Why do drivers take their brains out?

**Snapper Baz** · 28 May 2003, 20:39 (Ref:612872)

On a warm up lap all flag posts show a green flag-so wouldnt you think that drivers remember where they are? At Combe Monday (and at virtually every other meeting) a number of drivers with car problems pulled off at the most remote part of the circuit for marshals to get to! Why don't drivers park next/near those posts that were showing flags on those warm up laps knowing that somebody could quickly help in case of fire etc instead of parking miles from any help-its ming bogling!! Not only that-why do many insist on stopping with a problem on or on the edge of the circuit when they could have easily pulled way off the circuit and out of harms way-it happened a number of times over the weekend-I'm sure kids could do better!!!

brickkicker · 28 May 2003, 20:41 (Ref:612876)

This is asuming that drivers have a brain to start with.

**Adam43** · 28 May 2003, 22:10 (Ref:612966)

In what way does a brain make you go faster

Richy_Rich · 29 May 2003, 06:26 (Ref:613137)

Haha, I once saw a guy at Brands leave a Rover (I think) on the track and get out somewhere round graham hill/cooper straight. Only to have to run back after it started rolling downhill, although it would have made a good Kirsty's home video moment I was cringing watching as it was obviously dangerous (or stupid or both).

It's funny though, in my first season I always knew where the marshals posts were as you're reminded to look for them in the drivers briefing and they tell you other useful gems like not to continue round the circuit after your engine blows up and starts pi**ing oil etc. Funny how more 'seasoned' drivers are more often the ones to do this and the novices never seem to?

**Tim Falce** · 29 May 2003, 06:49 (Ref:613154)

And why do some people want to drive as fast as they can on the first practice lap and then spin on the first corner as they have cold tyres. And why always in front of me!

**Adam43** · 29 May 2003, 07:12 (Ref:613168)

Quote:

Originally posted by falcemob
And why do some people want to drive as fast as they can on the first practice lap and then spin on the first corner as they have cold tyres. And why always in front of me!

or even on the formation lap, as someone once did in front of me!

We were all very polite and let him get it together and rejoin in his grid position.

DAVID PATERSON · 29 May 2003, 08:00 (Ref:613203)

I was at a short circuit meeting at a little club track in the country, when a V8 Holden Commodore came around the very tight final corner on the warm-up lap and instead of simply parking on his allocated grid spot, he decided to give it a hep of throttle half way around the corner.

Well, the car launched itself off the circuit up a small embankment and narrowly missed a large tree, before the driver gave it several armfuls of lock and a couple more stabs on the gas, which sent the car rocketing back across the circuit, he had a good look at the concrete wall on the outside of the grid and after a couple fishtailing slides and overcorrections he finally managed to spin the car and pulled up on the rid facing the wrong way, but not far from his grid position.

In the interests of everyone's sanity and safety, the grid marshals, quietly but firmly insisted he not take part in the race and he was directed towards the paddock, where presumably he could stop and have a quiet little think about what he had just done.

**Tim Falce** · 29 May 2003, 09:45 (Ref:613275)

Quote:

or even on the formation lap, as someone once did in front of me! We were all very polite and let him get it together and rejoin in his grid position.

Polite,

that doesn't sound like the normal XJS racers Adam, or were you in a Proteus race

greenamex2 · 29 May 2003, 10:15 (Ref:613306)

With respect to the original query.

Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that being near a fire post if am possibly going to catch fire would be a good thing, if I am already alight I am going to stop f**king quick and get out, I am not going to be trying to remember where a marshals post was 10 minutes ago when I was also trying to deal with some burk who thought the race had started, monitoring temperatures etc, weavers who think it will help them despite being on road tyres, people who think slamming their brakes on randomly will heat their brakes up (try left foot braking and accelerating, it actually works) etc etc etc. Sorry to make the marshalls run but my life is more important.

Also, generally, my car doesn't decide to break down in particularly convenient places. I can't coast along the race track until a convenient point because I'll probably get hit and I can't drive for very long on the nicely kept grass verges because they aren't. Generally the full of jolly big car damaging holes and ridges. I have the dents on the bottom of my car to prove it. This is generally made worse in that is almost impossible to tell WHAT has broken and whether waiting to stop at a marshalls post will possibly make things drastically worse (done that).

Having said the above I totally agree that there is massive room for improvement in the behaviour of some drivers. The circuit officials need to start getting tough with yobbish or just stupid behaviour. The previous example was a good one, hit the drivers where it hurts, by stopping them driving not with some pointless 40 quid fine.

EvilPumpkin · 29 May 2003, 10:35 (Ref:613333)

The ones I hate are the drivers that pull off as far away from the marshals as possible, make you run and then just as you get there...they pull off!

They should give us stingers just for those guys!

Denis, I totally understand where you're coming from - there are always going to be situations where you just have to find the safest place you can and stop there - and sometimes that won't be the marshals post in any case. There are plenty of marshals posts that are not at particularly healthy places to stop on any given circuit. Marshals tend to be where they are most likely to encounter an incident rather than safe areas to pull in.

What we really want from a driver is that they stop in an area that's accessible to us and that they do so in a safe manner - for their protection and the protection of the other drivers.

If it happens to be "local" then great. But safety is the priority.

