Do cars in different classes still dice?
Discussion
There are several championships which have more than one class running in the same race.
If a fast car from, say, the up to 1600cc class and a slow car from the up to 2000 class were in the track together and lapping at the same speed, would they pass and re-pass each other, or would the etiquette be that the 2000 car should keep out of way, on the basis that the 1600 is challenging for a class win and doesn't want to waste time fighting someone who isn't.
If a fast car from, say, the up to 1600cc class and a slow car from the up to 2000 class were in the track together and lapping at the same speed, would they pass and re-pass each other, or would the etiquette be that the 2000 car should keep out of way, on the basis that the 1600 is challenging for a class win and doesn't want to waste time fighting someone who isn't.
I race other classes except if some one is out of grid position due to a qualy problem, I'd give them a chance to clear some air between us one way or the other so they could pass and race in class, and I've had others let me through for this reason. I've seen drivers briefing where it has been mentioned not to spoil some ones run for championship points by racing out of class.
Norfolkandchance said:
thanks for the replies. That's helpful. So a beginner who wanted to increase his chances of having a race when joining a championship of more experienced drivers could do so by avoiding the slower class?
I guess you can, but I'm not sure it's the right strategy! As a beginner I think you'd be better off in the "lower" classes. Even as a beginner it didn't seem to take long to get up to half decent pace. My suggestion would be to get some experience and pace before thinkibg about dicing. It'll come pretty quickly though.Bert
I think most people would race fairly against a car in a different class, and shake each others hand in parc ferme afterwards after having a good race with each other, but would ultimately rule out a banzai "do or die" overtaking attempt as there wouldn't be any benefit regarding points.
BertBert said:
geeks said:
Thats the trouble with capacity based classes, they should really be done on power to weight!
I have no idea what this has got to do with the topic in question. The differentiator between classes is irrelevant in regard to the OP's question! BertBert said:
I think there is some level of politeness possible in certain circumstances. If you were a slow git in a 2000 and was effectively getting in the way of the decider between the two 1600 hot-shots, you might choose not to muck it up for them for example.
Bert
Bert
It's one of my pet hates that people don't "play the game" when it comes to classes.
In a race a couple of years ago I was 2nd in my class and I could see 1st within catchable distance but I needed to clear the last place car in the top class to get to 1st. He had miles more straight line speed than me because of the class he was in and was swerving all over the place into the braking zones which meant I never got by.
After the race he came over to shake my hand saying it was one of the best battles he ever had. He was completely gobsmacked when I basically accused him of ruining my race and if he could actually drive the car he had we would have been nowhere near each other. Not my proudest moment but the adrenaline was flowing and he really was in the wrong IMO.
If you're in no-mans land and there's no real chance of improving position then by all means have some fun but have some situation awareness of who is in front and behind regarding class points etc.
In a race a couple of years ago I was 2nd in my class and I could see 1st within catchable distance but I needed to clear the last place car in the top class to get to 1st. He had miles more straight line speed than me because of the class he was in and was swerving all over the place into the braking zones which meant I never got by.
After the race he came over to shake my hand saying it was one of the best battles he ever had. He was completely gobsmacked when I basically accused him of ruining my race and if he could actually drive the car he had we would have been nowhere near each other. Not my proudest moment but the adrenaline was flowing and he really was in the wrong IMO.
If you're in no-mans land and there's no real chance of improving position then by all means have some fun but have some situation awareness of who is in front and behind regarding class points etc.
However multi-class races are arranged, (capacity, power to weight, colour of car, scrabble score of drivers name, star sign of drivers mother), there will be quick people and slow people and overlap between classes.
An experienced driver (not necessarily a fast driver) should have sufficient spare mental capacity to be aware of the cars around them to work out whether the car he is battling against is there to be raced, or let through because he is having a race for a significant class position.
Inexperienced drivers are still focusing most of their mental capacity on their own races to be able to pay much attention to whats going on around them, but as they gain more track time this is something they start to learn.
