http://www.teamjamoto.com/dixeregionpage.htm#v8301600 :icon_no2:

Ouch....

Someone beat me to it: http://www.rx8club.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6

I cringed when I realized what was happening...

So that leaves the world with, what, eleven FD's that still run? :(

Almost looks set up. What in the hell are the chances that all of those lugs go at once?

damn. how the heck do all 4 wheels spontaneously pop right off? damn...

someone changed their wheels before the event and forgot to torque them. :nono:

Was he running wheel spacers? Can't tell.

eeeyiKES!!!! saw something like that happen here at our local club a couple of years ago. in his case (Audi TT) it was only one wheel that was un-tightened, not 4, so the damage was less.

The only way that could happen, I would think, is if the lug nuts were not even started on the studs...whatever, it sucks to be him.

Sources say that the lug nuts were the wrong size....

Sources say that the lug nuts were the wrong size....

OOPS!

oh man...that video really did make me sad :(

Am I the only one that can't view the vid

Sources say that the lug nuts were the wrong size....

LMAO, I know it's a shitty situation, but the wrong size. LOL.

HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA....fuckin looser LOL :rollingla

I kind of feel bad for this guy... of all the things to mess up your car from... wrong sized lug nuts?! :banghead:

I hate seeing stuff like this.....What's ironic is that the car obviously passed the tech inspection...:dunno:

We're lucky more stuff like this doesn't happen with people switching out their tires in between runs.....To me, there should be something keeping people from changing out wheels and tires after the tech inspection unless they get their work checked off.....But that's just me.

Am I the only one that can't view the vid

Nope. I got an error when I tried to view it.

EDIT: I tried it again just now (earlier attempt was 15 minutes ago) and it worked fine.

What a shame...Thats why Car Prep begins at home. for Auto X, not minutes or hours before the event unless you have a fully competent crew...:icon_no2:

either the video was taken down, they exceeded allowed bandwidth, or the traffic is too heavy

wonder if it made youtube?

if someone finds it hosted elsewhere, let me know.

couldn't locate it on youtube ...

The vid is working now. wow!

Story:

Originally Posted by go_speed_go View Post
Hello all,

I was at the event and know the guy who owns the car. (No it wasn't me)

I was in the paddock area next to him changing wheels at the same time as him. I watched him torque all of them. I even borrowed his torque wrench to tighten mine (I always forget something after I get on the road).



He went to a wheel/tire business and asked for spline drive lug nuts for his particular make/model/year car for the Enkeis, and that's what they gave him. He did not purchase the tires or wheels from them, just the lug nuts.



The lug nuts where sheared off the studs. Several members lifted a corner of the car to slide a jack underneath it. With a few more jacks, blocks of wood, etc, they were able to mount the stock wheels and stock lugs nuts (at least 3 per wheel) back on, torque them and drive the car off course. The design of the car, possilbly for aerodynamics, tucks all mechanicals on the underside a little higher than the body line, or lowest part of the brake rotors. Not even the exhaust was really scratched.



I'm not a mechanic, but the mechanics theories there was that the lug nuts where the incorrect size, but they were just small enough to grip the outer edge of the threads (as I mentioned, they torqued to 75-80 ft/lbs without complaint).



Hopefully, the only damage is to the body and brakes.

--kC

This happened to me back in High School but the damage was not nearly as severe....Of course, it also happened on a public road so I'm lucky no one was hurt.

I had some wheels with a goofy offset but correct bolt pattern. I got them mounted but they were only held on by a few threads. Needless to say one day one of the wheels fell off while I was driving down the road... The wheel took off pass me while I was driving down the road :Eyecrazy: and the car immediately sat down on the brake drum (82 rx7). The wheels went up the road a few hundred feet and hit a tree sending it about 50 feet into the air. It was all pretty spectacular......

Anyway, I like to think I've learned from my mistakes and am now more careful when installing new parts:iwstupid:

thanks for the backstory Imp. Hmm, looks like it's time to research the EXACT size lugs needed for that car / tires.
If they're different from what he got...oh oh, look out...

Anyway, I like to think I've learned from my mistakes and am now more careful when installing new parts:iwstupid:

Someone at the '05 Atlanta National Tour used spacers and (ahem) WASHERS to space their DSP BMW's wheels out to fit 285s and didn't have enough threads to fasten them. The wheel flew off the car as it braked for a corner. It was rather spectacular to see. Clyde and I were working course at the time.

Someone at the '05 Atlanta National Tour used spacers and (ahem) WASHERS to space their DSP BMW's wheels out to fit 285s and didn't have enough threads to fasten them. The wheel flew off the car as it braked for a corner. It was rather spectacular to see. Clyde and I were working course at the time.

