Funny/Weird Moments in Racing

[JohnBM01]

Auto racing can be a pure test of endurance and skill. But sometimes, it can also bring up weird and even funny moments. So while taking a break from new racing topics, here is a nice diversion from the norm. Discuss some rather interesting moments in racing.

I'll start.

Just recentely, a strange moment occured in Joliet, Illinois, USA. The Tropicana 400 was the headliner, and during qualifying, an inflatable orange made it on to the track as Dale Earnhardt Jr. was out qualifying, or after, one of them. I normally don't drink Tropicana Orange Juice, but how would you like to have a nice, big, large orange getting a little dirty from the asphalt on an oval? I thought this was worse than someone dropping a beach ball on track during a NASCAR race at Martinsville. The weirdest moment of all had to be a dirt track stock car race as an en-tire tire (cheap joke, but sure) came completely off the car, but later, the tire lodged back on the car and drove away perfectly.

You want to contribute? Any series, any country, any continent, any type, bring it on!

 

[Blake]

In V8 Supercars last year Mark Scaife and Russle Ingal had "one of there moments" where Scaife came off seconds best. Scaife got out of his car and waited for Ingal to come around next lap so he could shake his fist at him and show his anger. So he almost on the tarmac waving his fist at Ingal when Ingal decided to swerve off the racing line towards Mark. It was pretty psyco at the time but looking back it's actually quite amusing.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

A similar incident happened in the NZV8 Touring cars. One driver got taken out. Fumming he waited for the guy who hit him to come around. He then threw his helmet at the guys car, smashing the driver side window.

 

[Blake]

Damn! Now that one is crazy.👍

 

[Bollocks#999]

In V8 Supercars last year Mark Scaife and Russle Ingal had "one of there moments" where Scaife came off seconds best. Scaife got out of his car and waited for Ingal to come around next lap so he could shake his fist at him and show his anger. So he almost on the tarmac waving his fist at Ingal when Ingal decided to swerve off the racing line towards Mark. It was pretty psyco at the time but looking back it's actually quite amusing.

Its "Skaife"

To follow up on that, Ingall then made a pit stop, when he drove past Skaife's pit box, he gave them the finger


A few years back in the 2Litre catorgory, 2 teammates, Tony Longhurst and Paul Morris, came out of a corner side by side
The front wheels locked together forcing them both of the track, Longhurst thought that Morris had driven him off the road and when the 2 cars stopped he got out and punched Morris in the head, except Morris was still wearing his helmet!

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Yeah it's Skaife.

I know of many incidents........ I just can't think of them right now.

 

[Blake]

Its "Skaife"

I knew that, grr, stupid me.

 

[zoxxy]

In F1 when the whole field was behind the safety car in Monaco Schumi just locked his brakes

 

[Blake]

That was idiotic, especially from someone of his experience.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Or..... When it was that rain swept race at Spa. Schumi was coming around to lap Coulthard. He hit Coulthard and lost a wheel. That was after one of the biggest crashes ever in F1 20 out of 22 cars got nailed

 

[ND4SPD]

Umm what about the daytona 500, I don't know the exact year,but when dale earnhardt senior was leading the race with less than 10 laps to go and he hits a seagull badly damaging his radiator and stealing the win from him, that was a somewhat funny incident, but not for the seagull though.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Or when Carlos Sainz was leading thr Rally of NZ. He was driving his Ford Repsol Escort. He was coming down a fast straight and hit a sheep. Endingb his rally

 

[Rue]

Another one of Senor Sainz, in the RAC rally of Great Britain, when he was leading right up until the last moment (He could have won the championship I think). His Escort broke down and Carlos proceeded to get out of the car and put his helmet through the window in fury and frustration!

 

[ND4SPD]

What about the Formula 1 race, I'm not to sure if it was last year or the year earlier, when during the race some hooligan covered in signs somehow managed to get on track with the cars flying by and one of the jaguars swerved intentionaly to scare him, and he literally froze in fear, it was really funny in the slow motion video.

 

[Firestarter75]

What about the Formula 1 race, I'm not to sure if it was last year or the year earlier, when during the race some hooligan covered in signs somehow managed to get on track with the cars flying by and one of the jaguars swerved intentionaly to scare him, and he literally froze in fear, it was really funny in the slow motion video.

That was last years british grand prix.

 

[Blake]

Or..... When it was that rain swept race at Spa. Schumi was coming around to lap Coulthard. He hit Coulthard and lost a wheel. That was after one of the biggest crashes ever in F1 20 out of 22 cars got nailed

Here is that video.

 

[Firestarter75]

At a Porsche Club DE couple of years at Road Atlanta(it may have been the race, i forget) had a driver impact the tire wall drivers right at turn 5, right about at the radio box. He exits the car IMMEDIATLY and instead of moving to the radio box.... heads directly to the portopisser in a sprint. Turns out something had broke in his right front, put him in the wall and he really had to piss bad all session.

