Britcar, Donington 2/11/2013 - flaggies needed.

[Greem]

Are there any people with a reasonable flag arm & brain available for the Britcar meeting at Donington on Saturday? If so, BRSCC chief marshal Roy Salsbury needs you!

Let me or Roy know and we'll sort out getting you in.

Sign on is in the usual place from 0730 to 0810, with the final race being a 2 hour enduro starring at 1730, running into the night.

[Shelagh]

I did ask Bill, but we are definitely now in hibernation mode. Sorry!

Good luck for getting more volunteers.

[Slipstick]

Tempting but I haven't yet tried flagging in the dark....and I'm not sure a meeting where they're desperate for flaggies is the right one to learn at .

Steve

[The Fat Clerk]

Sorry, the London to Brighton calls.

[Shelagh]

Originally Posted by Slipstick

Tempting but I haven't yet tried flagging in the dark....and I'm not sure a meeting where they're desperate for flaggies is the right one to learn at .

Steve

BRSCC had some really cool lights for use in the dark. Made by Drew and so good that we could see them at McLeans from race control window. Only yellow flashing (aka waved) so not a lot of effort/learning required. And all backed up with the circuit lights.

And you haven't lived if you haven't done any night racing. Oh, to do Le Mans again!

[ss24355261]

steve swallow
will be there

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Slipstick

Tempting but I haven't yet tried flagging in the dark....and I'm not sure a meeting where they're desperate for flaggies is the right one to learn at

Once it's dark, the *only* signal used on posts other than the startline is a yellow light. Circuit lights are used for red flags (along with a red flag at the startline) but the rest of us have a large box with an LED panel on it that flashes.

If you've flagged before in daylight, do consider it. The night element is only one part.

[Shelagh]

I hope all goes well tomorrow. And jealous of you out there!

I haven't had a good week from previous (and now including yesterday's) treatment, so just as well we hadn't volunteered - sad though that is to say it.

You have to know your limits. In my case it can be used to recommend people to do events they may not have considered - simply because I did really enjoy them.

No idea of timetable tomorrow, but if you have the chance to turn up and learn the joys of night racing (even on a limited basis timewise) then go for it. Next thing - you'll be at Le Mans! And then you will really know you've done it in the dark!

[grantp]

Well done all of you out and around the circuit for that one - bravo!

I had planned to be there to follow up on last year's experience with long exposure and headlight exposure night photography. But when looking for an exposure measured in seconds a strong gusty wind and rain is really not what you want.

And the headlights from 10 cars was unlikely to offer much, even in the safety car period, for headlight illumination. So I stayed at home, listened to the engines and watched the timing. (And the Walter Hayes timing and commentary for good measure.)

At Donington the last half hour or so seemed to produce in interesting challenge for the lead that looked fairly hopeless but ultimately gave a positive result for the chaser in the last 5 minutes. Would that be enough to make braving the elements worth it for those on the bank?

A pity in so many ways. Last year was really enjoyable. I suspect this year less so. Heck of a way to spend a Saturday afternoon and evening. So again, Bravo! for those who endured it.

[Greem]

It was rather windy. And a bit wet.

Surprisingly the ten car grid for the night race produced some pretty good racing; the incidents towards the end made for a bit of a hectic half hour!

The 90 minute production class race was also good.

All in all it was a good, if rather challenging at times, way to end the season. Roll on 2014!

[TrueBlueFlyer]

night racing is quite amazing!


I love it though it sounds like you guys neglected to use my favourite flag :/

[Greem]

Russ, which flag is that? I used... All of the circuit flags yesterday.

My biceps ached when I woke up this morning. The wind yesterday was the strongest I think I've ever experienced as a flaggie, it made things very tricky indeed. And eventually tore the SC board half off the post!

[Shelagh]

At least you were at Donington with the SC Board attached to the post.

If you'd been at Silverstone, holding out one of those stupid plastic boards they use, you'd have taken off - and who knows where you might have landed!!

[TrueBlueFlyer]

Originally Posted by Greem

Russ, which flag is that? I used... All of the circuit flags yesterday.

I may have misunderstood your original comment, I thought your LED only flashed yellow light.


My last 12 hour race at NJMP (Devil in the Dark) was literally pitch black after dark, so we had to put the flags away and use the light system, which was an old traffic light with two yellow lights on the outside and red in the middle... your options are a steady yellow, an alternating yellow for full course caution, or all three lights on steady to signify debris.