109 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

Yes, CCR rule.  For whats it worth, I was told almost every run group had an issue on Friday with SM having the most show-up after the one-minute signal was given.  ** NOTE: I was not there,  I got this information from a NASA official. **

 

Below are links to the rules and the unedited excerpt from them.

 

NASA EASTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULATIONS (aka: "supps") - found on page 3

8. Grid
1) Drivers running in back to back sessions may have their second car staged in the pit lane or grid with the permission of the Grid and Pit Lane/Re-Entry Officials.
2) Cars not in position by the 1 minute signal may be held at the front of pit lane until their respective class/group has received the green flag.

 

 

NASA CCR - found on page 67

20.3.1 Pre -Grid
Pre-Grid should be formed, as scheduled, prior to the race.  Any driver failing to make it in to their assigned Pre-Grid before the one-minute signal is given, will be sent out last of all classes.

The competitor has the option of missing the warm up lap, in which case they may be released from the pit lane with their class, at the discretion of the Re-Entry Marshal, after the green flag has been displayed, or racing resumes. Under no circumstances, except under direct order from the Race Director, will a late car be allowed to regain their position on the pace lap.

 

Personally I wish there was some leniency awarded since the logistics of the facility helped create the problem, but I also heard that a adult pedestrian with a child was very nearly run over by a non-mazda racecar as the car sped through the paddock to make grid.  After that incident they had to get serious.

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Zyr6VDaaWJE

J~

[Ron Alan]

 
Personally I wish there was some leniency awarded since the logistics of the facility helped create the problem, but I also heard that a adult pedestrian with a child was very nearly run over by a non-mazda racecar as the car sped through the paddock to make grid.  After that incident they had to get serious.

Whether it be race car, street car, golf cart, pit bike, bicycle or skate board...all of use need to police ourselves, crew, friends, family and our fellow competitors to keep it at 5 mph or slower in the pits. There isn't a weekend that goes by that someone isn't almost run over! This also goes for people walking in the middle of the road on their phone or with earbuds jammed in their ears oblivious to all.

Awhile back at Laguna, I was on my bike with a cup of coffee in one hand(dumb in my part) and came out of a pit lane into the main road. I was turning right...so I looked left rolling slow and it was clear. Never stopping I looked back right as I turned and there was a guy on a quad trying to panic stop and avoid me. It happened so fast I could not react other than my heart rate tripling. Without spilling a drop I rolled right across his path as he missed me by inches. All I could do was yell sorry and his was to yell dumb f#ck! Of course 3 seconds later I realized he had to have been doing about 20mph and was on the wrong side of the road. Well, I dodged a bullet and hopefully he had to change his shorts!

[Danny Steyn]

Personally I think that the NASA guys that ran the inaugural EAST COAST Champs did a tremendous event. 

 

HOWEVER, IMO I prefer the way that the SCCA uses the Road Atlanta vs. the way that NASA used it at this event. Here are a few of my observations.... and these are meant constructively

1. Lets start with Tech. If you make the drivers exit the track at the first up-ramp then they can drive direct to tech and line up  in front of the tech shed without causing a traffic jam. Using the last exit from pit row as we did at NASA created a total cluster for every session, and of course backed up the cold pits unnecessarily. It also created public traffic flow issues, and parking isses. After the first qualifying race they wouldn't let drivers get out of their cars after the session in well over 100 degree temps with drivers just about passing out. The drivers meeting the next day fortunately resolved that issue
2. I suspect that the reason that NASA used the far side  of the track (pro-pits) to stage the cars for grid, was because the anticipated holding cars in the cold pits, which is where the SCCA stages the cars for the next race. Unfortunately this  created so many unhealthy situations of cars speeding to make the grid on the far side of the track when sessions were not run on time and was further compounded by a lack of clearly announced calls to the grid which are absolutely critical if the schedule drifts from the printed schedule. There should be a 10 minute call, and a 5 minute call at least.
3. While I MUCH prefer the start to be waved at the official start/finish line bridge, there were no incidents that I am aware of,  so I cannot say that waving the green at the end of pit road is a bad idea.

 

As I say - just my opinions, to be ignored at will !!!! :-) 

[Marc Cefalo]

Personally I think that the NASA guys that ran the inaugural EAST COAST Champs did a tremendous event. 

