I was a corner worker at an SCCA club race a few weeks ago and a 2nd gen
RX-7 lost one of his wheels going coming out of a high speed turn. The
wheel made it most of the way down the 200 yard straight away, but the car
didn't make it but a few more feet. Everyone was ok as was the car, but I
found out later it was due to lack of torqued lug nuts.
>From: "Paul Foster" <pfoster@gdi.net>
>Reply-To: "Paul Foster" <pfoster@gdi.net>
>To: "team.net" <autox@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Lug Nuts
>Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 09:22:53 -0400
>
> >That was one of the scariest car fires I've ever
> >seen...Pilar and her passenger were very very lucky to get out of the
>car.
>
><<<The way I heard it, the shotgun was Victor Sias, who jumped out of
>the car
>whilst it was still moving and dragged her out.>>>
>
>You left out the best part. The incident was caused by Victor not
>tightening the lug nuts after swapping wheels. I too have forgotten to
>tighten all my lug nuts numerous times. I bet it ranks right up there
>as one of the greatest hazards in autocrossing. Now that I am racing
>more than autocrossing I double check the damn things and I usually
>recheck them every morning just for grins. In most of the PCA DEs I
>have particpated in, part of the morning tech is to have someone check
>at least a couple lug nuts on every wheel. It probably wouldn't hurt
>to make it part of the Solo II tech if you have the manpower and the
>inclination. But keep in mind it is a lot easier with Porsches because
>all the lugs are 19mm and they all should be torqued the same amount.
>However, in this particular case it would not have helped because I
>believe Victor swapped the wheels after the event had started.
>
>Paul Foster
>
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