Open Pit lanes....
Discussion
Just returned from an open pitlane day at Donington on saturday. It seems that most drivers tend to not realise their car even has mirrors, let alone use them and act according to what they see in them....
It becomes very hard not to drive 2 feet off someone's bumper for half a lap just so you can dive up the inside, when the f**kwits don't seem to think there's anyone behind them. OK, yes my caterham is small, but this also applies when following other caterhams...
rant over.
It becomes very hard not to drive 2 feet off someone's bumper for half a lap just so you can dive up the inside, when the f**kwits don't seem to think there's anyone behind them. OK, yes my caterham is small, but this also applies when following other caterhams...
rant over.
fergus said:
Just returned from an open pitlane day at Donington on saturday. It seems that most drivers tend to not realise their car even has mirrors, let alone use them and act according to what they see in them....
It becomes very hard not to drive 2 feet off someone's bumper for half a lap just so you can dive up the inside, when the f**kwits don't seem to think there's anyone behind them. OK, yes my caterham is small, but this also applies when following other caterhams...
Top tip for the day: if they're not already, turn your headlights on. It becomes very hard not to drive 2 feet off someone's bumper for half a lap just so you can dive up the inside, when the f**kwits don't seem to think there's anyone behind them. OK, yes my caterham is small, but this also applies when following other caterhams...
If they still can't see you, judicious flashes of main beam (on the straights).*
*Some organisers consider this to be aggressive, others don't. But us small Caterham drivers have to stick together ...
Edited by jeremyc on Monday 5th March 13:54
jeremyc said:
fergus said:
Just returned from an open pitlane day at Donington on saturday. It seems that most drivers tend to not realise their car even has mirrors, let alone use them and act according to what they see in them....
It becomes very hard not to drive 2 feet off someone's bumper for half a lap just so you can dive up the inside, when the f**kwits don't seem to think there's anyone behind them. OK, yes my caterham is small, but this also applies when following other caterhams...
Top tip for the day: if they're not already, turn your headlights on. It becomes very hard not to drive 2 feet off someone's bumper for half a lap just so you can dive up the inside, when the f**kwits don't seem to think there's anyone behind them. OK, yes my caterham is small, but this also applies when following other caterhams...
If they still can't see you, judicious flashes of main beam (on the straights).*
*Some organisers consider this to be aggressive, others don't. But us small Caterham drivers have to stick together ...
JC - On t/days, I always leave the lights on. However, even with flashing some are still oblivious to my presence. I guess I need a GT3 shaped blob to move them out of the way?
elderly said:
I'm not sure that your problem is to do with 'Open Pit Lane' format.
IMO it's more to do with a good (or bad) briefing.
But there are often one or two selfish people, whatever the format or however good the briefing, who seem to care little for track etiquette.
IMO it's more to do with a good (or bad) briefing.
But there are often one or two selfish people, whatever the format or however good the briefing, who seem to care little for track etiquette.
Absolutely right with the addition that allot of these drivers are doing all they can to work out what they are doing behind the wheel so the last thing on thier mind is what is going on in the mirrors
Simon Mason said:
elderly said:
I'm not sure that your problem is to do with 'Open Pit Lane' format.
IMO it's more to do with a good (or bad) briefing.
But there are often one or two selfish people, whatever the format or however good the briefing, who seem to care little for track etiquette.
IMO it's more to do with a good (or bad) briefing.
But there are often one or two selfish people, whatever the format or however good the briefing, who seem to care little for track etiquette.
Absolutely right with the addition that allot of these drivers are doing all they can to work out what they are doing behind the wheel so the last thing on thier mind is what is going on in the mirrors
clubsport said:
No blue flags being frantically waved by marshalls???
Very few tracks/organisers use blue flags - the theory being that if it gets to the stage where a blue needs to be waved at a driver then they probably need a black flag instead to facilitate a discussion about their driving standards. jeremyc said:
clubsport said:
No blue flags being frantically waved by marshalls???
Very few tracks/organisers use blue flags - the theory being that if it gets to the stage where a blue needs to be waved at a driver then they probably need a black flag instead to facilitate a discussion about their driving standards. unfortuantely, on trackdays, most people seem to use the fact that someone is right behind them, to see if they actually eek out a small gap, rather than move out of the way. I think if I had a Radical, or something that has the ability to carry massive corner speed, I'd have to race it.
Trackdays are getting very tedious to drive, even in the bloody Caterham.... I mean having to go round the outside of a 996 GT3 RS at redgate - it's just embarassing for the driver in the Porsche!!
jeremyc said:
clubsport said:
No blue flags being frantically waved by marshalls???
Very few tracks/organisers use blue flags - the theory being that if it gets to the stage where a blue needs to be waved at a driver then they probably need a black flag instead to facilitate a discussion about their driving standards. Motorsport events marshals are very good at controlling traffic with flags, blue, yellow and black. There's always the odd person who is concentrating so hard that they miss them though.
dern said:
jeremyc said:
clubsport said:
No blue flags being frantically waved by marshalls???
Very few tracks/organisers use blue flags - the theory being that if it gets to the stage where a blue needs to be waved at a driver then they probably need a black flag instead to facilitate a discussion about their driving standards. Motorsport events marshals are very good at controlling traffic with flags, blue, yellow and black. There's always the odd person who is concentrating so hard that they miss them though.