I remember seeing a video of that. He was moving pretty good through that section when it happened.

Those look like Enkei RPF1 wheels, should use the standard M12 x 1.5 bevel seat nuts commonly available

I remember seeing a video of that. He was moving pretty good through that section when it happened.

http://www.cashmo.org/2005/05.atlanta.brian.flanagan.dsp.wheel.mpg

http://www.cashmo.org/2005/05.atlanta.brian.flanagan.dsp.wheel.mpg

This guy should show the video to the fu#ki&g TOOL that gave him the wrong lug nuts. It would be nice for all of us to know the name of the "wheel/tire" business, especially if they do not own up to this.

Shoulda used more duct tape!

I've had two experiences with loosening lug nuts.
I borrowed my roomate's Rabbit with Enkei wheels, back in my college days, to take a girl home in the very early AM. As soon as I hit the freeway, the passenger's front came off, bouncing across the car (which was skidding on the brake rotor) and up the road (thankfully) staying out of oncoming traffic (I was in the fast lane, natch), coming to a rest in the median. The brake rotor was toast, but other than that, no problems. When I checked the other wheels, all the lugs were basically finger tight. The only thing we could figure is that someone was getting ready to steal the wheels and I interrupted them before they could finish the job.
I once lost three out of four lug nuts on the driver's rear wheel of my Tiger, after some, ahem, "spirited" back road driving, leading to a wobbly wheel that just barely stayed on...

Since then, I check torque on lug nuts probably more than is either normal or sane...:lol:

At least he put the emergency brake on at the end! =D

I've had two experiences with loosening lug nuts.

We got lucky last year. Day Two of Nats 2006. :banghead:

OMG I've never seen something like that ever. Wrong sized lug nuts? How the heck did he pass tech inspection? Was this an SCCA sponsored Auto-x? If so, shame on their tech inspection crew, but more shame on the owner for using the wrong sized lugs!

OMG I've never seen something like that ever. Wrong sized lug nuts? How the heck did he pass tech inspection? Was this an SCCA sponsored Auto-x? If so, shame on their tech inspection crew, but more shame on the owner for using the wrong sized lugs!

I've been at events where the tech inspectors checked to make sure the lug nuts were the proper shape and threaded down properly......Personally, I think the whole tech inspection process is a joke at most events. Ultimately it's your own personal responsibility to make sure you're equipment is correct and safe although I wouldn't mind seeing a more consistent process at various events.

I've been at events where the tech inspectors checked to make sure the lug nuts were the proper shape and threaded down properly......Personally, I think the whole tech inspection process is a joke at most events. Ultimately it's your own personal responsibility to make sure you're equipment is correct and safe although I wouldn't mind seeing a more consistent process at various events.

I'm a n00b, and just looking over my car was more than the "tech inspectors" did. Trunk empty, battery secured, brake pedal has pressure, lights work - you're good. Oh, and put racer's tape on the positive terminal - to prevent arcing...

that was my tech inspection..

OMG I've never seen something like that ever. Wrong sized lug nuts? How the heck did he pass tech inspection? Was this an SCCA sponsored Auto-x? If so, shame on their tech inspection crew, but more shame on the owner for using the wrong sized lugs!

From everything that I've heard about it, the nuts were very close in size. Enough so that they were able to be torqued to whatever the spec was. If you believe that tech failed in some way, what do you suggest that they could have done to catch the problem?

This was the 3rd line of Imp's post for those that were, um, too lazy to actually read it. The lugs were torqued.

"I was in the paddock area next to him changing wheels at the same time as him. I watched him torque all of them. I even borrowed his torque wrench to tighten mine (I always forget something after I get on the road)."

Can someone please explain to me why so many people spell the word loser as looser? Or maybe i am taking it out of context and he is talking about the wheels being loose?

prlly cuz they're total loosers. ;)

i wonder if he was using those aluminum type lugs, i aways had doubts about those.

uh oh i have alum lugs o_O though i did hear they arent as strong..

Also, if you have hub centric rings, make sure that they don't get dislodged when putting on the wheels!

aluminum lug nuts are strong enough, the key is getting the minimum amount of thread engagement required

What the frick !!!!!

How in the hell did that happen? Then it looked like the first wheel had sheered off bolts. Umm ... how do ya get that when you don't tinghten the lugs?

Never thought of wrong size lug nuts.

What I really want to know is what was the driver thinking when he stopped?

That his car was going to go some place? He had the parking brake on.

if the lugs sheared off then it most likly over torqued

my friend linked me this vid on some other host site, with the description "DRIFTING CRASH"

sigh