Accident on track :-/
Accident on track :-/
Hey all. I was out with the Audi club of NA at Summit Point on monday on the smaller track, the Jefferson circuit. I was instructing out there, and running the Evo. It was performing fantastically (thanks Vishnu!). I took a student out for a ride in the afternoon and after a few laps, I went out onto the back straight and went into the brake zone a little less fast than normal (there was traffic at the start of the straight, so I had to wait for a point by).
I hit the brakes like normal and there was no pressure and it went straight to the floor. I said "WTF!?!?" and hit the pedal again, this time, really hard. It was enough to spin the car counterclockwise, and I went up the hill backwards and into a tire wall backed by concrete. We hit hard enough to knock the concrete barrier over.
I saw it coming and let go of the steering wheel and ducked my head into the neck brace at the last second. My student didn't unfortunately, and he's a big guy, so the seat bent back. I asked him how he was and he said his neck hurt, so I said wait for the ambulance. Turns out that he was ok, but took a ride to the hospital to be safe.
While the ambulance was getting him out, we noticed flare up in the right front wheel well. I thought it was just brake pad flare up, and the corner worker shot it w/ a fire extinguisher, and I paid no other attention to it. That night while we were loading it up onto the trailer, I noticed a lot of brake fluid spilling on the right front wheel and we looked where it was coming from, only to find that the stock rubber brake line had seperated from the caliper where it's crimped. The banjo bolt is still in place. This is a stock line, stock tires, stock wheels, stock calipers, stock suspension, except for a rear sway. No rubbing was possible.
I don't know if it was a manufacturing defect of the line, or if it was too hot and seperated (but it's fiber reinforced), or what. I do suggest that you get high quality stainless lines though if you're going to track the car. I'm not sure how this is going to work out so far with insurance, although they appear to be agreeable so far. No pictures until this is sorted out.
Warren
I hit the brakes like normal and there was no pressure and it went straight to the floor. I said "WTF!?!?" and hit the pedal again, this time, really hard. It was enough to spin the car counterclockwise, and I went up the hill backwards and into a tire wall backed by concrete. We hit hard enough to knock the concrete barrier over.
I saw it coming and let go of the steering wheel and ducked my head into the neck brace at the last second. My student didn't unfortunately, and he's a big guy, so the seat bent back. I asked him how he was and he said his neck hurt, so I said wait for the ambulance. Turns out that he was ok, but took a ride to the hospital to be safe.
While the ambulance was getting him out, we noticed flare up in the right front wheel well. I thought it was just brake pad flare up, and the corner worker shot it w/ a fire extinguisher, and I paid no other attention to it. That night while we were loading it up onto the trailer, I noticed a lot of brake fluid spilling on the right front wheel and we looked where it was coming from, only to find that the stock rubber brake line had seperated from the caliper where it's crimped. The banjo bolt is still in place. This is a stock line, stock tires, stock wheels, stock calipers, stock suspension, except for a rear sway. No rubbing was possible.
I don't know if it was a manufacturing defect of the line, or if it was too hot and seperated (but it's fiber reinforced), or what. I do suggest that you get high quality stainless lines though if you're going to track the car. I'm not sure how this is going to work out so far with insurance, although they appear to be agreeable so far. No pictures until this is sorted out.
Warren
Warren,
Sorry to hear about your car, my friend Nick told me about it (Instructor with a white '93 S4) and I wondered who it was.
My guess is the fluid got hot and the line just burst? Either way, best of luck.
Joe
Sorry to hear about your car, my friend Nick told me about it (Instructor with a white '93 S4) and I wondered who it was.
My guess is the fluid got hot and the line just burst? Either way, best of luck.
Joe
Originally Posted by 4G63>OOOO
Warren,
Sorry to hear about your car, my friend Nick told me about it (Instructor with a white '93 S4) and I wondered who it was.
My guess is the fluid got hot and the line just burst? Either way, best of luck.
Sorry to hear about your car, my friend Nick told me about it (Instructor with a white '93 S4) and I wondered who it was.
My guess is the fluid got hot and the line just burst? Either way, best of luck.
I'm pretty sure the car is totaled. It has extensive frame damage.
Warren
i've had a line burst on my truck. After I changed to a new set of pads, in my rush, i turned the caliper over in a loop, this crimped my line and when pressure was applied, the line burst (I was parked). It didn't burst til 3 months after though. I had noticed that during full lock, the brake pedal was very firm. I thought it was the new pads though. Lesson learned: if anything is different in a weird way after putting back together, you probably should double check the reassembly.
