Sprintparts #43 Severely Damaged

[Hans ten Broeke]

Real sorry to see a fine car is that bad damaged, by as I understand right a stupid action, instead a real race accident.

Over here we see this happen far to often in classic racing.
Older guys with a lot of dos get them self a race car, some mechanics around, and as always several wankers who wane stay in the shade of these "racing drivers"
Although they can drive, (otherwise they had not got there racing license) in the real world there biggest enemy is there ego and to often it happens they get involved in a unnecessary accident, not taking any consideration about the other guys material, they have the money to have there car repaired, next event it is back freshly sprayed.

Been taken out almost the same way some year ago on the GP circuit of Assen, with a lot of front damage, by this rather big housing selling man. He had a bad start, and in the 2' corner he wanted this 4 or 5 places back.
The next year his business was not booming as before, never seen him back.
We even have seen a guy who came to the paddock in a Bentley, the other time in a Porsche or what ever, the car stood ready by his mechanics, he only had to get in to practise, next year never seen him back, tanks god.

Hope it never is necessary, but for an event like this we keep a very fresh 1300 with only 40K in stock to build an other one.

Good luck with the repairs,

Hans

[Sprint36]

Very bad news Mark, but glad you're unhurt.

Which leads to some interesting questions about your roll cage design, now it's been tested and shown to work. Do you have a bar across the car between the sides of the main hoop? Is there an under dash bar? Do you have double (crossed) or single door bars. Also how is the seat mounted? To the floor or to bars between sill and tunnel?

Cheers,

David

[xvivalve]

Sad news indeed. I don't want to make it worse than it is, but whilst Rimmers do have B posts its only for the LHS. All RHS panels seem to expire quicker than the LHS for the obvious reasons. It does sound twisted badly, but its surprising what those body dozers can achieve when crucial bits of tension are relieved prior.

Pleased you yourself 'bounced' OK, lets hope your current discomfort is very temporary.

He may well have had a faster car...but you were in front of him!

[speedracer]

Yikes! Haven't looked at the forum for a while and this was the first thing i saw!

Really sorry for you Mark, glad you are ok though.

Best of luck with the repairs - hope it can be saved.

[straylight]

I return from a week OS and I see this

This probably means the SPRINTPARTS markup has gone up by 20% yes ?

just joking.

glad to hear you are safe and unhurt.

I don't have enough experience to suggest what to do with the car, I hope it can be saved, but there is an old saying...

"I have my grandfather's axe, my father replaced the blade and I replaced the handle".

not sure at what point #43 will cease to become #43, but I don't think a reshell should be ruled out. Bottom line it is your car, you are the expert and know every nut and bolt and you race it not because it is just #43, but because it is your Dolomite Sprint and it gives you great joy. A reshell around your good mechanicals will still give you this. Your car Mark, you are what makes it #43, the reshell won't be some replica, it will still be your car.

I can also feel your distress at the way it happened, but chin up mate. You've kept your cool and that does you huge credit.

Rebuild and come back next year.

stu

[milesinfront]

My Race Car was written off by my brother on the last corner of the first lap, of the first race of the 2007 season. This was the car's first meeting since a massive effort over the 06/07 christmas break. I stripped the entire inside back to metal and added a roll cage and fresh paint. The car was looking sensational! Yet another motor racing 'sob story'....

BTW: Anyone that causally says, 'Just get another shell!' has never done such a task themselves... To reshell a properly prepared race sedan is nothing short of a MASSIVE project.

RIP #43! (I think I got $150 from the scrappers for my bent shell...)