Heikki's Crash at the ROC

[747heavy]

Sorry Tim,
there is no toe-link in the rear suspension



but if the wishbone/joint breaks off at only one side of the upright, it will have the effect, you have seen.

Another possibility (pure speculation on my part), if you loose the camber/toe shims in between the wishbone and the chassis, you wheel will toe in/toe out and create a sort of uncontrolled "rear wheel steer".
If someone forgot to tighten the bolts/nuts after an adjustment in a hurry, this could happen.
Not saying, that this was the case here.

[Caito]

~0.58 there's the front right disc glowing. Though I don't know if it's really glowing or just a reflex.

It could be the brake fighting the throttle

[Tim.Wright]

Aha, I know that suspension layout very well. Audi arent the only ones to use it. Number 16 in the diagram is a drop link which has an effect on the toe. Anyway, I think its nearly impossible to say how the system broke though Its hard to belive that thos big control arms failed.

Could even have been a wheel bearing.

Tim

[spinmastermic]

Kovi said himself the throttle stuck around the last bend. He couldn't help hitting the wall which broke the susspension. He was a passenger after the kiss with the wall.

[747heavy]

with all due respect #16 is the droop link/connection rod for the ARB,
you adjust toe&camber via the shims.

Anyway, we won´t know what broke, nothing dramatic happened (thankfully), and
if the throttle stuck open, he may is not to blame for the crash.

The car has (normally) e-gas/drive by wire.
A input from the brakes (light switch) should overrule the throttle pedal input and close the throttle on the engine/cut the fuel.(in the road car)
But they may have deactivated this feature, to allow left foot braking, which is possible for a racing application (like Gt3).

[mep]

~0.58 there's the front right disc glowing. Though I don't know if it's really glowing or just a reflex.

It could be the brake fighting the throttle

I also noticed it but it must be a reflection.
You can see the reflection shortly before on a other spot and if it would be caused by heat it would not cool down that quick.

Kovi said himself the throttle stuck around the last bend. He couldn't help hitting the wall witch broke the susspension. He was a passenger after the kiss with the wall.

He could have simply applied the clutch.
At least after the first hit he should have known that something with the throttle is not fine.


747 do you think part 10 is the one that broke?
Is this part made from steel or alu?
I think it should be made of steel but even so it looks quite strong.

Anyway, we won´t know what broke, nothing dramatic happened (thankfully), and
if the throttle stuck open, he may is not to blame for the crash.

For sure Kova is not to blame, the car should not fail like that.
I have also heard of some fire issues with this car.

[Tim.Wright]

with all due respect #16 is the droop link/connection rod for the ARB,
you adjust toe&camber via the shims.

True, was getting ahead of myself there. So the bottom arm is like an H arm. The suspension I was thinking of is used in a different Audi.

tim

[747heavy]

747 do you think part 10 is the one that broke?
Is this part made from steel or alu?
I think it should be made of steel but even so it looks quite strong.

possibly yes, it´s made from Aluminium, but it´s quite strong.

This is the rear axle of an GT3 Lambo, the R8 is similar/the same
It may broke the eye around the suspension bushes off, but it´s just a guess, I don´t know for sure. (red arrows)

You won´t find too many cars today which still use a lot of steel in their axles.
Everybody is trying to have low unsprung mass.

I don´t think that this part is weak/a problem in general.
As I said, we race these cars at the Nürburging for 24hr races - no problem at all.
I engineered an GT3 Lambo for a season, we never had a problem with the A-arms/wishbones.

Every Mitsubishi Lancer Gr.N Rally car uses cast aluminium A-arms, and they do Safari Rally, Acropolis and all sorts of stuff.
I don´t thing it´s a general issue, and for sure is no problem for a road car.
Every newer Ferrari has similar wishbones/A-Arms.

They are just not designed to "hit a wall" - look at F1 they use carbon, and if they overload it (like the Toyota some years back, when it jumped off the curb)
it will break like glass.
Everything has it´s limits, it´s a sports car not a tank

[spinmastermic]

He could have simply applied the clutch.

How do you know the R8 had a clutch pedal? I doubt it does.

As for the suspension arm, is it not more likely the bolts attaching it to the car sheared off?

[nacho]

You can assume the throttle being stuck, he's on full brakes all the way to the hit (check the lights).

What's worrying is that how easily the suspension breaks and how on earth its possible for the throttle to get stuck.

[gridwalker]

I had a striking dose of Deja Vu when I heard about this crash ...

One of the most striking memories that I have from watching the RoC at Wembley Stadium (other than Schumacher nearly getting lapped) was this :

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UqVlZL-Wp4[/youtube]

[mep]

He could have simply applied the clutch.

How do you know the R8 had a clutch pedal? I doubt it does.

If I have to pay around 160.000 Euro for a sportscar I expect it to have at least a clutch pedal or lever.
You buy such a car because you want to have fun with it and at least need one when the throttle got stuck.

Some things a fun car should have:
- a clutch
- a manual gearbox
- a throttle and a brake than can be applied at the same time
- a handbrake (operated by hand and possible to apply it whenever you want)


But you are right these days you must expect stupid things in a car.
At the moment I got a Mercedes that has his handbrake next to the clutch pedal.
How should I manage to apply the handbrake during driving?
I don't have a third leg and my dick is not long enough.
Such a car is not funny I would never buy it.
It's a handbrake you operate it with your hand.
Those Mercedes engineers should get wiped in their mouth.

[Belatti]

How should I manage to apply the handbrake during driving?
I don't have a third leg and my dick is not long enough.

=D>

[lolzi]

You buy such a car because you want to have fun with it

Isn't what they are racing the LMS? You don't buy those just to have fun with them. You buy them because you want to obliterate the competition.