What can you learn from another driver’s mistakes? A lot! Lockton Motorsports is sharing Motorsports Mishaps to help everyone have better days at the track.
A Car Takes Quite the Spin at NJMP Lightning
This Mishap is shared by Mike, participating in an event at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Lightning Raceway. Here’s what happened:
Mike was having a great day and had just recorded his personal best lap time. But he noticed he wasn’t going all the way out to the exit curb at Turn 1. He knew there was more speed there.
In the video below, you can see what happens when Mike carried a bit too much speed into that corner. Add a lot of steering input (and lateral load) with touching the curb at the corner exit and an immediate elevation decrease and you will get quite the spin.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. Mike is a great sport, whose friends created a special trophy and video to help him remember his spin. Check it out!
Video courtesy of Mike Dellutri. The video content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only.
5 Lessons to Learn From This Mishap
When Lockton Motorsports’ Ryan Staub isn’t leading our HPDE Insurance program, he’s at the track, where he is a veteran HPDE instructor. Ryan shares these pointers on Mike’s spin:
- Remember, it doesn’t take much extra speed at corner entry to dramatically change the corner exit. Always take tiny steps when adding corner entry speed.
- Be aware of undulations in the track, curbing that might upset the balance of your car and elevation changes that might take away grip from one end of the car.
- Aim to recognize that you’ve carried too much speed by the time you reach the apex, and make an adjustment to maximize your chance of a safe outcome.
- Here, a slight reduction in throttle or opening the wheel before the corner exit and dropping a couple wheels off track may have helped Mike avoid this spin.
- Be like Mike, have fun friends and stay safe out there!
How to Prevent Your Own Motorsports Mishap
Worried about having your own Motorsports Mishap? Make sure your car is protected at your next HPDE or track day event with HPDE Insurance from Lockton Motorsports.