I think most people understand the rules to be as such:
Once you leave the Grid area, you enter the stage /start area. Typically,
Cindy doesn't let enough cars go from Grid to stage start for any to really
extend out of the red coned area. Since this area is 'hot', with cars
criss-crossing back and forth, I have never seen anyone get out of their
car between runs or between the time they get waved on from Grid for that
matter. So the perception may be that if you are out of the Grid at all,
you can't touch the car.
By the letter of the rules, if you were not in the red coned area, you were
legal. A couple of side notes though: If you cause a 'traffic jam' in the
cross over area because you have gotten out of your car to adjust
pressures, there may be an issue. If cars get caught up in this area that
need to be at the line and the shot clock is counting down, there may be an
issue.
Once you leave the Grid, your car should be set. Who has time to adjust
the car between runs, get back in, get strapped in, and get mentally ready
for the next run?
Another rule that adds to the perception that you were wrong to do that is
11.H.9 on page 17. As soon as you leave the Grid area, mechanical delays
won't be granted. This implies that you are in a 'hot' area and the cars
can't be touched because it will cause delays.
Anyway, sounds like you were legal.
AB
I would disagree with this. The rules make no mention of a "Pre stage"
area. There seem to be 4 areas defined: Pre-grid, grid, staging and
start area. Look on page 19, of the 1999 ProSolo rules. There is a
diagram there that clearly shows that the area you return to after your
first of two runs is the staging area.
Another list member e-mailed me about a rule change between 1998 and
1999 that may be causing this misunderstanding. I have never seen the
1998 rules, and can not speak to their content. Perhaps someone else
knows if this is a recent rule change.
-Tom
Andrew_Bettencourt@kingston.com wrote:
> I'm sure you will get this 100 times but...
> The staging lanes are where you wait to go up to the start area. There
are
> 3 areas: Pre stage, stage and start. The start area is where you and
> about 5 others gather on one side. The other side of the start area is
the
> people you will be, or have raced against. If you just made a run, and
> switched over to the other side, you are in the start area! When you
have
> completed 2 runs, you then go back to the Stage area. That is where you
can
> make limited adjustments. You then get two more runs per group.
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