Originally Posted by wangspeed
Hey all. I was out with the Audi club of NA at Summit Point on monday on the smaller track, the Jefferson circuit. I was instructing out there, and running the Evo. It was performing fantastically (thanks Vishnu!). I took a student out for a ride in the afternoon and after a few laps, I went out onto the back straight and went into the brake zone a little less fast than normal (there was traffic at the start of the straight, so I had to wait for a point by).
I hit the brakes like normal and there was no pressure and it went straight to the floor. I said "WTF!?!?" and hit the pedal again, this time, really hard. It was enough to spin the car counterclockwise, and I went up the hill backwards and into a tire wall backed by concrete. We hit hard enough to knock the concrete barrier over.
I saw it coming and let go of the steering wheel and ducked my head into the neck brace at the last second. My student didn't unfortunately, and he's a big guy, so the seat bent back. I asked him how he was and he said his neck hurt, so I said wait for the ambulance. Turns out that he was ok, but took a ride to the hospital to be safe.
While the ambulance was getting him out, we noticed flare up in the right front wheel well. I thought it was just brake pad flare up, and the corner worker shot it w/ a fire extinguisher, and I paid no other attention to it. That night while we were loading it up onto the trailer, I noticed a lot of brake fluid spilling on the right front wheel and we looked where it was coming from, only to find that the stock rubber brake line had seperated from the caliper where it's crimped. The banjo bolt is still in place. This is a stock line, stock tires, stock wheels, stock calipers, stock suspension, except for a rear sway. No rubbing was possible.
I don't know if it was a manufacturing defect of the line, or if it was too hot and seperated (but it's fiber reinforced), or what. I do suggest that you get high quality stainless lines though if you're going to track the car. I'm not sure how this is going to work out so far with insurance, although they appear to be agreeable so far. No pictures until this is sorted out.
Warren
I hit the brakes like normal and there was no pressure and it went straight to the floor. I said "WTF!?!?" and hit the pedal again, this time, really hard. It was enough to spin the car counterclockwise, and I went up the hill backwards and into a tire wall backed by concrete. We hit hard enough to knock the concrete barrier over.
I saw it coming and let go of the steering wheel and ducked my head into the neck brace at the last second. My student didn't unfortunately, and he's a big guy, so the seat bent back. I asked him how he was and he said his neck hurt, so I said wait for the ambulance. Turns out that he was ok, but took a ride to the hospital to be safe.
While the ambulance was getting him out, we noticed flare up in the right front wheel well. I thought it was just brake pad flare up, and the corner worker shot it w/ a fire extinguisher, and I paid no other attention to it. That night while we were loading it up onto the trailer, I noticed a lot of brake fluid spilling on the right front wheel and we looked where it was coming from, only to find that the stock rubber brake line had seperated from the caliper where it's crimped. The banjo bolt is still in place. This is a stock line, stock tires, stock wheels, stock calipers, stock suspension, except for a rear sway. No rubbing was possible.
I don't know if it was a manufacturing defect of the line, or if it was too hot and seperated (but it's fiber reinforced), or what. I do suggest that you get high quality stainless lines though if you're going to track the car. I'm not sure how this is going to work out so far with insurance, although they appear to be agreeable so far. No pictures until this is sorted out.
Warren
Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a factory defect with the line. But yes if you road race SS lines are really good idea. Glad your ok and your student is fine. And I hope the car is not gone.
Eric
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Most of members are only think how to make your car go faster.And peoples do not notice the brakes and safety.I am feel sorry to hear your car on warren,i do going to track every alot.The fluid got too hot and the line got "burst" is most happen on the track.I am lucky on my car i did not change any SS line,i went to track couple times.I think i need to get some SS line and better fluid now.
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Sorry to hear about what happened Warren. It does sound like a defect to me, but I'm basing that on personal experience. I put most of a summer and 7 or 8 track days on my stock lines before I swaped them out. Since 
has already placed my car on their "warranty watch list" let me know if you need some documented track experience with OEM brake parts.
has already placed my car on their "warranty watch list" let me know if you need some documented track experience with OEM brake parts.
Haven't tracked the Evo (yet), but I did have the stainless lines and DOT4 fluid put in during the Dyno4mance upgrade last month. I like the more linear and direct feel--less "cushy", and know that it will be there for me when I do hit the track next Spring. The Vishnu lines need a little fitting into the stock system. Dyno4mance can do it and I had the Mitsu dealer do it for me, along with the fluid change.
Doug in Cincinnati
Doug in Cincinnati
Warran,
Very sorry (and shock) to hear the accident. Thanks God you and your student both are ok. I don't want to speculate anything but it seems to be a very very rare accident.
Good luck
Oscar
Very sorry (and shock) to hear the accident. Thanks God you and your student both are ok. I don't want to speculate anything but it seems to be a very very rare accident.
Good luck
Oscar