Circle Track SHO - KIA

[CircleTrackSHO]

Well folks.. I have some bad news to report.

I'll start with some good news.. Wedding went fantastic, great ceremony, great reception, and so far a great honeymoon.

I'm on the laptop in my Washington DC hotel trying to recover from a very hot and humid day in our Nation's Capital.

Friday Night, the #6 Ford SHO had a good night. We finished 3rd. Should have won, driver error cost me the race. Yes, I raced on the eve of our wedding.

I didn't however race on the night of my wedding.. but I did allow another racer at the track to take the wheel.

The local track I race at, Springport Motor Speedway, has been struggling with car count and attendance and this past Saturday night was the biggest event of the year. It was important to me as a car owner to support the promotor/owner of the track, so I allowed a guy who has helped me a lot of the years drive my car.

Sunday Morning the bad news came.

Going into Turn 3 about 3/4 of the way through the race, the lug nuts all sheered off and the right front tire came off as the car entered the turn.

It hit the wall nearly head on at close to 80mph.

The driver was unhurt.. the same can not be said about the #6.

I'll have video of the accident for you when I get home, it won't be pretty.

I've been told that its a total loss... I'll make the decision for myself when I get home on Thursday..

Anyhow... I hear Mrs. McNamara calling my name (that has a nice ring) and I'm going to jump off this thing... talk at you all more later.

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

Thank God the driver was ok!! That sucks that the car was demolished. but im sure you can find another one cheap that you could run track though..

 

[SHOtime2511]

good to hear the driver is doing well.
wonder how long till everyone is using SHO's n these races?

 

[Calypso]

Ouch. That sucks man. Hopefully you can recover some of it to make a new track car

Glad to here the driver's okay though. And congrats on the wedding

 

[CircleTrackSHO]

good to hear the driver is doing well.
wonder how long till everyone is using SHO's n these races?

If the car has a propensity to lose right front tires, never..

 

[NJSHO]

Replace the lug studs more offen/get a higher quality stud.
SHO's are cheap anyway. Especially now that you potentially have a parts car.

 

[93rev2sev]

YIKES!! well, I guess you do have a parts car now...

I guess the airbags did their job if no one was hurt.

 

[92inPA]

If you can find proper fitting wheels, changing the studs to a larger diameter would be the right fix. Hopefully you will find another suitable SHO to start over with.

 

[platoribs]

That is indeed an unfortunate development. However 80MPH head on and no one got hurt?? Good SHO! sit stay!

We all would like to see more of your adventures here in our little corner, so please do rebuild... you can make it better... faster... more cornery w/o the break-away wheel!

 

[Lance Cheney]

If the car has a propensity to lose right front tires, never..

Ouch, that sucks... However, you're running standard street tires on a 15" wheel with a lightened car with basically stock suspension? I wouldn't think you'd have enough lateral traction to break studs unless they were either (A) overtorqued, (B) undertorqued, or (C) rusted/weakened -- even with the banking on the course.

Many of us are running wide (245+) R-compound race tires on road courses with significantly more grip and stress on the wheel studs and haven't had this happen.

I'm glad to hear the driver is ok. It just sounds like it could have been a pit error somewhere maybe.

-Lance

 

[sho_sc]

Ouch, that sucks... However, you're running standard street tires on a 15" wheel with a lightened car with basically stock suspension? I wouldn't think you'd have enough lateral traction to break studs unless they were either (A) overtorqued, (B) undertorqued, or (C) rusted/weakened -- even with the banking on the course.

Many of us are running wide (245+) R-compound race tires on road courses with significantly more grip and stress on the wheel studs and haven't had this happen.

I'm glad to hear the driver is ok. It just sounds like it could have been a pit error somewhere maybe.

-Lance

First, I'm gald the driver is fine.

I agree with Lance. What I have seen more often is "overtorqued" lug bolts. The range is suppose to be 80-100 ft/lbs , I normally torque to 85-90. I've seen WAY too often are happy air impact gun operators that retorque lugs with their guns...not good.

