New HP Driver Ed program discussion

[dlwatry]

This was only my second TT after having attended 3 classes at The Streets. I think it would be best for everyone to attend at least one school before being on a big track. Steve Hamilton does a superb job of instilling the point-by etiquette and other good track behavior at the schools. Like other non-first-timers, I was very frustrated by the lack of point-bys and point-bys at inappropriate places on the track. That said, I appreciate the need for new track participants, and I would support segregating the DE drivers to their own session. I also support Terry's suggestion that the day get started earlier to help make time for this.

With respect to gridding, I definitely preferred the gridding at Willow Springs in January over what happened at BW. The sense of competition and "event" was much better, and it simply worked better. The person in front of me pulled away with every lap, and the person behind me fell a little further behind with every lap. Every lap was clean.

In contrast, at BW, I caught up with the person in front of me after 3 laps, did not get a point by on the front straight when I should have, followed the car around for an entire lap, and then passed him/her without a point-by on the front straight (as Dennis has said I could when I had complained earlier about the lack of point-bys). Not a great situation. Other than that, I actually had a very good Timed Session, unlike most others.

As it was, I won in Class P at BW, and I really appreciate the trophy I received. As Racer Z predicted, it allowed me to experience a bit of that "special race feeling."

I look forward to many more AROSC track events.

Derek Watry
AROC #S45506

[Slaysman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewaysalfa Thanks to all. I am incorporating this stuff into the existing class outline that Tony Presto, Director of DE, put together. The other, non DE, suggestions I will bring up at the Dec 6 annual Competition Board Meeting. You didn't think these events just happened on their own did you? There is at least 4 or 5 hours devoted each year to the intricate planning of a year's events and rules.

[fatbillybob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slaysman Our DE entries have been creeping up based on only two events. If we continue to see growth in DE, maybe Group 3 will become DE only, and we will have TT in Groups 1 & 2. I will definitely shift more Group 3 TT drivers into Group 1 next time. Group 3 TT will be a "Penalty group" for late sign-ups, incomplete entries, or other things we decide over beer.

[Slaysman]

Race Group isn't small! Not that many years ago, 5-7 cars in race group was normal. We have had 40 cars gridded in Race group at Willow! Yes, in total, there are more TT entries than Race, but Race has become consistently the largest run group.

I don't think we want to discourage racers from entering TT also. It brings in money, and they get more practice time. For example, Doug Bender always does Race & TT. I suspect when his car is running, he wants as much time on the track as he can get. We have talked about charging racers a fee to run just the timed lap session to go for TT points, but have never really formalized anything. Only a couple of people ever want to do this anyway.

Believe me, I could write a book on setting up the run groups, particularly when we share the track with other clubs. It is not as simple as one might think...

[Racer Z]

I think some of you are mistaken about the run groups, Time Trials and Racing.

All day Saturday and Sunday morning is Practice. Sunday afternoon is The Event.

There are four run groups and they are set-up, numbered and named, in a specific order for a specific reason.
- Run Group 3 is the Novice Time Trial. This is for beginners, new drivers without a license, and ultra-slow cars.
- Run Group 4 is the Race Group. This is for the fastest, most experienced drivers with a Full Competition Racing License.
- Run Groups 1 and 2 are the Time Trials groups for the faster, more experienced drivers with a Time Trials License.

- A lot of the drivers in Race Group also want to Time Trial. So they run in 2 and 4 to allow their car to cool down between runs.
- Some drivers share one car and want time to change drivers as well as let the car cool down. The groups they run in depend on their skill and license.

Practice is used for many things including track time. Adjusting things with the car, such as tire pressures.

There are several reasons why The Time Trial Event is gridded.
- We are NOT competing directly in a head-to-head style. This keeps the insurance down.
- Time Trialling is, officially, having only one car on the track at a time. Each lap time is recorded and each drivers single best lap is used in a comparison with the other Time Trials Drivers to see who was the fastest.
- Since this would take forever, we compromise by having a few cars on the track, spaced out so that each car will get clean laps.
- Part of the equation is being able to keep your car running all weekend so that you can enter The Event.

The new DE Group has added to this equation. They (the club officials) had two choices:
1) Add a new run group (Group 5) and shorten EVERYBODY'S track time.
2) Combine DE into Novice.

They chose to combine DE with Novice. This is a completely separate issue from Griding The Event. DE can-not run in The Event.

- Should DE be it's own Run Group?
- Should we discontinue The Event in lieu of more total track time?

These are two separate issues. Each is a good issue, but one has nothing to do with the other.

- As large and popular as DE is becoming, maybe it should be it's own Run Group. Let's not ignore the place between DE and Time Trials. Without a properly run Novice Group / Class, the new DE Drivers will never advance into Time Trials and eventually Race.

- I look forward the The Gridded Main Event. I think removing The Event for the sake of extra track time will undermine the whole purpose of Going Racing. I look forward to driving around the track, but, I want more than mindless track time.

[RKT ROY]

I vote of 4 groups not 5, with the DE folks not running the 4th timed session on Sunday. They get their money's worth given the personal instruction they get during the weekend. This way the timed session can still be an Event as Racer Z suggests.

At Buttonwillow, in group 2, without gridding, I still treated the session as the Event. I hung back on the warm up lap to open up space in front of me. When I thought that Racer Z's dad was about to catch me, I took off and had a couple of clean laps. Then in one lap I had to pass two cars, but then had a clean last lap which turned out to be my fastest. So I had to strategically deal with traffic during my timed run, just like the F1 and Champ car guys have to during qualifying. Fun.

Even with gridding I often have to pass the back markers during my timed runs. It's just part of sharing the track with other cars and drivers. Still fun.

I'm thankful to Terry and the organizers for setting things up so well and continuously looking for ways to enhance the program.
Great job guys!
Roy.

[davbert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKT ROY I vote of 4 groups not 5, with the DE folks not running the 4th timed session on Sunday. They get their money's worth given the personal instruction they get during the weekend. This way the timed session can still be an Event as Racer Z suggests. At Buttonwillow, in group 2, without gridding, I still treated the session as the Event. I hung back on the warm up lap to open up space in front of me. When I thought that Racer Z's dad was about to catch me, I took off and had a couple of clean laps. Then in one lap I had to pass two cars, but then had a clean last lap which turned out to be my fastest. So I had to strategically deal with traffic during my timed run, just like the F1 and Champ car guys have to during qualifying. Fun. Even with gridding I often have to pass the back markers during my timed runs. It's just part of sharing the track with other cars and drivers. Still fun. I'm thankful to Terry and the organizers for setting things up so well and continuously looking for ways to enhance the program. Great job guys! Roy.

[Andrew]

Agree; most of us don't have the power/speed flexibility to adjust ourselves to the cars ahead and behind as the Corvette does.

Until such time as I decide to participate in the race program, during timed runs I don't want to dice with other cars and think strategy. I want a clean run to work my strategy and ability against the track, not the other cars.

Andrew