Arse Freeze-- Some footage from day 1 (Page 1 of 3)

The Killer Bee guys must be pissed at that driver's incompetence. He clearly didn't have it, and could have yielded.

I watched it a few more times. Before the car pulls up to the Killer Bee's rear 1/4, you can see it is  coming over to the right, and there's definately not room to pass without going two wheels off anyway. Logic dictates the Killer Bee will continue drifting over, however, racing adrenaline screams "HOLD THIS LINE! DON'T LET OFF!" That's what this driver did. Car in front generally has the right of way, and even if their rear 1/4 isn't completely clear, you'll be forced to yield when they cut you off or squeeze you out. When you don't yield, this is what happens. The NO CONTACT rule is supposed to encourage all of us to avoid any contact, but one cannot really claim "They moved over and hit me" when the car you hit is in front of you and already moving over as you catch it.

Meh. I could be wrong. I simply don't assume the other car will miraculously suddenly see me and yield, and therefore I avoid contact by dropping back a couple of feet. In almost 15 years as a cop I've worked countless accidents. Were this to occur on a public roadway, the Bee would have failed to yield. On the track, you have to know you can make the pass safely without contact or going wheels-off. IMO, the Honda should have known he couldn't by the way the Bee was coming over prior to his pulling up beside its rear 1/4. Thta's my .02, if it's even worth that much. Easy for us to armchair quarterback and nitpick the vid in slow motion. These things happen in a fraction of a second on the track, and it happens to the best of us. No offense to the Honda's driver, I just call it as I see it.

Maybe it's just my SCCA experience talking, but this seems like Racing 101 to me--the overtaking driver has the responsibility to make a clean pass.  Had the Honda been closer to side-by-side with the Bee when the Bee moved over, I would place the blame on the Bee.  As it was, though, I think the Honda should have backed out of it.

That being said, this kind of thing is inevitably going to happen when there are relatively novice drivers out on the track.  That's not a knock on either driver, but more an observation that we have to expect the unexpected in races like this.

this wasn't the worst PIT manuver video I saw from the race.......& yes both "victim" racers rolled.....both were in the same section too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2cJR6iGX9E

He wasn't blocking, but setting up for the next corner in what looks like an aggressive manner against my team orders. It cost him a team, and me a favorite car.

I don't believe he looked, and I do think the Honda should have kept a safer margin but there are no rules in Lemons and #$%^ happens. Contact here is 100% everyone involved at fault. No hard feelings, just a few broken hearts.

I rode with Matt and Eric of Free Range Racing the next day (class act by both them and Stick Figure racing/Knights of the Round Track for all their help and support) and the very same Honda squeezed in on my quarter panel on the same corner. Being a bit wary of that PARTICULAR car's history I went WAAAY wide and backed off to avoid them, and let them pass.

Sure enough on the very next turn (11) he pit maneuvered another Honda and they both went crashing into the dirt as I yelled profanities in the Bee's Honor (which felt surprisingly good) while avoiding the carnage. It CAN be done. Surviving and cussing is better than waiting upside down. Do you want to win with a race car, or survive with a crap car? Where does your spirit-o-meter point?

Sure, lots of people were driving like asshats, but if my guy had avoided them instead of joining them my tiny wife and I would not have had to spend hours tonight trying to turn the Bee into my driveway 90deg to the right using left pointy wheels, and cover it up before nosy neighbors see it in the daylight.

I am embarrassed of the outcome, and about the faulty chemistry of half my team. I totally failed to lead. We were much better drivers when our car was a much slower pig with much mellower drivers. The only team member swap that was worth a damn was Jesse Cortez.

All I gotta say is the Bee was a great cheap car before the flip. I dun gud.

augh. more debate about who's fault and this and that? Racing Room and "who has the line" is racer 101. do they not teach this stuff at the friday newb class or too many wanna-be stars ditch it?

on the track, pretend NOBODY has mirrors or stoplights or is paying attention. this doesn't mean don't drive aggressive but if you're not in front just before turn-in, expect that the car in front does not see you, and act appropriately. from the sounds of it, the honda guys needed some more quality time with Jonny and Murilee.

The other video, the Volvo's really making a HUGE assumption here. Everyone keeps saying "Two feet in" and feeling the TR7 guys are at fault. you know what? Yes, the TR7's at fault, for Spinning! The Volvo's still at fault for hitting them, especially with throttle on. If he would calm down for a SECOND and keep his foot out of the fast pedal until he was clear, at worst they'd have a big dented fender. Patience is a virtue people! We're in an enduro, NOT a 10 Lap Sprint/Feature race.

It seems like the Honda team should have been parked for excessive contact or aggressive driving. I'm sure there are other teams that got hit by the Honda too. Maybe they should have gotten the Peoples Curse.

Sorry to see the Bee take a lickin'. I've enjoyed following your build and freeway travails from a distance, so I hope that you can make it race-worthy again. Good luck.

That team was at Buttonwillow and I think they were eventually yanked from the track. Can't remember what for, though. I think it was them, anyway and I was a bit surprised when I saw the pic of the car at Thunderhill.