Yellow Flags
 

I've heard there was lots of overtakes under the yellow flag at Druids...

Sorry if I'm sounding condesending, but DON'T DO IT!
As well as a DD race god, I'm a track marshal trained to national level, and it's unbelievably dangerous to be overtaking a rider who might be lacking concentration by rubber-necking an incident. And how would you feel if your overtake went wrong and took out a marshal who's there trying to help one of your friends?

When sporting my orange overalls I have no hesitation in reporting these incidents to the clerk of the course. Whether the pass was safe or not, that's only known in hindsight.

End of lesson.

n

[Edited on 12-9-2005 by NBs996]

[Edited on 13-9-2005 by NBs996]

I wasn't close enough to anyone to pass :(

I was passed under a yellow flag as well (where is druid? is that the small right bend at the top of the hill??). And even if I think he would have passed me later or sooner, I really think it wasn't fair... :devil:

Happened to me also at Druids in 1st race. This is crap track day behaviour and is not acceptable.

I'm afraid to say there was a lot of it going on yes - It was my fault the flags were out but I did see an awful lot of passing on Druids as the flags remained for the rest of the race.

maybe we should go through the flags again im new to racing so this would be great for me (iv seen them all before when been at track day but it wouldnt hurt)

Hand up !
I passed 1 person once in race 1 when Lin was spectating at druids,but I then let them back in front before the corner had even finished.
(I was passing about 1 person every lap there).
There were a _lot_ of you running the 'perfect' line there instead of the 'inside' line - which is a _huge_ invitation to brake late up the inside (well it _is_ uphill so your brakes will always work magnificently !)
Apologies to whoever, but Druids is one of my most-favoritest-corners-ever.

And Tonio - PLEASE - Druids is the 'magnificent' right-hand uphill hairpin after the awesome Paddock-Hill downhill left-hand bend.

Dominic, flags are pretty simple from a riders perspective:

Yellow:
Waved - There's an obstacle on the track, possibly on the racing line. Or it could be a marshal/rider in front of the protective barrier. Slow sufficiently to give yourself time to take avoiding action, no overtaking. The ferocity of waving is proportional to the level of danger.
Static -
1) There's something (probably a bike) off the track but in front of the protective barrier that's not normally there.
2) You're entering the sector before a waved yellow.
The track is clear, but you should slow sufficiently to ensure you'll make it round the corner, no overtaking.

Red:
Session stopped. Slow right down and return to pit lane, be prepared to take avoiding action. There'll be a waved yellow on the mashal post at the start of the sector where the incident is. No overtaking in any sector.

White:
There's a vehicle on track with more than 2 wheels. Most clubs below national level don't allow safety vehicles on track in front of riders, so you're unlikely to see one.

Black:
Displayed on on the start line with a separate board showing rider number. If that's your number then you're out - report to pit lane, you'll not be allowed to restart.

Black with orange circle:
Shown at the start line with separate board showing rider number. If this is your number then exit the track asap, there's something wrong with your bike likely to cause a danger to you or others.

Green:
All clear, on with the show, open season on the bike in front!

Blue:
A rider is approaching who is significantly faster (probably the leaders about to embarass you!). Just be aware that you're about to get mugged, no need to change what you're doing, it's up to them to get past not for you to move out the way. Just don't do anything unpredictable.

Yellow with black cross:
Shown at the start line to indicate you're starting the last lap (race conditions only) so keep it nailed!

Lots of little black and white squares:
Well done chap, you've finished the race! Slow down to let the back markers finish their race, then go collect your trophy.

Hope this helps?

Well said Nick

And thanks Lin, I was in a very close battle with Pete Yates in race 1 and I took full advantage of using the yellow flags to keep him behind me and allowing me to slow it down a bit more than normal and knock it down a extra gear to make sure my ickle 583 could accelerate hard out of Druids and keep his 620 behind me.
Well done Pete for observing the Yellow flags, I didn't get to see your front wheel once in that corner so I take it you were tucked in behind me.

Sorry Phil, but I did not have time to work on my MCN circuit guide :D

[Edité le 12-9-2005 par Tonio600]

Eh? Havn't you done the ACU Race Licence Course, in which the various flags are covered in minute detail?

Andy #99

.

[quote]Originally posted by NBs996
I've heard there was lots of overtakes under the yellow flag at Druids... I had one rider pass me twice here (you know who you are!!).

Yup Nick...I was right behind you and your "sparring partners"... and witnessed open-jawed as a particular individual went past you, on consecutive laps, no less. Nobody came past me there, and I successfully resisted the temptation to "go for it" myself, despite having a few opportunities to pass quite a few people there...one time I think I even had you in my sights, Nick! I can understand the frustration and temptation to go for it, and indeed I've been well-and-truly barrated in the public pages of Pronto for infringing this rule at Cadwell. Antony #111 wasn't quite as kind as you in sparing his cheating opponent their identity, and I must say that I do feel unbelievably guilty for my selfish act....and I know that despite my repeated head-bowing and forelock tugging...acceptance that I was in the wrong and a full (although not written, 'till now!) appology, I know I won't hear the last of it (EVER?)! I still maintain that I didn't see the flag as it was on the outside of the track at the hairpin, and I was on the inside of Antony, but I admit I did see a stricken bike in the middle of the track...so I guess I should have known better! So, Ant....although you beat me fair-and-square on the day....I am really, REALLY...SORRY:sniff::sniff: I will NEVER EVER do it again.

Andy #99

.

yup ..it was me ... i know of once at druids....................was not really aware i did it until it was pointed out to me so eloquently after the race.

I apologise un-reservedly to the persons concerned and to the Marshalls if i caused undue stress..........................

will pay more attention next time..........................

Phil

sharpen up phil. ffs. ;)

I could blame it on the G forces keeping my head slammed on the tank after Paddock and not being able to lift it till the last minute as i look into druids.........................

but thats a cop out...........



;)

...a plan forms for total dominance next year:

buy Geoff's 680 kit without telling anyone,
use Diablo Corsas,
start when the red lights come on,
ignore anything that isn't actually in front of my front wheel
get someone else to ride my bike instead of me

Should do the trick :D

Class.......................:D:D:D:D

nice idea but i recon you'll be floating around at the back of the 'class A' grid.:o

Hang on chaps, I wasn't suggesting anyone was cheating!
The rider who overtook me on the yellow did so by mistake when not noticing the flag... he gave me the position back on the exit. The next lap when the same thing happened it seems like I braked earlier than he expected.

So no blame or finger pointing was intended here, just a shout for us novices (of which I'm one) to be a little more observant.

We learn as we race, that's why we wear an orange vest!

And Tonio - PLEASE - Druids is the 'magnificent' right-hand uphill hairpin after the awesome Paddock-Hill downhill left-hand bend. [/quote]

Iwould'nt turn left at paddock if i were you matey:D

Hear hear Nick. As an ex race marshall myself (flags), please be aware of yellow flags, as you can't always see what is round the bend but the flag marshall can. Its easy to miss a flag in the heat of the moment, but remember they're there for YOUR safety as well as the track marshalls'.

:lol:

And as I pointed out to you after the race at Brands when you said someone had done it to you - it's not very nice is it? :P

Fair play though - some of the flag positions are not that easy to spot when your brain is concentrating more on keeping up with the guy in front and not running into him or waiting for them to make a mistake and get past.

It was only after the race when Andy mentioned being passed on a yellow that I had to think back if I had done it myself. I really hope not, but I honestly can't remember...

Apparently I did. Oops! :(

"Cheating cnut" :P

Andy #99

.

:lol: