11-19-2013, 10:57 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Honda Insight Land speed record crash at 190mph
And he survives!
Watch this LSR Honda Insight crash at 190 mph in the desert - Autoblog
Quote:
Like any form of motorsports, attempts at breaking land speed records are inherently dangerous. To wit: During a recent speed competition at El Mirage dry lake beds in southern California, racer Brian Gillespie and his first-gen Honda Insight crashed at nearly 190 miles per hour, and it was all caught on video.
According to the Southern California Timing Association website, which hosts the event, the weather was good and there was no wind on November 10, so it isn't clear what may have caused the crash. Despite the car being destroyed (including the entire front end being sheared off), Gillespie suffered only "minor injuries" and is recovering. The SCTA site does state that Gillespie managed to crack the 200-mile-per-hour mark in a previous run with a top speed of 200.9 mph, so congratulations to him on that! Scroll down to watch the horrifying crash.
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11-19-2013, 11:24 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Cyborg ECU
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That seems to be the accident that happened just as we arrived. I didn't know it was an insight (if the date Nov. 10, 2013 is correct). We did hear that over the PA that he was okay. That's good news, and it's a testament to the great rule-making of SCTA that he is alive after a crash like this. Was a beautiful car.
BTW, this is exactly the scenario that aerohead says the rails over the rooflines of these cars try to prevent. Didn't work?
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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11-19-2013, 11:26 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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And in slow motion. It really gets me to see a thing of beauty be put out of commission. I had an accident in mine at 40mph where a guy backed out of his driveway without brakes and gouged the side of my car from the front quarter panel to the wheel skirt. So it also brings some flash backs seeing a model of car you own go through that.
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Last edited by sheepdog 44; 11-19-2013 at 11:33 PM..
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11-20-2013, 01:49 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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I watched it a couple of times, and don't think it's a roof rail issue. When he first gets sideways, you can see his drivers side wheel(s) "dig in", which kick-starts a "pencil roll". Eventually, he starts bouncing and then gets end-over-end, eventually flipping up into the air a pretty fair amount.
One of the rules at Bonneville (I'm not sure about El Mirage, cuz I've never raced there nor contemplated racing there) is that your tires have to be pumped-up to at least 60 psi. The reason is so if this sideways skid happens, it reduces the chances of it digging-in like this. I'm sure the salt is much harder than the dirt at El Mirage, so airing up the tires probably isn't as effective at El Mirage.
Bummer deal - I hate seeing an Insight destroyed - - - well, any landspeed racer, for that matter. I wonder what kind of powerplant he had in there? I don't see the stock drivetrain getting him to 200 mph regardless of the superior aerodynamics of the Insight!!!
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11-20-2013, 02:57 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Cyborg ECU
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmjinman
.... I wonder what kind of powerplant he had in there? I don't see the stock drivetrain getting him to 200 mph regardless of the superior aerodynamics of the Insight!!!
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I think it might have been a K24, a 200+ hp engine (when it was stock):
Hondata Traction Control Hasport Performance Honda Insight K24 Engine 07 Photo 7
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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11-20-2013, 10:17 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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This has to the world record for the number of rolls. I think James bond has it at 6 or 7, and theres 9 rolls in under 5 minutes by a different movie. It's hard to tell, but i think he did 11 rolls not counting the flips.
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11-21-2013, 07:13 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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...beats walking...
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Ouch!
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11-21-2013, 07:31 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
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that video is also a good visualization of wake drag and how the aerotemplate works
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11-21-2013, 08:05 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Cyborg ECU
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thenorm
that video is also a good visualization of wake drag and how the aerotemplate works
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Absolutely, and in case you missed these photos I took at this same event, here they are, with several specifically featuring the vehicle and its wake:
Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - California98Civic's Album: El Mirage SCTA Finals Nov. 9-10, 2013
j
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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11-27-2013, 03:47 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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well, kudos to the SCTA for making that a story you can tell your grandkids.
While it's a shame to see the custom racing chassis masquerading as an Insight dismantled; with that musical accompaniment the video is elevated to an art performance. Kind of like when Ant Farm drove that Caddy through the flaming wall of televison sets.
How about those hood hinges? Both front wheels are gone and the hood inner panel is still hanging tough.
Last edited by freebeard; 11-27-2013 at 03:54 AM..
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