Pit Exit Lights

[Sheila M]

I would be interested in views from drivers as to what they prefer to see in the way of lights/flags at pit lane exits, both during qualifying and races. The problem I have is that we are generally short of experienced marshals to run red and green lights and frequently have to go with flashing ambers.

As drivers, would you prefer a marshal to operate the lights so that you only go when the green light shows (bearing in mind that during a race you may lose a few positions if there is no safe gap to get you into) or would you prefer there to be someone at the exit to wave a blue flag to warn you that there is oncoming traffic?

Alternatively, are you happy to run with flashing ambers, which basically means "yes you can leave the pit lane but please be careful something might be coming but there's no-one around to tell you"?

[RMR]

I'd prefer (depending on circuit) warning that cars are about reather than sit and wait for a green, but im inpatient . on circuits like brands donnington, think that would be unsafe, but combe or silverstone should be ok.

[Sheila M]

Why do you think it would be unsafe at Donington? Is it because something leaving the pit lane is unsighted? Don't forget you also have the flag point at Redgate in with a blue flag.

What about Mallory or Rockingham?

[greenamex2]

After being pulled up in front of the CoC at Brands ANY form of indication would be a good thing!!!

I was assume that any indication given by any means is probably wrong and both come out carefully and keep the h*ll out of everyones way until I have some clear track behind and then nail it.

So on this basis I would be happy with flashing yellows or similar in the pit lane.

Some of the pit exits are 'interestingly' placed, particularly if you are coming out in a race and people are more interested in other racers or the oncoming corner.

Surely it wouldn't be too difficult to have some form of automated alerting system to notify all concerned??

[Bob Pearson]

Donnington pit exit is right on line for the approach to Redgate.

[Muppet]

The pit exits at Donington, Rockingham, Brands, Knockhill all lead drivers onto the racing line. With British GT we run a blue flag to the driver exiting the pits and a white flag on trackside if there's traffic.

Eventually all tracks will probably have "F1 technology" which will flash blue lights if something is coming, so all us pit marshals can deal with other things. That's if the MSA and various championship regs allow us to show flashing blues...

Delta25 sounds like the radio call sign for chief pits @ Donington. ;-)

[bacon sandwich]

Denis, I can understand your frustration. Having marshalled Post 2 on several ocassions - I would sooner a blue flag. Now the fence is there half the time you can't see if there is a car waiting to come out and secondly trying to judge what speed they're doing as to whether you can get them out in front or behind the group of 15 all going for pole.
I apologise to all drivers I have left sitting there or let out in the middle of a pack!!! it's not deliberate. I do my best!

[jase]

Some thoughts from someone who has run a pit exit.

The trouble with manually running a pit exit (ie on red and green lights) is that when I run it I have my timings of what is safe to allow a car out, when someone else does they have their timings. Although this a personal perception of what is safe, you always do your best to allow a car out so as not to ruin their session, but I have never hesitated to stop a car once I have released it because they have fluffed their getaway.

I have never liked flashing ambers and hopefully these will be replaced by flashing blues, I feel ambers are a contadiction. If you stop drivers with a yellow flag at teh exit, why should a flashing amber light allow them to continue? The yellow flag IIRC means slow down and be prepared to stop, so why use it as signal to say "off you go a speed up"

When using Blue and White flags, it then becomes the driver who has to make that decision as to what is safe.

IMO a pit exit should never be left un-manned even on flashing blues even if that leaves you shorthanded in the lane itself, that is a decision I've had to make and I don't like it, but what other choice do you have especially at Donington or Rockingham where the racing line is crosses the pit exit.

[Chigley]

I can say that flagging at Post 2 at Donington has been one of the most satisfying of my flag experience. If you are positive and authoritive with the blue flag drivers soon realise that when it is presented AT THEM at not just waving in a general manner they take note and comply with the instruction. Several times I have had drivers almost stop rather charge out onto the racing line when a vigourously waved blue was directed at them in particular (a solidly pointed finger also helps get the message across). A wave from the driver the next time round shows that a rapport can be acheived.

[Sheila M]

So, the general concensus seems to be that a blue flag/flashing blue lights at the pit exit would be the best thing. I think I would prefer a PERSON with a blue flag because eventually the drivers will realise that a flashing blue light doesn't necessarily mean that there's something coming! Also, you don't always have to take an experienced member of the team out of the lane - you could use a flag marshal or an incident marshal to stand at the exit with the flag.

