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Post by Mike Danylko on Jan 17, 2011 10:10:31 GMT -5
Good Day all,
Do we have a schedule set in place yet for this weekend? What are the starting times and when are the volunteers expected to show up. I know in the past if we were there prior to practice, but maybe a time would be nice.
Thanks
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Post by Thunder Bay Autosport Club on Jan 17, 2011 17:08:13 GMT -5
Gate opens at 9. Practice starts btwn 10-10:30. Racing starts at noon. It's the first weekend and there all always some kinks so practice and racing may start a wee bit later than posted.
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Post by Mike Danylko on Jan 20, 2011 14:56:20 GMT -5
I'm going to be a little late on Saturday. My son has an appointment at 9:30am but should be done by 10am. I should be at the track by 1030
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Post by curtis on Jan 23, 2011 22:15:04 GMT -5
All I can say about this weekend is that ALOT of hard hours of work was turned to waste all in the first corner. What is questioned?rookies(Not all the crashes were from the rookies)Track?(No body except the drivers had control of the gas pedal).Snow dust(same amount of crashed cars on sat when the snow dust wasn't bad)So what is left? How are all of us going to make rubber to ice racing enjoyable?I would have to say get your car threw the first corner would help! Any one else??? I know there should be a couple of people voicing there opinion. I will say the third crash in the rubber race today(jan23)happened when i was on the out side of darren hynes.I thought i gave him enough room.he didn't think so.My defense is if it was cameron there wouldn't of been a problem.so is it my fault?i didn't know that darren's comfort zone had to be a extra couple of feet.Sorry again darren.If you want me to come help on the car I will with out a doubt.I would love to see the 14 out again.Call me 620-8620 If you guys got any input you might as well say it.let it rip.
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Post by Mike Danylko on Jan 24, 2011 8:30:51 GMT -5
Saturday we worked out the bugs from our helmets to our volunteers. The first day is always like a test and trial session. However, Sunday started off without a hitch until intermission... Rookies were somewhat to blame, conditions could take some as well, and corner 1 was one of the issues at hand. I for those of you who do not know me stand on the ice at Flag station 1. I am the person that gives you the starts and finishes the race. I got pushed off the track 4 times on Sunday due to people coming to take the green and rim riding the snow bank. I wouldn’t even hold my flag due to the people trying to gain every advantage riding half way up my bank. You cannot ride that bank into the corner because it will turn your car. I seen people riding the bumper of the car in front of them well we all know that didn’t work. That mixed with some sudden turns wrecked 4 cars! I know from my racing history you cannot win the Championship on the first lap but you sure CAN lose it!!! From my angle seen a lot of eager people trying to own the same real-estate, sudden sharp turns, and a lot of dust making the race conditions brutal not to mention the racers extremely angry... I know we all have 3 weeks to cool down and try to make a season out of this. Anyone who would like to discuss anything that happened this past weekend please do send me a message, or if you need some help with your cars ask and I’ll see what I can do. I have been a volunteer for many years and seen many wrecks and many happy people. We can work this out!!!!! I hope we can move forward from this and still have a successful season. - Mike
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Post by downtown on Jan 24, 2011 9:01:02 GMT -5
I have one suggestion for reducing the carnage on the 1st lap. Line the cars up at the !st flag stand and drop the green from a standing start. By the the next "fast" stretch of track the cars should be spread out a bit and everyone safely up to speed.
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Post by Mike Danylko on Jan 24, 2011 9:10:38 GMT -5
We tried that a couple times over the past few years and it caused a lot of grief. I think the club actually banned standing starts due to safety issues
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Doug
Member
Posts: 75
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Post by Doug on Jan 24, 2011 11:52:30 GMT -5
Well folks, from someone who now has a very damaged car I will through my $0.02 in the mix.
First off I would like to take the opportunity to defend myself. Some people viewing from the sidelines have made it known to various track officials that they could clearly see the wreck that occured and that I should have also seen it. The arguement is that I instead drove head long into Darren. From a drivers standpoint I could use some back up that there was no way for me to see the incident in front of me due to the snow dust. I think the fact that the race was called due to lack of visibility speaks to that fact. As well, if you speak to Darren I believe he would tell you the same. If I had any notice at all I would have put my car in the snowbank rather then destroy two race cars. By the time I could see Darrens car backwards on the race line all I could do was lift before impact. Luckily I had already back down a bit due to the reduced visibility. I would also assume that the spin itslef produced mroe snow dust. If you believe otherwise I am big boy and can take it so let me know. However to stand on the sidelines and suggest that I could have avoided the wreck and instead drove right into it seems a little rediculous. Rant over . . .
It would seem the biggest issue is the high speed sweeper after the start finish line. If you are farther back then row two, the visibility on a start/restart becomes a serious issue. How we get around that is surely a debate. My thoughts are that we could try plowing that area prior to each race beginning to reduce the amount of snow on the track. Most other parts of the track seem to to be OK except perhaps the other high speed sweeper on the back stretch. It gets pretty bad but not as bad. In addition we are usually a little more spread out by then.
