SSA event in September

[Oneup]

I don't have an issue with adding another checkered flag on course. I have an issue with people missing the one on turn 12. If you blow the checkered flag on turn 12 you are just as likely to miss a yellow or red flag. The committee doesn't need to add or move flags, we need to figure out how to make people understand the importance of seeing all of the flags. That is what we will work on first.

[me]

The one thing I have been saying all along and it seem not to register on anybody else mind is:" the flag doesn't waive itself". The equation includes the flagger. The flagger can totally miss the timing and even though he still sees you, and waive, you might have already moved forward to your reference point (with your eyes) ahead, thus missing the motion/flag that was meant for you. Then perhaps he/she (the flagger) report to the race director that you got the checkered flag. Now you'll be guilty of blowing the checkered flag at the tower. The camera argument is flawed, and not a good tool to understand how this situation plays out, it does not focus on any particular point like our eyes/mind does. As you look at the video you, the viewer, can focus on the corner workers the whole time they are in sight. We all know that is not what we do while on course, we all know the consequences of loosing focus for a split second!! I asked this questions before: how long do I need to focus on the flagger? How many times do I need to look at the corner-workers if I don't see a flag right away?

[Justin(o)]

The track committee is comprised of Oneup, Yardsale, and myself. We have been, and will continue to work on safety issues (rarely in public view.)
Rest assured, we're hard at work alongside the club's leadership to make riding on the track as fun, as safe, and as educational as possible.



(I wrote this before Team Gorgonzola posted, so this is not in response
Preferably, I'd like this post to be prior to his, as he raises good points, but his is a different issue than I am discussing. I am making no camera argument other than to show the visibility of corner worker stations, both manned and unmanned)

[Admin]

Sept 24, 2010 9:28:33 GMT -8 Justin(o) said:

We have been, and will continue to work on safety issues (rarely in public view.)

oh...so your using the 'tower 12' rule ;D

[Justin(o)]

There are four separate issues with flags:
What they mean (rider responsibility)
How we react to flags (rider respnsibility)
The ability to identify flag stations on the course (rider responsibility)
Timeliness of flags hoisted, (not under our control)



My video post addresses identifying the stations.
I cannot accept hearing "I've never seen a corner workers station on 14" or "I can't see tower 12''
We have a lot of time to see all flags, (provided they are hoisting them with enough notice. If they are late, it doesn't matter how long you can see the corner station. I get it)

Personally, I have never experienced a 'late flag' on 12. As a 'vest wearing' monitor, I have always had enough time to give the flagger confirmation that i've seen it, and still make the corner.
I also look at 12 after rounding 13.
I don't lose focus of how many laps completed Vs. what time I started. I know I can nail 5 laps during a session. So, I usually pit after 5 laps.
This is not a 'WSBK qualifier' where we put our head down to log the fastest lap until we're pulled off the course or run out of fuel.

I don't want to ride with anyone that claims they can't see the stations.
If you can't see flagging stations you are riding over your head and you are dangerous.
If you're RACING and can't see the stations you're riding over your head and still dangerous.

A huge attraction of riding on any track is that you are warned in a advance about what is beyond your field of view, and around the next bend
Anyone of us could be laying down around the next bend, so we owe it to each other to see EVERY flag that is adequately displayed on course.


Once again, I shall retreat to my dungeon

* underlined one line for the Chef *