So what does it take to get a red flag?

[Jack_Brock]

Anybody watch the ASRA Thunderbike race at HPT?  I entered it and was pumped about making an impression on my SS bike.  I knew it was a tall order, and I didn't help myself with taking a little off track excursion on lap 2.  Anyway, I got back on and tried hard to make up places.  We got into the race a little ways and I had made back a few places back when I crested the hill on the front straight wide open and found a car driving along where I need to be-YIKES!  It scared the sh&! out of me!  The car turned left at the end of the straight, and me and the other rider by me weren't sure what to do, so we continued at a reduced pace when we ran up on a truck a few corners later.  I saw the white wi red cross flag, but no ambulance, it looked more like a spectator lap.  The next lap around, they had the car, the truck, an ambulance, and a truck with trailer(this vehicle was on the racing surface) at the exit of turn 7(leads onto the back straight).  Anyway, all these vehicles remained in this location for the remainder of the race which was probably 5-6 laps.  I kept expecting a red flag and considered pulling in each lap.  I did finish the race, but very cautiously. 

So, after reflecting back on all this, I have to ask what does it take to get a red flag?  I do feel my safety and the safety of my competitors was placed in jeopardy, and I fail to understand why.  I am interested to hear opinions on this.  Please no bashing, I'd just like some objective opinions to get a handle on this, and I hope this situation never comes up again.

BTW....... did everyone notice Kris Younger made it out again to watch the rest of us race

[251am]

 Sounds like a total snafu to me. I wasn't there. What were the flags that were being thrown and did you ask the Race Director about the situation?

More than a little odd to have a crash truck out on the race surface, just sitting there? Was it the crash truck?

[tigerblade]

BTW....... did everyone notice Kris Younger made it out again to watch the rest of us race

[funsizeracing]

I hadn't seen you in so long, didn't recognize you when you walked up!

[tigerblade]

I hadn't seen you in so long, didn't recognize you when you walked up!

I'm sure hat and sunglasses didn't help.  ;)

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

DUnno about how HPT's crew does things. At Blackhawk, the only vehicle I see on track during a race is the ambulance if its needed. I wont take the crash truck on track until the track is cleared of race traffic myself. No reason for the crash truck on track during a race nor any other vehicle except the ambulance, IMO. Any other vehicle needs to be out there, stop the race first.

If the ambulance is on track there should be a white flag with a red cross displayed at EVERY CORNER around the track and if the ambulance is moving they should be waving a yellow at the station it passed with a stationary yellow at the previous station. They roll the ambulance around the track for the Learning Curves school so new racers experience this.

Last year at BHF I think was teh first time I ever seen the ambulances on track during a race since I started in 1999 (may have been other times, just what I remember). From what I understand they do it now because of the complaining about red flagging races too much resulting in races being shortened the rest of the day. Personally I'd rather have the race stopped for any 4 wheeled vehicle on track (my preference).

Much like you Jack, it makes me nervous seeing the meat wagon out there on teh side with races going on. Last year in T7 at BHF we had 2 out there in the grass. Not more than 30 seconds after the last one left a bike lowsided and slid right where the ambulance's rear corner was. Thankfully the rider went one way and the bike went the other.

As for what it takes to get a red flag. Crashed bike still on racing surface, big fluid deposit, rider out cold on track, multi bike crash, rider in an impact area, etc. Corners have to call control to have the race stopped if the corners deem it neccessary and then control tells us to red flag it.

[Garywc]

they didn't red flag for the lightning on Friday either which every other riders meeting they say they will red flag for lightning

[Court Jester]

....... From what I understand they do it now because of the complaining about red flagging races too much resulting in races being shortened the rest of the day................

they'll change their mind about that in time. all it will take is for one person to cream the back of the bambalance at a buck20. and no question about it, given time, it will happen sooner or later.
safety should be put before anything else. if ccs would rather please a few people and roll the truck out on the track than stop a race, then so be it. but sooner or later it will come to bite them in the ass. pisser of it is, it'll take someone to bike the truck's ass to set that idea in their mind for good.

[Gixxerblade]

All I got to say is WOW! 

[funsizeracing]

So I looked it up in section 78.5 of the rule book and it states that for a red flag you must be struck by lightning and run over by pace car while racing in a hail storm.

[Super Dave]

they didn't red flag for the lightning on Friday either which every other riders meeting they say they will red flag for lightning

Red flag for lightning is related to cornerworkers wearing hard wired communication.  During the Team Challenge, I saw some big lighting, and I was wondering to myself if there would be a red flag.  HPT is all wireless.  I don't know if every track is this way or not. 

[APP_Racing]

Well that big lighting took out a light pole in the middle of the track about 200 feet from our pits.  I was amazed that they didn't stop the race.  1) for the cornerworkers safety and 2) rider safety.  Then the hail storm was interesting as well.

To Jacks point, I don't think ASRA would red flag a race for an ambulance (but I would expect CCS) as long as the racing surface and line was clear, BUT....   Who the heck parked a CAR, A TRUCK and AN AMBULANCE on the exit of that turn.  All I can figure is they didn't want to get the wheel muddy.  The crashed rider went off exactly where they were parked.  I am also amazed that they don't really enforce corner workers to make big distinctions been a standing YELLOW and a WAVING YELLOW.   

To be frank, I still don't understand why the vehicles (other than the ambulance) were even there? 

I was at the back of a pack of 4 riders and we saw the cars on the track but only after we were in the turn full out.  CRAZY, the turn before barely even had a YELLOW FLAG out.  NOt sure about the other riders but when we turned in 4 in a group and saw 2 (^*(^(*^_(&_(&(*&_(*&_(*&(^ cars at the exit I about freaked.

For all the things the organization tries to do for safety it would be nice if they would get the on track ones right.