Obturate

Huh. I've raced at VIR in the past but not this year. If I recall correctly was on the brakes by the 3 marker or so. Certainly didn't wait until the 2. Guess that's part of why I never did very well at VIR!

DTMiller

Definitions matter. Some people's end of throttle is their "brake point," some people's brake actuation is their "brake point" and those can be lots of feet apart, even when the latency is short.

Thundermoose

I was looking at video of Scott Heckert in my car. He's easing out of throttle at 2 and fully off just before 1. His latency is typically very short so I am assuming he's braking at 1. Car is at 142.

Paul Solk

Makes sense... I am a car length before 2 marker from 144 in my I class car on stock ABS and tend to end up over slowing...

Edit: Also almost 3200 pounds so not a light car by any means

DTMiller

Right, and 142 mph is 208 feet per second so a quarter second latency is 52 feet, or half a brake marker. (I don't know what a typical pro driver latency is, I'm sure Peter and Dave do)

esscape26

Can I ask why Chin allows "racing type" passes, that is, not just a late pass, but "really, really in the turn" passes, at a place where there are many straights to pass on? A few passes in that video by the mustang* guy made me queasy. They just don't have the safety equipment for the cars' performance capability, even if they are so called advanced drivers.

(*Lower case because my nephew is learning in a mustang, darn it, and he better not drive anywhere near like that or I'll demote him not even to the the NA 944, but out entirely.)

That Chin environment IMO gave the Mustang driver some permission to approach turns with too much abandon when motivated by a car in front of him he wanted to pass, or the feeling he was being blocked.

Manifold

Many/most DE organizations allow passing anywhere with a point-by in higher run groups, and it generally works fine.

DTMiller

Because it's fun.

mhm993

Because its safe for experienced drivers.

mdrums

The Chin format does work well if drivers really understand they are not out there “racing”. What I do if there is a car coming up on me and we are going into a turn or in a turn...I stay on line, anticipate his closing speed so I do not hold the driver up and give the point by...I also let off the throttle and just let them go by and make the pass as easy as possible. I believe that is key in the DE format that the driver being passed to let up and make the pass as easy as possible and let the passing car get by you quick.

Fritz Flynn

Guys I'm the GT3 driver who was nailed. I appreciate everyone's concern (I'm ok and my precious is semi ok hehe), thoughts and lessons/candor.

My take away/lesson is to be a more cautious about other drivers because there are some incredibly powerful cars made today and they can be challenging to pilot. For example: the last 5 years I've instructed lots of people driving 500 plus HP cars in the green group, some of them heavily modified on race rubber.........lol

For those interested here's my vid:

ProCoach

Man, so glad you are ok...

thebishman

For someone who’s been taking part in DE’s since 1994, your statement about lifting when giving a point by is so important, and yet ignored by so many. I am convinced it is one of the major reasons we see ‘issues’ at DE’s, especially in the Advanced groups.

Bish

TXE36

Who doesn't like the classic point-by and drag race cliche?

Seriously speaking, it's a DE, working properly the pass is going to happen. The goal should be to minimize the time gain to both cars and a proper lift goes a long way to accomplishing this. The lead car should have plenty of data by the time the pass occurs to know how much of a lift to give. Too much of a lift is a problem too as then one can build up a cascade cars catching them that didn't have to happen.

-Mike

RSA964993

My goodness that was a big hit and you obviously had no warning. Glad you’re OK. I had a 997.1 GT3 but never tracked it and know they’re special cars. Glad you were able to drive it as intended. Are you able to get it repaired?