By first count, there were 157 entries...all very out of their minds! :)
--Pat Kelly
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>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>
>Subject: Oakland Round 4 (was novice comment)
>Date: Mon, Mar 18, 2002, 11:27 AM
>
>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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