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    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    Quote:
    FixedWing said:
    ...The skills for track driving are not exactly the same skills one uses for high speed street driving....



    Definately true. My point was referring to the fact that drivers with a racing experience should know how a car handles on the limit, e.g. on slippery surface, at hydroplaning, weight transfer.

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    M. Heydens, the driver who survived and spent time in jail under investigative custody has been freed of further criminal charges. He has left prison with his GT3RS and drivers license in his wallet.

    In fact the judicial inquiry did not produce any evidence to corroborate the charges held against him. There was no race, the cars did not hit each other, and nothing demonstrates that he knowingly left the scene of the crash... In addition, the Porsche importeur of Belgium declares that the fact that the GT2s speedo was blocked at 250 km/h is no reliable evidence for the real speed under the circumstances of the crash.

    On the contrary, the inquiry found out that at the place where it all happened the road surface shows a deficiency which is potentially very dangerous when passed over at high speed (some kind of joint between concrete pavement forming a dip followed by a bump). Heydens recognizes that he knows the danger of this area. I for myself can confirm this and other nasty bumps on that road!) According to the weather conditions there was also a strong lateral wind. On this basis the judicial inquiry assumes that the GT2 'took off' by itself, hitting the grass and then the lighting pole.

    For the interested folks who read french, hereby some press articles:

    (24/09/2004)
    Douze jours après l'accident des deux Porsche sur l'autoroute, voilà ce que dit le dossier!
    LIÈGE Nous avons eu accès à certaines informations qui apportent un éclairage nuancé de l'accident qui, le 12 septembre, vers 10 h 40, à hauteur de Crisnée, sur l'autoroute de Liège, a coûté la vie à René Willaerts et Marc Albertal. On sait à présent que tout avait commencé à Bertem où les deux Porsche, une GT 2 et une RS, avaient rendez-vous sur le parking Texaco...
    Michel Heydens, qui participait aux 1.000 km de Spa, avait promis deux places gratuites à Marc et René mais, entre-temps, ceux-ci en avaient obtenu ailleurs. Tout le monde s'est salué. Heydens a présenté le pilote anglais, Ian Khan, qui l'accompagnait. Puis, chacun a démarré. Heydens affirme que René Willaerts dans la GT 2 a quitté le parking le premier et qu'il n'a jamais été question de course. Ce n'était pas à qui arriverait le premier à Spa où, d'ailleurs, ils ne devaient pas se retrouver: Heydens avait un accès VIP, René Willaerts devait se garer à l'extérieur du circuit. Ian Khan dit lui aussi n'avoir pas entendu parler de course.
    Sur l'E 40? Trois témoignages d'automobilistes.
    Le premier: à mi-route, un Mr H. dit avoir été dépassé par circulant à suivie, , par . La grise est la GT 2 de René Willaerts qui donc précède la Porsche RS blanche de 830 mètres (et probablement plus).
    Témoignage n* 2: avant les travaux de Crisnée, un automobiliste, C., voit les deux Porsche . La blanche .
    Selon Heydens, les deux ont roulé ensemble dans les travaux, mais c'est à la faveur des files qu'il serait, lui, sorti le premier du rétrécissement... Et aurait .
    L'accident se produit à hauteur du pont sous l'autoroute. Un troisième témoin, G., a vu l'accident. Il confirme que la Porsche blanche -celle de Heydens - précédait la qui roulait (mais il ne précise pas la distance) et lui a paru . Heydens, qui est devant, déclare avoir vu la GT 2 une dernière fois dans son rétro, mais pas l'accident proprement dit.A hauteur du pont, le joint forme comme un creux précédant une sorte de bosse. Michel Heydens déclare qu'il savait l'endroit extrêmement dangereux à grande vitesse. Mais René? Se serait ajouté un problème supplémentaire de vent latéral: la GT 2 a décollé... Une photo montre son compteur bloqué sur 250.
    Sous le coup de cinq inculpations, Heydens, détenu à Lantin, prétend n'avoir pas fait la course, n'avoir pas fait de manoeuvre dangereuse (des experts ont vérifié l'absence de traces sur la carrosserie montrant qu'il y aurait eu touchette), n'avoir pas provoqué l'accident et n'avoir pas pris la fuite dans la mesure où il ne l'a pas vu.
    Homicides involontaires? Délit de fuite? Dans sa décision de le libérer, le président Delwaide, de la chambre du conseil de Liège, dit qu' et qu'il .

    Il a toujours son permis (12/10/2004) Michel Heydens autorisé à récupérer sa Porsche GT 3 RS...

    BRUXELLES Nous n'allions pas voir Michel Heydens pour parler du beau temps. Mais pour lui demander s'il est un chauffard? S'il se sent responsable de l'accident (2 morts) survenu le mois passé sur l'autoroute de Liège? D'où vient son argent? Ce qu'il fricote à Monaco? S'il collectionne les P.-V? S'il les paie? S'il est fréquent, dans sa Porsche GT 3 RS, de foncer à 200 km/h? Et, dans la mesure où la DH/Les Sports a reçu du courrier anonyme réclamant sa peau, mais qui donc lui en veut? Et pourquoi?
    Heydens pouvait se défiler: c'est pas son genre. On peut sans doute lui reprocher beaucoup de choses, mais pas de fuir ses responsabilités. .
    Les deux Porsche se faisaient-elles la course à qui serait la première à Francorchamps?
    Seule à posséder tous les éléments en main, la justice, par deux fois, a déjà décidé que rien, à ce stade, ne permettait de l'affirmer.
    On a prétendu que Michel Heydens - dans la GT 3 - suivait René Willaerts - en GT 2 - et donc, que Heydens avait vu l'accident mais avait continué sans s'arrêter. On a prétendu aussi qu'il y avait eu touchette. C'est deux fois faux.
    .
    Les deux pilotes s'étaient donnés rendez-vous à Bertem.


