So, here's the story (LONG, BWW)............
09-08-2004, 04:54 PM
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So, here's the story (LONG, BWW)............
First I'd like to thank all who have emailed, phoned, posted, etc. their concerns & best wishes. I would like to specifically thank John (DriveS4spd) for taking me to the ER & driving me around following the event. Also, Matt (mpwolf) for keeping the AW rumor mill to a minimum. He was correct that I would respond in due time. Finally, Aaron (s4mig) for giving me a call and postng that I ws alive & recovering.
The Story:
I particpated in the ACNA event at Watkins Glen last week. The conditions Monday were terrible with rain & fog all day. I had 3 sessions with my instructer with me at the wheel. The car was loose all day, with some improvement after playing with the rear tire pressures. Tires were Kuhmo MX. This was my first time at the Glen, so figuring out the rain line was next to impossible considering that I had no reference point to go off of. I basically took it easy and played with several lines during the day.
The last session of the day, was a ride along with the instructors. Mine had a single seater open top English racer, so he offered to take me out in my car. I thought it would be a good idea so I could pick up some tips on getting around the track. Plus he has a modified A4 and his son just picked up and S4 so I was confident that he would be familar with the charateritics of the Audi. He had several decades of race experience as well.
During the first lap, he commented several times that the rear was still loose, but better. At the beginning of the 2nd lap after turn 1 he gunned it through the esses. The was running water between 2 & 3 that had been there all day. We hydroplaned through that and when he tried to turn left for 3 the car did not respond. All I saw was the blue Armco approaching fast. We hit that with the passenger front and the rest is a blur. Next thing I know, we are on the roof. We ended up right side up with both passenger wheels up on the Armco and the front of the car facing down the track. I don't know how fast we were going or how far we had slid.
Here are some pics of the damage:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0018.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0016.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0021.jpg">
The airbags did not deploy. The rescue team was there almost instantly. They had to cut the drvers side door off for us to get out. I knew my right ring finger was broken. But, did not think I had any other broken bones. John(DriveS4spd) gave me a ride to the local ER so I could get some x-rays and figure out what was actually injured. (For those of you that don't know already, I am a 5th year Orthopaedic Surgery resident, so I do this type of thing for a living.) Driver was not injured.
Some X-rays:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/fx1.jpg">
The fracture on the right ring finger is pretty obvious. The flexor tendon pulled off that piece of bone. The fracture on the left is not so obvious. It is a non-displaced fracture of teh distal phalynx that I pointed out to the ER doc. My first call was to my wife. The second call was to my favorite hand surgeon to put me on his Wed afternoon schedule to fix the right ring finger.
An intraoperative x-ray:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/pin.jpg">
The 2 wires are holding the joint surface together. The flexor tendon was grabbed with a suture, brought though the bone and tied over a button on the top of the finger. This is a procedure I have done many times, but I don't like being on the other side of the knife.
Here's the finger:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0006.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0002.jpg">
I've got some intraoperative pics of the surgery, but they may be a bit objectionable.
Button & pins stay for 6 weeks. I am not allowed to move anything until then. After that begins several months of rehab to regain motion & strength. I'm out of the OR for at least 8 weeks and I'm already bored out of my skull. Left ring finger will heal on it's own. Broken ribs hurt like hell, but will also heal.
THE CAR:
Called USAA from the track and told them what had happened. I emphasized that this was a driver education event and not a race school. They put it through there legal team, and decided they would cover the accident. The appaiser came yesterday and offically totalled the car. It will take a few days to get their offer. I'll have to wait & see what mods they will cover, if any. I'll have to also find out whether buying the car from them will be worth it. I will ahve some parts available, but don't ask now. I have 1 partially good hand and need some time to figure out everything.
RANDOM THOUGHTS:
I will keep my opionion on how I feel about an instructer destroying my car to myself for now. You can imagine how I feel about it and will be exploring my options.
My hand will eventually heal. The finger will always be a bit stiff, but should not affect my career.
I am currently driving a rental until I settle with the insurance company. I will most likely not be getting back into an S just yet. I owe about $20,000 on mine and will be lucky to come out a few grand ahead. I just need some reliable transportation for the next 18 months until I'm out of residency & fellowship and start getting a real paycheck. Plus my insurance is going to skyrocket for now. Looked at the Jetta yesterday. They also had an R32 that I will be passing on.
I'll get back on the track eventually, just won't be in near future. It would be nice to have a dedicated track car, but that's not in the financial picture right now.
