Blue Flags

[JimW]

Originally posted by StephenRae
beefy.....it may be a generalisation but speaking as a driver, I think we see what we want to see.
A couple of years ago we argued with the chief marshall at Ty Croes that simply holding a stationary flag at the post before Radar (a completely blind left turn) did not convey the seriousness of the hazard, a car broadside on the track, next to a waved yellow.
We said that if the waved yellow was waved with real vigour then this would have conveyed to the previous post that a waved flag would have been more appropriate. We were told that as this was not in the regs it could not be done....once again another example of common sense being stamped on.....
I've gone off thread or am I just off colour?

Hmm. Without knowing the exact circumstances which Stephen is talking about, I have known lots of cases where either prior discussion, appreciation of the current position (as you describe) or even a quick telephone/radio call to the previous post produces just the effect he is talking about.

There is room for initiative but remember that if you are going to break the rules you have to be proved right! (at least sometimes. )

Regards

Jim

[Mark Mitchell]

Originally posted by StephenRae
...We said that if the waved yellow was waved with real vigour then this would have conveyed to the previous post that a waved flag would have been more appropriate. We were told that as this was not in the regs it could not be done....

It sometimes depends on the experience, or lack of, of the flag marshal and/or observer!
Many times I have seen a waved yellow for an accident and asked my flaggie to also wave a yellow, which would normally be static!
it might not be in the regs, but my priority is safety and if by waving an extra/earlier yellow to warn approaching competitors then so be it!
It doesn;t say in the regs that we CAN'T do it!
Common sense at the end of the day.
Although it must be remembered that a yellow flag, whether waved or not means the same thing!!

[Steve Tarrant]

BARC training for the past 6-7 years has included that very point - that in a very severe incident and where each post only has one yellow flag (international meetings often have two by their regulations), that the post before the post waving the yellow can ALSO wave their yellow, and the post before that puts out their stationary yellow.

Therefore the drivers can have even longer time to react and slow as necessary.

[Chigley]

The use of 2 consecutive posts displaying waved yellows does and has happened. Donington last year Formula Palmer Audi decided to get friendly with each other exiting Redgate just past Post 4 and ended up with one lucky fellow sitting in the middle of the track with his wheels tucked up under him except they weren't attached to the suspension. As the incident wasn't visible from the pit straight and the track was heavily obstructed Post 2 went to waved yellow and Post 1 displayed a stationary yellow. The operative thing here was safety and the use of initiative. The standard flag sequence would have been right but entirely inadequate to avoid further carnage.

[Dave Brand]

Another instance: At the Gold Cup at Oulton last year we had two cars off at Shell, another joined them under a waved yellow. We ended up with double waved yellows at our flag post, a waved yellow at the previous post & a stationary yellow at the post before that. Did that slow them down? Did it

[Dutch chap]

As I recall the 'FIA bible' as we call it in Holland, gives some room for a waved yellow at a previous post. In fact at Zandvoort there are 3 posts that will allways have this. It has to mentioned in 'the rules for the meeting'(best way I can translate this). In all 3 cases from the post there is a good view at the track and the previous end next post, but drivers will not have a 'natural'sight at the post. But they do have this good sight at the previous post, so the signals are 'copied', to make sure drivers will be aware of an incident.