super course tony! very fun. wish i had driven it better, but thats part
of what made it good.
-james c
OSP - Overt Slipangles Preferred
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony Tabacco" <atabacco@california.com>
To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Cc: "Dennis and Sherry Armstrong" <Miata@pacbell.net>; "Natalie Tabacco"
<gutsy52@juno.com>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 11:27 AM
Subject: Oakland Round 4 (was novice comment)
> Since by the time of the morning drivers meeting it was clear that the
event
> was going to be run in fairly extreme conditions, basically standing and
> sheeting water over all the course (and course lines that washed away
> immediately), the need and procedures for extra caution in both driving
and
> working were covered in detail at the meeting. We were all very happy with
> the overall performance of everyone. We did learn after the fact of one
> oversight that needs to be looked at although fortunately no harm came of
> it. For those of you who were not there, the event was run in sometimes
> ankle deep water, even through the reg. table; No course lines or cone
boxes
> survived, and routine tasks like tech and posting fell victim to pens that
> would not work in the wet. It was terrific!
>
> Dennis, Natalie and I talked about it and have decided that we would
extend
> our gratitude to all of the people who pitched in, and not single out
> individuals because we though we might inadvertently omit out some one,
and
> we absolutely did not want that to happen. Under a constant downpour from
> setup until the end of group four, people just pitched in to make it a
> success. If we weren't all so cold, it would have been genuinely funny,
but
> people worked multiple groups, did three jobs, whatever was required to
make
> it happen. We sent the first car to the line at 8:55, did morning fun runs
> (and by the way we couldn't believe any sane person would want to do that
in
> those conditions but they did), had time to rechalk the cones, sent the
> afternoon groups out at 1:00 sharp and did an hour of very well attended
> funs before pickup. Special thanks to the new comers in their discharge of
> work assignments, particularly where one group had almost no experienced
> help either on course or in the trailer. We don't know the count for
> attendance yet (or the amount of rainfall) but both were more than we
> expected. What a group!
>
> Thanks to all
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jerry Mouton" <jerry@moutons.org>
> To: "Chuck Jones" <chuck.jones@oracle.com>; "Bay_Area_Autocross_List"
> <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 10:33 AM
> Subject: Re: Red Flag at Oakland event, 3/17
>
>
> > Hi, Chuck,
> >
> > I was not there, but you have described a perfect
> > red flag response.
> >
> > I am not sure what you mean by "track workers pulled out red flags"
> > vs "course workers to pull out the flags" -- I am not aware of
> > these two sets of workers??
> >
> > But from your description there was no dangerous situation -- the
> > second car finisned a safe distance away from the first,
> > delayed car. The flaggers showed excellent judgement!
> >
> > A car spinning out or stopping on course is not in and of itself
> > a reason to throw the red flag. BUT the judgement that an oncoming
> > car will get close enough to a slowed or stopped car to make
> > a dangerous situation REQUIRES a red flag to be thrown.
> >
> > Flaggers must use good judgement and leave a wide margin
> > of safety for cars and other course workers. If a car spins and
> > another car is coming, red flag holders must get ready and watch
> > the developing situation carefully, and move to a spot where their
> > flag can be seen -- but not throw the flag while they see no danger
> > will develop. As soon as things get too tight, they must get the
> > following car or cars stopped. And if the third car is too far away
> > to be involved, and things appear to be clearing up quickly, there's
> > no reason to stop car 3 until they get close. Note that the flaggers
> > have to be awake and paying attention to everything on the course
> > -- this is always required for safety!
> >
> > It's the judgement that matters, and safety is the rule. So, if red
flags
> > had been thrown immediately for every running car, but there turned
> > out to have been plenty of time -- it's not wrong. The judgement
> > of the flaggers is always OK.
> >
> > But many times flaggers can see that the situation will clear up fine,
> > and let it go safely. This is great.
> >
> > Many times, flaggers will red flag the whole course when a car
> > spins and takes out 10 cones. If the offending car is out of
> > the way, this is generally a bad call. This is not a dangerous
> > situation.
> >
> > Courseworkers are
> > (should be) watching traffic and get well clear when a car is
> > coming, whether or not all the cones are back. A car on
> > track may be in the middle of the run of the century, and the
> > missing cones may not be critical to the course. The driver
> > can make a call about a downed cone, and stop and claim a rerun
> > if they want. (They have to judge whether the cone might be called
> > against them, of course -- this is going through the driver's head
> > -- but it should not be a concern of the flagger)
> > The courseworkers can replace more cones
> > between cars. Don't red flag for downed cones... unless you
> > judge there is a dangerous situation developing.
> >
> > Related item: If you stop for a downed cone, or you're red flagged,
> > hot foot it through the course (safely) after you get started again,
> > watching carefully for courseworkers and other cars.
> > Not racing, but driving smartly -- otherwise you may cause a red
> > flag for the car behind you, or even wind up in a dangerous
> > situation yourself, and further delay the event unnecessarily.
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> > Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps
> rouler!
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chuck Jones" <chuck.jones@oracle.com>
> > To: <Webmaster@sfr-solo2.org>
> > Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 9:44 AM
> > Subject: Red Flag at Oakland event, 3/17
> >
> >
> > > Hi,
> > > I am a newcomer to this activity, and expect to become a member
and
> > > participate in the events. I went to the Sunday event (March 17) at
the
> > > Oakland Coliseum. Even though the race was more like water skiing
> > > because of the rain, I was intrigued and enjoyed myself.
> > > I do have a question for you. There were typically 2-3 cars on
the
> > > track at any one time. In the third group, a car spun out about mid
way
> > > and took its time getting back on track. There was another car behind
> > > it. Two track workers pulled out red flags, at which point I expected
> > > all the course workers to pull out the flags, and all cars to stop.
> > > However, neither of those things happened - Both cars continued on,
and
> > > the red flags went away. The second car finished close to the stalled
> > > car, but not dangerously so.
> > > One of the reasons I am attracted to autocross is the safety
> > > provided by one car on (a section of) the track at a time. I was
> > > watching by myself from the other side of the track, so I couldn't
hear
> > > any comments from the announcer. What should I have expected to see?
> > > I know you are probably not the person to answer this, but I'd
like
> > > to know...
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Chuck
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