Did a small mistake on track!
Discussion
While raining and during end of first lap of afternoon session, spin the rear (oversteer) in the raidillon (see profile) at Spa, hit the inner wall, right front corner first (speed should be around 70mph I was just 6200 rpm in third - reason of spin of rear wheels) then continue to spin to hit rear R corner and again front L corner of car. I did 2.5 turns. Noise was huge and I remember the 3 chocks against the wall.
Health is perfect, sore neck for 48 h. (4 point-harness and helmet)
Car is totalled. Windshield is broken, rear clam is teared till midline, diffuser is worn. All front is lost till windshield. Front suspensions are also worn. Motor is fine and I climb the truk by myself as the front hook broke at first attempt to pull the car. Both doors are opening and closing normally. Inside everything is normal, expect windshield.
Conclusions:
- even with experience, spa under rain is dangerous
- Elise's front is very strong and absorb a lot. I did not had time to hit the brake before impact (100 km/h?) as I was trying to do not lift throttle but remain stable and correct with wheel. Once in the wall, brake and clutch fully depressed to avoid to go back to the track to avoid other cars.
- It is my only fault and looking back I should pay more attention to these facts:
I am happy to be in such a good health, hit no one else.
I did a mistake and will pay for it. I do not have too much money but have to assume my problem.
This happend end of october and I want to share this with you, dear Lotus fans, to do not hide myself, to reassure you about the huge security of the car and let you know that big track under rain may bite hard.
Thanks for reading
Benoît
Health is perfect, sore neck for 48 h. (4 point-harness and helmet)
Car is totalled. Windshield is broken, rear clam is teared till midline, diffuser is worn. All front is lost till windshield. Front suspensions are also worn. Motor is fine and I climb the truk by myself as the front hook broke at first attempt to pull the car. Both doors are opening and closing normally. Inside everything is normal, expect windshield.
Conclusions:
- even with experience, spa under rain is dangerous
- Elise's front is very strong and absorb a lot. I did not had time to hit the brake before impact (100 km/h?) as I was trying to do not lift throttle but remain stable and correct with wheel. Once in the wall, brake and clutch fully depressed to avoid to go back to the track to avoid other cars.
- It is my only fault and looking back I should pay more attention to these facts:
- had to wait before to start (other wreck) so engine was hot and tyres were cold, usually I wait more than 1 lap before to push as engine is not at temperature.
- as we were following the pace car for first lap, I was not enough concentrated and driving slower than usually.
- usually I do not push the throttle at this corner because I already hit the second came 100 m before and just let the car go straight, here instead I was slower and taking a bit of wheel to follow the other cars, and big BIG mistake, hit second came in same time as the straight line start there.
I am happy to be in such a good health, hit no one else.
I did a mistake and will pay for it. I do not have too much money but have to assume my problem.
This happend end of october and I want to share this with you, dear Lotus fans, to do not hide myself, to reassure you about the huge security of the car and let you know that big track under rain may bite hard.
Thanks for reading
Benoît
Read your post and my thoughts are with you and your car.
I remember spining mine 3 time at once. It is unbelievable when it happens, I just lifted my hands off the wheel(to protect my thumbs), when I knew all was lost. I didn't hit anything, thank god!
Will you replace her or is that it?
francelise
I remember spining mine 3 time at once. It is unbelievable when it happens, I just lifted my hands off the wheel(to protect my thumbs), when I knew all was lost. I didn't hit anything, thank god!
Will you replace her or is that it?
francelise
Ben, am relieved to hear you are safe and well. Above all, that is the most important thing. Spa is a dangerous circuit and a crash at that speed could have been far nastier.
As for the car, well, it's sad day, because for sure that was one of the most sorted 111R's I've ever seen. It was a superbly set-up car. RIP the black belgian beast.
Did you have track insurance? I hope so.
On the plus side, now you can make your choice of next car from a fresh sheet of paper. I hope you decide to stay with Lotus. We would miss your smiling face and the friendly banter at Abbeville & Croix!
Tim
As for the car, well, it's sad day, because for sure that was one of the most sorted 111R's I've ever seen. It was a superbly set-up car. RIP the black belgian beast.
Did you have track insurance? I hope so.
On the plus side, now you can make your choice of next car from a fresh sheet of paper. I hope you decide to stay with Lotus. We would miss your smiling face and the friendly banter at Abbeville & Croix!
Tim
Very sorry to hear this. It happens to the best of us, the trouble with track days is that small mistakes don't mean a bruised knee or embaressment, they mean expensive damage to your car! I whinced when I saw the photo 
Can anyone comment on the 'kick' that the 111R gives at 6,200rpm? I spoke to Shangani from this forum about accidents he's attended in his line of work, and he mentioned this sudden increase in power causing a few problems in the past.
