Palm Beach raceway worker killed by motorcycle

[Motofool]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ap/ap/f...orcycle/njcbd/

http://www.soflasportbikes.com/forum...ffstetter.html

http://www.motorsport.com/automotive...da-track-days/

[csmith12]

rip Bob

[Ninja Rob]

RIP fellow rider.

I have a question. Since his throttle was stuck, couldn't he have pressed down on the clutch lever all the way to make the bike no longer accelerate? Yes his motor will continue reving but it will no longer accelerate. Or are race bikes made different? Or is this a "No no" on bikes in racing or just in general?

Please excuse my newbieness

[accumack]

What about the kill switch?

[LittleRedNinjette]

That sucks.

But yeah, why not pull the clutch or hit the kill switch?

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

That sucks.

But yeah, why not pull the clutch or hit the kill switch?

I'm sure he just panicked. Sounds like he bailed off of it when it left the track.

That reminds me of the fairly recent issues with a Toyota Prius where the guy was going like 100 mph on the hwy because the throttle was stuck. Didn't think to pop it into neutral I guess...

[backinthesaddleagain]

terrible news

[Ninja Rob]

I always tell my wife that if her brakes ever give out or throttle ever get stuck on her car, to just put her car in neutral, press the hazards lights, and coast until the car slows down, pull over to the shoulder lane, and use the emergency brake when the car slows down enough. I practice this on my car very often so it became second nature to me.

Putting the car in neutral helps the car stop a lot faster when there is an unexpected reason to stop very suddenly.
This has helped me avoid accidents when cars decide to stop all of a sudden in front of me or when they decide to stop for no reason at a green light in a 45 mph zone.

Of course, the GOAL is not to come to a complete stop, but to avoid the accident entirely.

Keep safe out there everyone

[greenaero]

Putting the car in neutral helps the car stop a lot faster when there is an unexpected reason to stop very suddenly.
This has helped me avoid accidents when cars decide to stop all of a sudden in front of me or when they decide to stop for no reason at a green light in a 45 mph zone.


I have to disagree with this, shifting into neutral doesn't help braking, in fact it makes it worse due to the loss of compression braking from a closed throttle with the vehicle still in gear. Also wasting the time and concentration to shift to neutral is better spent on braking hard and/or steering to avoid an obstacle. Shifting to neutral also loses from option to accelerate to avoid a collision. I do agree that shifting to neutral would work for removing the acceleration from a stuck,wide open throttle but shutting off the ignition is a better option.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Ninja Rob

RIP fellow rider.

I have a question. Since his throttle was stuck, couldn't he have pressed down on the clutch lever all the way to make the bike no longer accelerate? Yes his motor will continue reving but it will no longer accelerate. Or are race bikes made different? Or is this a "No no" on bikes in racing or just in general?

Please excuse my newbieness

well he was getting off the gas so he was probably starting to brake/downshift i'm guessing. so he probably only had a very very short window in which he could even do anything about it. he probably just didn't have time to do anything and his rear probably slid out on the brakes in a bad spot and he went straight off. my guess from the description. very tragic accident. sad.

but yes this is what clutch+kill switch is for

[NevadaWolf]

Just read all the links, so sad to read the thoughts and memories riders are sharing.

What happened to the rider who bailed? Is he okay? With such a tragic accident, I feel bad for him having to carry the burden of Mr. Hoffstetter's death. I hope he has the support needed to accept it was an accident and does not let the feeling of fault weigh too heavy on him.

[Ninja Rob]

Originally Posted by greenaero

Putting the car in neutral helps the car stop a lot faster when there is an unexpected reason to stop very suddenly.
This has helped me avoid accidents when cars decide to stop all of a sudden in front of me or when they decide to stop for no reason at a green light in a 45 mph zone.


I have to disagree with this, shifting into neutral doesn't help braking, in fact it makes it worse due to the loss of compression braking from a closed throttle with the vehicle still in gear. Also wasting the time and concentration to shift to neutral is better spent on braking hard and/or steering to avoid an obstacle. Shifting to neutral also loses from option to accelerate to avoid a collision. I do agree that shifting to neutral would work for removing the acceleration from a stuck,wide open throttle but shutting off the ignition is a better option.

I agree with you that keeping it in Drive would help when having to quickly accelerate to move out of the way,
however, you can still steer out of the way as the car is slowing down. It could be the way I drive, but I am not the type of person to tail-gate other cars, I leave a good amount of distance between cars and I hardly ever have to slam on the breaks to come to an immediate stop. I also look at the car ahead of the car in front of me to see when traffic will be stopping. I do know that not everyone drives like that.

I disagree with you on the wasting time shifting into the neutral gear. Moving the foot to the brake and shifting the car into neutral can be done simultaneously. I learned to drive manual transmission at a very young age so I am used to having one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shift lever. The stopping technique I use depends on the situation I am in.

[csmith12]

Lemme help ya'lls out with something...

When ya got the time and attention to spare...(rare, unless planned ahead of time) such as going slow on a slippery surface in a cage.... N is your friend. It takes me about 30 mins to drive 11 miles to town in a cage down big hills covered with ice and snow in the off season. N will save your arse, been doing it for years, and I dunno on a bike, sooooo many factors, debate on that is a different thread, but it is not this thread. Respect to those who have passed ya know....

There is no point as it has already been done. Bob is gone, let us celebrate him instead of debated what could have been. He gave all for others, simple as that really and respect to him and his family.

geeezzz....

[ally99]

Damn. Poor guy.

[Ninja Rob]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Lemme help ya'lls out with something...

When ya got the time and attention to spare...(rare, unless planned ahead of time) such as going slow on a slippery surface in a cage.... N is your friend. It takes me about 30 mins to drive 11 miles to town in a cage down big hills covered with ice and snow in the off season. N will save your arse, been doing it for years, and I dunno on a bike, sooooo many factors, debate on that is a different thread, but it is not this thread. Respect to those who have passed ya know....

There is no point as it has already been done. Bob is gone, let us celebrate him instead of debated what could have been. He gave all for others, simple as that really and respect to him and his family.

geeezzz....

You're right. I didn't intend for this to go into a discussion.

RIP Rider.

[csmith12]

It's all good brah...

[Finesse]

that is really sad. and so unexpected, I would have worried a lot more about the riders.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Just read all the links, so sad to read the thoughts and memories riders are sharing.

What happened to the rider who bailed? Is he okay? With such a tragic accident, I feel bad for him having to carry the burden of Mr. Hoffstetter's death. I hope he has the support needed to accept it was an accident and does not let the feeling of fault weigh too heavy on him.

I have not known anything new about the rider.
I have been told that he was in the Intermediate group of a regular track day (not a race) and this happened at the end of a long straight section, where bikes reach top speed.
Witnesses state that he tried to laid the bike down, but he fell or jump out and that the bike re-gain stability and continued rolling towards the turn.
It is not clear if the engine was off at the moment of impact.