How did my wreck happen?

[justintime2]

First of all, my apologies to the group 4 riders who missed their practice round because I crashed in turn 2 after 1 whole lap Saturday morning.

With that said I have no recollection of what happened as I woke up in the ambulance, or at least don't remember anything prior to it. The only thing I do remember is coming through turn 1 at full clip, standing the bike up, starting to brake on the new pavement fix in front of turn 2 and thinking "that's not good".

I have no idea what "that's not good" meant or what was going on with me and the bike, but it ultimately meant I hit the tire wall in 2. The bike faired reasonably well all things considered, and quite frankly, so did I. My gear did it's job and I was transported to Valley ER with the following injuries:
*Concussion
*Fractured L clavical
*L hip contusion
*Sprained L thumb
*Closed head injury
*C-Spine bi-latteral strain
*Throat contusion

Thanks to the ambulance crew and all the track officials who helped, I have no idea who you are or what, If anything, I said to you. I would especially like to thank who ever it was who helped find my daughter. When I woke up in the ambulance I couldn't remember anything but asked someone to make sure my daughter was found and brought with us.

My policy is my daughter, our pit crew chief, doesn't come along unless another adult, besides myself, is there for just this type of event. My brother had come along with me and my daughter to do some filming, but I was so confused I had no idea he came and only parental instinct that my daughter needed to be looked after. Truth be told I didn't even know I was at the race track and thought we were home and something had happened at work.

I'm planning on my next "get back in the saddle" event to be the Seattle 100 in July, when hopefully I will be healed back-up. If anyone was following me, cornerworking, shooting pics, or an official who helped, please help me fill in the blanks and thank you so much for taking care of me and my little girl. :)

Thoughts and prayers go out to the others injured last weekend, sounds like it was an odd round...

[Mr Sunshine]

Glad you are posting here Justin!! You just don't seem to like turn 2 (recalling last years incident) Heal up and get back on that horse.


Now I have to ask...do you remember if you were going down the center of the track or not when you were going towards turn 2 and braking?

[Steve]

Sorry to hear Justin. I wasn't there so I cannot comment but hope you heal up quickly. T2 can be nasty...

[Lauralynne]

Sorry to hear Justin. I wasn't there so I cannot comment but hope you heal up quickly. T2 can be nasty...

Justin - that's got to be frustrating, I'm glad it's not worse and hope you heal quickly and completely and find some answers.


what is the count for T2 this weekend? I'm one, Steve's one, Homie's one...who else?

[Brandon]

i was corner working at 2a that day i was the first to spot you. it looked like you came into turn 2 either to fast or just ran wide. When you hit the compacted rock which should have been nice and fluffy. you skidde into the tires doing about 50ish. the bike ended up on your leg. I think that if those retards hadnt compacted the run offs you would have been fine.

[Steve]

Justin - that's got to be frustrating, I'm glad it's not worse and hope you heal quickly and completely and find some answers.


what is the count for T2 this weekend? I'm one, Steve's one, Homie's one...who else?


I was a T3 victim.

[justintime2]

Justin - that's got to be frustrating, I'm glad it's not worse and hope you heal quickly and completely and find some answers.


what is the count for T2 this weekend? I'm one, Steve's one, Homie's one...who else?
Very frustrating...what happened to you?

[Lauralynne]

Very frustrating...what happened to you?

a rider tried to pass me on the inside and went wide - taking my front end with him. wasn't T2's fault on this one - or mine! Hope you find your answers

[justintime2]

I was a T3 victim.Saw your vid...maybe off the gas trying to slow down and overloaded the front by shifting to much weight to it. That's my two cents... :)

[Steve]

Saw your vid...maybe off the gas trying to slow down and overloaded the front by shifting to much weight to it. That's my two cents... :)


Yeah, I agree.

[tarheel]

Glad you are okay bud....let me know if you need anything.

[jwinn76]

Man that sounded nasty, but i am glad your alright...see you out in open supersport soon :)

[justintime2]

i was corner working at 2a that day i was the first to spot you. it looked like you came into turn 2 either to fast or just ran wide. When you hit the compacted rock which should have been nice and fluffy. you skidde into the tires doing about 50ish. the bike ended up on your leg. I think that if those retards hadnt compacted the run offs you would have been fine.This is me still on meds and over looking your post. Thanks for your help on scene and the insight into what happened. If the bike was on top of me I'm sure I'm better off not remembering. Anybody else that was helping on scene that I can talk to and thank? :)

[geddyt]

Hey Justin, I work a lot and have my own bike to rebuild, but if you need any help turning wrenches or anything, let me know and I'll do my best (no promises). At the very least, I can bring a few beers one night when I've got a spare hours and shoot the breeze while wrenches are turned.

[milleman]

Glad your gonna be OK! that was a nasty crash!