One thing I would like to see more is drivers getting out of the car, pulling their own electrics and getting up on the bank/behind armco/wherever is safe. I spend a lot of unnecessary time in gravel traps going to fetch a driver because they won't do this one simple thing. And before you say it, you can't just leave them there. There's no guarantee that there isn't a medical reason why they're not getting out of the car and unless you've a very clear line of sight, it's not a chance we can afford to take.

So drivers - if you're not going anywhere - hop out and come chat to the marshals. We're a friendly bunch and sometimes we even provide food!

**Tim Falce** · 29 May 2003, 10:42 (Ref:613337)

Quote:

We're a friendly bunch and sometimes we even provide food!

I second that Mr evil. I broke doown with an electrical fault at Donington a couple of years ago and after pushing me to safety a couple of marshalls even tried to help me rapair the fault so I could continue racing, didnt get any grub though

darcym · 29 May 2003, 13:07 (Ref:613590)

the boys at combe on Monday where first rate (there was also a girl mashall in there to who was just as good)

Very professional and helpful group.

Hats off to them on Monday

**Adam43** · 29 May 2003, 13:43 (Ref:613652)

Quote:

Originally posted by falcemob
Polite, that doesn't sound like the normal XJS racers Adam, or were you in a Proteus race

I don't know what you are taling about

Anyway, its nice to see you at ten-tenths...

EvilPumpkin · 29 May 2003, 15:39 (Ref:613745)

Quote:

Originally posted by darcym
the boys at combe on Monday where first rate (there was also a girl mashall in there to who was just as good)

Um...any reason why she wouldn't have been?

Anyway, nice though this is, we're getting off topic again.

I've said how I would like to see things done - what does everyone else think?

darcym · 29 May 2003, 15:56 (Ref:613774)

no reason she shouldn't be there I said "the BOYS at combe" and wanted to make sure they knew I included her too.

Apologies for topic diversion

EvilPumpkin · 29 May 2003, 16:20 (Ref:613813)

LOL - I was only kidding darcym - hence the winky face

Piglet · 29 May 2003, 18:56 (Ref:613962)

Quote:

Originally posted by falcemob
I second that Mr evil.

I think you'll find that's Ms Evil...

**Snapper Baz** · 29 May 2003, 20:38 (Ref:614069)

The other day at Brands (twice this happened at the same meeting!)somebody spun at Paddock and came to a stop on the circuit...instead of reversing just a foot or so the idiots drove forward into into the gravel trap and guess what...they got stuck in the gravel trap and brought out the red flags! The crowd laughed/jeered and generaly took the p**s out of the drivers, but what idiots...and how would the other drivers feel if they knew why the red flag came out?...let alone holding up the meeting. They should fine such pathetic actions or ban them for a race

**bella** · 29 May 2003, 23:13 (Ref:614198)

probably the best loss of sanity i've seen for a good year was in the formula renault race last sunday. alex storckenfeldt got completely desperate and braked far too late into the last chicane on the last lap, wobbled through the first bit alongside the poor innocent bloke he was in the middle of mugging, then completely lost the ability to think and drove straight into the side of his victim. his car went in the air, squashed the nose when he landed, and as the crowd gave him a standing ovation he jumped out of the car, leapt over the barrier and started legging it towards the direction of the paddock.
whether he was about to thump the victim or whether he was too embarassed to take the applause i don't know but it really was very funny.
i know it's not quite fitting in with the topic, but i didn't think anyone could lose their mind like that quite so spectacularly

**Tim Falce** · 30 May 2003, 08:07 (Ref:614466)

Quote:

I think you'll find that's Ms Evil...

OOOPS! Sorry, I'll put it down to a typo

Bob Pearson · 30 May 2003, 09:12 (Ref:614512)

You'd be surprised how different it looks when you are the one holding the steering wheel!!

darcym · 30 May 2003, 10:50 (Ref:614593)

a very different view from inside the cockpit

b1ackcr0w · 30 May 2003, 11:38 (Ref:614636)

Quote:

Originally posted by darcym
the boys at combe on Monday where first rate (there was also a girl mashall in there to who was just as good)

Very professional and helpful group.

Hats off to them on Monday

Was this at Tower? Which race, it could well have been Nick Ramsden Mrs Cr0w & I

neil_davidson2 · 30 May 2003, 12:18 (Ref:614667)

Quote:

Originally posted by Snapper Baz
Not only that-why do many insist on stopping with a problem on or on the edge of the circuit when they could have easily pulled way off the circuit and out of harms way-it happened a number of times over the weekend-I'm sure kids could do better!!!

I've seen this done a number of times where the driver got out of the car and then started waving his hand at the marshals obviously indicating that he was after a red flag. All this generally does is encourage to shift the thing and thwart his cunning plans!

darcym · 30 May 2003, 12:43 (Ref:614695)

yes was up by tower, I was the first to go off on the oil.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Just who is the 'brains' behind SBR	Conrod Kieron	Australasian Touring Cars.	16	5 Aug 2004 11:55
NWFF1600 DRIVERS are better than the SOUTHERN FF1600 DRIVERS	Redracar57	Club Level Single Seaters	50	24 Dec 2003 19:05
Drivers who have yet to win a race, and drivers who havn't won for a long time	Raoul Duke	Formula One	20	28 Sep 2001 22:16
Drivers in other series that would make NASCAR stock car drivers	Joe Fan	NASCAR & Stock Car Racing	16	2 Aug 2001 08:34
brains vs speed	albert park	Formula One	28	9 Jul 2001 02:48