[Fot] Bedding Brakes, dangerous driving

[Bill Babcock]

It's always a little confusing Gary, and I was really trying to be  
helpful. If you're at speed--your speed, whatever that is, then stay  
on the line. It's the overtaking driver's responsibility to pass you  
safely. If you're fiddling around, or something's wrong, or there is a  
reason why you're not at speed, stay well away from the line. I've  
been in this situation many times myself, trying to figure out  
something about my car, or dealing with an issue. At those times you  
need to be extremely cognizant that there may be people coming up  
behind you that are more committed to a line than you are.

Unfortunately there really isn't a "right". I've been to tracks where  
the organizing body makes a big deal about pointing people by. But  
that can really be a problem--overtaking drivers probably have a plan  
to get by you. Telling them which side to pass you may be very  
problematic, especially if you're a relatively new driver.  If you  
point to the left you are probably going to automatically drift right.  
Which may be where they were headed. That can turn a simple pass into  
a pretty exciting moment for everyone.

Some organizing bodies go the other way and make a big deal about NOT  
pointing people by IF YOU ARE AT SPEED. I prefer that, but I can deal  
with either.  I'm really not in that much of a hurry, and most vintage  
racers aren't either,  but I understand how people can wind up  
committed to a line. If you are not creeping around, then don't worry  
about it, drive your line, race your race.


On Sep 25, 2008, at 10:15 PM, GSFuqua1 at aol.com wrote:

> Having just finished a driving school I can safely say we were told  
> to hold the line and be aware there was a car coming up on us to  
> pass.  We were told repeatedly NOT to leave the line because that is  
> where the over taking driver expected us to be.  Personally I don't  
> have enough experience to say one way or the other.  I just know  
> what I was told.  I try very hard to be aware of everything that is  
> going on, including cars coming up on me.  I do my best not to hold  
> them up by moving over when it is safe but I'm not creeping around  
> the track either.  I hit the end of the straight in triple digits at  
> Hallett and TWS.  Someone coming up on me may indeed be doing triple  
> digit plus but I was told if I got to the corner first then the line  
> was mine and they had to wait to pass.  Again I try not to let that  
> happen in corners but sometimes that can't be avoided.
>
> I guess my point here is there seems to be some confusion and I for  
> one would really like to know what is "Right" and what is just  
> someone's opinion.
>
> Thanks for listening.
>
> Gary
>
>
>
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Bill Babcock
Babcock & Jenkins
Billb at bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com

Editor
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