mpruden

DE open passing group over the weekend and kept encountering an uncomfortable situation on track. I'm in a modest BMW 330 - just over 200hp, probably 2900 lbs, with 200 treadwear tires having to somehow get around cars like this fully caged Z06 with over 400hp.

You can see the driver give me a point by on the main straightaway then promptly bury the throttle and take off. He's not so slow that I can comfortably get around him by going offline, so I'm stuck trying to guess when I can beat him to an apex, or follow him lap after lap (which I did a lot of unfortunately).

I'm sure to the racers out there, this is no big deal, but this is a DE. How would you guys handle this kind of situation? Is his oddball line at times an invitation to pass? How do you tell the difference between an invitation and just inconsistent driving?

Kevin Fennell

He lifts when he points by, was this not discussed extensively in the drivers meeting?

Turbodan

why not just pit and be on a different part of the track. I am not fond of passing in turns without a point by and with his hp you will not get him on the straight. Either that or ride his bumper on every turn until he gets sick of it and lets you pass at the start of a straight and waits a bit to hit the gas. disclaimer: I did not watch the video.

MarcD147

Go see him after the first session and have a friendly chat

Frank 993 C4S

Thundermoose

Roll through pits

mpruden

For those that say to pit for space - would you guys agree that this Z06 isn't trying to communicate "hey little car behind me, pass me now" at any point? Just want to make sure I'm not missing some secret race car handshake here.

I have no problem pitting for space. Some organizers don't like it, but that's better than a miscommunication on track IMHO.

HRE_Jurrian

+1 on rolling through the pits.

Thundermoose

I run an E46 M3 that makes ok power but can't beat many cars in a drag race. I have had to wave off many point bys because the other car wouldn't lift. I assume they believed my car had more power than it did. It's all part of the DE game.

grrrmonster

Try making a friend. Talk to him, tell him you're peddling as fast as you can.

Set up the pass. Passing him on a corner coming onto a long straight is pointless. Take a run at him so you're causing right on his tail as you come off the Alex and track out to cut Nee exit, ideally as it opens onto a short straight with several corners ahead. Then your momentum will allow you to take the pass, (with a point by), then with a few corners- you can build a gap and get separation enough to get away from the big HP

jscott82

Didn't watch the video.. it would be nice if he gave you a second point-by, but a point in open passing is permission to pass. I would probably initiate the pass and stay slightly behind on the first lap to see if he leaves room. If he does, take it the second time around... Or pit.

mpruden

Tell me about it. A lot of folks think I'm driving an M3 and don't realize I'm 100hp less than they expect. Do you have to roll through the pits a lot?

jscott82

In the 993 I never lift, I would give a second point to acknolege that I expect you to pass in the turn though.

fatbillybob

With the closing speed you demonstrated at the start of your video your car is plenty fast? Lower groups have passing rules like "point by pass only on straights." OK then the high HP guy has to give it up. Why does that mentality transfer to "open passing" groups where you can pass anywhere? 95 percentile of us are sometimes the fast car and sometimes the slowcar. Post #10 is my answer too. "Set up the pass" is an advanced skill for people in advanced groups and it is fun. Sometimes the risk is not worth it so then there is the drive through. The car behind also has a huge influence on how the guy in front responds. There is a whole science in guiding the guy ahead where you want him. You helped cause the strangeness in him whose actions you don't understand.

sugarwood

At what point in the video did he give the point by? I never saw it.
I am surprised you are almost keeping up with him in the straights.