I was at the NASA Northeast track day at NJMP on April 16th-17th. The first session out, the car ran great. During the second session it was raining then while I was on the track, it started raining very heavily. My first few laps in the heavy rain went great. I was driving a bit slower than normal because of the rain and only doing about 110 MPH down the front straight and braking early, near the start/finish line, to slow for turn 1 instead of at the 300' mark which I use when the track is dry. Unfortunately something went wrong. I passed the start/finish line and was gently applying pressure to the brake pedal. The car was slowing like it normally does. After at least a seconfd of slowing down, there was a quick wiggle/shimmy and then the car quickly veered left and began spinning. The car went across the wet grass and nose first into the wall then continued spinning and the passenger side rear corner hit the wall before the car came to a stop. I gave the flag station a thumbs up to let them know I was OK and waited in the car until the cars on the track were black flagged and back in the pits. The wrecker and rescue arrived to check on me and tow the car away. Luckily I wasn't injured. I was even luckier that I had an HPDE insurance policy to cover the damages.
Here are a few pictures o the car in the paddock after the accident.
The impact was hard enogh to knock the intake off the throttle body.
I originally thought that the damage may have been caused by a cracked brake piston on the passenger side front caliper. There was a small piece that broke off where the piston contacts the brake pad. However, no brake fluid leaked around that area, and there was no mark on the back of the pad that would indicate the piece got between the piston and the brake pad. The car did have a broken tie rod after the accident. Now I wonder if something was wrong with the tie rod before the accident? It did look fine a few days before the track day when I was checking the car over and changed the brake pads. Other people said that its not uncommon for the brake lines to wear out form the inside or implode when cars are tracked with stock brake lines. After seeing various video footage, it doesn't look liek a dropped the driver's side tire off the pavement and caused the car to spin to the left. At this point, I don't know what caused the accident.
I had the car towed back on the evening of the 17th and dropped off at the body shop on the 18th. Today, on the 26, I got the official word the car is totaled. Before they started takign the car apart, the repair estimate was between $19,000 and $20,000. The HPDE insurance covers the cost of the car and modifications. I went to the body shop to get my belongings out of the car. Now its time for new car shopping.
I have to decide if I want another Mustang or if I want something else. With the money left over after the car is paid off by the insurance company, I should have enough for a huge down payment or a used, slower trackable car, like an SVT Focus, and plenty money for mods and spare parts. The thought of getting a used WRX STI has crossed my mind a few times. I also thought of getting a 2012 V6 Track Pack Mustang and starting project Naughty Secretary/Bad Librarian. Of course, a low mileage, used 2005-2009 Mustang GT is always an option. I've even seen some dealers with leftover 2010 Mustang GT's for $23K.
I don't want a Miata or S2000. Well not that I don't want one, but I need something with more space. With traveling for work, traveling to and from track days, and taking road trips, I need something that can hold enough luggage for two people, a set of wheels and tires, and tools and I'd prefer not to use a trailer. I also prefer to have a 4 seat car. So that eliminates a used Corvette along with the two people luggage, wheels and tires requirement. I'll be makign a seperate thread for suggestions of new cars for me.