2018 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, 2-4 Feb

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Woolley

You should have waved. I was helping cover the oil spill.

During that safety car period I could hear one bloke with an English accent and wondered for a split second if it was you!

[Badlands99]

Managed to catch the first two hours 'live' on the stream until my router decided that it didn't like being used continuously!

Watched the rest of the race on Sunday here in the UK and really enjoyed most of it. Some great racing between cars that were not necessarily well matched - great to see the Viper pulling away from GT3 s down Conrod!

Mostert in a class of his own during the first couple of hours - M6 has always been quick at places where it can stretch it legs - Spa for example - but often struggles on the tighter stuff - Brands Hatch for instance.

Too many SCs - of course - but in most of the instances I don't think that there really was any alternative. In any race where there are such diverse levels of performance you are always going to get issues - throw in probably one of the most difficult tracks in the world then there are always going to be incidents aplenty.

I think that if you want the race to be this 'big' and internationally recognised then it comes at a price. Go back to the days of Group A when all the Europeans came out in the 80's and the big crashes happened just as much then but the cars were all going 20 secs slower then. I still remember the video of Tow Walkinshaw on two wheels across the top in qualifying in the XJS - awesome lap!

Shame about the final outcome - was really looking forward to a Porsche 1/2/3 at least.

This was what an endurance race should be though - had pretty much everything - uncertainty right until the end, multiple possible winners, different strategies playing out with fuel etc and some top class fast laps by the world best drivers in the fastest GT3 cars.

All in all, top class entertainment and a very well done to everybody who made it possible for all of us not in Australia to watch it live and without adverts and with the usual top class, in my opinion, commentary from the RLM boys!

[one five five]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

It still seems a little cheap but I guess that's Motor Racing sometimes.

It would have been cheap if they really had stopped the clock and run the final few minutes more than 12hrs after the race had started.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by one five five

It would have been cheap if they really had stopped the clock and run the final few minutes more than 12hrs after the race had started.

Totally agree. Seems as they thought about it for a minute when they stopped th clock, but I was excited for the fuel mileage situation even under yellow. Then that was removed along with a green finish, but understandably so.

Originally Posted by Woolley

It was apparently all my fault. Every time I picked up a blue flag it went SC. We even changed the rota on occasions and it still happened. Apart from one stint mid race I think I only waved the blue a dozen times. However I am now very good at holding an SC board!

come on!!!

Glad you enjoyed it! I hope to one day make it...

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I was going to ask about light towers supplementing Marshal posts. Their inclusion has been a real asset at some circuits I've raced. Are there any on The Mountain? They need to be triggered by a marshal or RC, of course, but can be put in positions where it would be too dangerous for people to stand, and be right in the drivers eye line. Utilising two Safety Cars works on really long circuits, Spa for instance, but not sure needed at Bathurst. I've also experienced racing with 'Slow Zones' at Le Mans Classic, but they need policing very strictly, like Code 60 does.

With International interest / support comes more competition, and the circuit is, as said previously, almost a street circuit in places. (Not exactly Macau fortunately, which I remember being the scene of some huge shunts!) I was amazed looking down the entry list how seriously Audi, Porsche, Mercedes and maybe BMW were taking the Bathurst race. The 12hr is no longer a domestic non-championship event, which brings pluses and minuses.....

Oh, and glad you enjoyed the trip, Woolley!

The whole thing is a street circuit!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Matt

The whole thing is a street circuit!

OK, by one definition.....

[Tony C]

It is good to be getting news that Ash Walsh and John Martin are going to be ok. It appears that they both received 'relatively' minor injuries.

Does any one know if yellow flags were out when car 19 came through? I didnt see them in any footage that I saw. Maybe the cars need yellow lights in the cars to notify the driver. That is a tricky spot to be watching for flags.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

Did I enjoy it Mick?
Posts 2, 11 and 18 over the 3 days, too true I enjoyed it. If I win the lotto I'm coming back.

Good to hear Al...there are other very good Marshalling experiences to be had down under...don't be a stranger lad!! Cheers, Mick

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by peckstar

I thought a light tower was put up on the mountain in the accident spot to help with incidents like this.

Was it taken down at some stage as part of he track upgrades

Yes they have been tried in the past...but in this case, Race Control were a little slow to react anyway...local yellows were displayed AFAIK...but knowing the vagaries and difficulty of communications around this street circuit...excreta occurs...

I have called priority and been "put on hold" in the past...I have also had trouble communicating with Flag Points around the track from R/C...

It is about a 5 times a year full racing circuit...and it has its communication challenges...

This in no way excuses Drivers not heeding a waved yellow

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Yes they have been tried in the past...but in this case, Race Control were a little slow to react anyway...local yellows were displayed AFAIK...but knowing the vagaries and difficulty of communications around this street circuit...excreta occurs...

I have called priority and been "put on hold" in the past...I have also had trouble communicating with Flag Points around the track from R/C...

It is about a 5 times a year full racing circuit...and it has its communication challenges...

This in no way excuses Drivers not heeding a waved yellow

Is the light tower still there?

many posters elsewhere are suggesting there were no yellow flags dispalyed until John Martin went past (based on the video evidence). John himself is claiming he didnt see any yellow flags

[275 GTB-4]

[QUOTE=peckstar;3798837]

Is the light tower still there?

