Jedi fire... Ted's nuts roasting on an open fire...

[Theodore]

The Jedi ran great at the TGPR Time Trial in Alabama on Saturday and I had a lot of fun with it. She really flies and I planned on doing my hot session sunday afternoon.
I pulled on to long straight, shifted to 4th and felt it was like between gears... I shifted again, heard phuttt and engine shut down. I was doing probably 70.... slowed down to end of straight away and pulled off. Just as I was stopping, I realized there was smoke. I had been on fire since the noise when a connector rod went through the block. Oil dumped on cherry red headers. I undid camlok belts, felt heat between legs and on my shoulders and saw flames coming up between my legs. I pulled wheel and got out of car while courseworkers put it out. Was a bit scary... shoulders of my suit got exposed to flame and smoke.
Car is okay... needs an engine, some hoses, fiberglass work and paint (was planning the last two this winter anyway). The rest of it is in good shape.
Lessons learned... learn from my mistakes :
1. I needed larger mirrors... I was only concerned with seeing cars behind me. If I had larger mirrors, I would have seen smoke and flame and gotten off course quicker. (May not have helped as I pulled off next to courseworkers... and mid- straightaway would have made the courseworkers run to me from a distance.
2. Shut down sequence in case of fire. A. belts B. pull steering wheel C. Get OUT D. Kill Switch. If you don't hit the kill switch, the fuel lines melt and fuel pump keeps kicking out fuel.
3. Yellow Face Shield... I LOVE them for clarity on course. Rally drivers swear by them. One little problem... you cannot see flames. You can see smoke but you cannot see flames. Do not recommend for Formula cars or specials.
4. Course Workers - I ALWAYS thank courseworkers. I give to worker prizes... and I thank them profusely. If you are on fire or in a wreck, it is a lot of comfort to look up into a face you know and realize they care and will do whatever is needed to take care of you and your car. A big joke with courseworkers is "No wave...no save". It's just a joke... but I always wave and in the future, I'll wave even more.
5. If your car is in a fire and dry powder extinguishers are used... next day start hitting the car with soap, water and vinegar to neutralize the powder. It will eat up parts and it will take MANY soap, water and vinegar applications to get rid of it. It attacks EVERYTHING... and you cannot fault workers whose job it is to put out the fire, protect you and track property. They do what they have to ... and you have to start cleaning as soon as you get home.

I have seen racers that wrecked their car, had a mechanical or whatever... got out of their car, slung their helmet, sulked and stomped around. Folks... act like a man. Stuff happens. I'm not thrilled with having to do all the work I have ahead... it won't be cheap and there are other things I'd rather be doing. But racing is not just about what happens on the track. It's also the hours of work doing maintenance and upgrades and repairs. It's making mistakes and finding solutions so you don't repeat them. Cursing the car or kicking the tire is immature... the car wants to run. It has no emotion and if success is in it, YOU have to help find it working with it. Let's face fact...MOST of us want to race. We do NOT want to work on cars all the time, we do not want to tow to track and back, we do not want to change tires and gas up car... we want to drive! We want to RACE! Well, guess what? Arrive n' Drive is for the select few who were born with a gold spoon in their mouth and/or started in carts pretty soon after they were born. If you don't meet those qualifications... then accept you will have to work on cars, you will have to tow, you will have to change tires and gas up your own car, you will have break downs, wrecks and incidents and you will have to do repairs and fix things... and if you aren't willing to make that effort? Then take up stamp collecting or underwater basket weaving... you'll be a lot happier. THIS is ALL part of racing.

Still a great weekend! Had a blast... Tyler Zellmer got his license in Elvira... TJ won CSP class. We all had a load of fun. Ambulance rolled once for the whole weekend and that was for me. They pulled up said "you okay?" I said yes and they went back to station and slept. ; ) It will be a long winter but I am already excited about 2012 season! More hillclimbs, more fun and some GREAT weekends of racing with some wonderful people. Hope to see you there!

[clemsonhatch]

Glad you are ok!!!

[kbrew8991]

dang Ted, stay safe out there!

[Theodore]

Thanks guys... didn't plan that one.... but sure don't plan to have another like it.
There is a silver lining... it looks like I have a possible new sponsor for next season...

[straight four]

Honestly mate thats some crazy stuff.

is the Jedi bike powered? And wtf, it only has one wing... It needs to be banditized...

[wrc_fan]

Glad you're OK Ted!

[Mr.Rauq]

So... '09 GSXR motor? 191 hp? Glad to hear you're ok!

[HKYStormFront]

didn't i tell you i installed a new heated seat mod for those colder track days ted?

[Theodore]

HA! I would have swapped a seat heater for an ejector seat... I move pretty quick for a big guy once you apply a blow torch to my rear...

[stevebullitt]

HOLY CRAP!!! I'm late to say, but glad you're alright Ted.

[Royal Viking]

Honestly Ted, I had to laugh at your intro.

I'm glad to hear that you are ok.

[HKYStormFront]

found a track side pic of ted when he realized his crotch was on fire:

[Theodore]

(11-08-2011 07:23 AM)HKYStormFront Wrote:  found a track side pic of ted when he realized his crotch was on fire:

AWWWW... it wasn't that big a deal... hmmmm... WAITAMINUTE!!!!!

YES IT WAS!!!! LOL

[humjaba]

Haha. Yeah that was pretty scary... I saw Ted go by on the back straight, heard the revs go sky high a couple of times (missed gear?) and then POP and flames. Not a great way to end the weekend :\ I'm glad you're okay.