Mark Dalen

This isn't about who's is bigger, it is about credible data. That is where I am going. Rather than asserting my answer, I thought I would rebuild the survey here.

So you have never heard anyone at the track state that they felt it was more dangerous than the street. How many track days have you done? How many people has specifically said they think it is safer?

bioman

He dropped a wheel on trackout of infamous turn nine, spun back across the track, crossed into the infield and started to roll, ending up ~100 yards from the track.

You may or may not be right to say that any given track incident is less likely to cause injury than an on-street incident, especially if you consider driving off course to be an "incident" (although when I drive off it's usually to maintain control, not because I'm out of control). But in my experience such incidents occur far more frequenty at the track than they do on the street. I spun my street car twice (in 20 years of driving), but I've got well over a dozen spins in DEs or practice sessions in ~35 days on track.

In my mind it netted out to a lot more risk at DEs than on the street.

bioman

Glad to hear it!

Mark Dalen

How many accidents do you see at the track per day of DE?

Now for your data to be meaningful, there have to be a reasonable number of track days (say 20+) and it must include a range of different groups. If all your days are with one group, that skews the data.

Personally I have seen between 1 and 2 damamged cars per DE day. I have been at many different groups (Audi Club, PCA, Tracquest, NASA, BMW, and many other groups). I have been to some events where the damage count was 0 per day, but I have seen as many as 5 in one day (Sears in the rain).

When I surveyed a number of instuctors via eMail a couple of years ago, the conclusion was ~1 accident per day. So let's see what this group comes up with as I think the numbers are increasing with time.

NASA racer

Damn whose that green Civic ;-P

<img src="http://pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/nasa+racer/nasas+stuff/sears+point+copy.jpg">

Mark Dalen

Interesting idea. That should mean that the number of track accidents if far, far less than the street.

NASA racer

lost it coming out of turn 9 at Riverside and hit the edge of the wall (a wierd spot on the outside of turn 1) in his Pantera. His chest filled with blood and the EMT's couldn't save him.

O.W. Kenobi

I wasn't a participant in that one. I'm just anxious to see the data (looks like you started with some above - thanks).

Mark Dalen

I am collecting data and will compare what we collect here with my earlier study. But you have made a bunch of statements and I am also trying to calibrate your comments to experience level.

Do you have an experience level to make your comments and observations credible or not?

O.W. Kenobi

What other questions were asked? How were the questions worded? How did you select the respondents? Just people you know, or was it a random sampling?

All I'm interested in is your survey at the moment. You brought it up, so let's talk about it. If it's to carry weight as a reputable survey, then the methodology has to be examined. I don't claim to have survey results to support my position. I'm only spouting my opinion.