89 replies to this topic

[KyleLoustaunau]

My Race #2

[Brian Ghidinelli]

Here is the background on the temporary double yellow from Jim Rogaski, one of our chief stewards:

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Hi Brian & Mike, I understand there have been some discussion on the SM Forum about the confusing situation we had with double yellow flags being shown and no safety car being sent during the Sunday SM race. You know I take our steward program seriously so I have done some investigation into this and here is what I have found so far.

First off, on behalf of the SF Region Stewards I would like to apologize to the SM community for what happened during their race on Sunday. This was one of their premiere events and we unintentionally mucked it up a bit for them.

The scenario went like this. There was an alert called at Turn 6 for a car hitting the tire wall. The operating steward called for double yellows in order to bring the race under control so that emergency could respond. After the double yellows were called and up, the car that hit the wall at Turn 6 restarted and slowly drove away. The turn cancelled the alert and, unfortunately, here is where we created some confusion on track.

Instead of waiting until the leaders had completed a lap and things get slowed down, the operating steward authorized for the double yellows to be dropped. The double yellows had only been up for about a minute.

The more appropriate procedure is for the operating steward to wait until things get calmed down and the lead pack forms up a bit. Then when the leader comes around to start/finish, throw the green flag and drop the double yellows. But, as we know, that did not happen.

I have discussed the situation with the operating steward and he has learned from the experience. He is an active driver and understands how what happened could easily confuse drivers during a safety car situation. The last thing we want is to incent drivers to over drive double yellow flag situations by putting them up and then dropping them without getting things under full control before showing a green flag at start/finish for the restart. We see way too many spins under a yellow flag condition the way it is.

Again, I would like to apologize to the SM community for what happened during their race. We are proud of our SF Region stewards program and have been recognized numerous times by SCCA National Staff and the chairman of the national stewards program for having the best steward program in the US. But sometimes we are human and do make a mistake. The thing is we need to learn from those mistakes and ensure they do not happen again. That’s my responsibility.

If you guys want you can share this message with the SM forum. If anyone would like to personally discuss it with me, I’ll be happy to talk to them at the track.

For the sport,

Jim Rogaski
Deputy Exec Steward
SCCA NORPAC Division
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[Juan Pineda]

Kyle, Thanks for the video! It was fun riding along with you.

Brian, Thanks for the update on the flags.

-Juan

[Brian Ghidinelli]

I posted my video with 3 camera angles including TireCam a la Aussie V8 Supercars (alas, no glowing rotors...):



I also dug up some more video including Kevin Baillie's P6 start in the festival race:



Enjoy!

[Brian Ghidinelli]

And two more including David Sparks and a third driver from the Group 7 races:

[Ron Alan]

Ballie's video makes you wonder with regard to the lap 1 contact and spin between the 89 and 62 car?? Anybody outside the region have a comment on this? After a slow spin the 89 car ended up with his nose still on the track facing oncoming traffic and was hit head on by a back marker...car looks like a write off and his Mid-Ohio plans are all but cancelled. Really unfortunate

Brian...great video! Had to keep going backward to watch each view! To bad you weren't just a little closer at the end...with Darin going deep and outside and Ken making sure he wasn't going to turn in, the inside might have been there! The bumble bee car may have been a problem but you never know!

[Rob Burgoon]

I posted my video with 3 camera angles including TireCam a la Aussie V8 Supercars (alas, no glowing rotors...):

Enjoy!

The NB upper control arm geometry is really different!

[Rob Burgoon]

Ballie's video makes you wonder with regard to the lap 1 contact and spin between the 89 and 62 car?? Anybody outside the region have a comment on this? After a slow spin the 89 car ended up with his nose still on the track facing oncoming traffic and was hit head on by a back marker...car looks like a write off and his Mid-Ohio plans are all but cancelled. Really unfortunate

Which video and what timestamp?

[MPR22]

Which video and what timestamp?

I think this one at the about 51 second mark.

[Juan Pineda]

Ballie's video makes you wonder with regard to the lap 1 contact and spin between the 89 and 62 car??

Man, I didn't realize that the #89 got damaged. Totally sucks. From the video it looks the fault of the #62.

-Juan