 

HOWEVER, IMO I prefer the way that the SCCA uses the Road Atlanta vs. the way that NASA used it at this event. Here are a few of my observations.... and these are meant constructively

1. Lets start with Tech. If you make the drivers exit the track at the first up-ramp then they can drive direct to tech and line up  in front of the tech shed without causing a traffic jam. Using the last exit from pit row as we did at NASA created a total cluster for every session, and of course backed up the cold pits unnecessarily. It also created public traffic flow issues, and parking isses. After the first qualifying race they wouldn't let drivers get out of their cars after the session in well over 100 degree temps with drivers just about passing out. The drivers meeting the next day fortunately resolved that issue
2. I suspect that the reason that NASA used the far side  of the track (pro-pits) to stage the cars for grid, was because the anticipated holding cars in the cold pits, which is where the SCCA stages the cars for the next race. Unfortunately this  created so many unhealthy situations of cars speeding to make the grid on the far side of the track when sessions were not run on time and was further compounded by a lack of clearly announced calls to the grid which are absolutely critical if the schedule drifts from the printed schedule. There should be a 10 minute call, and a 5 minute call at least.
3. While I MUCH prefer the start to be waved at the official start/finish line bridge, there were no incidents that I am aware of,  so I cannot say that waving the green at the end of pit road is a bad idea.

 

As I say - just my opinions, to be ignored at will !!!! :-) 

 

 

my biggest gripe is that it was hit and miss whether grid would do a 5,3,1 minute warning like scca.  it's the single biggest thing that comes to mind that scca does better than nasa.  sorry guys, but we don't all have accurate clocks in the car to compare to the schedule to know exactly when we should expect to be released from grid.

 

also smoking in grid?  one of the female grid workers i saw smoking right in grid????  not sure if that's normally allowed by nasa and or road atlanta....

 

getting the starts at the end of pit road i agree with Danny also.  there is no way the starter can see the entire field of a large group formed using the traditional starter stand location.  

 

just like the scca runoffs at mid ohio, the back straight was always used for starts yet the front shorter straight was used for the finish line.

[Todd Green]

After the first qualifying race they wouldn't let drivers get out of their cars after the session in well over 100 degree temps with drivers just about passing out.

We had a similar thing at the NASA Nats at Miller last year. They decided that they were going to test everyone doing an emergency exit under the alloted time in impound, so everyone was in their car full gear, helmet still on etc. They took forever to actually get someone there to give us the go ahead to exit our cars.  I'm all for safety, but if you are going to hold people in broiling heat, you'd should proabably have the official in impound ready to give the signal as soon as the last car rolls in.

[Jim Drago]

We had a similar thing at the NASA Nats at Miller last year. They decided that they were going to test everyone doing an emergency exit under the alloted time in impound, so everyone was in their car full gear, helmet still on etc. They took forever to actually get someone there to give us the go ahead to exit our cars.  I'm all for safety, but if you are going to hold people in broiling heat, you'd should proabably have the official in impound ready to give the signal as soon as the last car rolls in.

 

I was subjected to this in PT.. It was VERY frustrating to be stuck sitting in a sweltering car watching a bunch of very unorganized people waiting for god knows what to start the tests?  By the time the got to me.. i was ready.. i got out in what appeared record time to me.. but when pulling off the wheel and laying on dash, it bounced and hit windshield and broke it badly. 130 degrees inside all you have to do is touch the inside of the windshield. I didnt mind the test, but it could have been done much better than it was.

[john mueller]

Lesson learned for me from this thread is we'll tell drivers in advance when the egress test will occur.  Hopefully, this will help but some folks to take their sweeto'l time on that cool down lap...  Maybe if they know egress will be happening the dawdlers will move faster.

[Todd Green]

Lesson learned for me from this thread is we'll tell drivers in advance when the egress test will occur.  Hopefully, this will help but some folks to take their sweeto'l time on that cool down lap...  Maybe if they know egress will be happening the dawdlers will move faster.

We were told in advance.  Everyone was already in impound.  It took a long time for the officials to come over and give the go-ahead.  FWIW, we didn't do it one car at a time, it was everyone at once.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Its a huge ass waste of everyone's time...

We did the same horse shit at mid Ohio wait around and wait around for everyone to be ready to do a max exodus and then one individual didn't get out in the 10 and not 20 and maybe not 30... What did nasa do? Not a damn thing but laugh. Oh maybe he had to do it over again. Not sure he made it second time. This is part of annual tech and its personal protection. If you don't care if you burn up its your own business why should everyone sit around waiting to practice together. Just my 2cents.

[john mueller]

Its a huge ass waste of everyone's time...

We did the same horse shit at mid Ohio wait around and wait around for everyone to be ready to do a max exodus and then one individual didn't get out in the 10 and not 20 and maybe not 30... What did nasa do? Not a damn thing but laugh. Oh maybe he had to do it over again. Not sure he made it second time. This is part of annual tech and its personal protection. If you don't care if you burn up its your own business why should everyone sit around waiting to practice together. Just my 2cents.

 

Well I never expect a caveman brain to understand, especially something as it relates to safety.  When someone dies racing it's bad for everyone, you jack@ss.

 

Most folks don't practice egress.  The point is not to have it be a "pass / fail' exercise but to remind EVERYONE that it's something they should practice and practice often.

 

Caveboy, you want consequence..  Okay, next time I'm around at one of your races I'll be sure to test you personally with fines, of $25 for each 0:0.01 sec over.       One out the drivers door, then drivers window, then passengers window, lastly one with your car on it's roof.