sblethen

iTrader: (3)

Here are my entertaining videos from this past weekend from my bumper cam me...

Race # 1 I was grided third overall and then completly messed up shifting into turn 1. This was a bad and dumb mistake as I went into the wrong gear and lost the rearend. I got lucky and saved it... some how! I wish I knew how to upload in higher quality video that isn't 480 but I can't find any editing software that will do it. The small video (PIP) is from another drivers view. In the HD version you can see me sliding all over the place!

Race #2 wasn't as eventfull. I had an awesome start passing at least a row of cars before turn 1. (boy do radios come in handy) I was able to stay with the front runners until I started to suffer fuel starvation issues on lap 5. These first few laps made me feel like this car really does have potential in the class. especially with a set of tires that have less than 10 heat cycles and didn't sit in the snowbank last year! I need to figure out turn 3. I am not sure if it is the tourque, car set-up, or just my driving but based on the data we downloaded I am losing over a second in that one turn!

Race # 3 started bad and ended worse! The car went into "limp mode" on the start for some reason which is still not known. I pulled off line on the start as everyone passed. I then tried to limp back to pitlane but wasn't fast enough to get back before the field was catching back up. I decided I was a major hazard on track so I pulled off and parked so that I could rejoin and head back to pit lane after everyone passed. I have raced at this track for years and not many people have ever gone off track where I parked. I also figured with a yellow flag I would be more than safe and out of the way so I didn't mess up anyones race. Well my plan didn't really work and instead I got a nice ambulance ride and someone else took my car back for me

I hope to have the car fixed over the next few months as I save up for parts/repairs. I am defiently out of a championship run for this season and know going for weekend fun! It heads to the frame shop next week. I already have a donor car for the front clip but if anyone comes across cheap parts for the drivers side front corner including suspension and a fender then let me know!


At least I still have a fan club that doesn't seem to care that I didn't finish!

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

sux but glad everyone is ok

roblauderdale

im parting a 04 let me know what you need, i have a hood fender the whole wheel suspension set up for the front.the bumper has a rip by the drivers head light about 4 in long so i say no good with out repair. i can get pic for you.

BRODA

iTrader: (7)

Damn. Tough break. Glad your safety equipment did its job and kept you safe. From the photos and video, it must have been a significant impact. Also sorry to hear you are still having teething issues with the RX8. Hopefully you can work through the issues and take a run at the championship next year.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Sucks dude, glad you are okay.

SubliminalPollution

Yikes! Sorry to hear that bud.

From the first two videos it looks like it was a blast though.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

love the fan club!! best picture on the forum Made me really laugh.

Sorry to hear the news dude.
you can never tell what the heck will happen at a race track

Spin9k

That really pulls! How does anyone come at you on that cross track access road? ....mechanical difficulty... terminal VW understeer.... I mean they got you after what 30 sec or so sitting there? Any explainations?

BTW Great fan club

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Awwww! I'm guessing the other driver had the fixation on you, and violated the "never look where you don't want to go" rule...

Really unfortunate to hear.

sblethen

iTrader: (3)

The other driver was in his first race ever, first time driving without ABS in a sedan, and first time driving a FWD car on track. Only done HPDE and Skip Barbara stuff before. He basically (under a standing yellow) moved to the outside of the car in front to "set-up a pass into the next corner". As he had never raced here he didn't realize that this move would never pan out! But that is another story... Anyway when he moved to the outside he saw me and paniced. Slammed the brakes and locked them up with the steering wheel turned as far away from me as he could. he got fixated and probably froze never taking his foot of the brake pedal. Entering the turn he was probably between 70-80 (I am about 85ish) He had them locked up a good 2-3 seconds before impact so I am guessing he was still moving very fast at impact! It moved my car a good 20+ feet. I did have all the right safety equipment including halo seats and nets on both sides. My head DID hit the rollbar however I think the FIA padding does an amazing job absorbing energy. I do remember feeling my head hit the bar though. I did have a HANS but that did nothing since this was a side impact only.

