Rolling starts the way to go?

[Al Weyman]

After doing a couple of rolling starts in the DTRC and yesterday doing three starts (one race red flagged and restarted) at Rockingham, I really have become a fan. Every race got off without incident and was far better on the car. I have heard it said it favours the turbo cars but I also found it good with my heavy old normally asperated car having a bit of momentem I could really get a slingshot.

I would like to see this introduced at more club level racing, what do you guys think.

[graeme]

No - because it disadvantages light, lower-powered cars with reliable clutches and road tyres

Six of one, half-a-dozen of the other, isn't it...?

[Jamie G]

[quote=Al Weyman]...with my heavy old normally asperated car...quote]

my heavy old normally asperated several hundered horsepower car...


I think there's room for both kinds of start, surely it helps us all improve?

[Tim Falce]

No, just keep it for those with crap clutches and bad reactions

[Al Weyman]

I have a reliable clutch, a Mcloed twin plate unit and a triple plate Tilton but that is not the only issue, what about bog downs on starts, cars stalling, Front wheel drive cars sitting there with their wheels spinning, my car hooks up like a dragster off the line but it can be dangerous, so from a safety aspect it must be better surely. I have already wrote one guys car off in a startline incident when the car in front of him stalled and he pulled out across the front of me because my reactions were quicker and had forseen the incident and was already on the outside line, that just would not have happened with a rolling start and I don't want to do it again cause it ain't nice.

Anyhow you little lightweights have enough advantage during the race (ban 205's), give us a break and at least you will then have to fight for your position if I get passed you at the start. :-)

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Anyhow you little lightweights have enough advantage during the race (ban 205's), give us a break and at least you will then have to fight for your position if I get passed you at the start. :-)

I wouldn't call 1000kg and a 4.2 lt straight 6 with 230bhp a lightweight.

[Flat Out Farr]

I agree with rolling starts, easier on the transmission. However, you can always tell who has competed in speed events before embarking on circuit racing. Go and do a season of sprinting; you will learn how to do standing starts !!!!!!!!

[graham bahr]

i think rolling starts are safer, even though there may be a big speed differential between some cars its nothing the the differential you get if a car doesn't get off the line on a standing start.

to get rolling starts to work properly though things do have to be kept really "tight" in the first DTRC race at combe i was at the back of the grid following a problem in practise, the grid had got so stretched out, by the time i came round camp, the race was already underway and the front runners were already at quarry

[graham bahr]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

I have heard it said it favours the turbo cars .

hmm not so sure myself, having done rolling starts in both responsive atmo and turbo cars, i would say its swings and roundabouts. the exact speed the start takes place has more effect then anything, i wish the line up would hold a constant speed upto the line rather than either speeding up or slowing down sometimes a couple of times, if the rolling speed was constant, you wouldn't catch anyone out just off cam or boost or at the other extremme needing an instant gearchange the moment the lights change

[Notso Swift]

Turbo's like standing starts, you can hold the revs right on the boost curve, combine with 4WD and you are ready to party. FWD need control though.

I find the start the most exciting part of a race, not that I get it right all the time, or anything. I feel we would loose something if they were all rolling.

[thebear]

From the "Starter's" point of view you have to decide to give the green or wave off for another 'round. With a poorly disciplined group this can take three or four 'rounds until they realize it. Tends to consume track time.

When possible, I like to go to the false grid before the start and remind #1 not to accellerate before the the green is shown and remind #2 to watch me AND #1 so as not to get ahead.

Then of course you have the the safety factor which favors the rolling start but can become messy at the first turn due to the arrival of many cars at once.

[Asp]

Re: Rolling starts being safer, the chance of an accident may be less due to the lack of risk of stallers - but that must be balanced against the increased speed, and if something does happen, particularly first corner incidents, they could end up worse.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by graham bahr

to get rolling starts to work properly though things do have to be kept really "tight" in the first DTRC race at combe i was at the back of the grid following a problem in practise, the grid had got so stretched out, by the time i came round camp, the race was already underway and the front runners were already at quarry

Conversely I'm convinced it was the bunched nature of the pack that caused Steve Govetts big off at one of the TRC Lydden rounds last season - four cars abreast around Chessons doesn't work. Everyone was on top of each other with no gaps or room for error, from a standing start that would have been less likely.

[rcarr]

I much prefer starting at lights because on average I make up around 2 or 3 places because some how I have quicker reactions than most of my rivals, my Dad is good at it too, must run in the family!
Doing a rolling start everyone else is at full throttle at the same time! So its not as fun and not as fruitful from my point of view!

PS Neither my Dad or I have never been accused of jump starting!

[Chris Y]

I think this thread is relevant to most racers, so I have moved it to the Racers' Forum.

