting on this event?
I’m sure things will go well (or better) with your new Alfa project.
Please, Swade, the first essential accessory you need to buy is a helmet!
Wilfried, Dan,
The helmet wasn’t required as it was a tuitional event only, strictly non-competitive and it had a speed limit of 120 km/h on the course (at about 50 seconds I’m on the straight and you’ll hear the car basically coast down there).
Any competitive events that they run definitely involve all the proper safety gear and should I get involved, I’ll definitely be kitted up properly.
Extremely sorry to hear of the accident! There’s not enough Viggen’s around Tassie as it is let alone Saab enthusiasts. I know you wouldn’t want to be reminded of the incident but I was just wondering which corner on Baskerville was it?
Here’s a Google Maps link for all of baskerville! Swade if you could please relocate Points A and B to the show the corner which the accident was on. If I ever have a go at Baskerville I wont be going hard on that corner!
Cheers,
Sam
Oh, here’s the link of baskerville.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=16374527223834777905,-42.745503,147.294134%3B18326360064119628017,-42.746678,147.296525&saddr=-42.747004,147.297478&daddr=Unknown+street+%40-42.746678,+147.296525&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=-42.745649,147.29618&sspn=0.003861,0.009398&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17
Sam, here’s the map with the pins adjusted as requested. It was on my entry into the main straight. As you can see from the video, I turned in a little early, exited a little wide and got unsettled by the ripplestrip. As I said in an earlier comment, I’m aware of at least three other instances where it’s happened to others at the exact same spot. One wrecked a new M3 and the other resulted in a broken leg for the driver (they were in speed events or unrestricted driving, as opposed to the training event I was involved in).
OUCH! yeah I read the earlier posts and I feel for the M3 as well. I love all M3’s as well, my jaw drops at the site of the new white one in Hobart AutoHaus all the time.
The video shows pretty clearly that painstakingly annoying ripple strip. I’m a bit afraid of baskerville now. Might just go a Dyno first, been putting that off long enough. Thanks for posting the Map back.. gotta love google maps.
Ok, anyway i’m feel sorry for you ,but i’m sure you will cherish another saab soon
Sorry about your car but I’m glad you guys are ok.
do you have pics of the outside damage of the car? I’d like to see them as a deterrent for me so I’m not tempted to take the wife’s viggen out at track days.
Its sad, even tho i didnt see the video cause it isnt there anymore:)