Timetable Pressures..

[goforit500]

Ladies & Gents,

Would I be right in thinking that you guys were under huge pressure not to fly the reds yesterday at Brands ??

Several people comented to me that they though the Jedi race should have been stopped and I reckon the FSCC race should have been stopped when Ashley Bird rolled his Sierra into a little ball just before Clearways coming to rest right in a very dangerous spot...from a drivers perspective

He was two cars in front of me when he went over & I was stunned that the race wasn't halted .....

[Elio]

As a mere spectator I wouldn`t dream of suggesting anything of the sort!!!..... However, not having seen the shunt I was absolutely amazed last night as I left when I saw the remains of the car on it`s trailer in the Paddock... almost unrecognisable.

On a related theme.... Excuse my ignorance on things "red-tape" but is there a reason why safety cars could not have been deployed in all races this weekend? They came out in some (Sports 2000, Kents, Zetecs..) but not others where it could have been very time-saving (eg Fords, Jedis and BRDC Single Seaters)?

[Ian Sowman]

It is just down to which series have a Safety Car written into the regs and which do not.

[Claire]

I was on post 10, opposite the accident with Ashley Bird. I too was very surprised that the race wasn't red flagged it was a major roll and I was very gald when I saw him get out of the car as quick as he did. Without the knowledge of the information given to race control about the accident I can't really comment on why it wasn't red flagged but I would think that the pressure of time had a lot to do with it.

Also got a good view of the punches thrown by one of the 1800 drivers, the guy he went for had hardly had the chance to get out of his fairly damaged car before he gave him a good shove and then he went back for another go once they where both behind the barriers. Disgraceful behaviour from a driver but I applaud the other guy for not having a go back!! I hope the C of the C heavily penalised the offender.

[Ian Sowman]

A slight correction - it was a FF1600 driver that has indeed had points put on his licence.

[goforit500]

Ya wouldn't happen to be an 1800 driver try to dissassociate there would you Ian ??

[Claire]

Sorry Ian, got confused with all the semi finals/finals etc. I'm pleased that the incident was dealt with and the driver penalised. Hope the TV cameras didn't catch it!

[TwoSheds]

Hi Claire, I was flagging on post 9 yesterday. The Sierra role was one of the worst I've seen in a long time. Was very pleased (and surprised) when Ashley climbed out okay. As to why it wasn't stopped I can't comment. I'm not a CoC!

[spottymarshal]

Hi Claire,

I was one of the marshals that was right at the scene of the ff1600 incident and was glad that it didn't come to anything more. It was the first time i've had to worry about fighting drivers as well as trying to assess the situation.

I thought that when the roll occured in the FSCC race it should have been stopped.

[Snapper Baz]

Goforit, you must remember that we had to get a tedious 45 minute race in and an equally tedious amount of Sports 2000 races in. In my opinion, they should keep a crane in the gap on the inside of Druids on the EXIT of the corner (and one at the foot of Paddock). It wouldn't be in anybodies way, the cars are drifting wide and are nowhere near it and it could be lifting cars out in a flash and could have saved masses of time had it been that way over the weekend-not the rediculous 2mph drive up the hill from Paddock as we see now...and then the drive back down again! It also helps when thoughtless drivers with ailing cars actually pull-off the circuit out of harms way as well.

[goforit500]

I appreciate that there were time pressures Baz...I just question what priorities were uppermost in some peoples minds allowing racing to continue under such conditions...

I personally did my best to get my car as far as possible from the circuit !! Anycloser to the barriers at Paddock and we'd a been panel bashing....

[Alfaholic]

Originally Posted by goforit500

...I reckon the FSCC race should have been stopped when Ashley Bird rolled his Sierra into a little ball just before Clearways coming to rest right in a very dangerous spot.....

And I suspect that Graham Wait had the same idea when he went off curcuit just missing the wreck.

[jonbryant]

Goforit, I'm sure your thoughts when you were all locked up and heading off at reasonable speed were not only not printable but also weren't too concerned with parking it nicely out of the way! I did still have to run to you though so perhaps more practice over the winter.

And I thought a number of decisions were slightly odd this weekend. But as has been said, we're not CoC's and are not in full possession of the facts. But my opinon is as I mentioned to you whilst standing behind the barrier on Sunday...

[goforit500]

I was absolutely flat out trying to make up the time I lost when I slowed down assuming the race would be stopped braked just a tad late and suffered the consequences :-)...

I also had a boot full of leaking fuel as well and my excuse was that it was finding it's way onto the rear tyres.......No ?? My crew didn't got for that one either.....

Simple case of just trying too hard... Driver error/stupidity/brain fade/triumph of physics over ambition/ambition over ability... etc etc

[Stephen Green]

I can only say that every time my post asked for a stop, it was granted.

[Bodysnatcher]

that I had incidents that may have looked to others like a red flag stop would have been required.

Aware of other pressures in each case I deferred the final decision to the Clerk of the Course. In one case I was in favour of a red in the other I was not. My input, his decision.
In both cases I do not disagree with his decision.

[jonbryant]

That precisely makes my point Bodysnatcher. That's how it should work.

[Jaxs]

But, nobody has mentioned the very nice yellow single seater sitting sideways across clearways, the driver gets out, the car rolls in a very pretty semi circle and is hit by a passing car.

No safety car, no red flag and debris every where.

Now, questions, as the car rolled forward, why did the driver not roll it clear and to the bottem of the slope? Possible onto the grass and out of the way.

When the car's nose cone was hit why no flag? why no safety car? and the accident ultimately effected the out come of the race.

OK, it's history, but what should have been done? or Why wasn't it?

There appeared to be an indecent rush to complete the last four races but overall completion of the races did not appeared to be beyond the curfew.

[goforit500]

Indecent rush ?? They had us in a line behind the pits while there was still a race waiting in the assembly area...Sitting there for nearly an hour all together...

[spottymarshal]

I agree Jaxs, the car was in a dangerous position and although the safety car was deployed it should have been deployed much quicker than it was as if it had come out straight away the car may have not been hit and change the outcome of the final.

The drivers still didn't seem to be slowing when the marshals were trying to clear the car out of the way either.