This question is something I will be discussing with my club before the start of next season (bit late to do anything about it for the rest of the year, although I may experiment a bit) and see if we can't get it as standard practice for all pit exits.

The upside for drivers of course is that you never get booked for going through a red light!

Muppet you are right as to the identity BTW

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by delta25
you could use a flag marshal or an incident marshal to stand at the exit with the flag.

Incident marshals have better things to do than hang around the pit lane exit waving flags!

[Muppet]

Originally posted by Dave Brand
Incident marshals have better things to do than hang around the pit lane exit waving flags!

Like what?

Pit marshals sometimes have to do complicated things like writing reports, operating stopwatches, breathing, making tea/coffee with Delta25's kettle and occasionally lifting Pickups off mechanics heads!

[brickkicker]

Also, you don't always have to take an experienced member of the team out of the lane - you could use a flag marshal or an incident marshal to stand at the exit with the flag.

Shiela
Why is ok to take an experienced flag marshal or incident marshal away from there dutie but not use a pit marshal to do there job??? :confused: And as you marshal Dono you should know there arnt enough course and flags as it is

[goforit500]

Give me a real human being with half a brain and a blue flag.

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by brickkicker
Shiela
Why is ok to take an experienced flag marshal or incident marshal away from there dutie but not use a pit marshal to do there job??? :confused: And as you marshal Dono you should know there arnt enough course and flags as it is

Steve, I wasn't for one minute suggesting that I would take anyone away from their regular job but I have had occasions where people have offered to come into the pit lane for a variety of reasons or even sometimes "just to see what it's like". These people are the ones I was referring to. When we are short staffed I don't always have the time to spend training a marshal who is not going to remain in the lane but they have to do something to earn a signature while they're with me so exit is perfect, especially since the general concensus now is that drivers prefer waved blue flags at the exit.

I know I am going to be at Donington later in the year so I shall speak with the Clerks of the Course of whichever clubs are concerned and see if I can't introduce this waved blue flag for a couple of meetings just to see how it goes. Hope the drivers approve!

Sheila

[Flagman]

I can say that flagging at Post 2 at Donington has been one of the most satisfying of my flag experience.

Couldn't agree more - especially when I did it for the International GT's a few years ago - 4 hours solo blue flagging (and all the rest of the flags).

This was the year of the Porsche and Mercedes GT1 cars so by the end I was pretty knackered.

[neilwaynesmith]

I have to say I have done the pit exit lights at Donington and Mallory on several occasions for a variety of cars and found it challenging and good fun (the exception being for notoriously laggardly Jag XJ220's). It's a good feeling to check behind you and see the car slot exactly into the spot you imagined!

I don't agree with leaving it to the discretion of the driver and using lights, especially at tracks like the two above where the pit exit spits cars out directly into the racing line.

I believe it is a fine line between being safe and incurring the wrath of the driver in the pit-lane, or being cavalier and risking the wrath and indeed health of the drivers out on the track. In those circumstances I always err on the side of caution, an option I don't believe is available with an automated system.

[brickkicker]

Steve,

Does everone on here know who I am?????

[Rocktracer]

NO, but we do now!!

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by brickkicker
Does everone on here know who I am?????

Only too well!

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by neilwaynesmith
I don't agree with leaving it to the discretion of the driver and using lights, especially at tracks like the two above where the pit exit spits cars out directly into the racing line.

I believe it is a fine line between being safe and incurring the wrath of the driver in the pit-lane, or being cavalier and risking the wrath and indeed health of the drivers out on the track. In those circumstances I always err on the side of caution, an option I don't believe is available with an automated system.

Neil, I agree with you on this one. However, as I am sure you will appreciate, we are now getting VERY short of experienced exit people, which is why I started this thread, to try and find out from the drivers themselves if we could do the exit safely in any other way.

It would appear that a person with a blue flag at the exit is the way to go (for the time being at least). The other thing I think would help us is to get a driver to come into the lane and advise us. I have had a driver do this at Mallory and his input was extremely helpful.

S

[jase]

Originally posted by brickkicker
Does everone on here know who I am?????

Your fame precedes you mate!