The other driver feels terrible and to be honest he should BUT I told him NOT to be discouraged and come learn some car control by ice racing up north with us! (He is from florida) I had never met him until in the infield hospital and I can honestly say I was completly pissed sitting in the car and up to the point I met him. Honest mistake and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He acted the way he should and was very sorry that it happened. He was also renting which sucks for him as well.

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. Already looking into lots of options to get back on track this season with the 8!

Stephen

d walker

Perfect example of how HPDE teaches bad habits and often results in bad things happening, sorry you got caught up in it. I hope the driver in question gets some proper instruction so he can avoid being involved in similar accidents in the future.
If your car is too bent I have one available. Also, if you want your welcome to drive my one of my cars in our local events or we could work something out to keep you going. Looking at taking the cars to the NASA Nationals this year since it looks like I will already be there. Car will run 1:36's or better there, would make the right driver a deal on the event.


EDIT again-

I have a couple spare drivers fenders you are welcome to, and I think Meyers has a couple hoods left. That damage doesnt look too bad, probably a couple hours on a frame machine, some A-arms, probably a motor mount and your back in the game!

yale02

iTrader: (16)

Yikes! Glad you are ok and hope you're back up and running very soon...

EricB

iTrader: (7)

Tried to decipher the decal above the #50 but i couldnt make it out.

Anyone with forza can buy the paint from the storefront under designs and search "sblethen"

MagnusRacing

iTrader: (2)

My guess on the mysterious "limp mode" is probably the oil metering pump. If the ECU detects some kind of issue with the oil metering pump it will put you into the most absurb limp mode where you probably only have about 5hp and a 15mph to speed. This almost killed me on a shoulderless uphill interstate climb once and has happened to me on the track too. Needless to say I keep a spare oil metering pump on hand now at races.

An OBII scanner won't detect this fault code but a CAN code reader will show it.

Sorry about your accident. I was the RX-8 salami in a Miata/Rx-7 three wide first turn sandwich last weekend - but minimal damage fortunately.

docgatorx8er

iTrader: (10)

For those of you who don't know, sblethen made his Pro debut this past weekend in GrandAm. Congrats Stephen!!!!

Matrx8

iTrader: (2)

Very nice. Congrats dude

d walker

It was not Grand-AM, it was World Challenge Touring Car at Mosport. He did a great job at a very difficult track! Go see the races on-demand at world-challengetv.com TC races on Saturday and Sunday.

docgatorx8er

iTrader: (10)

You're right, my mistake.

sblethen

iTrader: (3)

It was at the Pirelli World Challenge Race at Mosport. It was an amazing weekend! I got to meet Don and Jason who are both on these forums from time to time. I actually got to drive both of Dons cars (grid-1 motorsports) and had an awesome time. We did well and I Think we will probably get a little bit of TV coverage when it is aired on TV next week. (July 7th on NBC sports) tune in and cheer us on I am going to send Don a weekend recap that he will probably post over the weekend. It was a really great time and I am SO glad he gave me the opportunity to drive one of his cars in my first Televised Pro Race!

Stephen

PS: Also thanks to Eric for the amazing replica that he made for Forza4! I was shocked to see how awesome it turned out!

Matrx8

iTrader: (2)

Indeed, he is extremely talented.

EricB

iTrader: (7)

ill be making the silver/white/yellow one.. well tonight cuz im bored as hell.

Stephen, do you have any better shots of the sides? primarily the decals on the side? the closer the better

EDIT: nevermind, i thought the silver one was another one, and started painting and realized there are 2 rx8s with verrry similar color schemes. So for the time being i just scrapped it and started working on the re-color for the #50, or should i say #51. Its all done, but i think the forzamotorsport website is down for some reason, when it comes back on line ill post the pictures here. The last few are my favorite BRAAAAAPOPPP

EDIT#2: Here are the pics, I have one more "BigShot" photo in the link. In-game i can select normal photos at 0.8 megapixel and these are the photos im showing you guys, but the "BigShot" is rated at 8.3 megapixel!!








https://dl.dropbox.com/u/43039528/ForzaBigshot1.bmp