Again thanks for the get well wished. I still plan on frequenting the board. I'll keep everyone posted on any updates and parts for sale in the future. Sorry for the typos, this took forever to do with one hand!
The Story:
I particpated in the ACNA event at Watkins Glen last week. The conditions Monday were terrible with rain & fog all day. I had 3 sessions with my instructer with me at the wheel. The car was loose all day, with some improvement after playing with the rear tire pressures. Tires were Kuhmo MX. This was my first time at the Glen, so figuring out the rain line was next to impossible considering that I had no reference point to go off of. I basically took it easy and played with several lines during the day.
The last session of the day, was a ride along with the instructors. Mine had a single seater open top English racer, so he offered to take me out in my car. I thought it would be a good idea so I could pick up some tips on getting around the track. Plus he has a modified A4 and his son just picked up and S4 so I was confident that he would be familar with the charateritics of the Audi. He had several decades of race experience as well.
During the first lap, he commented several times that the rear was still loose, but better. At the beginning of the 2nd lap after turn 1 he gunned it through the esses. The was running water between 2 & 3 that had been there all day. We hydroplaned through that and when he tried to turn left for 3 the car did not respond. All I saw was the blue Armco approaching fast. We hit that with the passenger front and the rest is a blur. Next thing I know, we are on the roof. We ended up right side up with both passenger wheels up on the Armco and the front of the car facing down the track. I don't know how fast we were going or how far we had slid.
Here are some pics of the damage:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0018.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0016.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0021.jpg">
The airbags did not deploy. The rescue team was there almost instantly. They had to cut the drvers side door off for us to get out. I knew my right ring finger was broken. But, did not think I had any other broken bones. John(DriveS4spd) gave me a ride to the local ER so I could get some x-rays and figure out what was actually injured. (For those of you that don't know already, I am a 5th year Orthopaedic Surgery resident, so I do this type of thing for a living.) Driver was not injured.
Some X-rays:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/fx1.jpg">
The fracture on the right ring finger is pretty obvious. The flexor tendon pulled off that piece of bone. The fracture on the left is not so obvious. It is a non-displaced fracture of teh distal phalynx that I pointed out to the ER doc. My first call was to my wife. The second call was to my favorite hand surgeon to put me on his Wed afternoon schedule to fix the right ring finger.
An intraoperative x-ray:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/pin.jpg">
The 2 wires are holding the joint surface together. The flexor tendon was grabbed with a suture, brought though the bone and tied over a button on the top of the finger. This is a procedure I have done many times, but I don't like being on the other side of the knife.
Here's the finger:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0006.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/64706/img_0002.jpg">
I've got some intraoperative pics of the surgery, but they may be a bit objectionable.
Button & pins stay for 6 weeks. I am not allowed to move anything until then. After that begins several months of rehab to regain motion & strength. I'm out of the OR for at least 8 weeks and I'm already bored out of my skull. Left ring finger will heal on it's own. Broken ribs hurt like hell, but will also heal.
THE CAR:
Called USAA from the track and told them what had happened. I emphasized that this was a driver education event and not a race school. They put it through there legal team, and decided they would cover the accident. The appaiser came yesterday and offically totalled the car. It will take a few days to get their offer. I'll have to wait & see what mods they will cover, if any. I'll have to also find out whether buying the car from them will be worth it. I will ahve some parts available, but don't ask now. I have 1 partially good hand and need some time to figure out everything.
RANDOM THOUGHTS:
I will keep my opionion on how I feel about an instructer destroying my car to myself for now. You can imagine how I feel about it and will be exploring my options.
My hand will eventually heal. The finger will always be a bit stiff, but should not affect my career.
I am currently driving a rental until I settle with the insurance company. I will most likely not be getting back into an S just yet. I owe about $20,000 on mine and will be lucky to come out a few grand ahead. I just need some reliable transportation for the next 18 months until I'm out of residency & fellowship and start getting a real paycheck. Plus my insurance is going to skyrocket for now. Looked at the Jetta yesterday. They also had an R32 that I will be passing on.
I'll get back on the track eventually, just won't be in near future. It would be nice to have a dedicated track car, but that's not in the financial picture right now.
Again thanks for the get well wished. I still plan on frequenting the board. I'll keep everyone posted on any updates and parts for sale in the future. Sorry for the typos, this took forever to do with one hand!
09-08-2004, 05:01 PM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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wow, i'm glad you made it through all that alive!
good luck with picking the new car.
i must say, you've been quite mature in handling and posting this subject in a public forum. kudos to that.
i must say, you've been quite mature in handling and posting this subject in a public forum. kudos to that.