[justintime2]

Thanks for all the moral support guys...it means allot. Details are still sketchy though :(

[Motophotog]

Everytime i tell myself I'm going to get in on WMRRA, I see these crash stories, and all ur injuries, and i picture some novice rider ass reaming me into T1, 2, or 3. Just doesnt sound appealing in the least bit. I'm glad you're ok, but i have to stop reading these forums or i'll have no confidence out there!!!

[justintime2]

Everytime i tell myself I'm going to get in on WMRRA, I see these crash stories, and all ur injuries, and i picture some novice rider ass reaming me into T1, 2, or 3. Just doesnt sound appealing in the least bit. I'm glad you're ok, but i have to stop reading these forums or i'll have no confidence out there!!!I hear you man. But rest assured this was a practice round and I did it all on my own, turns out I didn't need anybody else's help, lol! Also, I can't believe over the years how many buddies have broken their clavical riding bicycles, playing basketball or the like, and my clavical is really the worst of it. :)

[redrider2]

Everytime i tell myself I'm going to get in on WMRRA, I see these crash stories, and all ur injuries, and i picture some novice rider ass reaming me into T1, 2, or 3. Just doesnt sound appealing in the least bit. I'm glad you're ok, but i have to stop reading these forums or i'll have no confidence out there!!!


Yeah or some *ahem* control rider passing in the chute in the first session on a damp/cold track.

#343 Heal soon bud.

[milleman]

Sorry to hear about your crash! crashing sucks!

BTW I know your brother

[Hypnotiq]

Everytime i tell myself I'm going to get in on WMRRA, I see these crash stories, and all ur injuries, and i picture some novice rider ass reaming me into T1, 2, or 3. Just doesnt sound appealing in the least bit. I'm glad you're ok, but i have to stop reading these forums or i'll have no confidence out there!!!

Dude. Shit happens on the track. Any racing, be it car or motorcycle, has certain level of dangers. You just gotta weigh the enjoyment vs. the risk, as in most anything in life. :)

[Meow]

Man, glad your ok enough to post up. Crash sounded horrid! And very smart thinking with your daughter. I hope most with kids know to do the same. Shi* happens, even when we don't want it to. Heal up fast, and glad you still have your desire to ride!! Seattle 100 should be sweet!

[Motophotog]

Dude. Shit happens on the track. Any racing, be it car or motorcycle, has certain level of dangers. You just gotta weigh the enjoyment vs. the risk, as in most anything in life. :)

Wasnt saying it as a negative or putting down the club. Simply stating, it looks like in 1 weekend what like 5 hospital runs? Thats crazy. In any sport. Of coarse everyone (should) know the risks. I just see ways in which to lessen the risk. :D

[justintime2]

Alright from what I can gather from this thread, PM's and talking to a few people, my guess is the following happened:
1. I hit the new pavement in front of T2 and the bike reacted differently than I was used to, not sure how though (thanks concussion)
2. In the micro second it took me to sort it out I started my turn too late and ran out of track
3. The gravel run off was compacted, probably from the repave project which didn't slow me or the bike down much at all
4. Impacted the tire wall and the bike came to rest partially on me.
5. The fine WMRRA and EMS staff took care of me - THANK YOU!!

Don't want to blame my errors on someone else as it's my lack of skill that caused them, but the more I think about it the lack of inherent safety built into this track is stunning. I will forward my concerns privately to the appropriate parties as I'm sure my thoughts are nothing new and I don't want this to turn into a bashing thread.

Thankfully we as a club don't short change safety on our end, and as someone involved in the safety business i'm glad to see it! :)

I guess my sig photo means even more now, thanks WMRRA staff!!!

[tophyr]

Yeah or some *ahem* control rider passing in the chute in the first session on a damp/cold track.

#343 Heal soon bud.

I was right behind you, I nearly shat myself on your behalf watching that.

I did go find the guy and talk to him afterward, and he felt really bad about it, in his defense. He wanted to find you, I dunno if he ever did, cuz neither of us could remember a thing about your leathers or bike. Apparently he was coming up so fast that it was either dynamite the brakes for a second in the straight (and risk getting asspacked by me) or try to go for the pass before he hit the chute. Shitty situation to be in, and I doubt very much he'll ever put himself in it again.

[redrider2]

I was right behind you, I nearly shat myself on your behalf watching that.

I did go find the guy and talk to him afterward, and he felt really bad about it, in his defense. He wanted to find you, I dunno if he ever did, cuz neither of us could remember a thing about your leathers or bike. Apparently he was coming up so fast that it was either dynamite the brakes for a second in the straight (and risk getting asspacked by me) or try to go for the pass before he hit the chute. Shitty situation to be in, and I doubt very much he'll ever put himself in it again.

Well at least that puts perspective on it.

I guess I'm just not one to go balls out in that situation on a track day in the first or second lap when you have 5-6 sessions to go.

I'm just glad I didn't follow my normal line into the chute. Would have been real bad for everydody. :eek:

[tophyr]

Yeah, he said the only reason he even considered the pass a possibility was that he didn't think you were gonna go so tight on the entrance. If he doesn't catch you by Spokane I'll point him your way, because he really did want to find you and apologize.