41 replies to this topic

[LarryKing]

I'm just saying it's not going to stop as a practice...especially the cooperative portion.

I have no problem with making a deal with someone before the race to work together and try to move forward. I usually wait for a hand signal before bump-drafting. But "initiations" or whatever you want to call that ass-hattery will get a RFA from this moose.

+1 Frank - nothing 'friendly' about a brake zone bump.

[Bench Racer]

Can we also talk about the folks who want to bump draft at the entry to the corner which is likely not to friendly,

It works well in NASCAR.

[LarryKing]

Except for the "Big One".

[CruzanTom]

Can we also talk about the folks who want to bump draft at the entry to the corner which is likely not to friendly,

How about the dreaded "side bump and no draft?"

http://youtu.be/8JudUShacfg

[Rob Burgoon]

FWIW, I'll bump anyone on the straight, particularly at Auto Club speedway. If metal doesn't bend, it wasn't too hard. If a concerted national effort is made to ban it, I'm just going to pack my bags for NASA since I don't want to argue with officals about whether I was close, pushing, or whether my opponents were.

That said, don't be bumping people if you have sharp things attached to your nose (duh).

[LarryKing]

I'll bump anyone on the straight

Why?

[Rob Burgoon]

Why?

Both cars go faster. Jim Drago's 0.5 second rule only works for most tracks, not ACS. Also, sometimes you're not close enough to attempt the pass so you might as well both go faster.

[LarryKing]

If you're close enough to bump them you're close enough to pass.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

If you're close enough to bump them you're close enough to pass.

I disagree with that statement. The draft allows you less wind resistance on a longer straight. I have "tried" to pull out and pass people that I was 1 or 2 mph faster than. As soon as I pulled out of the draft and into the full effect of the headwind, I quickly lost that 1-2mph and could not even get along side, let alone complete the pass.

[LarryKing]

Timing is everything.

[Rob Burgoon]

If you're close enough to bump them you're close enough to pass.

Ha, maybe with those crappy SCCA right of way rules. Look out, I've got 4 inches of overlap! Yield!

[Jim Drago]

I have no problem with bump drafting, even an occasional hit that is harder than it should be. I think like everything, there is a time and place. Done correctly bump drafting makes sense. My point was I think we need to use a little common sense. If we don't want SCCA to put an end to legitimate bump drafting and start enforcing every instance nose to tail contact, common sense needs to be applied. When bump drafting damages bumper covers or bumper supports, breaks diff housings, loosens fillings etc, it isn't done correctly. GO AROUND! Sure little roughed up paint is fine, but if you knocking off the cover or doing significant damage to front of your car or rear of the guy you are pushing, that is a problem. I am not blameless here either, I have done all of the above at some point as well.

Jim

[Jim Boemler]

Ha, maybe with those crappy SCCA right of way rules. Look out, I've got 4 inches of overlap! Yield!

Funny, but Brain's right. It probably makes a difference how long the straight is -- up here both of our major tracks have very long straights. Might be different on short straights.

BTW, I agree with Jim -- damage is a good indicator. Unfortunately the stewards in my area long ago started treating any fore-aft touching on the straights as "avoidable contact", which is really too bad for the Miatas.

[FTodaro]

I generally will only bump people I know or people i am irritated with. Wait, that is everyone almost.

[Qik Nip]

The only non-invitational bump I'll give is at the race start and then only if I know the guy to be bumped ... and then only if he's clear to his front.
Rick

[Caveman-kwebb99]

<sub>Bump drafting is one part of SM racing that I really enjoy. Lets face it, we have all done bone headed things out there, but bump drafting can be a benificial part for the bumper and the bumpee. There would be lots of very large gaps between all the competitors if we all pulled out to pass everytime even most times that we could give a bump. Bump drafting keeps the pack tight IMO, which is what makes SM so much fun.

I have bumped at the wrong times and even to hard in the past, more so when I first got confident enough to do some bumping. The first bump I got was an innitiation bump, from a front runner in qualifying, when I was but a mere mid packer. He could have tried a pass on me albeit a low percentage move or he could have slammed into me, which he chose to do. I know that will seem crazy to most but turn 13 at Mid ohio is not a good place to pass unless you want to spin or have contact. he bumped me when he felt he wouldnt have enough room to make the pass. I was not irritated I understood what he was doing.

I never bump someone just cause I can, I have done it to help them or myself. When someone waves me off I dont bump them again. I have been asked to give lots of bumps in the past, I give them when it makes sense, other times I just drive on by.

I have had lapped trafic race me hard as they are being lapped quite a few times, to me this is the most dangerous move there is in racing, you are more than 3 seconds slower a lap if you are being lapped, why in the hell would you race a car that closed on you from nowhere. Make it clear to the car that will be lapping you what you are gonna do, give them a point which dirrection you want them to pass on, as they are gonna pass you regardless unless you wreck them by turning down on them in the corner. You will never make any freinds or learn anything from racing hard for a corner against some 3 seconds faster.</sub>

[Glenn]

<sub>Bump drafting is one part of SM racing that I really enjoy. Lets face it, we have all done bone headed things out there, but bump drafting can be a benificial part for the bumper and the bumpee. There would be lots of very large gaps between all the competitors if we all pulled out to pass everytime even most times that we could give a bump. Bump drafting keeps the pack tight IMO, which is what makes SM so much fun.

I have bumped at the wrong times and even to hard in the past, more so when I first got confident enough to do some bumping. The first bump I got was an innitiation bump, from a front runner in qualifying, when I was but a mere mid packer. He could have tried a pass on me albeit a low percentage move or he could have slammed into me, which he chose to do. I know that will seem crazy to most but turn 13 at Mid ohio is not a good place to pass unless you want to spin or have contact. he bumped me when he felt he wouldnt have enough room to make the pass. I was not irritated I understood what he was doing.

I never bump someone just cause I can, I have done it to help them or myself. When someone waves me off I dont bump them again. I have been asked to give lots of bumps in the past, I give them when it makes sense, other times I just drive on by.

I have had lapped trafic race me hard as they are being lapped quite a few times, to me this is the most dangerous move there is in racing, you are more than 3 seconds slower a lap if you are being lapped, why in the hell would you race a car that closed on you from nowhere. Make it clear to the car that will be lapping you what you are gonna do, give them a point which dirrection you want them to pass on, as they are gonna pass you regardless unless you wreck them by turning down on them in the corner. You will never make any freinds or learn anything from racing hard for a corner against some 3 seconds faster.</sub>

Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way!

[LarryKing]

In defense of lapped traffic - they may be in their own race against other lapped cars. If they move over too much/too many times then they'll get passed by their competition.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

In defense of lapped traffic - they may be in their own race against other lapped cars. If they move over too much/too many times then they'll get passed by their competition.

I am not refering to that sort of lapped traffic. I fully expect those guys to race each other hard, and it is my job to get safetly by them. I am refering to a LONE car that I am lapping.

[Jim Boemler]

If you're the fast guy by three seconds, you should be able to get by easily. You're demonstrably better than the lapped car -- demonstrate it. Those guys at the back are scraping for everything they can -- it's gravy if they defer to you, but you shouldn't expect it. After all, those are the guys who don't yet have their act together enough to race effectively.