Agreed, when racing, the marshals are very sharp and it makes things a lot easier when you're in traffic, however, on t/days, unless someone is doing something which is borderline dangerous, the marshals don't tend to get too involved IMHO. Never seen a blue flag on a t/day. Not sure if RMA et al use them?
fergus said:
dern said:
jeremyc said:
clubsport said:
No blue flags being frantically waved by marshalls???
Very few tracks/organisers use blue flags - the theory being that if it gets to the stage where a blue needs to be waved at a driver then they probably need a black flag instead to facilitate a discussion about their driving standards. Motorsport events marshals are very good at controlling traffic with flags, blue, yellow and black. There's always the odd person who is concentrating so hard that they miss them though.
Agreed, when racing, the marshals are very sharp and it makes things a lot easier when you're in traffic, however, on t/days, unless someone is doing something which is borderline dangerous, the marshals don't tend to get too involved IMHO. Never seen a blue flag on a t/day. Not sure if RMA et al use them?
The marshalls on MSV days are very good at putting blue flags out and they tend to have more posts manned than other organisations.
However you are always going to find a few mobile chicanes wherever you go. Unfortunately, unless you've driven a Caterham most drivers aren't aware just how fast they are round the twiddly bits.
Its better to just backing off for half a lap or so and find a gap than risk getting black flagged yourself IMHO. Then have a quiet word with your new mate in the pit lane later.
However you are always going to find a few mobile chicanes wherever you go. Unfortunately, unless you've driven a Caterham most drivers aren't aware just how fast they are round the twiddly bits.
Its better to just backing off for half a lap or so and find a gap than risk getting black flagged yourself IMHO. Then have a quiet word with your new mate in the pit lane later.
jeremyc said:
Top tip for the day: if they're not already, turn your headlights on.
If they still can't see you, judicious flashes of main beam (on the straights).*
If they still can't see you, judicious flashes of main beam (on the straights).*
*Some organisers consider this to be aggressive, others don't. But us small Caterham drivers have to stick together ...
Edited by jeremyc on Monday 5th March 13:54
On a lot of circuits I've been on Headlights on has been prohibited...
I've never found the issue of people moving out of the way to be a problem
In fact on a track day last year I was surprised to find an Ultima ahead of me
He moved over followed for a few laps when he obviously had more than enough grunt to leave me for dead on the straights
Once he had a better understanding of the lines to take I didn't see him again.......
To me this is the bit missing from the briefings
"If someone is right behind you it's because he is either
- faster down the straights
or
- faster thro the corners and can maintain a quicker speed
Best thing to do is move over and let him thro - you will quickly be able to establish if your own lines in the corners can be improved"
I always enjoying moving over to let someone thro as I get to learn different approaches to the corners...... Little black and silver "scumball" Elise last time at Marham showed me a 30 mph faster line thro a corner (not a typo he was at least 30mph faster than me thro a sweeper)
gtdc said:
circuit days - full of blokes with tats, etc..... May be coming to spa with you this year though (3rd time lucky, assuming nothing blows up at the Ring - which is lucky this year, as there are no Ring TF dates around your Spa dates
) i had quite a bit of trouble with people not moving over at my last track day. people didnt seem to realise that my little 924's not very quick on the straights and simply buried the throttle so i couldn't come past, only to have me nearly plough into the back of them at the next apex! 
wouldn't say this was to do with open piltlane days though, i think it's great to be able to use the track time as you choose
matt
wouldn't say this was to do with open piltlane days though, i think it's great to be able to use the track time as you choose
matt
Fergus you should try it somat else with less power mate it can be a tad of a nightmere, because they wont pull over its off the power dwadleing as slow as my old gran as you sit 6 inches off their bumper on anything resembling a bend, then come the straight bit they scoot off grrrrrr....
Best briefing ive ever heard, " if a car comes up behind you, it hasnt been dropped there by helicopter, its caught you up, doesnt matter if its some beaten up old heap & you are in your Porker or m3 etc hes faster than you over a lap no matter how fast you are in the straights, pull over back off & let him past"
Its not rocket science really is it, how can some folks just be so clueless?
Did you do a Donny chavzone day?
Hers a couple of prime examples of grade A knobbers whith no clue on Donny days.
1st one wound the chap in the following car up so much he was very close to getting a good slap in the pits afterwards, to be honest I dont think I'd have been as restrained as the Boxster guy was being an absolute tit, think I might have done a tad naughty overtake, probabally would have all ended in tears tho.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1AZ7ZdO5qw
2nd one, well kinda got what he deserved really
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBBY_n4eKQ0&mode=related&search=
Best briefing ive ever heard, " if a car comes up behind you, it hasnt been dropped there by helicopter, its caught you up, doesnt matter if its some beaten up old heap & you are in your Porker or m3 etc hes faster than you over a lap no matter how fast you are in the straights, pull over back off & let him past"
Its not rocket science really is it, how can some folks just be so clueless?
Did you do a Donny chavzone day?
Hers a couple of prime examples of grade A knobbers whith no clue on Donny days.
1st one wound the chap in the following car up so much he was very close to getting a good slap in the pits afterwards, to be honest I dont think I'd have been as restrained as the Boxster guy was being an absolute tit, think I might have done a tad naughty overtake, probabally would have all ended in tears tho.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1AZ7ZdO5qw
2nd one, well kinda got what he deserved really
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBBY_n4eKQ0&mode=related&search=
Edited by iguana on Monday 5th March 22:07
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