Open Passing?????

[tonyTIGERX8]

... anyone running race speeds in turns is not taking hands off the wheel to get passed ... wrong combination of everything.

[slowautoxr]

As a slow driver I grid at the back. Fast drivers in the front of the group need to realize that if they hit it from the get go, you'll be catching me on the 1st lap. I'm sorry but your 80% is my 100% plus you're getting a head start.

I'll gladly point you by on any straight.

[JohnW8]

I refuse to participate in this poll, the standard sandbox answer is not available.

It's a family friendly site.

[JohnW8]

Hey, that's the first time I've seen the poll thingy; adds some democracy to the system!

Anyway, just wanted to say that gridding by time works very well for us TTers. At Barber, I (Miata) ran with Big Fenders and the first session seemed to be mostly a free for all. It was fun mixing it up but I knew I wasn't going to get my best time in. After being sorted, MUCH more space. I personally am fine with passing anywhere with point by but I will be pointing by only in straights (which I will say is good for the following few turns as well). I'm too busy working the wheel/car while in the turns. I do plan on keeping my race line though for time/goal ... bit more risk with open RR type passing.

Exactly! As a driver you should always stay on your line so an overtaking driver knows where you are going. The worse thing is to change your line trying to get out of the way of an overtaking driver. The point by is a courtesy to let the overtaking driver know that you see them. My goal with this is to free the road racers to run a practice session while the tt drivers are having their tt session. We can do this.

[DelanieC]

If they catch you at the end of the straight, point them by on the outside, stick to your line and see what they're made of.

[tonyTIGERX8]

... two Miata folks in agreement, that's a start!

[tonyTIGERX8]

oops, D snuck that in ... make that three.

[FVee90]

Does Andy Tow post on this forum? Andy please pick up the Roast Beef phone and make your thoughts known.

[JohnW8]

At Road Racing school you are told to maintain your line and the overtaking driver moves offline to make the pass. It's still the responsibility of BOTH drivers to safely complete the pass. The passer goes around and the passee holds his line.

I need to say that my support for open passing is for fully license drivers at tracks that can have the space. I still believe the PDX and Club Trials level (Level 1 & 2) needs to be restricted passing on straights with a clear point by. PDX drivers are learning and Club Trials has minimal safety requirements. Level 3 & 4 are both roll bar, firebottle equipped track/street cars with a driver sweating it out in nomex.

You know, honestly the only difference between a tt car and RR car is the cage.
Almost everything else is the same safety wise. There's no reason we all can't work together on the track.

Maybe with these changes we can find a way for SCCA TT to get some contingency support from Hoosier or Toyo.

[farrout]

Quite correct on holding your line when in a being passed situation. Being predictable to the oncoming driver is particularly important. I have been in a situation during a HPDE where a guy pointed me by on the right side and then moved from track left to track right. I almost collected him.

There has been some discussion about waving the point-by whilst in a corner. WRONG - please do not do that. Keep your hands on the wheel and the car under control. Make the point-by before the corner, even before the braking zone if possible.

[JohnW8]

I was following a TT driver during the Barber event as he was swarmed by faster cars (SRF) and watched as he was trying to get out of the way, moving left then right then back to left. I was screaming "hold your line". I know he was mirror driving and trying to be cooperative but in that case holding your line and acknowledging the oncoming swarm with a point by is the best way to accomplish that.

[rodhx]

You know, honestly the only differences between a tt car and RR car are the cage and that TT cars are often street-driven while RR cars rarely are.
Almost everything else is the same safety wise. There's no reason we all can't work together on the track.

I agree with the sentiment John. Just highlighting the other key difference.

[JohnW8]

I agree with the sentiment John. Just highlighting the other key difference.

Yep. I was just thinking about the moment that both are on the track.

Shoot, I'd drive my race car to work if the state didn't have a problem with it. I have all the things that make it legal for daily driver status other than insurance and tags.

[jledford]

Shoot, I'd drive my race car to work if the state didn't have a problem with it. I have all the things that make it legal for daily driver status other than insurance and tags.

You live in Alabama, getting both of those for your race car shouldn't be a problem.

[rodhx]

Recognizing that assumption of risk is inherent in any racing environment, my distinction doesn't end when the cars go on track. The "street driven TT car" needs to be considered in the discussion because this relatively low barrier of entry to on-track competition is a big part of what makes the SeDiv TT program attractive to new folks. Those same new folks might be hesitant if the (relatively) low entry cost is offset by perceived higher risk of car-to-car contact due to open passing. Seems like a lot of the new TT licensees from the last couple years are/were in tagged, insured, & street-driven cars, myself included. Not sure if open-passing would have changed anyone's decision...it's just one more thing for us to consider.