Most liked posts in thread: That's not supposed to happen (wheel failure)

Damn I hate it when my wheel passes me on the track!!

Good job keeping the car away from the wall, good job keeping your cool and staying in the car (at least until traffic slowed), and good for your turnworker fro bringing the bottle with him (they get excited when a problem occurs and do all kinds of goofy stuff unless they've been at it for a while or have a really screwed on head).

Wear your fire suit if you want. I was with one of my instructors doing our annual check in his F-40 about 15 years ago. After our checkout session, I asked for a couple of laps at his usual pace to see what how he would normally drive the car (I worried that some instructors would scare a student, and if I thought that might be the case after the "fast ride". I would gently remind them that we were all new once, and we wanted folk to come back...). Anyway, something broke in the Ferrari and we hit the wall backwards. Twice. The first time I broke out the window with my helmet, and the second time the car stopped with my door against the wall. We were on fire and flaming fuel was splashing in on me thru the broken window. I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Fortunately, the driver, who initially appeared to be unconscious, was gone by the time I figured I had better get out of the car, Not easy for a 6'1" 230 lb body to get over that freaking console and out of the car, especially with the drivers helmet jamming my legs against the fire bottle installed in front of my seat.

I think the speedshops in our area had record sales for suits that year, including one for me.

Before that accident, I thought I was pretty much bulletproof. Which I think I still am, but I can tell you - I am NOT flameproof.

Wear the suit.

Pat

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IahHznkEymQ]The funniest moment in motorsport!!! - YouTube[/ame]

 

Like Crashton said : " You handled the event in a calm manner."

If it was me the video would end with me screaming and cursing banging my head on the steering wheel...then running out grabbing the broken wheel and screaming at the wheel......You handled it much better...Good Job...

 

I'm kinda reading out of this...

We've seen your posts on the interwebz and figure it's better to just eat the cost of the wheel than be forever vilified even though we don't think it is our fault.

 

That's all probably true, and it's smart. If more vendors did that it would save them and their customers many a headache.

 

Great job keeping it off the wall.

My front right broke too. I wonder if there is something about pushing the car harder in a left turn then a right knowing that there is a lot more car between you and a wall then there is on a right turn.

I moved to an Enkei RS+M after my wheel center snapping fun. No problems ever since. Not that I get to the track like I used to these days.

 

If it was me I would not put a set of the same wheels back on the car. Call the folks you bought the wheels from, they may want that wheel back to inspect it for a manufacturing defect.

How many track events on those wheels & how often do you inspect your wheels? I mean pull them off & really have a close look at them? Might be a good practice to start if you don't already.

Broken wheels are not all that common, but can happen. Count yourself lucky that you didn't roll your car or hit one of those concrete barriers.

As far as wearing a fire suite goes if it makes you feel better go for it. I think it's overkill for an HPDE, but that is just me.

I'm sure glad you escaped unharmed other than in your pocket. You handled the event in a calm manner.

 

Sorry to see that!

I agree - don't give more money to the folks that built that wheel.

When I cracked my TD1, I replaced the set with Braid tarmac spec rally wheels. I was told the suspension would fail before the wheel did - exactly what I wanted to hear then.

 

I would think Enkei would like to inspect that wheel. Hopefully they will replace it so you have a set to sell off to offset the cost of a new set of wheels.

I meant your calmness as a compliment. There are those that would have shirt their pants in that situation. When I saw the smoke in your video I was yelling get outta the car! Might be time to put a reachable fire extinguisher in your MINI.

 

949 UL makes a 15x8 at a good price, specifically for the Miata spec crowd, but it works nicely on MINIs too. They also make 15x9, I have those up front and 15x8 on the rears. Yet to hear of one failing.

 

You don't need 15x9's on the rear, it's dead weight, and the car feels just right with that stagger--the car has so much grip it's crazy. I have not come close to losing the end of the car. Many people have gone this route, and it's the fastest setup for everyone who's tried it so far.

I run a 15 mm spacer up front (I am running a 12.18 diameter rotor, the largest you can fit under a 15" wheel, brakeman brakes), 8mm in the rear, and everything clears.

 

Perfect!! That should all clear no problem!

 

nice controlled stop. hate that it happened to you.