An experienced driver (not necessarily a fast driver) should have sufficient spare mental capacity to be aware of the cars around them to work out whether the car he is battling against is there to be raced, or let through because he is having a race for a significant class position.
Inexperienced drivers are still focusing most of their mental capacity on their own races to be able to pay much attention to whats going on around them, but as they gain more track time this is something they start to learn.
Kraken said:
It's one of my pet hates that people don't "play the game" when it comes to classes.
In a race a couple of years ago I was 2nd in my class and I could see 1st within catchable distance but I needed to clear the last place car in the top class to get to 1st. He had miles more straight line speed than me because of the class he was in and was swerving all over the place into the braking zones which meant I never got by.
After the race he came over to shake my hand saying it was one of the best battles he ever had. He was completely gobsmacked when I basically accused him of ruining my race and if he could actually drive the car he had we would have been nowhere near each other. Not my proudest moment but the adrenaline was flowing and he really was in the wrong IMO.
If you're in no-mans land and there's no real chance of improving position then by all means have some fun but have some situation awareness of who is in front and behind regarding class points etc.
It's an occupational hazard really though. There's nothing to say they should give way. I'd like to think I'm aware enough not to get in the way, but my perspective might be different from the other guy!In a race a couple of years ago I was 2nd in my class and I could see 1st within catchable distance but I needed to clear the last place car in the top class to get to 1st. He had miles more straight line speed than me because of the class he was in and was swerving all over the place into the braking zones which meant I never got by.
After the race he came over to shake my hand saying it was one of the best battles he ever had. He was completely gobsmacked when I basically accused him of ruining my race and if he could actually drive the car he had we would have been nowhere near each other. Not my proudest moment but the adrenaline was flowing and he really was in the wrong IMO.
If you're in no-mans land and there's no real chance of improving position then by all means have some fun but have some situation awareness of who is in front and behind regarding class points etc.
I presume you complained to the CoC about his swerving?
There might not be anything to say they should give way but what's the point in "racing" someone who won't affect your points in any way but would affect the other drivers?
When I used to kart in multiple class series it was seriously frowned upon to behave in that way but in club car racing people just seem to accept it as the norm.
When I used to kart in multiple class series it was seriously frowned upon to behave in that way but in club car racing people just seem to accept it as the norm.
You are racing for overall position first, class is secondary.
Having raced in many multi class events in bottom and top class cars there is nothing more anoying than being out dragged by a higher class car but cant take a corner to save their life. The differential between classes diminishes when it rains and I very much revel in the chance to do well. One Club Enduro race in we were in a class C car and we beat all class B and most class A cars when it rained.
I would never expect someone to get out of the way due to class and visa versa.
Having raced in many multi class events in bottom and top class cars there is nothing more anoying than being out dragged by a higher class car but cant take a corner to save their life. The differential between classes diminishes when it rains and I very much revel in the chance to do well. One Club Enduro race in we were in a class C car and we beat all class B and most class A cars when it rained.
I would never expect someone to get out of the way due to class and visa versa.
Perhaps if you're in a class that is capable of finishing in the overall top 3 then you might be racing for position to get the kudos of an overall podium but if you're in a five class series and you're in the bottom half of classes then that's not going to happen. In that case the overall position is irrelevant and all that matters is your class position for the championship.
Seems like I'm in the minority here but it just makes no sense to me to drive defensively against someone not in your class.
Seems like I'm in the minority here but it just makes no sense to me to drive defensively against someone not in your class.
I kind of agree with all the above, it can be fun chasing down cars in higher classes but equally it can be frustrating if midfield cars in a higher class make a mess of the race for a (lower) class frontrunner. The issue is that that midfield guy may well be enjoying the dice and will often not have the experience to realise that effect he may be having.
I've had a couple overall wins from lower classes but class win is always the realistic target, you generally need a few unusual things to go your way to beat everything in the class above.
I've had a couple overall wins from lower classes but class win is always the realistic target, you generally need a few unusual things to go your way to beat everything in the class above.
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