Dunno, but if it was a mobile screen I have seen in the past it is probably now down the bottom of the hill in a shed!

many posters elsewhere are suggesting there were no yellow flags dispalyed until John Martin went past (based on the video evidence). John himself is claiming he didnt see any yellow flags

As I said, heard second-hand that Flags were out...do the TV watching "people" a) know where to look? and how far back from the wall the points are? c) did the camera on zoom include the flag points in its field of view etc etc

[Umai Naa]

The footage I've seen, suggests that the yellow flag wasn't shown until the #19 Merc was already on the scene.

My understanding is that the yellow flag for that sector wasn't shown unti approximately 5 seconds after the Audi and Marc Mazda came to rest. That's a relatively long time, when cars are approaching the scene blind, at speeds of over 200klm/h.

[mayhem]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

many posters elsewhere are suggesting there were no yellow flags dispalyed until John Martin went past (based on the video evidence). John himself is claiming he didnt see any yellow flags

Shocking if true.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

many posters elsewhere are suggesting there were no yellow flags dispalyed until John Martin went past (based on the video evidence). John himself is claiming he didnt see any yellow flags

I was watching on the TV (not the stream which was slightly delayed) and had live timing open on my computer. The live timing showed yellow as soon as the very first impact happened. It was showing yellow on the timing screen prior to any mention of the crash on the TV commentary.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by E.B

I was watching on the TV (not the stream which was slightly delayed) and had live timing open on my computer. The live timing showed yellow as soon as the very first impact happened. It was showing yellow on the timing screen prior to any mention of the crash on the TV commentary.

I had the delay (TV to live timing) at about 20 seconds though

[leothedrummer]

Originally Posted by mayhem

Shocking if true.

https://www.facebook.com/Josh.Muggo/...5069035091583/

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by leothedrummer

https://www.facebook.com/Josh.Muggo/...5069035091583/

mmmmm. It looks like a yellow flag being carried back to the marshall point, maybe it was someones t shirt, but.....

would explain the time gap (i have it at 11 seconds based on the footage)

[leothedrummer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

mmmmm. It looks like a yellow flag being carried back to the marshall point, maybe it was someones t shirt, but.....

would explain the time gap (i have it at 11 seconds based on the footage)

Some that I've spoken to believe it was a flag, others don't, but all that aside the footage clearly shows that the yellow isn't waved until after the Merc passes the flag point.

Not pointing fingers, playing the blame game or saying I'd do better, just an observation.

At a club level here in QLD, race control has direct pit to car communication that takes priority over the team radio, keeping drivers constantly updated of any troubles on track. Might be worth looking into something similar?

[peckstar]

Drivers call for improved safety at Mt Panorama

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by chavez

During that safety car period I could hear one bloke with an English accent and wondered for a split second if it was you!

Yep, that would have been me.

Originally Posted by peckstar

mmmmm. It looks like a yellow flag being carried back to the marshall point, maybe it was someones t shirt, but.....

I'd guess from what I now know of Aussie marshalling that would be the sector marshal heading to the post. Clearance has to be given before going trackside. It does appear that the flag doesn't go out until then, but it's not clear. With a car literally landing at their feet, you can't discount they'd taken cover first and it takes a little time to get your head back in the game after a near miss before taking the normal action.

It does seem that particular corner is a problem and it would be most useful if the primary safety measures could be amended so that cars don't end up in the middle of the track. Haven't seen that particular spot so I don't know what's possible. A car's length of off track space would make a big difference.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Woolley

I'd guess from what I now know of Aussie marshalling that would be the sector marshal heading to the post. Clearance has to be given before going trackside. It does appear that the flag doesn't go out until then, but it's not clear. With a car literally landing at their feet, you can't discount they'd taken cover first and it takes a little time to get your head back in the game after a near miss before taking the normal action.

It does seem that particular corner is a problem and it would be most useful if the primary safety measures could be amended so that cars don't end up in the middle of the track. Haven't seen that particular spot so I don't know what's possible. A car's length of off track space would make a big difference.

Motor Racing is Dangerous...

this bingle is by no means the worst crash to ever happen (even) at the top of the mountain since the 1960s.

I wonder if the "drivers" interviewed are also lobbying to tilke-a-fy the Nordschliefe etc back home?

Sector Marshals can act independently and are on a separate communications link to the Flag Marshals...as soon as any official is on the track, they should be covered by a waved yellow....all other officials need to get permission before jumping the fence...

Flag Points 8.0 and 9.0 (possibly 7.0 as a relay?) should have reacted to the stalled car immediately by waved yellow(s)...no need for these points to take cover, the incident was past them...

[TWRv12]

Originally Posted by Woolley

It does seem that particular corner is a problem and it would be most useful if the primary safety measures could be amended so that cars don't end up in the middle of the track. Haven't seen that particular spot so I don't know what's possible. A car's length of off track space would make a big difference.

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Motor Racing is Dangerous...

this bingle is by no means the worst crash to ever happen (even) at the top of the mountain since the 1960s.

I wonder if the "drivers" interviewed are also lobbying to tilke-a-fy the Nordschliefe etc back home?

Yes, but we have seen it before when something really bad happens, the impossible issue, suddenly has a solution.

Way pass time for some of the properties in the dodgiest areas of the track to be bought out or compulsory purchased by the Council.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

or compulsory purchased by the Council.

Highly unlikely the council will want to be seen to be doing that.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by one five five

Highly unlikely the council will want to be seen to be doing that.

Especially to my knowledge anyway given the few properties involved are all large houses on land, no doubt all owned by very influential locals.
Im sure the council would have a dont crap on your own doorstep approach.

[peckstar]

2018 Bathurst 12 Hour LIVE - Race Part 1 #B12h