Dangers on Track
06-18-2012, 12:11 PM
#31
Driver skills. Ban waving.
Just to be clear about my earlier post:
1. criticism of the driver's incompetence and evident lack of skill and preparation is aimed at the driver, not the incident..
2. waving is practically invisible and entirely inappropriate between drivers at speed on the track in a DE or a race. This is unrelated to tasks such as a radio or brake bias or any number of functions related to driving. It's also unrelated to communication with track workers, gestures of "point-by's" or any actually valid hand signal communication which is expected of drivers.
As for the deers, it sounds like on the green side of the USA, the track operators need to consider more robust countermeasures and something like a special flag or flashing lights or something to slow the pace when an animal is on track. This is more than a debris flag or safety vehicle on track flag, but along the same lines. I think it's patently negligent of the track operator to have such a hazard that's potentially going to end up killing one or more drivers (in a single incident) and yet their efforts to control the risk are not working.
1. criticism of the driver's incompetence and evident lack of skill and preparation is aimed at the driver, not the incident..
2. waving is practically invisible and entirely inappropriate between drivers at speed on the track in a DE or a race. This is unrelated to tasks such as a radio or brake bias or any number of functions related to driving. It's also unrelated to communication with track workers, gestures of "point-by's" or any actually valid hand signal communication which is expected of drivers.
As for the deers, it sounds like on the green side of the USA, the track operators need to consider more robust countermeasures and something like a special flag or flashing lights or something to slow the pace when an animal is on track. This is more than a debris flag or safety vehicle on track flag, but along the same lines. I think it's patently negligent of the track operator to have such a hazard that's potentially going to end up killing one or more drivers (in a single incident) and yet their efforts to control the risk are not working.
06-18-2012, 12:14 PM
#32
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It doesn't really matter if he let go of the wheel -- he was barely holding it in the first place. Maybe someone taught the driver that a "10 and 2" hand position was old school and now it's "7 and 5" ... it's not fun sharing the track with this level of basic skills in the hands of other drivers.
The driver's meetings at these DE's should include a multiple choice quiz to at least raise the question of whether each driver has even the basics down.
This business of waving and "thanking" just has to be banned. It's idiotic. The other driver isn't looking at you, he's watching the track, finding the line to the apex, anticipating the brake marker, watching your front wheels to see if you're steering into his line, etc. Even if he momentarily glances at your cabin, the likelihood of it being at the exact split second you wave your hand (instead of, oh, I dunno, steering the car ...) is practically zero.
Ban waving!
The driver's meetings at these DE's should include a multiple choice quiz to at least raise the question of whether each driver has even the basics down.
This business of waving and "thanking" just has to be banned. It's idiotic. The other driver isn't looking at you, he's watching the track, finding the line to the apex, anticipating the brake marker, watching your front wheels to see if you're steering into his line, etc. Even if he momentarily glances at your cabin, the likelihood of it being at the exact split second you wave your hand (instead of, oh, I dunno, steering the car ...) is practically zero.
Ban waving!
I'm sorry, but in my opinion folks who are finding ways to criticize the driver in this video are in denial. They are trying to reassure themselves that "it couldn't happen to me.". Well I'm sorry, but it could happen to you.
As far as waving, it's a courtesy thing, and you see it even in the pros in the middle of races. I wave to thank people for a point-by in DE's all the time. I've done it in the middle of the race before when a slower driver makes a pass easy for me (yes there is at least one slower driver out there somewhere).
As far as waving, it's a courtesy thing, and you see it even in the pros in the middle of races. I wave to thank people for a point-by in DE's all the time. I've done it in the middle of the race before when a slower driver makes a pass easy for me (yes there is at least one slower driver out there somewhere).
+1 I always drive with the visor down. It is part of the safety equipment.
06-18-2012, 12:22 PM
#33
Burning Brakes
It's all about minimizing, not maximizing risk. Point byes are a necessary evil. No other way around them.
And the other exception is if you have the skill to pass Boyer....(w/o having 25% extra horsepower)
And the other exception is if you have the skill to pass Boyer....(w/o having 25% extra horsepower)
06-18-2012, 12:26 PM
#34
Nordschleife Master
Exactly. I'd like to see the armchair warriors on here do any better at speed.
Hindsight is 20/20. Happy to see the guy is ok. The deer is now venison.
C.
06-18-2012, 12:42 PM
#35
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Those that want to ban waving should spend more time at the track and less at the keyboard. There are many ways to get distracted while on track, waving to thank a driver for a courteous point by is not generally one of them.
For those that aren't from any where near Summit Point, it is in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and deer are everywhere up there. The only way to prevent this is to stop going to that track. It's a hazard specific to this part of the US (roads and tracks). Wildlife on track is always a possibility that driver's need to be aware of. I remember a turkey vulture landing on track at Texas World Speedway last summer, would have been nasty for the guy driving the radical sr3 to take that sucker in the face!
Driver did a good job not freaking out and bringing the car under control.
