JP66

I promise if a faster SPB catches me in the corner, I will absolutely give the pass. How else can I find a "rabbit" to chase? According to Rennpoints I'll be several seconds behind the next closest F car so a SPB that turns 2:15-16 would be perfect for me to follow, and it looks like there are a couple SPB guys at that pace. I had some "pro" lessons this week at the TrackMasters event so I have high hopes, but I also had my engine tested and it's a little down on power so I'm realistic. If I can break 2:16 consistently I'll be happy, and if I break 2:14 beers for everyone on me

Still focused though on running a clean race with no drama. Learned some hard lessons my first year, and the single most important aspect for me is just to finish both races clean, and if I happen to have some good laps more the better. I am excited, though, to try and put what I learned to work!

sbelles

You should make a PSA.

I will probably regret saying it but I haven't found it to be as much of a problem at the glen since there are a couple of places where you can draft them and then stuff it in when they throw out the anchor. Some other tracks are much harder.

Good luck Joe. I think I'm going to need at least low 13s to keep up with Hunt but will bump draft for beers.

Frank 993 C4S

rmag

One glory qualifying lap doesn't win races. See you at the front

(How's that for trash talk)

Paul Solk

So just an etiquette question, especially for Sunday with the Cups in the Enduro... I see it quite often especially in the EU where the car being passed will actually put a signal on to the side they know the pass is coming which I assume is as much to tell the approaching car I saw you and I'm not going to do anything stupid or move over as you approach as it is to tell them which side to pass on.

Is that a yay or nay? Will I cause more confusion than good? I know above all else obviously to be predictable and that I can still point by from inside the car but that can be difficult to see sometimes with the cage etc...
I did however change my gloves from blue which matched the car to red so my hands can be more clearly seen just for that reason.
Thoughts?

Gary R.

I think a signal would be confusing at best, just be predictable and the cup(s) will be by you in a flash. If you give it some thought you can actually use the timing as part of your strategy to jam up a competitor.. not that I ever did that.

Paul Solk

Thanks Gary... That's why I asked. I certainly don't want to add to confusion. At l;east I changed the color of my gloves...

Haha, worry about jamming up a competitor, that's a good one, the only thing I care about is being safe, healthy, having fun and not impacting mine or anyone else's weekend!! If (when) that means people get past me then so be it I'll still be the one with the big smile on

Gary R.

From what I hear Paul there won't be many people passing you!

Paul Solk

Ha, tough to pass the guy running dead last until the really quick guys find me again
Thanks again Gary!

LuigiVampa

I have pointed with my hands letting them know that I see them and it is OK to take a corner. Main thing is just to stay on line and be predictable.

MarcD147

for whatever its worth with all my experience of just a single race...

I do the same as Luigi...if I see a faster car coming and a corner is coming up and it makes sense I will point to let them know I have seen them and they can take the corner.
I see it as part of being predictable....

hf1

In Europe (and ROW) a blinker indicates the side that the passed car will be taking, i.e. that there will be room left on the opposite side for the passing car. In the US, unless clearly sanctioned and prescribed by the rules, blinkers would be confusing at best. Even hand signals could be counter-productive in cases with large speed/class differentials as oftentimes the slower car could point to the side that is less amenable for a smooth pass with the least amount of time lost for both cars.

As Gary said, the best a much slower car could do is to anticipate and time the pass so that it occurs at the time and place/side that loses the least amount of time for both cars. Most of the time the best side is pretty obvious to both cars so no point-by is needed. When things happen too fast, when in doubt, and without clear knowledge of where and on which side the most efficient pass could take place, I just leave room on both sides and take the middle. I wouldn't "stay on line" and go for the edges of the track (turn in, apex, track out) unless I'm sure that the much faster car is on the other side.

Paul Solk

Yep, I will communicate with my hands in the car as well, that one was a given and it's why I got the bright red gloves LOL!! I was just curious about the turn signal thing and seems the consensus is nope just be predictable and continue to communicate with the hands.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense they do it over there, a lot of the mid engine and single seater cars there is no way to even see the drivers hands from behind so signal is their only means of communication... Yep, light bulb finally came on someone must have re-connected the power.

Paul Solk

Yes, I understand all of this. It's why I was asking if it is used over here. It is very common in the ROW for the car being passed to put on a right blinker to indicate to the trailing car to pass on the right...

I disagree with the hand signal comment however. If I am on line and I point someone by off line to let them know I have seen them I am doing it as a form of communication. If it makes it safer for both cars I don't see how it can be counter productive. I don't see how over communicating with out of class cars at all could be counterproductive as long as you are remaining predictable simultaneously.

Hmmm just driving in the middle seems like a poor solution as it means the car behind is left to guess what you are doing.Now you aren't predictable at all. Is he going to stay in the middle, go left, go right, who knows, it seems Gary said be predictable which would mean do what you do every other lap, stay on line and try to work out where the pass can be made with the least impact to both cars, not just stay in the middle of the track.

Not turning into the Apex if you think someone is there should just be a given and understanding what racing room means in PCA and where it needs to be given is different entirely...

Frank 993 C4S