    Il y avait un témoin-clé, son passager, Ian Khan, mais il... dormait?

    Comment expliquer que Heydens n'ait rien vu de l'accident dans son rétro?

    Le compteur bloqué à 250 km/h? . Heydens accepte de parler de son passé d'automobiliste. Son permis lui a été retiré une fois, il y a 15 ans. En 2004, les Français l'ont flashé à 124 km/h (au lieu de 90) sur une autoroute. Son dernier accident? Un petit dégât matériel en 2001 à Bruxelles. Mais pourquoi rouler si vite? Pressé? .
    Mais alors? Michel Heydens répond comme tous les possesseurs de bolides. Sa Porsche GT 3 RS de 381 CV atteint les 306 km/h. Avec 483 CV, la GT 2 de René pouvait monter à 315. Un danger public? Un chauffard. Heydens admet que beaucoup le voient ainsi. .
    Deux morts? Que dira-t-il s'il croise les enfants, l'épouse, les parents de Marc Albertal et de René Willaerts qui, à ce stade, ne sont pas constitués parties civiles?
    .
    Se sent-il responsable?

    S'il avait le pouvoir d'arrêter le temps et revenir au matin du 12 septembre 2004?

    La justice autorise Michel Heydens à récupérer sa Porsche GT 3 RS aujourd'hui. Son permis de conduire ne lui avait jamais été retiré

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    Quote:
    FixedWing said:
    One important point here. The skills for track driving are not exactly the same skills one uses for high speed street driving. Just because someone is a good track driver doesn't necessarily qualify them as a good street driver.

    And especially, the judgment one uses in a race is not the judgment one should be using on the street!




    I couldn't agree more. I'm afraid a lot of "good" track drivers (well, track pros would call them "reckless" ) are real jerks when driving on the street.
    I know one in my hometown and I wonder how he survived that long. Turning signal? Naahhh, just for lame people. Adapting speed to traffic or weather conditions? Naaahhh, just for cowards. Well...you figure...

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    That makes very interesting reading Thank you!

    So ... all of the bad press, all of the speculation, all of the critisism, investigative custody, seizure of his car and ultimately, no evidence of anything and completely cleared of all charges. In fact, from reading the story, you even have to wonder on what the police even based their arrest. No one can fully restore his reputation and no one can return to him the time he has already spend in prision.

    I only wish this latest posting would be seen by more people. But I am sure that by now the story is considered old.

    By the way, from the description, I know exactly where the accident happened and I know exactly the bump. At speed, the car will get airborne. The bump is on a slight corner and it is important to get the car absolutely straight before the bump. I can just imagine why the RWD GT2 would have a problem there.

    This is all very sad.

    Stephen

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    Quote:
    FixedWing said:
    That makes very interesting reading Thank you!



    I agree, thanks.

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    Quote:
    FixedWing said:
    By the way, from the description, I know exactly where the accident happened and I know exactly the bump. At speed, the car will get airborne. The bump is on a slight corner and it is important to get the car absolutely straight before the bump. I can just imagine why the RWD GT2 would have a problem there.




    The crucial question is now: at what speed does the GT2 get airborne? We still forget about the speed limit.

    I just returned home and it is raining outside. When I turned to the left to enter a major road, there was a small Peugeot in front of me moving at a speed of around 20 kph. Suddenly the woman made an emergency stop, although the street light was green. I don't know how (I really don't know... ) how I managed to avoid her car's rear, I passed her from the right by a cm or two I guess and my car already slipped on the wet pavement fully covered with leaves. Which made me believe once more: there are always extremely DUMB and exunexperienced drivers on the street, they always will put you in trouble in a way or another and reflexes from years of driving experience can't be replaced by training. As I said, I don't know how I managed to avoid hitting her car, it all happened in a fraction of a second...braking, slipping, slightly releasing the brake, steering to the right, etc. When I came home, I was so furious, this woman was lucky I was in a hurry.

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    My wife just yesterday was making a right turn on tight corner and found herslef face to face with another car that was going in the opposite direction ON THE LEFT LANE (i.e. her lane), she had to slam on the brakes and sway from it to just barely avoid collision. To think that the guy could of hurt my baby makes my blood boil, and I wasn't there but its not the first time I loose my temper and even get out of the car because of something like this, but its useless, in the end you have to just face it and resignate yourself, there are just too make IDIOTS out there with a driving license.

    So all you can do is always anticipate, anticipate and anticipate some more to the other driver's and keep a margin or "door" open for yourself in advance just in case. Thats something motorbike drives know very well. Its gotten me away from many accidents in the streets so far in almost 20 years of driving cars and bikes, but there will be a first time sooner or later I guess.

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    RC and Carlos' posts led me to add prudence as a driving concept on the road. I add that in [brackets] to RC's statement:

    "... there are always extremely DUMB and inexperienced drivers on the street, they always will put you in trouble in a way or another and reflexes from years of driving experience can't be replaced by training [therefore, prudence is essential]..."

    Re: Porsche accident in Belgium...

    What I keep in mind when I'm driving is A) I am not a very good/experienced driver B) All the cars around you can do things you'll never expect.
    It helped me a lot
    -Joost-

     
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