Can anyone comment on the 'kick' that the 111R gives at 6,200rpm? I spoke to Shangani from this forum about accidents he's attended in his line of work, and he mentioned this sudden increase in power causing a few problems in the past.
RobM77 said:
Can anyone comment on the 'kick' that the 111R gives at 6,200rpm? I spoke to Shangani from this forum about accidents he's attended in his line of work, and he mentioned this sudden increase in power causing a few problems in the past.
At 6200 rpm, there is a change in the came profile giving a sudden peak of torque and then power It is a on-off phenomenon (and not progressive as in other marque).You feel this kick a little bit as a turbo effect. On the wet in the middle of a bend or at the limit, it may be the trigger to start significant oversteer.
Another exemle of this effect, on my car with the a048 "hot" , driving straight on a wet speedway, it was possible to spin the rear wheels at 6200rpm in third simply by giving full throttle.
Edited by bher on Thursday 15th November 22:28
Thanks all for your kind comments.
I do not want to buy the same as the black one was so nice to see and "upgraded to make sense" to track.
I am not very happy with the double spoiler of the supercharged elise but have not seen it in the flesh.
The 2-eleven is extraordinary but pricey and use will be even more restricted and I feel I was already not enough using my elise (see other posts)
The 2+2 is for 2008
The esprit is for 2009 and probably won't fit my goals
I am thinking about a S1 for track only purpose (LOTRC are with a lot of S1 and the one I tried a few years ago was absolutely amazing)
Dealer (www.lotus-verhiest.com) just got a exige S1 with 194 bhp kit but 41000 euros seems too much for that car. I was also thinking about a 340R but no top is quite difficult in our countries.
As you can see I am not very far in my choice process.
I miss my car a lot but on the other handI feel I had push it to much on the track side and wonder if a more comfy-sporty one for the week-end AND a real cheaper track toy is not another option.
S Works said:
I hope you decide to stay with Lotus.
Tim
Tim, your question is in my mind since the day after the crash.Tim
I do not want to buy the same as the black one was so nice to see and "upgraded to make sense" to track.
I am not very happy with the double spoiler of the supercharged elise but have not seen it in the flesh.
The 2-eleven is extraordinary but pricey and use will be even more restricted and I feel I was already not enough using my elise (see other posts)
The 2+2 is for 2008
The esprit is for 2009 and probably won't fit my goals
I am thinking about a S1 for track only purpose (LOTRC are with a lot of S1 and the one I tried a few years ago was absolutely amazing)
Dealer (www.lotus-verhiest.com) just got a exige S1 with 194 bhp kit but 41000 euros seems too much for that car. I was also thinking about a 340R but no top is quite difficult in our countries.
As you can see I am not very far in my choice process.
I miss my car a lot but on the other handI feel I had push it to much on the track side and wonder if a more comfy-sporty one for the week-end AND a real cheaper track toy is not another option.
Very sorry to hear about your accident Ben, while I've only been there in the (mostly) dry, I can imagine its incredibly easy to have something happen there where its wet.
I was recently in a similar quandry about what to do, after the loss of my 111R (much less spectacular, much more embarassing) and I went the S1 route, primarily for financial reasons. After two months, five track days and about 6,000 miles, I can definitely say that you get as much fun out of an S1* .... so I'd go for a track biased S1 and a daily driver if you can.
I was recently in a similar quandry about what to do, after the loss of my 111R (much less spectacular, much more embarassing) and I went the S1 route, primarily for financial reasons. After two months, five track days and about 6,000 miles, I can definitely say that you get as much fun out of an S1* .... so I'd go for a track biased S1 and a daily driver if you can.
- OK there's no maniac cam change on my S1, but the 10 grand you save buys a whole lotta track days / upgrades :-)
Sorry to hear about this Bher. Your health is the most important, but when you total a car it's very tough. The Elise construction is certainly easy to cause major damage.
I have a second car for track days. Not exactly a cheaper car, just cheaper to fix, e.g. made of metal. I'd recommend this route if your Lotus is newish. I still plan to do the odd track day in the Exige.
Good luck with your search
I have a second car for track days. Not exactly a cheaper car, just cheaper to fix, e.g. made of metal. I'd recommend this route if your Lotus is newish. I still plan to do the odd track day in the Exige.
Good luck with your search
Ben - that's awful news and really saddened to read your post
Most important thing is that the car protected you during the impact and that you were able to walk away ... the 111R (like any car) can be replaced. Mending skin and bones isn't so easy.
Hope to see you out in your new toy at some point ... I think someone like you would enjoy a race/track spec S1 ... ...
Most important thing is that the car protected you during the impact and that you were able to walk away ... the 111R (like any car) can be replaced. Mending skin and bones isn't so easy.
Hope to see you out in your new toy at some point ... I think someone like you would enjoy a race/track spec S1 ... ...
Edited by bjc388 on Friday 16th November 18:42
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