thos Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 First track day today with the car running on throttle bodies - managed to pass two 911's on my first session, boy was I a happy bunny. What a difference it made to the car, but I did learn that Porsche drivers get upset very easily. On the second session they one wasnt so willing to concede defeat, put up a stand to a ridiculous point. I gave him a bit of time to wait for a decent straight to let me pass, I dont like getting too close to people on (fun) track days, but he wouldnt give me an inch, and closed any gap that I went for - so in the end I had to get a little nasty, he was a bit wussy with early braking, took him on the inside, but made sure I didnt do it too quickly, let the car drift over his direction a little bit, let him know where the grass was. Kudos to the Impreza who followed me, good jockey. Anyone find it's easier to control drifts with a passenger on board ? Just cos I'm going slower or is it better with a bit of weight on the rear end ? Cheers, Grinning Tom. Quote
timd Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 I gave him a bit of time to wait for a decent straight to let me pass, I dont like getting too close to people on (fun) track days, but he wouldnt give me an inch, and closed any gap that I went for - so in the end I had to get a little nasty, he was a bit wussy with early braking, took him on the inside, but made sure I didnt do it too quickly, let the car drift over his direction a little bit, let him know where the grass was. On most* trackday rules, he was in the wrong right up until you forced your way past. At that point you were in the wrong and could have been sent home. Better, IMHO, to slow down, drive through the pits, or whatever and get yourself distanced from the offending driver. Report him to TDO if you feel that strongly about it. It's not a race after all... * if the trackday you were on allowed overtaking "without consent" then ignore this post.. Quote
adhawkins Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 On most* trackday rules, he was in the wrong right up until you forced your way past. At that point you were in the wrong and could have been sent home. Better, IMHO, to slow down, drive through the pits, or whatever and get yourself distanced from the offending driver. Report him to TDO if you feel that strongly about it. I've had exactly the same problem with a Porsche driver on a Motorsport Events day. They were being really good about it, he was shown blue flags on the same corner for several laps. He'd come on to the straight, indicate and pull over to let me past, but just keep his foot in. After a few laps he pulled in, so I followed him and complained to the organiser. He (Ed, the organiser) was not impressed! Would agree with Tim though, much better to try to avoid the red mist and risk getting yourself sent home. Andy Quote
Bananaman Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 On the second session they one wasnt so willing to concede defeat, put up a stand to a ridiculous point. With 250 bhp this aint a problem. Quote
adhawkins Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 Just remember us poor guys that have to put up with 'only' about 150 Andy Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 With 250 bhp this aint a problem. One day Quote
Westfieldman Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 With 250 bhp this aint a problem One day Soon Quote
Nick M Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 I gave him a bit of time to wait for a decent straight to let me pass, I dont like getting too close to people on (fun) track days, but he wouldnt give me an inch, and closed any gap that I went for - so in the end I had to get a little nasty, he was a bit wussy with early braking, took him on the inside, but made sure I didnt do it too quickly, let the car drift over his direction a little bit, let him know where the grass was. On most* trackday rules, he was in the wrong right up until you forced your way past. At that point you were in the wrong and could have been sent home. Better, IMHO, to slow down, drive through the pits, or whatever and get yourself distanced from the offending driver. Report him to TDO if you feel that strongly about it. It's not a race after all... * if the trackday you were on allowed overtaking "without consent" then ignore this post.. DING !! Couldn't agree more. Trackdays have rules for a reason - safety ! Yes I agree it's frustrating when you're stuck behind a slower car who won't move out of the way but, and forgive me if I'm reading into this too much, comments like "I had to get a little nasty" and "let the car drift over his direction a little bit" sound a bit too much like the red mist had descended at that point.... What if he hadn't seen you when you "took him on the inside" and had turned in on you ?? It could have happened since he wouldn't be expecting to see a car over-taking him into a corner. Sorry to sound preachy or like a boring old fart but trackdays are still a potentially dangerous environment, especially when people don't follow the rules. Quote
Terry Everall Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 Difficult one this! The rules about making sure the guy in front knows you are there are for safety. However the car in front should know who is behind and if it is faster let it pass usually on the left or right depending on the briefing. The problem is that any numptie can drive quick in a straight line if he has mega power but they should have the courtesy of pulling over and easing off for cars that are obviously quicker (usually told this at briefing sessions). If they dont then they themselves contribute to any unsafe situation and should be reported. However if 2 cars are doing about the same speed in close company it can be very entertaining and you learn a lot so long as the red mist does not descend!! We are all out there to drive quickly and safely within our own limits and this is different for cars & drivers. Go and enjoy it !!! Quote
Nick M Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 We are all out there to drive quickly and safely within our own limits and this is different for cars & drivers. Go and enjoy it !!! Amen to that !! Play safely kids !! Quote
Bananaman Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 2 wrongs = Use the rules don't abuse them, there there for all our safety. I know it's anoying but we have to make allowences for people with lesser cars. Quote
GaryFoster Posted March 18, 2004 Posted March 18, 2004 I find as long as I have a massive grip advantage I can hang back, take a very deep line into the corner and get on the power early. I gain so much extra speed on the exit I can just whip past them on the straight before they are on full power. Naughty Naughty I know. Gary Quote
Terry Everall Posted March 19, 2004 Posted March 19, 2004 Most trackday briefings talk about the car in front indicating he has seen car behind and is letting it past but I have never been told to wait for permission or consent to pass. With some drivers you would wait all day even if they were seriously slow. Also bad manners , for example,to hog the left hand side of the track if briefing says pass on the left! This forces cars to pass on the other side otherwise the queue behind could develop into a pile up! Quote
adhawkins Posted March 19, 2004 Posted March 19, 2004 Well, given the choice of either: 1. Break the 'rules' myself and risk getting sent home. 2. Bring the driving of the other driver to the notice of the organisers. I know which I'd choose... Andy Quote
Nick M Posted March 19, 2004 Posted March 19, 2004 Also bad manners , for example,to hog the left hand side of the track if briefing says pass on the left! This forces cars to pass on the other side otherwise the queue behind could develop into a pile up! Bad manners to stay on the left, yes. But re the other comment.... NO !!! Nothing should "force" a car to over-take on the wrong side !! The driver in front probably wouldn't be expecting it - he may have caught a glimpse of a car in his mirror and decided to ease over to the right, only to find that car diving down the wrong side... Queues develop (seemingly more so on sessioned days) and if you're stuck in one then just find a way to create some space. There's little point in sticking in a line of traffic for a 20 minute session in the hope of getting past some straight line junky driving a Porsche or TNB.... Quote
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