Impreza and Corvette Bumper Cars

Michael Berenis
Oct 17, 2009 at 5:58 pm

I found the third view video, here it is: Now we get to see who did what, and what really happened!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dswSFcVVAeI&hl=en&fs=1&]

Spartan-182
Oct 16, 2009 at 4:02 pm

I would have to say that the Corvette was at fault for the original bump, but I wouldn’t say to dirty tactics. I feel that the driver may have been rushing to catch up with the Subaru through the pack of slow cars after he had lost traction at the 3:20 mark. The corvette driver was probably full-burning to catch up and then entered the turn at the 4:09 mark too hot and shot into the middle, right where the Subaru was sitting, thus resulting in the spin-out that occurred.
A good piece of evidence to support my claim is the fact that when the Subaru and the Corvette were next to each other at 3:16 full-throttle, the Corvette driver showed a lot of determination to not let the Subaru pass. This determination then had him enter the next turn too hot with the slow traffic and when the Corvette driver hit the brakes to avoid colliding with the slow car in front, he proceeded to open the throttle up causing him to lose traction in the rear tires and lose control of the car.
I have to agree with the majority of the comments on here about the Corvette driver’s abilities. I don’t race but I can spot poor driving skills, in comparison to the Subaru driver’s, not mine. Anyway, the Subaru upon reentering the course probably was a little shook up from the spin-out and didn’t check to see if anyone was in the turn when he tried to merge in. The corvette had no chance to avoid the incident. What I dont understand is why the corvette didn’t slow down when the Subaru had to cut across the track when he spun out. The Subaru came to a stop on the track and then crossed the track to get out of the way. The corvette had to have slowed down in order to not hit the crossing Subaru but then instead of cautiously passing the Subaru he spun-out, the Corvette driver continues to speed off. The Subaru was only off the track for a total of 4 seconds with him driving along the track at full pace for two of those seconds. The Corvette had to have seen the Subaru turn and start to try to merge onto the track but he continued to keep up his pace and entered into the turn ignoring the possibility of the Subaru merging onto the track at anytime. If I was the Corvette driver I would have taken that turn wide to avoid that possibility. The Subaru driver did have a possible line of sight with the Corvette if the Corvette had continued his pace and was just ahead of the Subaru but if the Corvette had slowed down then the Subaru hit him due to the Corvette being in his blind spot.
So from video evidence I would say Corvette’s fault for the first impact. Inconclusive on the second impact.

XTZTwinTurbo
Oct 15, 2009 at 9:58 pm

The beauty of all wheel drive traction, especially in wet conditions. The Vette was a jerk off. He was driving too dangerously, and nosing others off the track. I would punch that guy in the throat.

Michael Berenis
Oct 15, 2009 at 11:13 am

By the looks of the V-dub, I’d say it was the reason the Impreza spun out.. Look at how it flee’s.. However, if the Corvette spun out at the same time as the Impreza b/c it hit the impreza, the timing would be about right. It’s really a tough call. On one hand, you can see the feverish battle between the Impreza and Corvette through out the entire race. On the other hand, the V-dub is in a likely place to have caused the Impreza to spin out.I guess we will never know! Hopefully someone that was there will be able to sort this mess out. Either way, we can all agree it is fun to watch!

saberhawk89
Oct 15, 2009 at 7:38 am

I agree with the people that say the corvette driver couldn’t really drive. If the subaru could keep catching up with him, you can tell there was something wrong. Also, if you watch, the corvette was sliding under his own mistakes, not something a race car driver should be doing. However, kudos to both drivers when they collided. They both could have spun out so much worse, but they didn’t.

RioRcR
Oct 14, 2009 at 10:52 pm

The thing is this, They were trying to pass durring lap traffic. That is a bad idea any way you look at it. The slower car were giving them the right-of-way, which they should, but the faster cars should leave the passing to when the time is better. Too many slower cars that could very well have caused more of an issue. I do agree that the vette wasw all over the track once the Subie was in his mirror. This was a more twisty track, which prevents the rear wheel drive Vette, from over running the Subie on straights. The Subie naturally had a much better advantage through the turns. Yet the Vette was just going too hot into the turns. Inexperience in my opinion. Other than knocking each other a bit, it looked like a TON of fun. I go for a round in my Hopped-up Rio…lol ( so long as it didn’t get hit).

furoshusd
Oct 14, 2009 at 9:05 pm

I personally would like to see the sub and vette go one on one.. the vette looked like he had control of the race the majority of the time and yeah (if it was the vette who spun the sub out of control) it was a little unnecessary. however, i believe that the other cars definately made a HUGE impact on how the sub caught up in the final lap. the vette shouldnt have even been in the subs sight. just my opinion and i dont even like chevys!

