The Road America weekend went wonderfully until the Enduro.
Uncle Jack set new personal best with several laps around 2:55.
Tony started the Enduro, and about halfway through, the left rear axle
broke while the car was in the middle of the caroussel, probably
travelling 90 mph. The corner workers say it rolled three times. It did
not hit the wall. The in-car video tape is spectacular.
The axle failure was a classical fatigue failure starting at the end of
the keyway. These were the new alloy axles and hubs, in use since 1997.
All safety systems worked properly -- seat, belts, helmet. Tony's helmet
did not touch the roof.
Tony is okay but sore and is wlking kind of funny. The car is totally
destroyed. Every body panel is unusable, except maybe the trunk lid and
hood. Everything under the hood is intact, as is the fuel cell.
It was a great car. The world is poorer for its loss.
--
TR6 -- 29 and still running
TR4 -- 39 and no longer racing
uncle jack -- temporarily sidelined
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