RDL

So now that everyone has made good suggestions of what to do after the 20 minute session is over, what does one do 5 minutes into the session?
My suggsetion is to go thru the pit, at a very slow pace, take you time and alow for some track distance between you and Mr. SlowA$$. While your obtaining this valuable space, swing by pit control and report the issue. If the organization is running properly they should black flag the guy.

Sean F

1) If you are in a dangerous situation take the pass without a signal (rare, but I had to do it recently)
2) Go right into control after the end of the run group - go with a bunch of guys to make the point (I've had this work a number of times)
3) CLUB RACING - the dark side is calling you Paolo

BTW, don't think it changes when you move up to higher run groups. I was running in Black yesterday with only 15 cars on the track at LRP and had a couple cars that would refuse to give me a point by. In one situation I lapped the person twice after finally getting the point by.

Sputter

There are lot of good suggestions here with good attitudes. I'm hopeful i'll be out there next year learning.
(and trying not to hold folks up). I'm seeing some attitude towards "slower" drivers. Yes, likely i'll be Mr. SlowA$$. I would be curious as to why those who want to name call "learners ie slower drivers" aren't out racing rather than doing Driver Education events?

KRA993tt

While this can be very frustrating it is one of the hazards of DE. Deal with it and move on. In the right frame of mind I'm sure you will find one of the suggestions above will work for you. Winning your DE group is not going to put food on the table or get you a ride with the Ferrari F1 team.

One point that this brings up is how each region has its own characteristics. I'm guessing this was not up North with Rennsport.

Some regions basically have less backbone or character when dealing with ego's and personalities ("Don't you know who I am?" "My new Porsrche is the top of the line" "The CI is my friend" Blah Blah Blah....). The tone is set though from day one in Green. The regions that promote people because of personality vs. performance are doing a disservice to their own region. But this type of thing happens in clubs with people who volunteer their time for all of us to have fun driving on the track.

You shouldn't be of the mind set that this ruins your day at the track.

cooleyjb

This is not the case in real life. Some interenet Ethug come through online here.

What drives most people crazy are drivers that don't watch their mirrors. Do that one simple thing and you won't have any of the problems people are talking about here.

Vampire

Most people do not have issues with slow drivers. People have issues with drivers who are slower than the car behind them and do not let the faster car pass.

One approach you may want to try if your region has a social hour at the end of the day would be to:
1. grab everyone's attention
2. introduce yourself and car
3. ask people to be better about watching thier mirrors, pointing out the person and car number that pissed you off.

rickdm

Have you ever noticed that this does not seem to be an issue with low HP cars? Folks in 944's, 914's, Mini's, and even Boxsters all seem more than happy to give me a point by if I have enough speed to catch them (not always the case). It always seems to be a guy (and it is almost always a guy) in a GT3, Turbo or new 997, who thinks that there is no way that guy in the old 911 should be passing him.

rickdm

Sean F

It has nothing to do with speed. It has everything to do with awareness, safety and respect for other drivers. For every one of us there are many, many faster drivers. All anyone wants is that the people who we're on track with are aware of what's going on around them and respectful of the other drivers on track.

As long as you take the instruction you get from the right seat to heart you'll do great.

Flying Finn

"Hey **********, next time you see me in your ****ing mirros, get the **** out of my way or I'll push your sorry *** to the grass!"

Professor Helmüt Tester

...while questioning their heritage, sexual prowess, intelligence and psychological state.

K964

Quote of the year Colin!!!

Sputter

I'm in total agreement with you and i'm like a sponge in that respect.

I've derailed the thread long enough.

I'm guessing the real issue is folks that deliberately refuse to signal a pass.

Flying Finn

Great idea Glen, this can make your regular, "boring" DE session different and more interesting.

Bob Rouleau

Sputter - don't worry, you will have fun. Slow cars are not the issue, nor are slow drivers. Two things happen often:

1) In an instructed group, the instructor in the car ahead has his hands full with his student and may not be watching the mirrors as much as he'd like because s/he is busy trying to keep things safe. Be patient or drive through the pits - feel for the hard working volunteer in the car in front.

2) In any group, a car with blistering speeds in a straight line that over-brakes for corners and is slower than a less powerful car that turns faster laps. This leads to two annoying (potential) behaviors: a) gives the signal and then floors it ..motoring off down the straight while the better driver lags behind; b) sees you on his bumper at corner entry and does not give a signal because he knows he will pull away on the straight - very annoying. This happens with 996TT more ofen than with a 150 HP 944 as you might imagine

I black flag those guys without mercy. They raise frustration levels and are a hazard.

Being a novice driver and possibly with a low powered car will not cause anyone to look down on you - we all started there. Drive at your own pace, just be aware of faster cars sharing the track with you and everyone will respect you.

In the top run groups a mix of low and high powered cars is common. There are no issues becuse the drivers in the slower (on the straights) cars are aware of the GTs, Turbos etc. coming up and let them by without hesitation. Redlineman and I shared a track recently. His cornering speeds are very high (he has it easy, he never lifts), my car has more than double the horsepower of his - no issues, we co-exist easily. Why? Because he is aware of his surroundings and like everyone in the Red run group he has nothing to prove and lets higher powered cars go by.

The funny thing is that the middle run groups are where cars get held up. There seems to be a notion that being passed is like being emasculated or something. Oddly enough, on a ski hill, if an expert flys up behind, do these same people try and keep pace? NO, of course not, they recognize someone more skilled. Behind the wheel, this doesn't happen as much because anyone who can afford a GTx or TT is automatically a skilled driver, right?

Note: I apologise for typos but I am useless on my blackberry keyboard with large thumbs.

Best,

Best,

Sean F

Sputter - To follow up on Bob's point...when you get a little more advanced you start to hope that someone is going to blow by you so you can get on their tail and try to catch them. I personally love it when a cup car or something fast and well driven runs up on me.