[ACCIDENT] Multiple Camera Views Capture Rollover of a C7 Corvette Z06 at Willow Springs Raceway

By
Mitch Talley
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23
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[ACCIDENT] Multiple Camera Views Capture Rollover of a C7 Corvette Z06 at Willow Springs Raceway

Photo Credit: jhnfrrguto / YouTube


Wow, where to start with this rollover crash of a C7 Corvette Z06?

It’s not every day that we get to watch a video taken from the passenger seat of a Corvette while it actually rolls over on a racetrack.

The incident was posted Wednesday on YouTube, and so far only about 100 folks have watched the crash, something we hope to change with this inspirational story.

As the contemporary gospel song “All Is for Your Glory” by Laura Hackett Park and Samuel Hood plays (rather loudly at times) in the background, we see driver Steve standing beside his shiny Z06, then watch him go through a pre-session set-up of his Performance Data Recorder, with no inkling of the danger that lurks just ahead on the 70-year-old Willow Springs track located about 80 miles north of Los Angeles.

But then the video demonstrates just how quickly things can go south when racing. Steve pulls onto the track without incident, but after he makes it through the first turn, we hear the car accelerating early in the straightaway to about 90 mph. At that point, he suddenly loses control of the car and the Z06 begins to roll over, bringing the blue sky into the comes scene before we then see a close-up of scraggly brush and hear groans from the occupants after the car comes to a halt upside-down.

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Fortunately, both Steve and his passenger emerge unscathed from what could have been a very nasty incident, hence explaining the choice of the background music. As they put it on the YouTube description for the video: “Things didn’t go as planned but glory be to God He protected us that day. Thank you Jesus. All is for your glory.”

Additional photos from outside the car show dust flying through the air during the crash, rescue crews working to get the occupants out of the Corvette, the flattened car upright on a rollback as it is hauled away from the track, a close-up of the scuffed helmet, and finally the grateful-to-be-alive and smiling driver standing next to the wrecked car. We also hear the driver and his passenger talking about the crash, with one of them explaining that it was simply “too much power, not enough grip.”

We’re glad the driver was able to laugh it off after just totaling his Z06. He says somewhat philosophically with a chuckle: “Well, it was fun while it lasted. We’ve got some good war stories to tell, huh, Tom? Well, that’s it for today as far as racing, kind of had a boo-boo. Yeah, we’re OK, just get me on my feet, I’ll be OK.”

The lesson for all of us is a simple one. As they used to say on Hill Street Blues, let’s be careful out there, folks!


Source:
jhnfrrguto / YouTube

Related:
[ACCIDENT] Aftermath of a 1962 Corvette Roll-Over Crash in Europe
[ACCIDENT] Two Injured in Rollover Crash of a C6 Corvette in Washington
[VIDEO] C6 Corvette Rollover Crash Badly Injures Two in Ohio

 



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23 COMMENTS

  1. I wonder if Chevy wants to see the car given that the passenger-side roof collapsed roughly eight inches.

    Montana Bob

  2. Yes — not too happy to see the extent to which the passenger-side roof collapsed, including the rear pillar. I thought the rear pillar would have provided more rollover protection than that.

  3. DougR,

    It is unfortunate that the dust hides the actual rollover. If the car was in the air and dropped a substantial distance onto the ground whilst inverted, that may be the explanation. I also noticed a fairly high berm fairly close to the track surface. It is possible that the car slammed into that berm whilst on its side still at close to maximum velocity. In any case, the passenger is d__n lucky that his neck was not broken. In my opinion, the driver was a d____d fool for dropping the hammer immediately after exiting the pit lane on stone-cold tires.

    Montana Bob

  4. Race tracks can bite…and usually when you least expect them.
    I hate that for the owner & passenger, as well as the poor C7.

  6. Looks as though he was over steering then over corrected. Perfect combination for a car flip. Glad everyone was able to walk away.

  8. Two things caused this crash, first the tires were cold and second the driver didn’t know what to do when the car got loose. He obviously has money and will probably buy a C8. Hopefully he’ll go to Spring Mountain to learn how to drive it.

  14. That wasn’t a straight. They came out of the hot pit into turn 1 and spun leading into 2. Not common there but at least they didn’t get to 4 or 6 with speed

  15. Seemed to be talking to the passenger. Not the time to be unfocused.
    Wonder if stability control and/or traction control were turned off.

  16. Glad everyone walked away, although I’m sure it nearly scared both of them to death. Cars can be replaced…but clearly, something way south of the Z06’s 650 HP might be more appropriate. Best!

  19. I have driven my C4 Corevtte on the Willow Springs track while I was shooting and producing a television show. That is a real race track and not to be played with… I did two full laps at half speed just to learn the track before I tried anything ‘fancy’. This example was an accident waiting t happen. So glad to learn that everyone survived… it could have been much worse.

  20. As an owner of a C7 Z06 myself, plus many years of racing and track days – cold tires and too much throttle = disaster.

  21. In the late 2000’s I went to a track day @ Willow Springs given by Dick Guldstrand and his car group driving my C4 1996 Corvette. You were classed by experience and members of the group would volunteer to ride along. The air temp was mid to high 90’s and we were advised not to come in the pits after laps and put on the emergency brake for this reason.We were broken into groups by experience and I went out in the B group, ran a couple of laps, came in and one of his group came over and asked if I wanted a good guide to ride with me. Sounded fine to me so we started out and on the second lap he said ,”You’re a little slow into 3, let’s step it up!” Stock street tires, remember? So I booted it some more into the left part of 3, but as I started to turn for the rest the overheated stock tires took us off into the boonies a bit and as he had his window down a bit., a whole bunch of dirt flew inside as we slid to a stop. “You OK? he asked…I’d thumped my head (in a helmet of course) on the desert bumps but we were fine, as was the car. We cleared the car from the scene and drove moderately back to the pits where I thanked him for his wonderful instruction, let the car cool down and went back out ALONE in the next B session. Drove at my own limits and had a great time. The same day someone had trailered a 1996 Grand Sport Coupe and proceeded to take off into the boonies at a much greater rate than I did…put it back on the trailer and trucked it home.

  23. Music = to funeral pire music for the Z06. Such a waste of a C7 Z06. I have a 2021 C8 and really want the 2023/4 Z06, but this video gives me pause. I had a 1986 IROC-Z28 back in the day and it was too light and loose on the road. Im assuming more power equates to less grip. Mine is sweet and 495 hp, and its in my garage. I better enjoy the one I have !

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