Spa 6 Hours but really "Five" Hours 2007 merged

[terence]

I think they will place tyres on the outside of the new section.Not much room to go straight on!

[john ruston]

Spa has covered this crossing the white lines with four wheels for past years in drivers briefing.Does this now mean they are to police it.
Decided not to go with cars and will stop at Donnington See Red

[esper]

Originally Posted by terence bower

I think they will place tyres on the outside of the new section.Not much room to go straight on!

the only place for tyres is on wheels on a car...................................

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Spa has covered this crossing the white lines with four wheels for past years in drivers briefing.Does this now mean they are to police it.

now that would be a revelation, correction, bloody miracle

John can probably answer this . . .how hard is it to enforce a drive through or stop go penalty for offendors ? same applies for bollards at CC, Donny etc, and all sorts of warnings.

[Eddy V]

At Spa, the organisers decide if they hand out penalties or not for crossing the lines. Some do not want the extra hassle, some (Race-rally, RMU,) are very strict about cutting corners.
If you (as organiser) are happy with drivers racing everywhere bar on the track, it is up to you. If you want it policed the Observers will do their job.

I'm at Blanchimont tomorrow, the drivers that cross the line will know what hit them.

[Obs.mode/on] And if I had my way, it would be for all places that are not part of the actual race track, between the original white lines, indicating the road.
Drivers should race where they are supposed to be racing and not straightlining corners. Or drive over allocated parking spaces. [Obs.mode/off]

You all better hope I'm not marshalling then for the 6H.

[zefarelly]

I agree with you Eddy, I also think its possible to see the difference between a driving mistake and a deliberate attempt at gaining an advantage

brick walls 6" the otherside of the white line would do the trick, or some of theose Stingers

[terence]

Absolutly,if the circuit included the outsides lines,they would have made it wider in the first place!

[zefarelly]

back on topic, I've booked and paid for the tunnel ( well actually Mrs Zef paid!) and I have confirmation of payment for my entry . . . starting to get excited about racing again . . . .

Sorry Simon !

[terence]

You,r excited, bet you cant guess how I feel after a 3yr break from the 6hr,this will be my seventh attempt.!

[johngee]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

John can probably answer this . . .how hard is it to enforce a drive through or stop go penalty for offendors ? same applies for bollards at CC, Donny etc, and all sorts of warnings.

Very easy Zef, as long as it's in the regulations. We work on the principle that the first time can be allowed as a mistake (unless there's a big advantage gained!), the second time is a black and white flag and third time we go for the penalty.

[zefarelly]

perfect answer, thanks John

so presumably some circuits or race regs ( BTCC for example) don't bother enforcing such things

[johngee]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

so presumably some circuits or race regs ( BTCC for example) don't bother enforcing such things

Not exactly .....so you want the pedantic answer?

Stop/Go and Drive Through penalties are not, as such, specified in the Blue Book.......although, I'm led to believe it's being considered. Therefore, to use them, they have to be specified in the supplimentary or championship regulations for the specific race or meeting.

I personally think that they're better for the competitors and spectators in that the resulting track position is very visible, rather than a retrospective adjustment after the end of the race.

The downside is that we have to be absolutely certain in their application - if we make a mistake it can't really be undone!

[Peter Mallett]

I recall an observer telling me that they use their discretion at Eau Rouge and Blanchiment, in that they can tell from the start of the corner whether a car will go completely over the kerbs. Mainly it happens if you get the beginning slightly wrong and if they see this they let it go, because you can gain no advantage. But they can also tell when its deliberate.

Personally I use as much of the kerbs as I can but I try not to cross them completely because it upsets the car too much. I'm sure modern cars behave differently though.

[terence]

Hence the reason the circuit owners are always repainting the kerbs.You only have to look around any circuit for a begginers guide to where the bends are.I use kerbs,purely to allow me to keep the momentum going and to make as wide a radius as possible,BUT I will not go off the outside of them.There are some corners that you have to use them,if that was not the case,they would be wall,s and not painted lines. Le Radion is different though ,if you,ve gone completely over,then you,ve cocked it up anyway so no advantage

[Eddy V]

This is the way it was handled over the weekend at Spa for the 1000 km:
Friday (I wasn't there): only after the second practice, the CotC decided to go for "4 wheel over" reporting, but only if the driver gained some time. Shortly afterwards it was changed to "report all" and big penalties were given.

Saturday (me at Blanchimont): we had to report every car over the kerbs, for whatever reason. For practice the penalty was as follows: for a first time the fastest time was disallowed, the second time the 3 fastest laps were taken away, third time the driver ended up at the back of the grid. During the races penalties were only given if the driver gained a place. No reporting had to be done for the rest that went over.
However the French Porsche Cup overdid it a bit and all of the sudden after the race, they were asking for numbers that went over the line. As a lot of the Observers in Belgium are not the smartest, they tend not to write anything down when not needed, so Race Control did not get much out of their late decision to revert back to penalties.

Sunday: haven't got a clue what they decided next.

[zefarelly]

Interesting, I've always stayed off kerbs as a general rule, especially in the wet! I think its habit from scooter riding days, small wheels and crap suspension .. . . . I know I've never seriously threatened any podiums but as Terence says, find the biggest radius as possible and maintain as much speed as poossible tends to work pretty well

Whein I have the balls/skill/talent to get into 'drifting' I'll lap goodwood sideways for the cameras and we'll see how much slower/faster it is

[GORDON STREETER]

I think to go drifting in the old Tina you might need a couple more HP

[terence]

Drifting is in the driver,not the power.Turn in,dab of brake and gass it up,about three quarters throttle,balance it there,ease the throttle on,easy!

[GORDON STREETER]

I've tried that but the traction control on the ecu keeps cutting in

[esper]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Drifting is in the driver,not the power.Turn in,dab of brake and gass it up,about three quarters throttle,balance it there,ease the throttle on,easy!

so first lap of Spa 6h , 70 plus cars midfield.............again.. turn in , dab of brake , gass, 3/4, balance ok try to remember

[simon drabble]

my memory of the first lap of Spa 6H is simple - stay out of trouble, let others do the heroics!!

[terence]

Or throw it into Le Combe,get it completely sideways and let everyone behind think you,ve lost it,at that point,gather it all together,and drive away from them .Gordon,can,t you hit the TC switch,most cars are quicker with it turned off.

[GORDON STREETER]

Simon it depends where you start. If I am near the front I will go for it. But on the other hand I once had a problem in qualifying and was right down the blunt end, there was a big "sort out" at Le Combe and I gained about 20 places on the first lap. Terence I sit so far back in the car I can't reach the "hidden" switch !

[terence]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Simon it depends where you start. If I am near the front I will go for it. But on the other hand I once had a problem in qualifying and was right down the blunt end, there was a big "sort out" at Le Combe and I gained about 20 places on the first lap. Terence I sit so far back in the car I can't reach the "hidden" switch !

So rig up a TV remote!.Now you have to thank me for causing the fracus at Le Combe

[esper]

your going to practice a lot !!!! as undefined sources inform me about BSCC exploits