My second thought, and this ties into our flagmans comments, is that perhaps we need to set some more strigent rules with regard to starts. Right now prior to the green flag waving we are sometimes 4 wide already with passes beginning. I am not calling anyone out here or blaming anyone as right now this is how starts are done. I am suggesting that perhaps a more orderly start procedure is needed. As raceres, if we can get an advantage somewhere, we will take it. That being said, if we can try to get an advantage on the start, we will try to do so. Perhaps at the next meeting ( WED FEB 2 ) we can come with some suggestions or thoughts on starts/restarts and debate the idea. I believe it is worth discussing at least.
I am glad no one got seriously hurt this weekend. I think it is a testament to the rules surrounding safety equipment and tech inspections. Good job everyone on well built cars, cages and safety equipment. As well a great job by the track workers on quickly checking on drivers for injuries and clearing up the track.
My final note is that I am now on the hunt for a front end for a 1991 Civic. Rad, rad cradle, drivers headlight (may just go aftermarket) and a bumper cover would help but I can make this one work if I have too. I am working on the cheap this year as funds are tight so If you know where I can hunt anything down cheap that would help. An entire front clip would be optimal.
Any other thoughts on the subject?
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Post by Mike Danylko on Jan 24, 2011 12:03:36 GMT -5
Thanks Doug for your comments... Not going to say too much other than the starts were an issue, one brought up all morning by myself. Unfortunatly there was no one passing so no rules were being broken. Yes cars were out of line, yes some starts were indeed messym, but to make a long story short; on Feb 2nd I will be at the meeting and will try to clarify this problem. See you than...
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Doug
Member
Posts: 75
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Post by Doug on Jan 24, 2011 12:06:46 GMT -5
Thanks Mike, I look forward to your thoughts from a unique perspective. It like a bunch of wild horses chomping at the bit to hit the throttle. Tough to tame and your thoughts from the start/finish line should be interesting.
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Post by curtis on Jan 24, 2011 16:53:58 GMT -5
I had talked to some of the people that had crashed and it could of all been avoided with slower speeds.Forsure. Not to sound like a jack ass but when i went through the fog i backed way off on the brakes and lined myself up on the inside.Sure the front group was 20 cars ahead when i got threw the mess but my car was still moving. We can go ahead and change the track but is this just going to prolong the wreck till the next corner?
How many people were scared shat less of the first 2 corners?I was.
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Post by sparx on Jan 24, 2011 19:22:58 GMT -5
since i am not a driver, you guys can take my comments with a grain of salt or a pound of pepper... i get to see every start because i am in the trailer taking care of timing and scoring... (now you guys know who I am).... at any rate, i have been involved with this club for a number of years as pit crew, and in the last year or so as timing and scoring guy... one thing that I do know for a fact is that races are not WON in the first corner , but they can definitely be LOST in the first corner, as was shown this weekend.... ladies and gentlemen, at the very least there are five laps on a 2 plus kilometre track to find your groove, race your lines, and pass your buddies to get positions and points.... i love watching you guys jockey for position, and go around in circles, it is just nicer to see it all under green flag conditions, instead of having to stop the computer and wait for someone to line up whoever is left running so we can have a restart.... just my opinion...
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Post by Rob Wilson on Jan 24, 2011 19:54:04 GMT -5
Hey all. Very good points guys, I agree with alot of the things said.
Mike had brought it to my attention just how close some cars were getting to him on the starts, and this is of major concern to me. Our voluteers out on the track do this for the love of our sport and the satisfaction of being involved. To see one hurt would weigh heavily on me, as I'm sure it would all of you. I do believe tweeking the start rule is something the club might have to do.
As for the incidents on Sunday, it made me pretty sad and upset to see all the torn-up equipment. I was pleased to see that no one was seriously injured as that is of greater concern to me. I was unfortunaly unable to see it first hand to comment on the events. I do believe conditions were a factor, and they appeared to be worsening, which is why I cancelled the remainder of the day. However, I also feel the driver's have a responsability too. If you are unsure or can not see, the throttle is totally in your contorl, and you can back off or brake at anytime. I know as a racer myself that you often worry more about the position than you do your own safety, which is something we all have to control. I am thinking of changes I can make to the track to prevent a further carnage like we had this past weekend. They will hopefully be in place by the next race day. I would also like all of the racers to think about what they can do to prevent this too, as we are ALL responable.
I hope to see all you all back out. I am pretty busy but if anybody needs a hand with your cars, shoot me a PM and I will see what I can do.
Thanks, Rob
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Post by bwaib on Jan 24, 2011 22:52:40 GMT -5
Hi guys,for those that don t know me I am Brian ( car 420 ). You all have good points, we all know the dust was bad on Sunday. but being racers we all continued to run the way we normally do,to the limit of machine or nerves. If anyone is to blame the blame goes to all of us. The 420 is wrecked and that is part of racing. Hope to see you guys at the meeting and have a beer and some laughs.
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Post by jonny042 on Jan 24, 2011 23:46:44 GMT -5
I wrote a rather long reply but decided I would take more time to edit it so that it will be more useful in the long run.
Short version is the weekend was really disappointing for many reasons. But I think like Rob says if we all pitch in with ideas, suggestions, and the help to follow through with some minor changes, we can turn things around.
Jon Nelson (#42 Orange Civic)
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