We are NOT racing tomorrow.
That is the only thing that has come out of this. I could care less about
rules. I will follow whatever is posted. It doesn't matter to me.
What matters to me is I ENJOYED racing at 4pm on Saturdays, and that is not
going to happen tomorrow.
That's what it all boils down to.
Now, before all this started if Eldred would have posted on Sunday that he
needs to take a break, and there won't be any races for a few weeks, I'd say
Good for you Eldred! Thanks for your efforts, and you deserve the time off!
But that's not the way this came about.
But he still deserves thanks and a break :)
-Larry
> > Seeing I'm the one being "blamed" for ruining "all and everything" with
> > regards RASCAR here lately.... ;-) I think it's time to put the facts
> > straight before I go away....
> I don't think you've ruined anything. On the contrary, you've got folks
> talking about what they want out of the races, which is good. Talk is
> always good, even if folks wind up getting their panties in a wad over
> stuff. Heck, I see John Simmons has even volunteered another race
recap...
> proves time heals all wounds.
> > I dont know if common for you guys - but I for one always download the
> > server replay and review the races I've particeipated in... sometimes I
> can
> > use an hour or so whatching the race - trying to learn something new or
to
> > understand why it went wrong.....
> I'd like to say I do this, but I can't. I do almost always watch the
> replays of incidents I was involved in, unless it was something obvious.
> Sometimes I stick around and watch the faster drivers if I go out for some
> reason. You can usually learn something about how different lines can
> affect exit speeds, lap times, etc.
> > There is no need for any post race scrutineering of replays - (although
I
> > always do this anyway...) nor is there any need for penalties... we can
> make
> > this work without much work at all. What is needed though is that we go
> > away from the open race format and over to a invite list - whilch
shouldnt
> > be a problem for drivers anyway...
> > If we look thru the races run so far i'm pretty sure you'll find that
> > something close to 80% of the drivers attend more or less regularely...
> > Beside.. if a driver want to get his name on the list - all he has to do
> is
> > ask...
> I don't see how this is really any different from what you have now, other
> than it is additional work somebody would have to do.
> > The whole point with this list is that it's easy to control who can join
> the
> > races or more importantly - who can't!
> Again, it's just more work, and you might as well form a league - however
> informal.
> One thing that you mentioned that probably would help would be for
somebody
> (preferably more than one somebody) to be the boss. I have a slightly
> different take on it, though. This person should "just" be a boss, and
not
> actively race. This person would act as "the RASCAR officials". Assuming
> the group can agree on a basic set of rules (or Eldred mandates them, I
> suppose), this person(s) would be charged with making sure nobody breaks
the
> rules, issues warnings, corrective action, etc. At various points during
> practice and warmup, the short list of rules would be read. Drivers would
> then ignore them at their own peril.
> Now this person has a lot of responsibility, and let's face it, doing
> something like this is not fun, is a whole lot like work, and leaves you
> open for all kinds of BS criticism and even retribution. I suggest the
> core group of racers take on this responsibility and then rotate the job.
> If some in the RAS crowd are really serious about wanting/needing reform,
> they should be willing to make this occasional sacrifice to see that
things
> improve.
> You could dispense with all the trouble of a list by having some active
> policing going on. Somebody who repeatedly "just doesn't get it" should
be
> called on the carpet for it and subjected to some good ol' negative
> reinforcement by the group. I dont really think there will be very much
of
> that.
> I dont get to race with you guys as often as I would like, but I think
> everyone here is basically after the same things: friendly atmosphere,
good
> competition, and a low-key approach.
> The problem areas you point out are not suprising. I am amazed that you
had
> the time and willingness to collect all this objective data. Maybe in
> NR2003, it will all be generated for us automatically. Yeah, right!
> I am a big fan of not racing back to caution. If there is trouble
ANYWHERE
> on the track, every drivers first and only priority should be not making
it
> worse. It is as simple as just stop racing for position. You don't have
to
> (and probably shouldn't) slow up very much until the s/f line. Any place
> else is just potential confusion. Just stop trying to pass the car in
> front, stop trying to block the car behind and watch out for trouble.
Give
> and take. Then, when you get to the s/f line, just lift and let the car
> slow naturally. And watch out for trouble.
> Towards the end of the race, this gets harder and harder to do willingly!
> It really is a personal thing, how much risk for how much reward.
> Personally, I would probably stop trying to pass (unless it is for a win)
> and concentrate on making my car VERY WIDE to any who might be trying to
get
> by. To each his own, though.
> In terms of restarts, I am not sure how moving the s/f line to the back
> stretch is going to solve much of anything. You have to start racing
> somewhere, and the s/f line is as good a place as any. I think the real
> challenge is to make people practice pacing and restarts and running in
> traffic with as much effort as they put into hotlapping and building
setups.
> The relative low number of these in coparison to total laps run suggest it
> really isn't as big an issue as the racing back. But, I suppose the
> potential repurcussions might be higher, though you don't give any data to
> support this either way.
> The number of incidents while pacing is just rediculous. I mean, shit,
> guys, is it really that hard? One is too many.
> Warp: what can you say? Just remember to give some room. If you don't
and
> it bites you it is your own fault. Most of us are *** enough to bail if
> people complain that we are warping too much.
> Self spins: we all do it. Is to be expected. Move on. Learn.
> One thing that I encourage everyone to do is learn how to wreck. If you
> spin out, lock up the brakes. Your car will at least then go in a
> predictable direction for the folks behind you. Then, when you come to a
> halt, do everyone a favor and either sit stationary until the entire field
> has been collected under caution, or else call a tow truck if it looks
like
> the yellow won't come out. If you blow any tires, call a tow truck. If
> you're in the groove, you might consider driving to the apron if you can
do
> so very easily and without spinning back onto the track. If you can then
> drive on safely, make a courtesy call to the pits to get repaired and
> replace your flat-spotted tires. Maybe I am opening another can of worms
> here, but I think it is something to think (and hopefully talk) about.
More
> give and take.
> Shit, I can be long winded, too. I hope you have fun in Brazil. Thanks
for
> all your input so far.
> Gerald