A few years at a regional we had a formula ford lose a wheel down the backstretch. So they finally collect him and bring him in, he asks EV about his wheel nuts and if we could look for them. Control gets on the net and says... control to stations 7, 8 and 9 please check the grass for #55's nuts. The net got VERY quiet.... I have a feeling LOTS of comments were stifled, I know our station had a few giggles.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Another one of Senor Sainz, in the RAC rally of Great Britain, when he was leading right up until the last moment (He could have won the championship I think). His Escort broke down and Carlos proceeded to get out of the car and put his helmet through the window in fury and frustration!

He was driving a Toyota Corolla

I've got the vid of the crash and when Schumi hit Coulthard.

That guy with the signs could also be from this years race at Catalunya.

 

[JohnBM01]

Here's a very weird incident I forgot to mention!

What is the best way to advertise? By ramming into a sign on the ground, and then carrying that little stand around the front of your car. Where did this happen? It was at Sears Point with SPEED Touring Car, I believe. This one guy was knocked off the course and ran over this sign. Then, as he tried to get back into the race, he probably didn't realize that the sign was still on his car. And while the car was at speed, the sign was still lodged on his car! So if you can't land any primary sponsors, just run over a sign, have it lodged onto your car, and you'll make lots of money!

Well, your turn!

 

[Jalpa]

What happens when you show off:
I saw on T.V. the other night, some guy racing a Green and Yellow Fiat Uno
waved to one of his friends in the stands, trying to act cool, then lost control, running into a wall. He then tried to push it to the finish line, but nearly got run over as about 20 other cars whizzed past him. This was on the last lap, and he had led nearly the whole race, losing due to showing off.

As for weird, it doesn't get any odder than the Merceges CLK-GTR's wild flipping down long straightaways............

I also heard that Csaba Csere, one of Car and Driver's Editors, managed to wreck a brand-spanking new Corvette IMSA racer in 1985, worth about $850,000. On a caution lap. He was so embarrased, he didn't remove his helmet as he left, hoping no one would recognize him.

Also, I saw on T.V. a long time ago where a man driving a Ferrari F50 drove off a balcony, dropping about 8 Feet. And that wasn't his car. Needless to say, someone was p***ed.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

This one eventually had to come up. Greg Murphy recieved a 5 minute penalty at the Bathurst Enduro, in the V8 Supercar series. The officials hate him, I tell ya

There was a time when HRT just couldn't win. At the time Thomas Mezera was thier main driver. In the 1993 Sandown 500 he was complaining of oil on his windscreen. The crew then decided to throw bucket loads of water onto the windscreen, everytime the car passed the pit. The last bucket load made the windscreen explode, ending Mezeras race. Later HRT recieved a penalty. All because you can't throw bucket loads of water at the windscreens.

 

[Blake]

As for weird, it doesn't get any odder than the Merceges CLK-GTR's wild flipping down long straightaways............

Wasn't Webber driving that?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Indeed he was. But I think it happened more than once.

 

[Sleek Stratos]

Recently in the Rally of Turkey during one of the stages Marcus Gronhölm ran over some rock, or something, bending one of the frame pipes that ran under Timo Rautiannen's seat so bad that it rammed through into Timo's butt. He had to ride in a pretty uncomfortable position for the remainder of the rally.
To add insult to injury when they gave him the 'star of the rally award' the also gave him the chopped off pipe. Looked pretty sharp too.

 

[Roo]

I expect most people have seen the video of the 1995ish Merc DTM car that hits a rabbit.

Petter Solberg hitting a Saab on the Thursday before a rally on a road section. That was unusual.

The USA round of the Porsche Supercup last year. Kraffer is elbowed of the track by Hensler, and then tries to hit Hensler with his car, but missed an hit Klaus Graff by mistake. (Spelling will be wrong here.)

Mondello Park, BTCC. In the pits, in the rain. Paul O'Neill taps the back of Phil Bennett, pushing Bennett into the podium truck.

Moreno, Coulthard and Herbert all having issues with the pitlane entry at Adelaide in 95.

There are many more but I can't think of them right now.

 

[Bollocks#999]

Or..... When it was that rain swept race at Spa. Schumi was coming around to lap Coulthard. He hit Coulthard and lost a wheel. That was after one of the biggest crashes ever in F1 20 out of 22 cars got nailed

You forget to mention that DC slowed, on the racing line, in pouring rain, now what sort of person does that?

 

[Bollocks#999]

This one eventually had to come up. Greg Murphy recieved a 5 minute penalty at the Bathurst Enduro, in the V8 Supercar series. The officials hate him, I tell ya

There was a time when HRT just couldn't win. At the time Thomas Mezera was thier main driver. In the 1993 Sandown 500 he was complaining of oil on his windscreen. The crew then decided to throw bucket loads of water onto the windscreen, everytime the car passed the pit. The last bucket load made the windscreen explode, ending Mezeras race. Later HRT recieved a penalty. All because you can't throw bucket loads of water at the windscreens.

That was also done at Bathurst on Peter Brocks car, same deal except Brock continued, but had to pit and have the back window kicked out also

 

[Blake]

I don't remember that.......was that the apparent "last Bathurst" for Brock? Because I didn't remember that happening then?