Joining on the NCM safety talk on this thread, any chance for asking for curbing on the outside of turn 19 going on to the main straight? I try not to go wide there, but sometimes I end up too close to the edge. Anyone gone over the edge into the grass? I imagine it is an instant lowside there... (?)
That would be a permanent renovation that would take persuading the Owner, and convincing him/them that it's ok for cars (it is a pro-car track) and to shell out the money for it. The air fence, from my understanding, is usually funded by the Air Fence Fund/motorcycle groups...much more likely to happen.
Mario.......I've not personally had any issues at that corner with running wide. The one scenario that might come into play is someone coming off track (pit in with a hand up/leg out) and you are going around them on the outside, as they should be staying far left. If for some reason they they ran a little wide, it might force you out a little further than you originally intended to be. But, it's always wise to use caution when passing someone that is supposed to be coming off track, just in case they do something that they aren't supposed to do......like change their mind!
A wreck at 15/16 can get you into the fence! Watch the last 30 seconds of this video from last weekend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLswZsz_fN8
I have pulled in a bunch of riders for doing this and explained to them the error of their ways. Once a rider behind you sees your hand go up and or a foot out, they sometimes just dismiss you and put you out of their mind. Then, all of a sudden you drop down into the race line as they are trying to pass you (because you signaled that you were coming off track) and Boom! you have just made a new friend on the track! It amazes me that someone doesn't think of that, but I've seen it multiple times during the 4 track days that I've coached there.
I experience this every time I go to the track, yet I don't recall anyone making this clear at the riders meeting. I remember you guys explaining that once you commit to pit in, you must exit, but don't recall any emphasis on stay out of the race line all the way to the right/left. Maybe make it very clear at riders meeting?
Vern, I've watched the video a few times...did a rider do this? (put his hand up, check up, and jump back into the race line)? That location is a total funnel point...I didn't see any signals... Looks to me like the rider that crashed used poor judgement and tried to inside pass on that apex, and caught the tire of the rider in front of him...what group was this? I've used the back straight for my initial 'arm up' signal, but don't really check up until at least 2 turns later. That's not the place to lift off the throttle because it's a funnel point entering that next turn...It may be we as coaches need to think about, and come to some agreement on, where on this track is the best place to signal, checkup and move out of the race line at....all three of the turns after that have funnel points where people getting off and people continuing are capable of hitting the same spot..at the same time... P.S. I think the last checkered needs to be back there too (somewhere in the back straight), instead of where it is now..
I agree with you Keith, both on the checkered flag location and the hand up too early. My opinion would be to go through the sweeping right hander at the end of the back straight, then, just as soon as you go through the 90 degree right hander (there is a corner worker station there on your left), get a hand up and start slowing down enough to stay FAR LEFT through the next right hander. This is the one that a lot of folks will drop back down into the race line on the last right hander before you go left onto the front straight. The key here though is to reduce your speed enough going through the last right hander that you can stay within a few feet of the left side of the track and onto the pit in area.
I concur that the location you mention is actually a spot where you CAN get OUT of the line and lift a hand without getting whacked, but I'm not sure it's visually deep enough...or big enough if 5-6 riders decided to do it all at the same time without someone packing someone else...Somewhere in that big sweeper a foot or hand needs to come out as a signal without checking up too much so everyone behind you sees it and gets the message "I'm coming out", and THEN check up at the place you mention...kinda like showing a hand at Barber on the back straight, but not really moving out of the line or slowing down too much until after you top the tunnel and can go wide...thx for the discussion it makes me a better coach! I've been tossing a hand or foot down the back straight, taking that entrance to the big sweeper at speed, go wide outside the big sweeper with my foot or hand out there...
It could happen to us as easily. If it was A, then that explains the attempt at a close pass. The rider that did it is the one that wadded it up, at least he didn't do it to anyone else. At the speed in that corner, he could have killed himself or other riders and he should know better...it wasn't worth it...