[MG Racer]

Having started racing with rolling starts, Super Coupe Cup, i prefer them as it "seems" to be safer and is easier on the car. My biggest concern when starting from a stand still is either me stalling or bogging down or another car in front doing the same. The consequences being that someone takes you out because they didn't see you.

If you are in a one make series or similar vehicles then the engine type, weight doesn't really come into it. It is just down to safety and being kind to the car and transmission. Super Coupes had rolling starts as there were various engine sizes and some were turbos.

I appreciate there are issues of speed into the first corner and Rockingham is probably one of the best for rolling starts as you have a very wide track to go into on the first lap.

At the end of the day motorsport is dangerous, at the moment, until they enforce Al's suggestion of radio controlled cars (see noise testing thread). No starting method is 100% safe and how can it be?. I like the adrenaline rush and scaring myself keeps me safe.

[dtype38]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

After doing a couple of rolling starts in the DTRC and yesterday doing three starts (one race red flagged and restarted) at Rockingham, I really have become a fan. Every race got off without incident and was far better on the car.

No incidents

Safe

Last time I did a meeting at the Rock (which was quite a long time ago admittedly) we were taking bets on how many drivers would try and take the pit lane chicane immediately after the start.... then how many would go straight on at the end of the first lap. I think in the whole day there were only one or two races without mayhem at the start!

It was also noticable that when it came to the rules about "don't floor it before you get the green light" and "no overtaking before start line" the officials were only really paying attention to the first three or four rows of the grid. Down the back end it was more like a free-for-all.

Having said all that.... actually I did rolling starts in karts for years before going to the Rock, and I like both ways of starting a race. They both have their pros and cons but I think the main issue is that for any chance of getting consistent rolling starts, the last couple of corners and the start finish straight have to be quite wide and flowing, which IMO lets out quite a few tracks in the uk.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by dtype38

It was also noticable that when it came to the rules about "don't floor it before you get the green light" and "no overtaking before start line" the officials were only really paying attention to the first three or four rows of the grid. Down the back end it was more like a free-for-all.

This is a common mistake some drivers make, you can overtake before the start line providing the reds are out.

[thebullet]

It all depends on what type of club it is and what race, some cars will over heat sitting for too long, like last Donington there was a mini that had to be pushed of the grid for the warm up lap becuase they were waiting for an accident to be cleared up.

[nyssa7]

We do rolling starts in the LMA Euro Saloons, makes for an easier time on clutches and driveshafts. Don't mind doing the occasional standing start, but with 400bhp and front wheel drive, plainly something has to give when I do

More to the point, combine rolling start with reverse grid like we did in the old Auto Italia days to ensure a lot of overtaking as the quick guys have to move through the pack. Surprisingly enough, we didn't get much carnage like you might expect. Miss them - basic problem in racing is if you qualifying in your natural position, and everyone else does, then nobody overtakes so much

[Al Weyman]

No incidents

Safe

It was a two race format and the red flag was because carsreunited shed a wheel on the first lap.

[dtype38]

Originally Posted by falcemob

This is a common mistake some drivers make, you can overtake before the start line providing the reds are out.

Surprised that you say that. As I understand it, for a rolling start your race timing for your car starts at the moment you cross the start line (and are identified by the timing loop), not the moment the red lights go out. That would mean that if you crossed the start line ahead of someone who was supposed to be in front of you on the grid, then you'd have made a jump start. Be interested in anyone who has a definitive answer on this one... or does it depend on individual series regulations?

[Al Weyman]

Well when the lights went off I just floored it and definitely overtook cars before I got to the gantry (I think) as thats how I understood it at the briefing, when the lights go out, ya racing!

[graham bahr]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Conversely I'm convinced it was the bunched nature of the pack that caused Steve Govetts big off at one of the TRC Lydden rounds last season - four cars abreast around Chessons doesn't work. Everyone was on top of each other with no gaps or room for error, from a standing start that would have been less likely.

i had a birds eye view of that, and have to agree with you bert, although my feeling that was an exception rather than the norm and on balence rolling is safer

[graham bahr]

Originally Posted by dtype38

Surprised that you say that. As I understand it, for a rolling start your race timing for your car starts at the moment you cross the start line (and are identified by the timing loop), not the moment the red lights go out. That would mean that if you crossed the start line ahead of someone who was supposed to be in front of you on the grid, then you'd have made a jump start. Be interested in anyone who has a definitive answer on this one... or does it depend on individual series regulations?

in the past i have done races run bythe BRSCC where your not allowed to race until you cross the line as thats wrong, and even they seem to of realised that now, when the lights go out you all go, other wise by the time the last car has crossed the line you've lost so much ground to the guys in front of you your race is wrecked