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One of the handouts was a track map showing all of the corner stations, passing zones, and turn numbers.After completing tech, I was handed a packet with information about the track, driving, and car setup. One of the items in the packet was a map of the track with all of the corners marked and the workers’ stations labeled. It even included a card explaining how to set baseline tire pressures and how to change them based on car handling and track conditions. A brief driver’s meeting was held for all participants at 3:45, and then the Novice drivers’ meeting began.
Tom O’Gorman from SCCA explains to all us novices how to keep the rubber side pointed down at the ground.The Novice driver’s meeting was aimed at getting everyone out on track safely, even those with little or no experience. Safety was the key thing discussed. Tom from SCCA told everyone to start well below their driving limit and slowly increase speeds. He pointed out that exceeding your limit right away not only risks unsafe conditions buy may prevent you from ever knowing where the actual limit was. He also discussed driving in the wet, as the sky began to grow darker and darker. He explained what the different flags meant (Yellow, Black, Blue, and Checkered were the only flags used for the novice sessions). This event would not be timed, and it was not a race. The purpose was to have fun, not to “win.” Finally, safe passing was discussed. Passing would only be allowed in four designated areas on the track and only when the car in front signaled the following car to pass.
How to properly signal a car behind you to pass.We also found out that this was going to be the first public event held on the new Pitt Race Full Course, which included the old North Course and the new South Course!
After the meeting, it was time for Paced Laps. These laps were single-file behind a pace car with no passing allowed. The purpose of this was to get everybody comfortable with the layout of the course and the location of all of the corner worker stations. The Novice group was highly encouraged to go out on the paced lap. Other people could also go out on the lap, even those not participating in the main events. (I’ve heard of minivans out on the course during paced laps!) The below video shows the first of the paced laps.
As you can see from the video, the weather did not cooperate. The skies opened up near the end of the paced laps. The first Novice on-track session began shortly after the Paced Laps, but was black flagged almost immediately due to lightning. After a 15-minute wait for the lightning to pass, we were allowed back out on track, but there were several “offs” caused by standing water, mainly in the new South Course. Apparently the drainage systems weren’t yet finished…
