PittRace "Red Flags" and the kink, questions?

[TimTheAsian]

link:

go to the 7:50 mark. it was the first session of the day in A group.

This was just a dumb pass attempt on the wrong side.

 

[Backmarker]

This was just a dumb pass attempt on the wrong side.

While not a smart decision to attempt a pass at that moment... there was still track available to use and no need to run off and bury your stuff... geez.

 

[TimTheAsian]

While not a smart decision to attempt a pass at that moment... there was still track available to use and no need to run off and bury your stuff... geez.

I don't think it was a moment thing, it was just a bad decision. Why that decision was made is the question. Does the guy know or not know the track? If he does know the track he would know that people drift back to track left to open the radius for the high speed kink. With that 1k he should've waited half a second and then motored by on the camera bike's right side, not attempt a pass on the side the camera bike is going to drift to. Even better, he should've realized the pass was going to be made too late and should've just abandoned the attempt entirely. Also, it was the first session of the day.

After he dipped into the grass there was not enough pavement for him to get stopped imo.

Also lol at one of our N2 normal riders on an gen2 SV taking both of those bikes to school going down the hill on the back straight and then again into t3 and t4 and then disappearing out of t5.

 

[GeorgeB]

I don't think it was a moment thing, it was just a bad decision. Why that decision was made is the question. Does the guy know or not know the track? If he does know the track he would know that people drift back to track left to open the radius for the high speed kink. With that 1k he should've waited half a second and then motored by on the camera bike's right side, not attempt a pass on the side the camera bike is going to drift to. Even better, he should've realized the pass was going to be made too late and should've just abandoned the attempt entirely. Also, it was the first session of the day.

After he dipped into the grass there was not enough pavement for him to get stopped imo.

Also lol at one of our N2 normal riders on an gen2 SV taking both of those bikes to school going down the hill on the back straight and then again into t3 and t4 and then disappearing out of t5.

I agree, its a tough call to say why but the speed difference was a lot and there isn't much track to work with at that speed. Watching the whole video there was quite a difference in speed in that group. Might be people that never rode there vs people that know it vert well, either way it sucks for the rider that didn't stay on 2 wheels. Hope they are ok.

 

[Jorgy]

Is there a decision on whether we will run the new chicane on Oct 7/8 at Pitt or the old layout?

 

[tad158]

The endurance races on Saturday had no red flags (with the exception of the one due to lightning that ended the race early). Everyone made it through the 2-hour and 6-hour endurance races cleanly with several racers saying they actually like the change. With any change, it takes people a little while to first adjust to the news, then to adjust and figure out how to run the new configuration. We saw this happen at Road Atlanta when we used the chicane for our first event almost a decade ago. There was a lot of crying and complaining ahead of time, but in the end people figured it out and embraced the change.

This configuration is the one that pro-racing will be using and we have a lot of current and upcoming MotoA racers who attend our events. We will use this to be consistent.

This change was contemplated well in advance of the event, and input was provided by top pro racers and officials from several organizations. This permanent chicane (track configuration option) is a significant improvement from the temporary curbing MotoA has been using. We had a timing loop connected and cameras installed across the chicane and monitored it all weekend. Despite what several individuals were (falsely) propagating on Friday, using the chicane went quite well.

According to this post seems like going forward it will be the MotoA version.

 

[The B Team]

I have ALSO heard that the chicane is here to stay from my friendly neighborhood CR.

Point of inquiry, since we're on the topic of pitt...they do NOT allow track previews/walks on friday night, correct?

 

[Jorgy]

That was my next question, whether we could get out there to take a look on the Friday evening

 

[tad158]

Correct, you can't walk Pitt. At least they always lock the fence every night when the track goes cold.

 

[The B Team]

Wamp wamp. Anybody have a good video with the chicane, maybe breaking down the track as well?

 

[The B Team]

I found this full flying lap with the chicane, if anybody else is interested. No walk-through, though.

 

[HondaGalToo]

I'm not convinced running the MA chicane won't create more problems than it potentially solves. We'll see. Maybe it'll work out. If not, I hope there will be consideration to not use it, depending on how it goes. If someone blows it, they are going to t-bone the rider exiting it.

I know we need to try something, that area has become problematic. Hope it helps.

 

[Jorgy]

Full lap with the new chicane, including a rider who jumps it. This is the only onboard I have found.

 

[TimTheAsian]

Here is the chicane at race pace:

 

[The B Team]

If someone blows it, they are going to t-bone the rider exiting it.

Yah that was my concern as well. A couple little flag football cones aren't much for people that are too "in the zone" to see bright red flags waving. I get that a fleet of endurance racers can manage it, but I have my concerns about the trackday heroes. Maybe string a piece of airfence across the track or something?

 

[rpm894]

Yah that was my concern as well. A couple little flag football cones aren't much for people that are too "in the zone" to see bright red flags waving. I get that a fleet of endurance racers can manage it, but I have my concerns about the trackday heroes. Maybe string a piece of airfence across the track or something?

Going through the cones shouldn’t be a safety issue if someone decides they are going too fast and has to go straight instead of turning into the chicane. The issues would arise from people turning in and then screwing up.

 

[Otto Man]

Yah that was my concern as well. A couple little flag football cones aren't much for people that are too "in the zone" to see bright red flags waving. I get that a fleet of endurance racers can manage it, but I have my concerns about the trackday heroes. Maybe string a piece of airfence across the track or something?

It wasn't coincidence that Dunlop put their ginormous Dunlop inflatable right there at the chicane during the MA races.

 

[The B Team]

It wasn't coincidence that Dunlop put their ginormous Dunlop inflatable right there at the chicane during the MA races.

This seems both perfectly fitting and reasonably priced.

 

[HondaGalToo]

It wasn't coincidence that Dunlop put their ginormous Dunlop inflatable right there at the chicane during the MA races.

Agreed. Need more than just cones there. I used the chicane at YCRS and it definitely can sneak up on you.

 

[Dave561]

So what excuse is valid for passing there that puts the value of your lap times above my life?

That’s the only answer here and if you don’t have one don’t pass and don’t make me pack your stuff early and bid you good day.