Slipstream - April 2002

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DE Questions Answered from Motorsport Ranch By Bryan Henderson Ihad several questions this weekend concerning the correct driver response to situations and flags during track events. With the number of questions it appears we have a great opportunity for better understanding. 1. Can I pass under a white flag and can I pass the car causing the white flag? Yes, you can. At our DEs the white flag indicates a slow moving vehicle on the track. This is probably going to be another car at DE but might be an ambulance, wrecker or fire truck at a race. In most cases it is actually much safer for you to pass the car causing the white flag. There are only two flags under which you can not pass, yellow and black. At a DE I would be disappointed if Photo by Wendy Shoffit 2. If I spin and stop what do I expect from the corner workers and what do they expect from me? If I am off track and in a position where I can, I will look for a point from the corner worker to HELP get me safely on track. Photo by Bill Dugan Cody Sears using the curb to help rotate his car through Rattlesnake. National President Bob Miller getting ready for an exciting ride with Brooke Van Horn It is still my responsibility to re-enter safely. At some tracks in some situations getting a point might not be feasible. If I am ON TRACK it is my responsibility to get the car moving and in a safe position in a safe manner as quickly as reasonably possible. If you are on track the corner worker will not generally give you a point. They will expect you to start moving. someone gave a passing signal for a third car while passing a slow moving vehicle. I might question your judgment at black flag. You must use care and common sense when passing this slow moving vehicle and do so in a safe manner. If we don't pass the slow car we may end up with cars bunched closely together and lots of hard braking behind the slow vehicle. If the white is shown with a yellow then regular passing must stop. If you are driving the slow moving vehicle you must also apply great caution and common sense. Please don't wander from side to side on the track. The best place to park a failing car that is not going to make it to the pits is at a corner station behind the bunker wall. Photo by Bill Dugan Nancy Dugan waiting for her turn at grid. Thank You to The Porsche Store Sponsor of the February Maverick DE! 14
Photo by Bill Dugan Photo by Drew Campbell Which way did they go? Cars stopped on track will generally be covered by a waving yellow flag. If the car is fully functional, I should bring the car back to a reasonable speed off line then resume my lap and report ASAP to the black flag station in the hot pit. A parked car on the track is a bad thing and will generally bring a halt to the session at one of our DE's. If the car is stopped ON THE TRACK it is usually in a more dangerous situation than if it is moving even slowly down track. In this situation the corner workers will first protect themselves, then communicate with other cars through the flags, notify control and communicate with you. The communication with you can take several forms, but basically, if you are moving or signal you are ok, they are going to assume you are ok. If you move your car they are going to assume it is ok. If YOU don't move they will call for help. If your car does not move they will assume it can't and take appropriate action. On Sunday that action was to stop the session with a black all. Both cars were on A “patriotic” 911 showing its colors. Photo by Wendy Shoffit track, off line and facing the correct direction. They should have accelerated down track off line and continued as appropriate. Sitting on track created a dangerous situation where none should have existed. 3. What do I do if my car is not operable? Most of the time you should stay strapped in the car unless it is on fire until help arrives or the session is over. If you feel you must leave the car, do not cross a hot track. You can use hand signals with the corner workers for special request from a stalled . . . arms raised over your head like a touchdown . . . car. There is a "normal" set of arm and hand signals that you can use but they are actually designed for corner workers to communicate with each other. For example, arms outstretched to the Let sleeping drivers lie... Right, Hill Bullock? DEs are tiresome. sides forming a T with your body says you need a flat tow. From the T position bend the elbows down forming a W with your arms and that says you need a wrecker. Slant your T by raising one arm and lowering the other says I need a roll back flat bed. The signal to request a point back on to the track if you get the car restarted is arms raised over your head like a touchdown with your palms facing forward. The problem with these signals is, you can't do most of them very well from inside a car. Let the corner workers and control do their job. Wait until the session is stopped then signal what you need. The reason I use terms like generally, usually and most of the time is in any situation on a race track you must ALWAYS use good judgement and that prevents us from saying always. 15
Page 1 and 2: www.pca.org/mav
Page 3 and 4: www.pca.org/mav Volume 40, April 20
Page 5 and 6: Be like The Porsche Store and spons
Page 7 and 8: Prez Says by James Shoffit, Maveric
Page 9 and 10: Saturday, April 20 “Shine Contest
Page 11 and 12: Photo by Kevin Hardison Intro to Au
Page 13 and 14: Autocross Therapy By Suzanne Cochra
Page 15: Happy Hour At Champp’s By Dennis
Page 19 and 20: Driver Education At Texas Motor Spe
Page 21 and 22: Park Place Tech Session #2 By Rober
Page 23 and 24: Without your help, we would have sp
Page 25 and 26: Sponsored by: May 25-27, 2002 Racin
Page 27 and 28: Driver Education At MotorSport Ranc
Page 29 and 30: New Wheels If you have any changes
Page 32: Jan Mayo, Slipstream 2973 Timbercre

Slipstream - April 2002

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