I won Knox Mountain Hill Climb Again and then crashed the car :(
 

Hi Guys,

Just got back from the annual Knox Mountain Hillclimb that I typically post videos on. I won this year, I was fast right out of the box beating by best time by over a second on my second run of 6. That time was good enough to get me a win by the end of the weekend, so I was able to hit my goal of a three consecutive 1st place wins .

Unfortunetly on my third run, where I had my eyes set on the class record (just .5secs off) I went too fast in one section of the course and its was the worst part of the hill. I drifted out of a corner up against the mountain side and then that spit me across the road and I left the road going down the mountain. The car went end to end coupled with rolling a couple times. The good news is that I was able to walk out with out injuries (thank you safety gear) and considering the crash the car survived well. The body is prettly crumpled but looks like the engine, tranny, exhaust, interior (still a street car), hood, drivers door, rear window and even the cage (I geuss the car didnt spend much time on the roof?)survived.

So anyways a bit bummed as this was my 1980 SE Turbo TA that I bought as my first car after college, had it 22 yrs and has lots of memories (cruising, girls, friends, autocross, trackdays, solo I, hillclimbs...). I was thinking about retiring it before I crashed it but never got to it.

Anyways I dont have any pics of the "aftermath", I think they are out there in the web. The car is not home but is getting towed back to me this week. In "memory" of my car here is a pic from the race, its actually the corner I crashed in (but on the exit) on the run before I crashed.

I cant see myself with out a TA so I am on the hunt for a 79-81 SE shell if I can get one and see if I can build that street car and then I will look at my next race car plans.

That sucks that you wrecked your car it was a beautiful functional ride.:( At least you are all right and can possibly rebuild the car.

Good job on the win.

Robert Rife

Unfortunately this happens much more often when your attempting to go around corners quickly than it does going in a straight line. However to me turning corners is much more fulfilling than going straight for 7-13 seconds. That being said I have crashed and repaired many stockcars both wrecked while I was driving and others driving them, just part of the risks associated with the other types of racing seldom talked about on this board............;)

I feel your pain, believe me it isn't fun putting the aftermath back together. On the other hand your carrying the Pontiac banner high. Congrats on your 3 straight wins and here's hoping you keep the streak alive for many years.

Major bummer !!!!!

Its great to see Ponty's out there competing in other forms of racing than the "1320" (or the 660 or 1000 now days)

Good to hear no injuries, pity about the car

Sorry to hear that glad your ok! I really enjoy taking that ride with you in those videos. Good Luck on finding your next project car. :usa2:

I want you to know Johnny that you screwed up my "Bucket List" Big Time. (:>(

Sorry about your crash but VERY GLAD THAT YOU ARE OK.

Tom Vaught

Haha, Tom you have been talking about that bucket list for a while :)

It might take me a few years before I go back, we will see how much time I can commit to building a new car and before my family forgots that I dropped a car 80ft down a hill.

Sorry for the crash but glad your okay - - I saw your time on the KNOX MTN. Hill Climb Website - REAL Quick - Congrats on the WIN .

congrats on the wins and definately sorry to hear the bad news

Congratulations on three consecutive wins- that's awesome!

22 years of hard cornering. I motion to say congrats on a great combo, super driving skills, & a safe exit from the slide-out.

Congrats for the good time and condolences all at the same time.

+1

I used to do hill climbs on motorcycles, always thought the guys who raced cars up the hills had some serious stones or a death wish, was never sure which.

-Harry

Holy CRAPPP , this is unexpected news. :eek:
Most important is that you're OK & nobody was hurt !

We all figured you would win the hill climb again but it's awful that you went off the road and totalled that nice T/A. Bummer !

Like Tom Vaught said, seeing you run that race was on my bucket list. I'm glad I got to check it out at SD Performance's place though

Did you have to tell the family you went tumbling end over end for 80 feet ? Hope they approve of you setting up an even badder TA.

Yes, you need to put another one together & get back to it. Keep that smooth style of racing you've been so good at !

I also watched the youtube video of you working the course on an earlier run. That's some good driving, man!!!

Thanks for the notes guys.

I didnt have to tell my family, they were there! Actually they were waiting further up the hill waiting to see me drive by which I didnt, so gladly they didnt see the wreck but they have seen the aftermath including the large dent in the centre t-bar from a rock (1ft from my head, maybe not a t-roof car next time).

I think my plan is to build that street car again that I wanted, something I can share with my young boys a bit. And maybe for that car I will use for autocross and trackdays then when I am ready build a hillclimb specific car (maybe no interior real GT type car, like Roger from Sweden??). Its all a bit ealry still, I am going this weekend to pick up the car so need to take a closer look at it to see whats left thats good.

I have already starting looking at TAs but they are a bit hard to find up here in the not rusty but not fully restored state ($$). Anyways thanks for the thoughts and hope to have a TA soon.

I saw that video as well, it looked good in there.

Johnny,
Congrats on the three-peat! Total bummer on the wreck :( I am glad you came out of it ok.
Definitely build another car to auto-X with. Hillclimbs? I'd go solid roof, overkill 'cage, carbon fiber panels, etc. Protect yourself friend- you want to be around for your kids.

Hi Guys,

Well we picked up the car so here are some pics. I dont have any of the car sitting down the hill but here is a shot taken from where I left the road towards the where the car finally stopped (by the trees in the centre of the shot, you can see the ground is darker there).

Also some shots of the car pre and post crash. You can see as I went over the edge ( I assume with some air time) it first caught the passenger front then flipped over its nose on to the left trunk/quarter and from there I am not sure how it rolled other then the pass side took more of a hit. The b pillars are beat up and a dent in the center of the t-bar as well. The race wheels were broken so these are my street wheels to help roll it. We drove it on to the trailer and off (with lots of toe out that is). Overall the car faired well considering the dramatic crash, quite a few racers commented on that and the integrity of the second gen.

Havent made any plans yet as to the next steps but hoping to soon.

Glad you're ok. Cars can be replaced.

But you really took this literally: "Never race what you can't afford to push off a cliff"
That's supposed to just be a figure of speech.

Wow it really did hold up relatively well considering what it went through.

Robert

X2 .