Thanks again to everyone who came out :tup:
I guess I can’t assume that people will read the rules / regs PDF anymore and we’ll have to just take the time to give people that info when they get to the track.
We used soft cones for the side that everyone kept hitting and made it about 2 feet wider… then I would drive around and knock over the cones so Joe and Zong could get faster lap times :lol:
man i had a great time! taking a few laps around was great!
it made me realize a coupple things:
and thanks to Jusitn (redconquesttsi) for driving me up there and taking me around for a few laps. and thanks for Josh (dont know his user name) in the black STi for driving me home. i had a blast!
I think I take the award for “most cones knocked over in a single session” :lol:
For the record that was the coolest grass/dirt dorifto I’ve ever seen although it was prob scary at the time lol
I wish I wasn’t sucking hard when just me you and sam were out there…I think 1:12 is easily reachable in the EVO there
As for how the event went. Was fun as usual, run groups went smoothly for the most part. Sorry for killing about 15 minutes of Run Group 2’s first session 
Was good seeing everyone and seeing a few driver’s really improve. Here are my major complaints
CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR.
I dont care how much track experience someone has, passing in corners and braking zones is dangerous and puts people in danger. We’re up there to have fun, this is not an instructor group and is not a race. That one really lit me up.
Point by’s need to be MANDATORY for EVERY run group. The proper way to display a point by, and when it’s appropriate needs to be covered with everyone at the start of the day. Sticking a hand out the window and waving doesnt convey a clear message. I noticed a bunch of people doing that.
If you notice someone in your mirrors that is faster than you, DO NOT wait till half way down the straight to let them pass. You are better off going through the next section of corners and lifting at the start of the next straight. Then you should point them by.
IMO, there were wayyyy to many red flags. An off or a spin (again, IMO) should NOT be a red flag, it should be a yellow. The session should continue at a spirited pace and that person should report back in to check over their car in the pits before going back out. No need to stop the session, but again, that’s in my opinion.
I think that about covers the issues I had. Still a great time, and highly recommened for a safe intro to track/seat time.
I think 1:12 is very doable. Based on the difference in the one lap, I think I may have been in the 1:12 range. We definitely need to do something to get some accurate lap times next time to learn which lines truly are faster and not what seems to be.
It was nice meeting all of you (that I dont already know) and we’ve got alot of good pics up in other threads so if you haven’t be sure to check them out…
i’ll post my video sometime in the not too distant future…
Thanks again everyone I had alot of fun and you were all friendly and inviting. Also, thanks for the delicious food. I’ll def be tagging along next time.
I would agree with having to change the flagging situation but that requires volunteers like slick rick. on course cautions (yellow) flags will make things smoother and safer.
Pileing up all the cars on the front strait due to a REd flag coming out of the chicane is a little dangerous IMO.
Also there was a bunch of situations where people were stopping and getting out of their cars ( boxer in particiular ) during a green lighted course.
Not all the drivers know enough to Look ahead and see whats happening.
that being said not all the drivers know to watch the rearview and see whats comeing up on you. Pointbys are the easiest way i see to rectify the passing situation.
Another Idea to help the passing issue is to mark your car if you dont feel comfortable with passing without the point by.
A big white tape X on your back window would be a good marker to let people behind you know that your not comfortable with someone passing you. and that you would like passing only with a point by.
Different run groups helps alot with novice, experienced, Race ready drivers. where the more experienced drivers can drive with the novices and show them a pointer or two about finding the line.
I was wondering what happened to the REd conquest in the last run session. Brakes > power when it comes to “getting high on track”
I NEVER got out of the vehicle. I came around turn two with absolutely no brakes. Thankfully it was the first lap out and I didn’t have all that much speed so I was able to pull it over into the grass. I stayed IN THE VEHICLE, and got up as high as I could to try to flag the people at the start, who were too busy talking to notice me. I sat there for a good two to three minutes yelling and trying to get someones attention to either flag the course with a yellow or maybe get a little help. I didn’t think a beginner on the track should try driving off when she has no brakes. Thankfully Mike was riding with someone and noticed me as they came around a turn and came to help. Again, I NEVER got out of the car, I came to a stop, put on my hazards, and did my absolute best to get some attention.
Other than learning about brake fluid boiling, I had a great great time. For being my first time out, I feel I did pretty good… passed people a few times, got passed a few times, but overall I improved my line a ton over the course of the day which I’m extremely proud of. Definitely something I’ll have to do again.
Mike pretty much covered my complaints re: red flags / stopping - there should have been a white flag to indicate the last lap instead of the confusing sometimes black sometimes red sometimes in a different spot thing going on. People weren’t clear on STOP when you see a red, not “drive around the course to the start area” - and the passing in the corner was NOT cool, yeah my e30 isn’t expensive or shiny but it’s my car and I’m counting on driving it, not getting stuffed into the grass or another car by a certain hatchback who knows what he did wrong.
Overall I had a fantastic time and will absolutely come next time, thanks for putting it on!