ILLUDE-U
Oct 14, 2009 at 7:06 pm

Well, I see you guys have made some assesments.I believe the vette driver was a little too pushy,but not extremely.I’m a criminological thinker and I noticed some details that you all might not.One, the track was wet.Two, the corvette is not the best car for control, the rearend seems to get twitchy on tight turns.Three there was elapsed time between the time the subie was spun out and the time the corvette passed. I think the volkswagen golf did it. I think those details put the video more into perspective. But if he did, that type of action is unacceptable.

Michael Berenis
Oct 14, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Very good point, I guess we really don’t know if the Vette technically did it or not.. If he bumped the Impreza I’d think he’d be going at a slower clip.. Maybe it was a third driver on the inertia roll?

Racer007trucks
Oct 14, 2009 at 3:59 pm

I am not sure but I think I saw another car going by when sub was spinning, looks like the vette was just going by when sub came back on to the racing surface. Wonder if the sub cut off one of the slower cars and got turned by them.

JackHammerV8
Oct 14, 2009 at 3:44 pm

Are u guys sure that Vette bumped the Sub???But yeah agree with Mr. Gfaules!!

racerjim
Oct 13, 2009 at 4:59 pm

Just some rough amateur racing…to me, it seems like the Vette driver was way too aggressive, and the guy in the WRX didn’t seem like the most experienced hand on the ranch either. Before the Impreza loses it, the Vette makes a bunch of mistakes, especially when coming out of the corners. When the Impreza gets spun out, it seems like the Vette had slowed to let the Impreza regain control- the Impreza driver got too excited and jumped back onto the track without looking. “Rubbin’s racin,” as they say, and this just illustrates that point. Live and learn!

Michael Berenis
Oct 13, 2009 at 3:21 pm

Yeah I think I would have backed off the Vette and just let him win.. Just like drunks on the road I’d rather be behind them than in front! Great comment gfaules

gfaules
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm

As a director with NASA and someone who has been a licensed racer for years I can tell you this video is a very good example of someone with a fast car that count drive. Anyone with good experience could have driven a Vette away from that Subaru in the straights. Not only did the Sub driver catch him in the straights but showed good car control and decision making in the process. “IF” you could sit the Vette driver down “After” he has cooled off and get an honest answer from him more than likely you would find it was nothing more than a case of “Red Mist”. Meaning he was so caught up in the moment that no matter what he didn’t want the Sub to get past him and he was driving beyond his ability. This is even more evident as you re-watch the video and you can see the Vette doing fine until the Sub began gaining on him. Then the Vette began driving in his mirror rather than out his windshield. Once the Sub got by him the Vette was no longer in control and ended up giving the Sub a love tap. Not because he wanted to but because he screwed up. Most driving schools would either boot him entirely or at least send him back to the driving schools again. Now to be fair… there is one more part to this than putting the entire burden on the Vettes shoulders. What I mean is while the Vette was the “MAIN” problem there is also some responsibility on the Subs as well. There are MANY times on the track when drivers (even the best) have to ask themselves, “I know I can pass this guy “BUT” is the reward worth the risk?” In this case I would have to ask myself, “Since the reward is an $8.00 plastic trophy, and nobody from Nascar is here scouting me, and since my car could sustain thousands of dollars of damage, EVEN THOUGH IT’S NOT MY FAULT, and based on how bad this guy (Vette) is driving, is it worth the risk?” Anyone in control of his or her “Red Mist” would simply wait for the right time to pass. End of discussion. This is what HPDE driving schools like the ones NASA have are intended for.

Michael Berenis
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Agreed, it would be much better to see it from a third person perspective instead of lachutes onboard camera. Whatever happened, I’m sure there was a visit to the body shop after the race.

sarahsmile90
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Not cool!

fortyfordsedan
Oct 13, 2009 at 11:02 am

The guy in the vette was all over the place. If the guy in the Sub had wanted to wreck him he could have done so a few different times. I think the guy in the vette just started over-driving his car trying hard not to get passed. Really from the car video its hard to say what happens, and outside view would really help to decide because you really dont know how long either driver had to react or what was going on around them.

Michael Berenis
Oct 13, 2009 at 9:37 am

Good comments, there is something going on between those two outside of the track I think.. The way they drive it seems like they have some kind of grudge against one another. LOL. I wish we could know more.. someone post up that was there! Let’s here from lachute

gfaules
Oct 13, 2009 at 6:15 am

Make no bones about it, this type of driving is not allowed by any race orginization and will not be tolerated. The Vette was not displaying proper control of his car but the Sub was and in fact gave way several times prior to overtaking the Vette showing good judgement. When the Sub returned to te track once again proved himself a poor decision maker. In either event I am positive that whatever orginization this was the Vette got the big boot. Rubbin IS NOT racin at club events.

NWSilverado
Oct 13, 2009 at 5:56 am

I suppose in that type of racing, the old Dale Earnhart “Rubbing is Racing” comes into mind as you see it happen to somebody else later in the footage. However, the Corvette is driving so loosely that I think he realized that the Impreza was going to pass him so he figured he’d just wipe him out to take the lead…

Love to know more info on that one…

PureBusiness
Oct 13, 2009 at 5:29 am

Tough Call!