RE: Carnage in the Park
Monday 19th August 2002
Carnage in the Park
Torrential rain causes pile up at Oulton Park
Discussion
I might be wrong here, and somebody can put me right!
I believe that some of the problems are caused by flag marshalls at tracks.
Let me explain. How many times have you been to a circuit and seen yellow flags being waved, simply because a car is parked at the side of the track, out of way. Is this leading to a sense of complacency on behalf of the drivers? ie they see a waved yellow which is supposed to mean slow down and be ready to stop, yet all that is there is a car parked out of the way. If there were more usage of the stationary yellow, the drivers would then know that there is a serious problem if the flag was waved, and would take the appropriate action.
Please don’t get the impression that I’m getting at marshalls, because I know they do a good job, without which our sport would not run, but please don’t wave your yellow flag because you’re bored and fancy exercising your arm.
I believe that some of the problems are caused by flag marshalls at tracks.
Let me explain. How many times have you been to a circuit and seen yellow flags being waved, simply because a car is parked at the side of the track, out of way. Is this leading to a sense of complacency on behalf of the drivers? ie they see a waved yellow which is supposed to mean slow down and be ready to stop, yet all that is there is a car parked out of the way. If there were more usage of the stationary yellow, the drivers would then know that there is a serious problem if the flag was waved, and would take the appropriate action.
Please don’t get the impression that I’m getting at marshalls, because I know they do a good job, without which our sport would not run, but please don’t wave your yellow flag because you’re bored and fancy exercising your arm.
quote:
Regarding the flags, I don't think you can apply that theory in this case. The change in conditions was so rapid that the cars were flying out of control within seconds.
You are quite right in that conditions changed quickly, I was on the part of the circuit I think they call hilltop, just before Knicerbrook. I couldn't see the corner through the spray, so the drivers probably couldn't either.
What I was suggesting with the flags was a wholesale change in attitude to the way they are used. If a driver knew that a waved yellow meant that a serious problem was ahead, he would slow down considerably, which I'm sure you have to agree, is not something they do now.
I was also on the cascades corner and saw this, i was watching out for mike (used to work for him) he went up lakeside in a bit of a shower and came down towards the chicane in a flood, very quick change and very bizzare.
oddly enough the last meet I went to was at croft, watching the tuscans pushing bow waves ahead of them, maybe I'm some sort of rain god!
maybe I should take payments not to go to meets
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oddly enough the last meet I went to was at croft, watching the tuscans pushing bow waves ahead of them, maybe I'm some sort of rain god!
maybe I should take payments not to go to meets
:
Speed kills. 
quote:
PS: to the persons who feel that marshals are perhaps not using flag signals as they should then perhaps those persons should cross over the fence and join the marshals and other unpaid staff who give up their time for you and the competitors to enjoy motorsport?
As I said originally I appreciate the jobs that marshals do. What I was suggesting was a rethink on the use of waved yellow flags on the whole. I didn't want to bring up the fact that marshals at hilltop were not showing any flags, which is covered in the other thread (I was nearer than Ian to that post and he is right!)
We all attend meetings for our own pleasure, whether as a spectator, driver or marshal etc. At this moment in time, I am happy as the paying punter, but I sincerely do appreciate the efforts put in by others.
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