 

[JustinSane]

i also agree with these guys, i think something besides normal studs just breaking is the key here, somthing some one did wrong had to cause this failure not simply going into a turn at 80MPH . i hope you find the reason and now you have a parts car for your next SHO.

 

[JoesSHO]

A moment of silence...

Here's a question- if said lugnuts have been overtorqued, should the studs be replaced in a heavy driving application?

 

[CircleTrackSHO]

YIKES!! well, I guess you do have a parts car now...

I guess the airbags did their job if no one was hurt.

LOL !! No airbags on this circle track car. Give a shout out to Kirkly racing seats and Simpson belts and a Pyro-Tech SA2005 helmet.

Ouch, that sucks... However, you're running standard street tires on a 15" wheel with a lightened car with basically stock suspension? I wouldn't think you'd have enough lateral traction to break studs unless they were either (A) overtorqued, (B) undertorqued, or (C) rusted/weakened -- even with the banking on the course.

Many of us are running wide (245+) R-compound race tires on road courses with significantly more grip and stress on the wheel studs and haven't had this happen.

I'm glad to hear the driver is ok. It just sounds like it could have been a pit error somewhere maybe.

-Lance

Lance, I'd say you might be right. Since I wasn't there and wasn't doing my normal thing, I don't know what Eddie did. Perhaps they over tighten them. They didn't appear rusted to me.

A moment of silence...

Here's a question- if said lugnuts have been overtorqued, should the studs be replaced in a heavy driving application?

Its a good question.

On a side note... I heard from Eddie that another guy who races at our track has a parts SHO he has been planning in restoring for awhile and hasn't ever got it done. He offered us the car on a trade and we are taking him up on it. I'll let everyone know more when I get back.

 

[PAracer]

Dorman 610-427

Same size as stock, but about 1/4" longer. Less than $1.50 a piece from Rock Auto.

Congratulations on the wedding. I feel bad about the SHO. Hope you can find another cheap ATX (usually not difficult).

 

[hawkeye18]

lol or VIDEO! LET'S SEE THAT WRECK!

I'm really glad the driver was ok. Wrecks with no injuries are cool, and always boost attendance! Injuries/deaths kinda tend to put a damper on the fun.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry to see that you lost your baby, I know we all had a lot of emotion invested in that car (I sure did!) but this gives you a chance to get a manual instead! If you're ever in the S/E MD area, let me know, I'll help you any way I can.

...and hey, if it nosed into the wall, you can still recover that rear sway bar!

 

[38SHO]

I think SHO's are pretty safe...

I nailed a guy and came to an almost instant stop from a good 40mph! I mean I only moved maybe 2 feet after I hit him....the guy was cutting me off on a two lane road right at the last second(45mph speed limit)..... I had no time to react, thank god I was wearign my seatbelt.. for some odd reason because I never used to....... the brand new truck that ran in front of me flipped right over onto his roof! I had a good show to say the least...... this all happened in like 1.5 seconds........ I'm looking out the front window and see a new 2006 Chevy ext cab truck flying through the air upside down....

I was out of the Taurus walking away from it 3 seconds later..... good car

 

[hawkeye18]

Wasn't there a guy a while ago that had his SHO parked on the side of the road cos he was a cop and some lady absolutely nailed him going like 80? I saw the pictures from that; the SHO ceased to exist from the C pillar back but he was absolutely fine. Seriously, that car was a good four feet shorter. It was amazing, and a great testament to the safety & crashworthiness of the taurus!

 

[CircleTrackSHO]

If you're ever in the S/E MD area, let me know, I'll help you any way I can.

I'm actually in Washington DC for the next 2 days.

 

[somedude_001]

i've herd of this happening on a couple of track sho's over the years. ovdertorque is the most often cause but age will do it too becuase the studs/nuts will wear over time if you are swapping tires all the time like I do for trackdays.