Put your visors down boys! You never know when you'll need it whether from your side windows or front.
For those that aren't from any where near Summit Point, it is in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and deer are everywhere up there. The only way to prevent this is to stop going to that track. It's a hazard specific to this part of the US (roads and tracks). Wildlife on track is always a possibility that driver's need to be aware of. I remember a turkey vulture landing on track at Texas World Speedway last summer, would have been nasty for the guy driving the radical sr3 to take that sucker in the face!
Driver did a good job not freaking out and bringing the car under control.
Put your visors down boys! You never know when you'll need it whether from your side windows or front.
06-18-2012, 12:50 PM
#36
The Penguin King
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In SM racing we give a hatchet signal to indicate that we want the following car to bump draft, and wave them off when we want them to back off. Drivers never seem to have trouble seeing this signal.
06-18-2012, 12:53 PM
#37
Rennlist Member
Just to be clear about my earlier post:
2. waving is practically invisible and entirely inappropriate between drivers at speed on the track in a DE or a race. This is unrelated to tasks such as a radio or brake bias or any number of functions related to driving. It's also unrelated to communication with track workers, gestures of "point-by's" or any actually valid hand signal communication which is expected of drivers.
2. waving is practically invisible and entirely inappropriate between drivers at speed on the track in a DE or a race. This is unrelated to tasks such as a radio or brake bias or any number of functions related to driving. It's also unrelated to communication with track workers, gestures of "point-by's" or any actually valid hand signal communication which is expected of drivers.
+1
06-18-2012, 12:54 PM
#38
Also, since I am offering my belligerent two cents, I think driver wave byes are assinine. It's OK on a cool down lap, but other than that, two hands should always be on the wheel. As for radios, my talk button is on the steering wheel and is situated such that I can keep two hands on the wheel.
Scott
06-18-2012, 01:01 PM
#39
Rennlist Member
All track cars at tracks like Summit Point should have heat seeking missiles installed on the roofs. Kill the damn giant rats before they kill us. Lyme disease has made me a true Bambi hater.
06-18-2012, 01:18 PM
#40
Burning Brakes
Hate the ticks instead. It's not the deers' fault that they are intermediate hosts. You've seen deers ears covered with so many engorged ticks that it looked like a tumor?
I blame the Forest Service for 50 years of strict burn control. Periodic fire in the low brush is the only way to reduce the tick population, and we haven't had much burning around here since I was a kid.
Actually, I blame people in general for building their houses anywhere and everywhere, so the Forest Service HAS to ban burning, or else somebodys' pwecious wittle housie will be turned to ashes.
I blame the Forest Service for 50 years of strict burn control. Periodic fire in the low brush is the only way to reduce the tick population, and we haven't had much burning around here since I was a kid.
Actually, I blame people in general for building their houses anywhere and everywhere, so the Forest Service HAS to ban burning, or else somebodys' pwecious wittle housie will be turned to ashes.
06-18-2012, 01:27 PM
#41
Rennlist Member
I amazed that anyone could critique the driver's handling of the situation. Where he was on the track, your eyes are already looking towards T1 and gauging traffic in the corner the road drops down there and you pick up a bit more speed. You approach T1 prepared for a car spinning between the apex and track out of T2 which is still hard to see. You also look for cars going straight off from a fluid drop. I have driven/raced hundreds of laps at SP and if you told me to look for a deer in the right side brush just past the tower I am not sure I could have avoided it still. That was the perfect storm. I now understand better how the other racer was killed there a couple of years ago in a shifter kart.
VR, you should call up the boys and drop some more ordinance at SP.
VR, you should call up the boys and drop some more ordinance at SP.
06-18-2012, 02:02 PM
#42
I had a very near miss with a large buck in the chute a few years ago at a race at SP(he was huffing blood he was running so fast and got some on my rear fender). I was in the heat of battle and only saw him at the last minute. I kept my foot in it and barely past in front of him. Even if that guy saw it, I dont see that he could have avoided it.
06-18-2012, 02:43 PM
#43
Rennlist Member
I amazed that anyone could critique the driver's handling of the situation. Where he was on the track, your eyes are already looking towards T1 and gauging traffic in the corner the road drops down there and you pick up a bit more speed. You approach T1 prepared for a car spinning between the apex and track out of T2 which is still hard to see. You also look for cars going straight off from a fluid drop. I have driven/raced hundreds of laps at SP and if you told me to look for a deer in the right side brush just past the tower I am not sure I could have avoided it still. That was the perfect storm. I now understand better how the other racer was killed there a couple of years ago in a shifter kart.
VR, you should call up the boys and drop some more ordinance at SP.
VR, you should call up the boys and drop some more ordinance at SP.
And they still do
06-18-2012, 02:52 PM
#45
Rennlist Member
That was almost me last fall, but missed her near the bridge by a foot. It's time to thin our the heard. I'm doing my part. Would this help
http://deerwhistle.com/
http://deerwhistle.com/