Blue flags

[Chef]

im sorry Alexa.....

 ::)



 :-/





 :D


                                                            ;D

[r6_philly]

Ok a bit of a tangent here, but I'm having a frustrating day so what the h&ll.

This issue, as well as the VIR gate issue and the transponder issue, wouldn't these all be best addressed at the track with a CCS representative? Rider meetings are all well and good, and they shouldn't change them, but they're held just before racing starts, addressing primarily race related issues, and most people are itching to get back to the pit and focus on racing. Wouldn't a meeting after racing on Saturday help to get some other issues addressed, as they happen, instead of the venting that often goes on here after the weekend is over and people get a chance to stew a bit?

For example: You practice Friday, and you see an issue crop up, but it's practice, so you let it slide. Saturday, you race, and you notice that this issue is now a problem. At the Saturday "debriefing" after the races are done, you have an opportunity to bring up the problem, others can voice their opinion, the race director has the night to come up with a solution or an answer that is addressed at Sunday's rider meeting. It might take a bit more of everyone's time, and of course not everyone would be present, but it could be worth a shot at getting some stuff resolved sooner rather than later or not at all.

And no, this wouldn't fix everything, but I guess I keep reading all these complaints, with no real solutions that CCS seems interested in persuing. This one could be implemented by the race director, so if nothing else, racers could have somewhere other than fellow racers to turn to for answers. Part of my frustration comes from the fact that I addressed this communication issue directly with Mr. Elliott in a couple of emails back in February, and things are back to business as usual. However, Roger did finally get his certificate from 2 years ago in the mail last week, so I guess that's progress.

I did bring it up to officials at the track. The answer was "write an email to VIR and tell them" and also to "make noise" (not exact quote), so that is what I am doing, to voice my opinions and see if others agree.

[r6_philly]

besides, on the gate issue, I offered my solutions.

On blue flags, I just want to know what others thought, before I bring it up in the next riders meeting.

On Transponders, I want to not pay the $5 and buy my own transponder. They can rent to whoever they want, they can offer that option.

And if I see a transponder given to me, I wouldn't complain anyway.

[Nate R]

Thanx, Dave.  :D (Ebben, that is)

[spyderchick]

im sorry Alexa.....

 ::)



 :-/





 :D


                                                            ;D

Was that an Ike kind of hug? Thanks bro! :D

[Super_KC124]

How many times have they ask at the end of the riders meeting; "Do we need to go over the flags?" Everyone says no, and boogies.  :-/ Oh, and I like the blue flags. I don't do anything different, it's just nice to know that Kevin Gordon's just about to slap you on the butt as he laps you. :o ;D

[Chef]

Was that an Ike kind of hug? Thanks bro! :D

                        :)

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     I was attending a Team Suzuki Endurance school at R.A. in '96 and had an unfortunate accident involving a street squid. That school had 60 riders (54 street squids and 6 licenced racers) and was an opportunity to get extra track time and learn something in the process. The 6 of us racers in the school were told we could only pass on the outside of the street guys. Going into turn 8 I was closing the gap on a street guy fairly fast and figured I would pass him on the outside at the exit of the turn. Everything went well until the guy practically parked the thing in the middle of the turn and made an abrupt move toward the outside of the track as I approached on fire. I could have passed him on the inside very easily had I been allowed to, but instead commited to the outside line which now did not exist. I avoided hitting him by braking so hard that I ended up high-sided over the handlebars. He apparently was trying to run the 'perfect line' and made the sudden move to the outside, totally oblivious to my approach because a blue flag was not displayed.
     I personally like blue flags and have been both the cause of them and the one recieving it in the past. As far as changing my line, I don't personally, but I do try and run an overly predictable line.

[Super Dave]

My advice, if you are a lappee, in addition to what litespeed said, is to make sure you leave room in every corner..on both sides.

There is no reason to go outside edge to clipping the apex to outside edge if you are running at a pace that much slower as to be lapped.  Leave a bike on both sides.  In fact, in using the entire track you are using the width of the track as a crutch to reduce the lean angle you should be trying to learn.

When I'm moving through traffic, I've picked out where I want to go.  When the rider makes adjustment to "attempt" to accomodate me, we're both screwed.  

Lapee leaves room at the apex which now allows his line to end up wider at the exit.  He has to back off because he's gonna run off the track...closing speed becomes greater.

Lapee leaves room on the outside going in.  Doesn't help unless I'm going by on the brakes early;  I'll pass him on the inside as it's the safest for me in that I won't get taken out by him getting spooked.  Additionally, a substantially slower rider will usually apex a corner too early because of inexperience or bike set up problems.

Lapees should do what they should do....  CONCENTRATE ON THEIR OWN RIDING.  Screw me, the guy doing the lapping.  It is my responsibility to get around.

At Blackhawk, they were using the Blue Flag during practice.  I got through traffic and they were still giving it...um, no one was passing me...

[Super Dave]

Now I'll really shake up some stuff...

Ok, I've been doing this quite a while.

What has changed over the years is that years ago all the "racers" were "racers".  Were were pretty hard core motorcycle road racers that ate and slept road racing.  Race, race, race.  

Now, there are many more "recreational" road racers that race more occasionally.  Here and there, this track or that.  They don't have the regular exposure to the speed and conditions of all out competition.  They don't have the feel or comfort in their machinery or ability.  

In the eighty's we used to do a lot of endurance racing.  Six and eight hour events.  There were bikes that you would lap every four laps, but you didn't have the problems that you do now with riders maintaining some kind of a line.

Now, lets add the problem of diminishing practice opportunities.  How about shortened and combined races?  It all adds up.

Nate, not sure who got close to you.  You'll get used to it.  Unfortunately, as your speed on the track increases, your line will probably change.  So, your line and the faster rider's line just came close together at some point.  Contact can happen in motorcycle road racing.  It is fully exected at the upper levels.  In Unlimited GP, I've put my elbow on boots of riders next to me.  I'd love to have more space, but, sometimes, you have to deal with the space you have.

[Jeff]

Lappers are great.  They can level the playing field in allowing me to catch up to the guy(s) (non-gender specific) in front of me.

Waving yellow's are also the "catch-up" flag :-)

[Nate R]

SD: It was Baker. #25.

The issue I had with it was that it was a practice, it was Friday, and thus it was both cold and relatively wet/damp. But, the bigger issue was me not being used to it. I mean, if it happened on sunday when it was dry and when I was more comfortable, I wouldn't batted an eye. It just really shook me up at the time because I thought I would be given more room in the Friday Practice when it was damp, etc. But, I don't mind that at ALL in a race situation. I LOVE close racing in bicycles, and I can't wait to do it on Motorcycles.  I'm not mad about it or anything, but it bothered me at the time, and I was a little annoyed.