Opinions wanted! Long one guys.

[TrackBrat]

    I wanted to bring up an issue regarding the current flagging procedures we have in place for the yellow flag.  
    I have been in situations that.......I would be waving yellow for a crash off the surface and the next thing you know I have one on it. You guys see it once and next time by.. if you see it again it could be the same situation and/or it could be a catastrophy.  Of course I use a combo of flags but find that the waving yellow is often ignored.  I feel as though we are too eager to throw a waving when a riders line is not in jeopardy.  

     In the AMA and now WERA,  the waving yellow is used only for surface problems and is required to have a combo of flags to tell the riders why.  For example......I am shutting this corner down to racing (waving yellow) and the other flags explain whether or not it is due to oil, bikes, riders and so on.

     With the way we use the waving yellow now,  you don't know exactly how dire a situation is until you get to it.  It's kinda like going down a busy interstate and seeing brake lights.......you don't know if they are riding the brake or slamming on them.

     Just thought i'd bring it up.  

    

[Steviebee]

I learned this year,  dont slow down for yellow flags !

SO i like your idea, but it might be too complicated for the grunts racing.

[TrackBrat]

2% rule

[spyderchick]

You might want to bring this up with the director of the safety crew in your region. He can then let the race director know what the situation has been and address it at a riders meeting.

[TrackBrat]

It has been on my mind for a few years now.  I have been wanting to discuss it but wanted riders input before making an issue out of it.  I would really like Kevin Elliots thoughts on it too.  
I just think that with more precise communication with our riders via flags, it would minimize down time. That way all of us are happy.

[Eric Kelcher]

I think as it is now is best for all involved the cornerworkers, the downed bike, downed rider, and the riders on the track. Just because it is off the surface does not mean it is not hazardous. When I am corner working I want to know that the riders know to take extra care in that corner if I am out there helping a rider that is in the impact zone.

current rule

4.2.3 Yellow flag - Waving - indicates a potentially hazardous situation on or near the racing line or in a crash impact
area

[TrackBrat]

Eric,  I am all about that.  But,  no flag is gonna save any of us. I don't care how hard you wave it. I just wanna try to give our riders more information about a track condition that could, in turn work towards the benefit of all of us.  

[cstem]

A waving yellow flag means no passing, not slow down.  Many do slow down as a matter of concern for others and themselves.  If there is oil or debris onthe track- a waving yellow does not symbolize that, a red and yellow striped debris flag does.  If a standing debris and waving yellow are used it may it could be for any number of reasons but IT MEANS ONLY ONE THING- NO PASSING FROM THE FLAG TO THE INCIDENT!!!  It does not matter if the flag is there for half a lap, or half the race- it means the same thing.  There is no interpretation for a reason, that is to minimize confusion.  Racers have enough going on and miss details already, why throw more at them?  The AMA and WERA do not use the yellow for surface condition, they use debris flags. Yellow once again does not sybolize any one type of incident- it just means no passing. If a situation is not 'dire' or extremly hazardous to life or limb, the yellow will be standing. A standing yellow is used in the station previous to a waving yellow to alert racers to 'be alert' and was done this way at riders request. This should be done at all regions. The way we do it now is the best in my opinion and should require no change.  If the event causing a yellow flag is off the track, but in the impact zone, the flag will wave when any people are present (racers or saftey).  If not in an impact zone then most likely standing or no flag at all.  Once again I do not see why racers would need to be bombarded with information when they already have enough going on. It is best to keep it simple and it's not real simple as it stands now.

[Super Dave]

There will never be a good way to completely communicate anything in the moments that lead a rider into the meat grinder.  Where do you go?  What is there?  Oil, riders, geese?  Do I go wide, tight, hold my line?  Rain?  Hail?  Dirt?

If it takes a rider about a half second to react to something...first they have to see it and then make a decision.  It's always a trick.  

And the perspective is a two way street.  What it looks like from the race track at full race speed is different from the corner working station.  Both have their "pluses and minuses" on the matter.  

What situation would you NOT use a combination of flags?  I can see a bike being off the track in a dangerous place where if you fell, you might hit it.  Waving yellow flag with nothing else.  Throw the bike on the track and I see a waving yellow with a debris flag.  Am I wrong?

[TrackBrat]

Allow me to rephrase that.......AMA and at least the southeast region of WERA doesn't want to use a waving yellow unless there is an incident on the racing surface.  Either way it's done works for me though.  
Also too.......impact zones can be anywhere on a racetrack.  If one rider can get there, so can another. Dave you are right.  The only reason I brought it up was due to seperate incidences in the same corner on different laps.  Thanks for the input.

[Super Dave]

So, is this more of a problem with WERA and the AMA?