Hitting someone else on-track... responsibility?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

May 5, 2005 | 12:12 PM

#31

Nickfromny

Registered User

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,952

Likes: 0

From: Endwell, NY

Pit for 30 to 60 seconds. Clear track is priceless. Doug, I had to follow that smoking Ford for a full lap befor he saw the BLACK Flag every cornor worker was waiving at him. s03's worked great on the oil, sleet, snow, & even dry track.

May 5, 2005 | 01:07 PM

#32

Triple-H

Registered User

Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 58,680

Likes: 2

From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickfromny,May 5 2005, 03:12 PM

Clear track is priceless. Doug, I had to follow that smoking Ford for a full lap befor he saw the BLACK Flag every cornor worker was waiving at him.

Yet one more reason why you have to be so very aware of where you are in the big picture out there. Like you said, coming into the pits to get away from some people is often the best thing to do...

Everytime I instruct I do the same thing, the first lap around the track I refuse to talk about the line, I just want one thing from my student, I want them to yell out as soon as they see a flag station, and I tell them, they don't want me to beat them calling out more than half of them, and I already know where to look. This little excersise helps burn into their mind where every corner worker is. When we get to the 2nd lap I not only start to talk about the line, but they still have to call out every station before I do. We do this for several laps, and believe me, they get in the habit quick of looking at them...

May 5, 2005 | 02:54 PM

#33

drewchie

Registered User

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 5,539

Likes: 0

From: Santa Monica

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple-H,May 5 2005, 02:07 PM

I want them to yell out as soon as they see a flag station, and I tell them, they don't want me to beat them calling out more than half of them, and I already know where to look. This little excersise helps burn into their mind where every corner worker is.

Xlnt idea!

I'm going to start doing this with students from now on.

Yet another reason he's Spa leader!!

May 5, 2005 | 08:22 PM

#34

spiderxvpbiking

Registered User

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 81

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by weneversleep,May 4 2005, 02:19 PM

I just participated in my first HPDE event this last weekend. (Drivers Edge at Texas World Speedway). A total blast, learned a ton, and have already developed the addiction.

I have a question, though. I was promoted to the "blue" (intermediate) run group on my second day, so I was out there with some pretty exotic cars. Lambo Diablo, 360 Challenge Stradale, etc. Now, it turned out that I was quite handily passing them

, but my question is:

In order to signify my intention to pass, naturally, I had to be quite aggressive coming into a passing zone; i.e. get pretty close to their tail. So, I'm a few feet away from a $200K+ Diablo, coming in about 70-75 MPH into the straight, accelerating to get by... what happens if he decides not to let me by at the last second moves over, brakes hard, I brake hard, but still end up in the back of him anyway?

I know, I know, it's not a race, safety and respect for the metal is highest priority, and I understand all of that. Whose fault it is really is immaterial too; maybe I screwed up by not getting on the brakes quickly enough (because I'm a beginner), maybe he shouldn't have moved over, whatever.

Am I responsible for the (probably quite large) damage to his $200K Lambo? I've read through all of the threads regarding insurance, coverage of your own vehicle, etc., but what I want to know is: my insurance wouldn't cover _his_ car, certainly, correct? Is there some kind of unwritten racer's code that even if someone else hits you, you're responsible for your own car, regardless of fault?

I'm just curious, before I sign up for future track events...

Congratulations on your move up to blue. You have to be patient, just as I was patient with you this weekend when you wouldn't let me pass.

You happened to get an aggressive instructor that doesn't like to get passed and will ride your butt. Think back to Ricks classroom discussions. If you don't get a mirror signal followed by a passing signal. Just ride it out or pull into the hot pit and let traffic by.

The blue group was really aggressive resulting in three cars going off and blowing the seals off their tires. Not to mention a car in a ditch.......

Stay well!!

May 6, 2005 | 04:18 AM

#35

Triple-H

Registered User

Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 58,680

Likes: 2

From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewchie,May 5 2005, 05:54 PM

Xlnt idea!

I'm going to start doing this with students from now on.
Yet another reason he's Spa leader!!

Always glad to help out in any way I can when it comes to teaching!

A novice is so overwhelmed the 1st time out on track this really simplifies a couple of the first rather stressful laps. This also gives me a chance between flag stations to drill them on what to do when you see a such and such a flag. All too often I find they did not read their packet, they were not paying attention at the driver's meeting or it just plain went in one ear and out the other...

I was in a car once as an instructor and the track went into a red flag situation; how the hell the cars behind us did not end up in his trunk is still beyond me, he just hammered the brakes and never looked in his rear view mirror, and flying down the back straight is not where people usually stand on their brakes, and as he was first in line - he was the only driver who could see the red flag.

May 9, 2005 | 10:28 AM

#36

icerbofh

Registered User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

Keep in mind this is your first DE, you did not mention anything about point bys and behaving in general. Remember, learn the line first and get used to things. There is no glory in moving up asap. I spent a long time driving in intermediate and on streets and I strongly believe that that gave me a much better feel for what the car is doing.