Is Oulton Park now too dangerous?
Discussion
As a some time Flag marshal at Oulton park I feel the number of red flags is actually very low over all, we were just unlucky to have had three very serious incidents to sort out and due to safety of personnel working on track it was necessary to red flag the races rather than run under the safety car.
No - It's probably the best driver's circuit in the country. Druids is very fast and has very little margin for error or run off - this makes it very challenging IMHO.
I'd hate to see them stick tarmac around the outside of Druids to act as run off.
Where else at Oulton is safety marginal then in the OP's oppinion?
I'd hate to see them stick tarmac around the outside of Druids to act as run off.
Where else at Oulton is safety marginal then in the OP's oppinion?
FWDRacer said:
Where else at Oulton is safety marginal then in the OP's oppinion?
Wouldnt know, not been there since F3 in the 80's. I did a search on you tube for the Mark Proctor crash and just get loads of links to vids of major, fiery crashes and Sundays tv was not particularly enjoyable either. Wouldnt want to loose a great race circuit to chicanery but if it is drivers that cause accidents then perhaps they need slowing down.eastlmark said:
FWDRacer said:
Where else at Oulton is safety marginal then in the OP's oppinion?
Wouldnt know, not been there since F3 in the 80's. I did a search on you tube for the Mark Proctor crash and just get loads of links to vids of major, fiery crashes and Sundays tv was not particularly enjoyable either. Wouldnt want to loose a great race circuit to chicanery but if it is drivers that cause accidents then perhaps they need slowing down.I've raced at oulton a couple of times a year for the last 8 years and ever had a red flag..
a driver spinning in the pack and getting collected is always going to happen reguardless of what you do to the circuit.. there isnt a circuit where it hasnt happened...
it is one of the most dangerous types of impact though, especially if its drivers side.. the incomming car is usually unsighted by someone else so has little time to react...
a driver spinning in the pack and getting collected is always going to happen reguardless of what you do to the circuit.. there isnt a circuit where it hasnt happened...
it is one of the most dangerous types of impact though, especially if its drivers side.. the incomming car is usually unsighted by someone else so has little time to react...
I go to Oulton nearly every time something is on.
To say that it is to dangerous is b
ks IMO. The caterhams (which love to crash) had a load of spins and moments you thought 'that is going to be huge' but due to the amount of run off at Old hall, there wasnt one. Also, due to the tires on the inside, caused a lot less damage.
It is the bigger meeting where there are bigger crashes. COme to the Gold Cup and see that race meet. There will be (if were unlucky) one red flag all weekend. You wnat to know why? Due to the fact that if these drivers bend it, they mend it. Not give it back to the Team boss and forget about it.
Clubbies race much cleaner due to the fact that have to pay for all damages etc.
Oh, and the onl really bad crashes I have heard of/seen in the past two years has to be the Ginetta G50 Fireball (not Oultons safety fault) and Sundays (ditto)
Also when a F355 went off and they couldnt get the door open but again not OPs fault.
To say that it is to dangerous is b
ks IMO. The caterhams (which love to crash) had a load of spins and moments you thought 'that is going to be huge' but due to the amount of run off at Old hall, there wasnt one. Also, due to the tires on the inside, caused a lot less damage.It is the bigger meeting where there are bigger crashes. COme to the Gold Cup and see that race meet. There will be (if were unlucky) one red flag all weekend. You wnat to know why? Due to the fact that if these drivers bend it, they mend it. Not give it back to the Team boss and forget about it.
Clubbies race much cleaner due to the fact that have to pay for all damages etc.
Oh, and the onl really bad crashes I have heard of/seen in the past two years has to be the Ginetta G50 Fireball (not Oultons safety fault) and Sundays (ditto)
Also when a F355 went off and they couldnt get the door open but again not OPs fault.
I've been spectating at OP for over 20 years now. I also suffered the misfortune of witnessing poor Neil Shanahan's fatal accident at Clay Hill in 1999. I do not believe it is unsafe. Accidents will always happen, especially in these one-make TOCA supports. Since Kelvin Burt's dreadful crash at at the Avenue (another I witnessed in total shock), they have improved safety a great deal there, ditto since Paul Warwick's fatality when the chicanes were introduced. The relatively small run-offs are what makes it so exciting for spectators - you can get close to the cars and really see the drivers working. I don't know of a driver anywhere who will say it is anything less than a stunning challenge.
In my opinion, it would be a very sad day for British motor sport if we lost Oulton. Especially if the alternative is to build a new, sterile "autodrome" in the middle of nowhere.
In my opinion, it would be a very sad day for British motor sport if we lost Oulton. Especially if the alternative is to build a new, sterile "autodrome" in the middle of nowhere.
eastlmark said:
FWDRacer said:
Where else at Oulton is safety marginal then in the OP's oppinion?
Wouldnt know, not been there since F3 in the 80's. I did a search on you tube for the Mark Proctor crash and just get loads of links to vids of major, fiery crashes and Sundays tv was not particularly enjoyable either. Wouldnt want to loose a great race circuit to chicanery but if it is drivers that cause accidents then perhaps they need slowing down.I race in the XR's and we have had prangs in our series, I for one have been on the receiving end through no fault of my own twice in 4 seasons.
But as said before it's the drivers, not the circuits fault.
We had a couple of drivers who used others as brakes and caused mayhem wherever we raced.
Now they are not present the racing has got a lot cleaner and more enjoyable
bad drivers can tarnish a good championship no end and i say good riddance to them.
But as said before it's the drivers, not the circuits fault.
We had a couple of drivers who used others as brakes and caused mayhem wherever we raced.
Now they are not present the racing has got a lot cleaner and more enjoyable
bad drivers can tarnish a good championship no end and i say good riddance to them.
eastlmark said:
Is it just bad luck or is Oulton Park now too dangerous to hold car races? Seems nearly every race is marred and red flagged.
Oh.....give over. Personally I have had only one off at Oulton, at Druids, (didn't hit anything luckily) and that was on a track day and purely my fault. Had two races there last year, both went well without incident except for a start line collision in race one (not me) but that can happen anywhere. Now lets talk about Cadwell, rolling starts or not?
(watch the TVR tuscan challenge next Monday at 6.55pm on men and motors and you will see what I mean, although when I crashed, again it was my fault)
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