2 replies to this topic

[Sphinx]

It isn't a great story to tell that a back marker managed to get himself injured trying to stay out of his own way. This last weekend at the NASA racing at Sonoma, I lost it at the exit of turn two. while sliding towards drivers left, a spec E30 tried to avoid me by driving around the left side and I slid into him. Car has relatively minor damage. But he hit the rear of the front left tire, causing the steering wheel to jerk the left. I haven't seen the video yet, but from the bruise on my elbow it looks like my elbow caught the seat and the steering wheel grabbed my thumb.

Two broken bones, tip of the radius (long arm bone that goes to the thumb) and one wrist bone (triquetral).

Unfortunately between the time I saw the E30 and the moment of impact didn't give me any time to react, probably 1/2 sec tops.

One piece of good news is that i managed personal bests though terribly slow overall.

[Johnny D]

I'd suggest after you heal to do track time with possible a coach and make sure your car's set up properly.

Get your lap times up and then go race.

There may be less damage for everyone/everything next time.

Sonoma's not a beginner track, off in 10 and your car is done.

happy healing,

J~

[Peter Olivola]

A good practice is to not hook your thumbs around the wheel, but hold it with the thumb on the surface facing you with your fingers and the heel of your hand gripping the wheel.  Yes, it will still be jerked out of your hands, but without the thumb wraparound, the fingers will just be brushed out of the way with minor, if any, bruising.