Again, it’s obvious no one read the rules / regs PDF that I posted. So we’ll just need to take more time away from the driving to explain to people what they should already know.
And we had several experienced people there who could have instructed the new guys, but only one person wanted instruction :gotme: The next time we have a group of new people they are going to get instructors for the first session if they want them or not. If anything the instructors can remind them of what the flags mean.
I know I spent more time working on my car than I had hoped so I appreciate Sam, Rick, etc. running the flags and working the track.
It’s going to get better every time and we know what we need to refine. But if people still are not following the rules or if there is someone acting irresponsible on the track, they are going to be kicked out.
I Just wanted to comment on a few things. You weren’t there for the drivers meeting I don’t think, because we did go over a few of these things.
The red flags were put out more often than the yellow because people would run off the 1st turn and put rocks and debris all over the 2nd. Someone needed to get out there to check the damage, and no one wants to run out on the track (especially when the new group is up) on a yellow-flag to check out the corner.
People were obviously not looking at the flagger until the front straight. By that time everyone would be parked in a line and there wasn’t much you could do. But that should be no excuse because you can see the flagger from many points on the course (It’s not THAT big) and while yes you need to focus on your driving and the course, you need to pay attention to what’s going on around you.
I was out for one of those red flags where no one stopped. Since no one was stopping and there were people behind me, rather than pull off where I might get hit I kept driving slow as if it was a yellow. So I understand why some people would drive around to the front straight, but I know it’s mostly just because they were not paying attention.
Everyone was supposed to use pointbys. I thought we had explained that well enough to the new group. No one should have been passing without a pointby, not even in the 2nd experienced group.
This is what we tried to do. The first run group was the new group, the 2nd was experienced (again, I think you missed the drivers meeting.) And again, we asked who wanted instruction an only one person raised their hand.
I figured it was something wrong with the car. I just wasnt sure what was going on. and saw a car door open on the passenger side. Its much safer to be in a car than standing trackside in case someone else cooks their brakes.
Fourways are a must… Get off “the Line” and idle the car back to the pits.
Stoping behind a Hay barrier out of sight could get messy.
This track day stuff Is Great.
We get some rules of safety figured out and there hopefully wont be any complaints.
i sure know im not complaining.
Bit Tup to everyone who acutally drives their cars.
I did attend the drivers meeting. I do understand the flagging procedures.
I was trying (foolishly) to instruct a friend (noob, Red Mustang) by leading around the track on line. there was some confusion at times between the black & red flags and from which run group was out there. I dont think i passed a car all day. i was driving slow trying to show my friend (mike) in the mustang the line. But he had a few traction loss incidents. which caused a few of the red flags.
Id be more than willing to help next time with anything. flagging, instructing, safety stewarding.
Sorry, like I said for some reason I don’t remember you at the drivers meeting. But I guess I was on crack, lol.
Next time we’ll work somthing out :tup:
Zong and Joe, next time try not creating a shortcut in the chicane…haha
Next time I’ll time myself, cause I know I can push more than 1:15 out of the evo on that track.
The black flag should be before the pit, green at the start, and the reds at least 2 flags on the course some where; beginning and middle so everyone can see them before the straight.
I’ve ran with the Toronto Subaru Club before at an event and everything went smoothly, without the use of flags…So it can be done.
As far as passing, I got stuck behind the porsche for 3 laps with 4 other cars in the group and received no pass by, I ended up going in the pits and waiting for her to make another pass before I left again. I thought the rules were explained clearly enough for everyone. I’m not singling anyone out but there were a few cars I was stuck behind for a good lap…but they did let me pass when they thought it was safe
We are there to have fun, I did. I was more interested in getting to know my car’s limit and what I could do with it. Other than that I will see everyone at the next event. Josh, I’m guessing you organized this with the money/ making arrangements for the time and track; just like to say good job. Also to anyone else who helped out at the track.
Everything ran ok, just a few minor problems that can be fixed. I’ll be willing to lend a hand at the next event if needed.
-Jarrod
Jarrod should have ran with the second group.
I instructed for the whole first session and I’m always happy to ride with anyone and offer any advice I can. I like the idea of mixing the experienced and novice groups because one of the best ways to learn the line is to follow another driver.
Just another note on the flags:
We didn’t have a white flag.
We didn’t have a checkered flag.
We used the flags we had as best we could. Next time we go, we will check with the track to see if they can provide us these additional flags.
Things would have gone much smoother if PEOPLE READ THE RULES IN THE PDF!!!
Everything was explained there. We made the PDF on purpose so we could cut down on explaining stuff at the track. People need to take responsibilty and read the rules. Next time, I think we will have people sign and initial the critical rules like flag definitions, etc. Yeah, it may seem like a pain in the ass, but it will force people to read them, and they won’t be able to bitch when we pull them off the track for being clueless.
Oh, and the BBQ was tasty. Thanks to whoever was cooking the chicken shishkabobs. You da bomb :tup: