Purple in Sector 1

Rough start to the week.  In session 3, on the out lap no less, on a slick track and cold tires several karts got together at the braking zone at the fastest part of the track.  I managed to avoid the karts, but the track was impassable at that point and after about 5 seconds of sitting there idling I was drilled from behind by a guy wasn’t paying attention.  We estimate impact in the 40-50 mph range.  The rental frame is totaled and my budget is shot.  He appeared hurt so I didn’t get out and confront him, but I felt like it.  His kart was heavily damaged, likely a write off and he sustained injury to what appeared to be his ankle.  

There is no excuse for that sort of driving.  The enforcement of the flagging has been weak and I think the race direction has been questionable and at times his demeanor  unprofessional.  Particularly for an event this size.  There have been other cases where I’ve seen a couple of flaggers playing security cop on the access fence while trying to flag during a hot track.  That is unacceptable in my book.  A flagger needs to flag, period. I tried to speak with him about it but his minions wouldn’t let me cross the track to have a word with him during the session.  In our case that should have been a red flag.  The track was impassable at the end of the fastest part with three karts stacked together and several others blocking the way.  Rather than focusing on the track during that period the flaggers were looking at the accident.  

I’d be glad to tell him the same thing I’m posting here, but if I’m approached I would highly recommend it be in a professional manner.  Not that condescending, sarcastic tone of his announcements over the PA.  If cars are parked in fire lanes, make a professional announcement then tow them.  No need for drama, no need to insult those that are parked in the paddock.  Call the trucks and have them towed. Simple and professional.  Same with the black flag rule.  Make an professional announcement that not yielding the flag is unacceptable instead of sarcastic, condescending diatribes that do nothing but cheapen the professional tone of the event.  At this level there shouldn’t need to be an announcement to yield the yellows much less with that tone and demeanor.  It was embarrassing, it was an unprofessional display and for the caliber of the event and the money we are paying to be here we deserve to be treated in a professional manner.  Period.  Perhaps if the racing standard rules more enforced consistently parking the offenders would get the message across.  

We thrashed for about 3 hours and got my personal chassis fitted with the rental engine.  I was really looking forward to racing the CRG.  Best kart I’ve ever driven.  It was like butter.  I’d like to thank Garrick Miller, Jason Lee, Kurt Mathewson and the rest of the gang under the Evolution tent.  They’ve been a big, big help and there is no way I could have done this without them.  Hopefully I’ll be able to finish the week.  Otherwise I’ve just lapped about 20 laps at the cost of about US$300 per lap.  I’m optimistic but at the same time I don’t know that my kart is up to the task.  Hence me renting the ride.  I could have had the rental kart rebuilt but at this point my budget is shot buying another frame if that one is totaled.  What was once a Hail Mary effort to try to stay on the lead lap is likely to be me riding around for 8-10 laps until I’m parked due to that inane lapped traffic rule.  It’s not the lappers you need to be concerned with at this race, it’s the unsafe guys fighting for position with an extreme lack of judgement.  But that’s a story for another time. Right now sleep.  Hopefully I’ll feel better in the morning but somehow I doubt it.

Tags: SNATS Race Things

This entry was posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 1:01 am and is filed under SNATS 08. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.