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Re: Long live the Red Rat

To: "Wm. Severin Thompson" <wsthompson@thicko.com>, <spridgets@autox.team.net>,
Subject: Re: Long live the Red Rat
From: Gerard Chateauvieux <pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 09:22:09 -0700
WST,

I'm glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt. Too bad about the car, but as
you indicated, you can get another one of those.

Too bad rollercoasters won't be much of a thrill anymore...'-)

Gerard

At 7:02 AM -0500 7/3/00, Wm. Severin Thompson wrote:
>To all,
>
>Thickos north and south attended VARAC's race at Mosport thise weekend. If
>you've never driven Mosport, you must plan to attend this event next year...
>great track, great people... and great fun.
>
>While qualifying Saturday, the Red Rat Bastard was really "honkin"...
>posting a great qualifying time. Turn 8 is a wide open right handed sweeper
>after a long straight...someof the fastest parts of the course. 9 is a fast
>left hander... followed by the right hander 10 that brings you back to the
>main straight. Moving right to prepare for 9... I felt the steering go. The
>car veered strongly right... heading toward the tire wall at a high rate of
>speed. I had time in my mind to think the following... "This is really gonna
>hurt"...and "I'm glad that this wasn't driver's error". I slammed into the
>wall at somewhere near or over 90 mph, luckily hitting it at a 45 degree
>angle. I found myself rolling over after the initial impact... 2 1/2 times
>ultimately... ending up upside down on the roll bar. After the rolling
>sensation ceased... it was amazingly quiet... dark, and confined. I made
>sure all switches were off, and was hoping that my competitors behind me
>were paying attention to the yellow flags. It would have pissed me off to
>survive that part of the crash and then be punted while hanging upside down.
>My helmet was pressing against the ground... my roll bar apparently having
>dug into the ground. After what seemed like 30 seconds (it may not have been
>that long... or it could have been longer... who knows...) I decided to take
>stock of my body parts. Nothing hurt seriously, and fingers and toes seemed
>to function normally... and since my weight already was resting on my head,
>I decided to try to extricate myself... as I knew I didn't like "hangin"
>around. (Corner workers and EMT's caution all you racers out there... citing
>racers who manage to survive a crash, only to injure themselves by releasing
>their belts and falling on their heads...)
>
>I crawled out from under the wreackage just as the EMT's came upon the
>scene. They had me sit down on the wall, while the corner workers dealt with
>the upside down RRB, it's front wheel and spindle lying in the middle of the
>track. I gave thumbs up to my shocked competitors as they passed the scene
>slowly. I walked to the medical bulding, where I was checked out and
>released. The usual party at Thicko Village commenced a little earlier than
>usual Saturday.
>
>Inspection showed failure of the 2 bolts that hold the spindle to the
>steering arm. Once that failed, the wheel flopped down and ripped off from
>the lower portion. (I hear the sound of Sprite owners everywhere scurrying
>off to inspect their front suspensions...).
>
>The Red Rat Bastard's days are over... better to end this way rather than
>rusting away in someone's back yard. I'm thankful I had no serious injuries,
>and no one else was hurt. Thanks to the trackside personnel and medical
>staff, the race organizers and fellow competitors that helped out or
>expressed concern. Today, Monday, 2 days after the incident, I have very
>very sore ribs on the left side, a slightly stiff neck, and a bruise on my
>right shoulder... remarkable really, when you consider I stuffed  40 year
>old car. Thanks to Geoffrey Healey for a great design, and thanks to Tom
>Colby of Speedwell for a great roll bar.
>
>So, hoist a glass for the Red Rad Bastard... and look out for the next
>effort... "Frankensprite"...
>
>
>WST
>Flounder
>Team Thicko


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G G              Gerard Chateauvieux
 E A
  R R        pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com
   A A
    R G          Pixelsmith  on  Duty
     D E
      S      http://www.gerardsgarage.com







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