One less Carrera GT in the world.

[RandallNeighbour]

This makes me sad.

[Brucelee]

Rest in Peace!

[RandallNeighbour]

I've thought about this accident a lot more since my previous post. It's impacted me. I can't seem to get it off my mind.

For years I have said that if I had to choose a way to die it would be in my Porsche at a very high rate of speed... I'd be doing something I loved and it would probably be an instantaneous death and not painful for too long of a time if at all.

[I fully realize Ben had no intention of ending his life—he was just enjoying his dream car with a friend along for the ride... so don't read anything into the above statement that isn't there.]

I'm now praying for the two families who are greiving and will go through life without a husband, father, brother or friend, not to mention co-workers and employees. May God grant each of them peace during what is probably the worst days of their lives.

[PSP]

Very Sad

I didn't know Ben personally, but I did "know" him through his posts on other boards (FerrariChat, 6speed). He was a true enthusiast.

We should all take away the lesson that when playing with "big boy" toys, you have to weigh the potentially deadly consequences. A few months ago, we had a rather heated discussion about exhibitions of speed on a public street. A tragedy like this happened on a track under conditions that would be all too common on the local boulevard.

It's just not worth it.

[Porschekid]

Some extra info that I picked up for those who are interested...

Originally Posted by .

The passenger was another amazing guy and friend, Cory Rudl. I was with them both. Cory's Murceilago Roadster overheated early in the session. He was interested in buying a GT and Ben graciously offered Cory a seat to show him what the car could do. The entrance to the track was at the absolute worst place in the straight and an F-car was waived on in error as they came down the straight. It was just unthinkable something like this could happen. The driver waived on is by all accounts an excellent driver and was only doing what was instructed. I doubt he ever saw the car in such a blind spot coming on. May they both rest in peace and my heartfelt prayers for their families. Cory leaves behind a wonderful wife of just 30 days.......tragic isn't the word.

Originally Posted by .

This was a FOC event:

... Ferrari entered the track near the end of the main straight a way (right before the spot where they place the "K" barriers for the chicane) Carrera GT owner Ben Keaton.."twitched" and flipped the car up on the K barrier. From what we gather: The GT owner took a second lap after the parade lap (he wasnt supposed too)

Rumor: there was no pit marshall letting cars out onto the track at the time of the accident.

We had multiple customers running the Ferrari event. Phone calls to the shop started flooding in.

I *think* I have pics of the car prior to accident.

Sorry to hear about this. We knew the guy.

Originally Posted by .

The person driving the vehicle who was behind him (Ferrari Stradale) just called us and told us what happened from his view. He was first on the scene. He said the GT past him at over 150mph as they eased onto the straigh a way and was traveling close to 165mph when he saw the car swerve. He got his car stopped and was first on the scene. One person was DOA and the other (driver) passed away in the helicopter enroute to the hospital.

What happened with the pit marshall:

Marshall saw the GT coming and gave the Ferrari owner the "GO" Ferrari guy hesitated.. looked back at the track.. passenger was shouting "GO".. then marshall says "STOP" and the Ferrari guy takes off.

Now: If the GT was moving at 165+ and the pit marshall wasnt familiar with cars generating that kind of speed (I'm doubting he was a CA Speedway employee) I could easily see how a split second hesitation on behalf of the driver could really mess things up.

This sucks. The passenger had just jumped into the GT. He was thinking about buying one and wanted a hot lap in it. Several of the FOC members are on their way to his house to "inform" his wife.

[Pilot2519j]

No joy in reading about the accident. Suffice to say that we all have in our hands powerful cars of the same ilk and that go extremely fast and can have the same catastrophic results. With that said bear in mind when you have a*** holes that want to race with you and at that point you should remember the ones you can leave behind. These two fellows that were at the prime of life and now they are dead. I feel for the families they left behind.
Vayan con Dios Amigos!

[Stryke]

Ben was a good guy. I just spoke to him last week. I feel for his wife and their new daughter.

RIP Buddy!

[eslai]

Wow. So that sounds like a total f-up at the track.

Seeing as how I wasn't there I can't make any comments about this although i have a lot of things I'd love to say. It really really angers me when I see accidents at track days because they almost always were avoidable. Mistakes happen though.

Best of luck to all of the families involved. A sad day indeed.