Why we Stress what Yellow and Red Flags are for......

aggie57 · April 22, 2013, 12:04:23 PM

On a pretty regular basis we have to talk to people at sprints and the 6-hr about the need to properly observe yellow and even red flags. In over 30 years officiating at club events I've seen some pretty serious cases of drivers ignoring these pleas. This video is a graphic example of why we continue to make the point.

Even on Saturday at the Island someone at driver briefing made a smart arse comment about not needing CAMS to be there because I was. I shrugged it off at the time, as we do, but given I am safely tucked away in race control rest assured it's not my welfare I am concerned about.

By the way, I'm not saying that what we see on the clip is a great example of how an incident like this should be handled by the officials either. At a sprint we would normally red flag this type of incident, which is exactly what we did on Saturday when we had several cars come off in dangerous positions. Two drivers were sent home for ignoring those red flags and continuing at speed.

Spada · April 24, 2013, 10:10:58 PM

Hi Alister

I saw this post the other day but didn' play it as was on my mobile, and now it's gone. Can you post link or something?

aggie57 · April 25, 2013, 04:06:17 PM

Sorry, looks like its been pulled by YouTube and I dont have a recording of it.....

Neil Choi · April 25, 2013, 04:33:02 PM

Another post here.

aggie57 · April 25, 2013, 09:12:14 PM

Thanks Neil

Spada · April 26, 2013, 12:18:09 AM

Yeah, thanks Neil.

Unbelievable!

Trevor 57 · April 27, 2013, 05:52:52 AM

says a lot about doing hot track recoveries as well

aggie57 · April 28, 2013, 09:05:37 PM

Quote from: Big Trev on April 27, 2013, 05:52:52 AM
says a lot about doing hot track recoveries as well

Very much so. I couldn't believe seeing one if the Marshall's working with his back to the track.

colcol · April 28, 2013, 09:08:13 PM

And it was hard to beleive the 4 wheel drive was parked on the track almost on the racing line, Colin.

aggie57 · April 29, 2013, 09:12:02 AM

Quote from: colcol on April 28, 2013, 09:08:13 PM
And it was hard to beleive the 4 wheel drive was parked on the track almost on the racing line, Colin.

Still, not much evidence of competitors slowing down......

Doug Gould · July 06, 2013, 10:17:18 AM

Col

The 4x4 was where it needed to be to recover the vehicle. You noticed them unrolling a snatch strap? Hot recoveries work well if the competitors have discipline. We do it a lot at the 6 hour where it works very successfully. The only alternative is to red flag the race and recover the car. Competitors don't like this so much. Speaking as a clerk of course, we actually try pretty hard to give the competitors value from the day. The cost of running an event is well North of $2,000 per track hour. So we also try to maximise track time. A lot of the Alfa club's recent changes to start procedures have been aimed at this.

So, my view is that competitors who do not have the discipline to see flags and to react accordingly don't have a place on the track. I'm one of the only guys in the club who has had to ring up a guys wife to say that her husband was going to a hospital unconscious in a helicopter. Its not something I want to do again.

Alert, smart disciplined drivers can see flags and drive accordingly.

Thevak · July 14, 2013, 09:15:31 PM

It is important that we ALL respect each other as competitors, club members and friends. I had a moment at Phillip Island whereby I was overtaken on a YELLOW flag and had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. As it is also my day car it prompted me to buy a track car. But after that image it is more important to RECOGNIZE that we are about to overtake a DRIVER and not simply a lump of steel respect life and avoid tragedy.