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Is it time for an On Track Compliance Chief (TCC)

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#281
FTodaro

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I am not sure that we need to have a dedicated contact steward, at least at Regional Events. You may need to add an extra person to the task.

 

I see no need for extra money at this point. We already have a rule in our region that all drivers who have contact are to report to black flag. The problem is the drivers do not do it and they are not called out for failing to show up.

 

If we add one rule, "anyone who failed to show up at contact impound will be penalized, they could lose their time or position". So if one driver shows up and says Drago hit me and Drago does not show up Drago is penalized. If drago does show up they discuss what and why it happened.

 

If the drivers agree on the cause of the crash they report that to the steward, he decides the penalty. If they cannot agree, they show video, Steward rules on fault and penalty. 

 

 

 

Rulings would be made on all contact, with a bit more scrutiny than "its a racing incident". It should be used for educational purposes. IMO it does not have to be more complicated than this. Not all contact has to be penalized, the punishment has to fit the crime.

 

I know some people are writing letters, I am going to reach out to the Petition crew, Tom, Skip, Craig we may have to pick up where we left off last year.

 

Edit: I would add that not all touching is contact. rubbing and no real damage, no lost of position (punt), should not be included, I am talking about real car damage and the inability to maintain your pace, or continue the race.  


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#282
BNaumann

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I would rather my $20 go toward a contact steward than making me pull my head at the track. Just saying.
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#283
TButler

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There is a “What do you think” in the July Fastrack requesting input about on track contact. It is deliberately not SM-specific. Please provide comments and input at https://www.crbscca.com/

 

Here's my 2 cents. Having corners call in contact and asking stewards to do 100% of the enforcement won’t work. Errors of judgement get made, who passed who, car colors, car numbers and things just plain get missed from corners. Ditto direct steward observations. The classic SCCA response is drivers should use the protest mechanism and SCCA relies almost entirely on the protest mechanism to provide meaningful enforcement. The problem with that is it is perceived as a big hammer, a paperwork and time nightmare for drivers and as noted some stewards dissuade the filing of paperwork. It's like "being the bad guy" to file paperwork and usually drivers have to be really pissed to go to those lengths to file protest.

 

We have to meet in the middle. I think a contact all impound and mediated discussions with stewards (or designated officials) in impound will help determine what is just a racing incident and drivers are OK to move on and what should be written up. If you have contact with another car on track, you better show up in impound after the session. I firmly believe knowing you have to face the other guy in impound and discuss what happened helps keep activity on track more civil and promote cleaner racing.  I also like Sean's idea of noting the previous incidents of contact. Having this kind of driver history was one of the key benefits of the dedicated SM class stewards in the past. While e-log books may be a ways out, (there’s that money and time thing to develop and implement) there is no reason notations of contact, incidental or otherwise can’t be entered in a log book for future review the next time contact happens.

 

If we do pass a contact all impound the next big hurdle will be publishing acceptable guidelines (specifically guidelines, not mandatory actions) on "contact". Side-by-side contact, incidental tire donut, rub rail (SRF) damage, bent fender, both drivers continue and no other competitors impacted, *and* drivers are OK and understand in impound, then no harm, no foul, racing incident.  One or both drivers can't continue, your contact results in the other guy losing positions or pushed off course, others caught up in that incident, etc, then potentially more than a racing incident and points should be assigned to one or maybe both drivers.  In any case, notations in log books to provide a tracking record for future reference.

 

For the record, I’m an active SRF/SRF3 racer. We bump draft and have our fair share of incidental and otherwise contact as well.



#284
Bench Racer

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TButler, how about you cut and paste your post from this thread and move to the current thread titled, "'Contact Impound". Keeping same stuff in same place. The Contact Impound thread was started with the following copied from 06/12/17- Preliminary Minutes. 5 pages so far.

 

What Do You Think

GCR

2. #21994 (Tyler Brown) Add an Impound Requirement for On Track Contact

 

The Club Racing Board has received quite a few letters over the past years expressing concern over the many incidents of car-to-car contact at our Club Racing events. The topic is also a common item on the many racing forums.

 

The Club Racing Board is seeking comments on requiring mandatory impounding of any cars involved in a car-to-car contact.

 

Should the driver and car be required to report to impound immediately after the session is over?

 

If so, Stewards will investigate the contact and, if necessary, take action against the offending party.

 

This would also be an opportunity for the parties involved in the contact to discuss it in a neutral environment.


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#285
TButler

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TButler, how about you cut and paste your post from this thread and move to the current thread titled, "'Contact Impound". Keeping same stuff in same place. The Contact Impound thread was started with the following copied from 06/12/17- Preliminary Minutes. 5 pages so far.

 

What Do You Think

GCR

2. #21994 (Tyler Brown) Add an Impound Requirement for On Track Contact

 

The Club Racing Board has received quite a few letters over the past years expressing concern over the many incidents of car-to-car contact at our Club Racing events. The topic is also a common item on the many racing forums.

 

The Club Racing Board is seeking comments on requiring mandatory impounding of any cars involved in a car-to-car contact.

 

Should the driver and car be required to report to impound immediately after the session is over?

 

If so, Stewards will investigate the contact and, if necessary, take action against the offending party.

 

This would also be an opportunity for the parties involved in the contact to discuss it in a neutral environment.

done.






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