FredC

Later this week, i will participate in my first night race ever. I have watched many videos so far and i have a couple of questions:

starts: are racers more gentle and altruistic at night than during the day?

brake markers: are there any brake distance markers are Sebring???? If yes, can you see them at night?

lights: are you allowed to flash headlights to signal intent to pass to lapped cars?

Butterflies in stomach are building up...!!!!! Can't believe I will subject my freshly repaired car to this madness....

Gary R.

Maybe add a couple 100W driving lights? Do you even HAVE headlights (that work)?

MUSSBERGER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcpEiMd3hb8

They had markers out at Winterfest. Here. I slowed this down for you Fred.

FredC

I do now!!!

FredC

thanks / so the cones are the markers?? Not sure they'll be there for the club race then...

BostonDMD

I am pretty sure that you are going to do just fine.....

Go get them Freddy.......

Show them what the Hairy Dog Garage boys are all about.......

We'll be rooting for you........

paradisenb

Hey Muffberger, I was frustrated just watching the vid. Besides your facial expressions and expletives it was obvious you were feeling the same thing. The only way for us to get those old M3s is dive bomb and take em on corner exit. They got way too much HP.

Oh, next time take off the mirror the limited view was frustrating also.

paradisenb

Fred, I was chatting with Jack Lewis today and he mentioned how difficult it is to drive Sebring at night. He drove the ALMS 12hr a half a dozen times or so and still thinks it is hard to see.

I doubt the cones will be there when you race. Look at it as an opportunity to improve your late braking and corner entry speed skills.

LDadrenaline

I have run sebring at night and didn't think there was anything weird about it. You feel a little more by yourself because your eyes don't wander as much... but I actually felt much more relaxed driving at night.

mji911

Fred, Starts are the same. Lighting is very poor from 10-16 need to be able to have good recall of the track to get thru that section. First race of the season everyone is juiced up and add the night factor. Plus is this your first trip to Sebring????

FredC

Sounds like a recipe for disaster. We'll see I guess. See you down there mr spbox!

Cory Jump

Looking forward to seeing you at the track Fred.

It is very difficult to see at Sebring but I find that my concentration is better at night.
I agree that the starts are the same as during the day.
It gets pretty exciting.

I bet you will find that you run just as fast at night as during the day.

I had my best time ever last year at night until later during the weekend when I went a couple of tenths faster.

See you soon.

Cory

Veloce Raptor

Fred, one more thing: it is very easy to get target fixation at night, given the sparse lighting 10-16. Be very aware of that, and force yourself to visually scan even if you don't want to. Good luck!






Professional Racing and Driving Coach

VERBOTN

^ Yup

also when exiting some of the corners the light-stands will be blasting your rearview mirror so be aware that you may not SEE traffic behind you and they could zip by. I found this to be the case exiting tower last time. The flashing thing for me is not necessary if everyone is on their game. The problem is that it can be disorienting for some, pehaps a red LED behind your rearview mirror a-la DP car would do the trick for you.

Drop by my area when the track goes cold my crew (RCC) has been known to be rather social.

MJR911

You'll get used to it. Most guys will slow down at night and be less aggressive. MUCH easier to be behind someone than in front. You'll develop a 6th sense when cars are behind you, from seeing their lights reflect in your various mirrors.

if you don't like your own lighting, just play "leapfrog" from one car to the next.

It is FUN! Enjoy.