Track etiquette - letting the slow guys back in

[Lazydonkey]

Track plates ordered this morning

......I'm assuming you'll be able to work out the missing vowel (ordered LazyDnkey!) as you approach at max tuts

[kenny]

There may be a demand for an SE novices tracknight...noting what Karen and Morvy have to say...or perhaps for a concession on a regular night that, say, the 2nd half hour is for novices only, to give them a bit of space after the old hands have had a good thrash first

I was thinking about this myself last night, I would have thought that we can be far off having the numbers for a novice tracknight. I and I am sure a few of the other more experienced trackdayers would be happy to sit in the pax seat and help people out.

[ceejam]

Been reading this thread with interest.

I had a couple of occasions where faster cars came zooming up behind me on the way to Clark's, so pulled over, lifted, and then pulled back to the left and hard on the power down to the hairpin to find that the "faster" car just about stopped to go round the hairpin. I had similar happen at the end of the Pit straight after the "faster" car pulling out quite a distance under acceleration (due to my little lift coming out the hairpin).

This was my first time out in the Elise at Knockhill, and only my 2nd tracknight, but was so comfortable with the way the Liz was handling that I was giving it fairly good tuts (IMHO), but keen to let the supercharged / tuned boys pass me on the straight bits.

I wasn't particularly upset, I realise it was a busy track session, and some of the early braking was due to other cars further ahead (or just the snake effect of lots of cars following each other) and I ALWAYS got a wave or thumbs up when I let someone past

Equally I did a fair bit of overtaking, as generally I got close to folk down Duffers Dip, Leslie's and through the chicane, but often there was someone faster behind me who wanted to get past me before I got past the car holding me up, to find the car behind wasn't actually faster than me. I had a couple of nice "dices" with cars of similar power / lap time, although never getting too close (I hope )

Trackplates are a good idea, I put these on my Mini for shows How do folk attach theirs for the track, my concern is that they fall off and cause damage to someone else's car or a red flag

[mac]

I guess sometime you just have to be stubborn - most of the issues seem to be with the small back straight between the chicane and clarkes.

Maybe you just have to make a judgement call, check your mirrors and if there's a queue of a few cars wanting to go past then just DON'T move over until the straight is long enough to accomodate all the cars that wish to pass.

If it's one car then fine move over - if it's multiples or even just two which are a close match to you own pace then don't yield.

Problem solved - don't all rush to thank me for my wisdom and insight.



Mac

[Scotty C]

If you are fast.....get a yellow car.
If you are slow.....get a white car???
If you like to brag a lot.......get a silver exige!

Speek for yourself?

[meatball]

Scotty....I heard you were REALLY slow....hence the 2 talent maskers!
Only kidding.....big man!

[Scotty C]

I really feel rather uncomfortable when we have owners such as Morven and Karen hesitating about going out on track because they would feel intimidated by faster drivers.

In fact ALL the cars out there would be faster, but they should feel twice as safe because we all know, or should do, that they are on for their first time, or close to, and will act accordingly. They will always be well over to the right, and should feel that they can concentrate on their driving without looking in their mirrors every second, and feel that they can move over to the left and on line when they are ready to and not worry about giving way. There is nothing we can do about the speed differential, but as long as there is space left between, and no cutting in, they will get used to that.

I also think that this would be the case on one of our organised days which is almost all Elise/Caterham family, where most of us know each other, and have been on track together.

This is a different case than in Dezzy's first post which is dealing with more experienced drivers of similar powered cars, but but different levels of ability/track experience.

tut

[Scotty C]

I guess sometime you just have to be stubborn - most of the issues seem to be with the small back straight between the chicane and clarkes.

Maybe you just have to make a judgement call, check your mirrors and if there's a queue of a few cars wanting to go past then just DON'T move over until the straight is long enough to accomodate all the cars that wish to pass.

If it's one car then fine move over - if it's multiples or even just two which are a close match to you own pace then don't yield.

Problem solved - don't all rush to thank me for my wisdom and insight.



Mac

Wise words indeed.

[heds]

Karen/Little Morvy.......ask Jinty/Heds if they will go to KH again?
If they say no.....be nervous.
If they say yes....book on asap!

my 2p

I loved my first Lotus track sessions on Friday and Sunday, a whole new world compared to Kames. Most people were great at letting me back over to the left for the corner. I remember a couple of times finding it hard to get back over and ending up going into Clarks a bit off line and slower as a line of cars passed like Dezzy says, and also at the end of the other straights, but overall people were very courtious.

I felt a lot more confident by the end of the Sunday track session though and managed to push my car more for a few sections without lots of cars appearing in my mirrors. Was very satisfying.

Not saying I am the fantastic at driving KH by any means but if any of the ladies would like me to go out with them for support or would like to come out with me the next time I am on track just let me know. Sometimes its more comfortable when the testorerone isn't pumping through the veins.

Also, I use my track plate on the rear EVERY time I am on track - definately a worthwhile purchase.

I'd love to come out with you next time Mandy, I would have last time but Dezzy had already bagsy'd me!

I love the track plate idea , going to see if I can get one before even the next Kames day

[H8OAG]

If it's one car then fine move over - if it's multiples or even just two which are a close match to you own pace then don't yield - If it's Scotty C ...let go of the steering and veer off the track
Problem solved - don't all rush to thank me for my wisdom and insight.

Long thread...... agree with the sentiment that It's a track day after all .....and we need to encourage people.....not frighten/intimidate them

"The Hands " can wait and will undoubtedly get past on the main straight

[DDtB]

I love the track plate idea , going to see if I can get one before even the next Kames day

Track plates are the future....

[kenny]

The coolest track plate by quite a margin

[paulW]

just because your on track doesn't mean you can't be courtious.

Enuff said.

Slower drivers pulling over and easing off, and in return faster drivers giving slower drivers space in the corners, its common courtesy.

Never had a problem with SEr's...but not everyone on track is as understanding of how intimidating it can be trying to negotiate a corner at speed with a fecking huge evo up yer chuff.

[mckeann]

McKean and i drove each other around Dijon to see where we were going right/wrong (although I think i learnt more i from him ) although he declined getting in to my car for a pax round Charade

That was more to do with the petrol fumes when sat in the pax seat of the RLC

[GregR]

just because your on track doesn't mean you can't be courtious.

Enuff said.

Slower drivers pulling over and easing off, and in return faster drivers giving slower drivers space in the corners, its common courtesy.

Never had a problem with SEr's...but not everyone on track is as understanding of how intimidating it can be trying to negotiate a corner at speed with a fecking huge evo up yer chuff.

do I detect a flicker of 'I'm pulling into the pits' left indicator there?