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Pace reportedly unhurt after flip of vintage Shadow at Road America

Image by Scott Paceley/Vintage Motorsport
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emailBy RACER Staff | 11 hours ago

Veteran vintage racer Jim Pace reportedly escaped unscathed from a spectacular crash of his 1974 Shadow DN4 Can-Am car (pictured above) during a qualifying session at the WeatherTech International Challenge vintage race meeting at Road America. As shown in the amateur video below, Pace was closely following another DN4 being driven by Craig Bennett down the main straight when the car flipped at high speed.



Although the car suffered extensive damage, Classic Cars Journal reports that Pace walked away from the accident. It quotes an eyewitness, local Wisconsin radio personality Steve Zautke, as saying Pace’s Shadow “flew straight up, did a half turn, landed on the roll bar and skidded for 150 yards.”

Shadow is the featured marque of this weekend’s 50th anniversary WeatherTech International Challenge, and a number of the Shadow Formula 1, Formula 5000 and Can-Am cars built and entered by the late Don Nichols are being displayed and raced at the event, which continues through Sunday.

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Friday at Road America for the WeatherTech International Challenge

Elkhart Lake, WI — The WIC race weekend kicked off yesterday with great weather and track conditions at Road America. The stars of the weekend are certainly the large collective of Shadow Racing Cars celebrating the iconic team’s 50 year anniversary. VM’s ace photographer Scott Paceley is there to capture and share the glorious sights this weekend produces. Look for his photos and a story from VM Columnist Burt Levy in the Sept/Oct issue of Vintage Motorsport. Subscribe now and never miss an issue!
Craig Bennett getting the weekend going in the spectacularly fast 1974 UOP Shadow DN4. Photo: Scott PaceleyBob Boller heading on track in his 1982 Jaguar XJR-5 GTP. Photo: Scott PaceleyMembers of the Historic Big-Bore group climbing the start/finish hill led by Dean DeSantis in his 1969 Porsche 911 RSR. Photo: Scott Paceley

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Peter Cunningham brought a few cars with him including his 2009 Acura TSX. Photo: Scott PaceleyPaul Joyaux giving a clean point-by in his 1962 Crossle C5. Photo: Scott PaceleyThe innards of the 1969 Shadow MK1 demand a head tilt and closer investigation. Photo: Scott PaceleyThe same goes for the other Shadow MK1 for that matter. Photo: Scott Paceley ey

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Kudos to RM Motorsports for their efforts to gather and prepare so many Shadows to make this a special event. Photo: Scott PaceleyShowing the diversity of the Modern GT class in one frame – 1979 Chevy Monza, 1974 Porsche RSR, and a 2000 Nissan R34 GT-R. Photo: Scott PaceleySame manufacturer, but two distinct race cars. Photo: Scott PaceleyThe race car concours was a little different this year, but still a treat nonetheless. The Quadracci’s certainly looked happy in their 2013 Oreca 03 LMP2 car. Photo: Scott Paceley

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Photo: Scott PaceleyPhoto: Scott Paceley

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Jim Pace: “I Am Fine” After Saturday Shadow Crash

by Cyndi Paceley Share
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EmailPhoto: Scott PaceleyElkhart Lake, WI — Vintage Motorsport reached out to racer Jim Pace following Saturday’s crash of his 1974 Shadow DN4 Can-Am car during a qualifying session at the WeatherTech International Challenge at Road America. Here’s his response:

“I thank everyone for the genuine concern over my incident at the WIC this past weekend.

“The DN4 Shadow has always been a beast of a car — though it’s sweet to drive with its impressive acceleration from 1000 hp — and obviously aerodynamics play a major role in its stability. On Saturday, the conditions were just right — head wind, car speed, acceleration and drafting — that a little air got under the front and it lifted off. It actually lifted well before the crest, maybe even halfway up the hill. And as you know from the video, it went up and over!

Video:
http://vintagemotorsport.com/2020/07...-road-america/

“I thought about Charlie Kemp in a 917 at Atlanta and John Morton at Lime Rock as I began to see blue sky. I held the wheel until it landed upside down, then turned the master off as it slid and spun down the straight. Whatever happened would be better with the switches off. It kept sliding. Once it stopped, I unbuckled and rolled out from under it. I saw two crew members that I have worked with for years, one with a fire extinguisher, and I was grateful for them being there so quickly. That is a race crew — they charge into the danger zone to help the driver!

“I am fine. Not a scratch or bruise. I credit the form-fitted seat of SpeedSeats, the HANS device and the finest carbon fiber helmet for my safety, plus the guardian angels that watch over us all when we don’t know it. Thanks to Jim Bartel for letting me drive the Shadow and RM Motorsports for the excellent preparation of a fine vintage racecar.”