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The most challenging situation on the track is road rage. If you thought that was only on city streets and highways, then you have not watched NASCAR or other televised racing events. Road rage on the track may be caused by an idiot who needs to be off the track. I recall an early track day I attended where I was cut off by a Merkur and I went to talk to the driver in the paddock. I walked away before initiating a conversation as he was laughing with his buddies and talking about and pointing to the marks on his bumper where he had contacted other cars. If I had been the organizer, he would have been gone from the event but not until he had spoken to anyone he had contacted. That is uncalled for behavior. (Aside: I still give Merkur’s wide berth on the track. Good thing they are even less frequently driven at the track than my favourite Nissan NX!) Apart from contact or apparently intentionally close calls, the trigger for most road rage is creating a train of cars by not allowing passing in the appropriate passing zones.
This is usually combined with ignoring the blue passing flag and possibly even the black flag. This driver typically has a fast car but cannot corner. Once you get them back onto pit row it will be a discussion and possibly placing an instructor, which may be you the organizer, into the car. They may be slow but they cannot be holding up all of your other participants. I usually suggest to other drivers to do a drive through on pit lane to put half a track between themselves and the offender, but recognize that the offender also needs to be brought in for a discussion. Time for the black flag.
A mechanical failure caused this smoke show at Shannoville Motorsport Park. Fortunately, everyone and the car were fine afterwards. It just needed some mechanical attention in the paddock.
If there's more than one offender it may be time to put out the checkered flag. In addition to ending a session you can use it or a standing black flag at all stations to bring everyone in for a mini driver's meeting. Sometimes it is necessary to ensure the safety of the event. Accidents happen at race tracks, but if the organizer can do something to stop aggressive behaviour then they need to.At the lunch time break it is time to have another driver’s meeting. Discuss the great things that occurred. Discuss the obviously not so great things. Encourage everyone to maintain a positive attitude. Encourage everyone to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Remind everyone to maintain an awareness of their alertness. Discuss that accidents on track in mid-afternoon may occur because of driver fatigue and inattentiveness, assisted by a feeling of invincibility. Remind them that as an organizer you want everyone to go home with their car looking as good as when they arrived. And not on a flat bed! Three errors in one lap, even if minor, pull into pit row and assess your status. The marshals at my events have a standing rule – four wheels off, black flag. I want to know what happened and make sure it does not occur again. Unless, of course, contact with a wall has occured and then it will be a Red Flag plus a call to Robyn and her flat bed.
Keep things organized and have enough bodies to support the day. Everyone appreciates an event that moves forward like clockwork.
At the end of the day check the track for debris. Check the paddock for debris. Check for forgotten equipment or personal property that was removed for track use and left behind. Thank the marshals, track attendants, and track administration for the day they have provided. Return the radio that you have used to communicate with the track officials. Then sit down and ensure that all of the signed liability waivers are in one place. Check your pockets for waivers that may have been signed then stuffed into a pocket. Then have a bite to eat, a bottle of water, and you will find yourself already thinking about what you will do differently at your next event. Ensure you have a smart phone, tablet, or pen/paper so you can record your ideas. Then send an email out thanking all of the lappers for joining you – and tell them about your plans for the next event.
With participants driving their vehicle in and then empyting out the contents, others with tow dollies or trailers, everyone moving about and setting things down as they go it is inevitable that something will be left behind. Gather it up. That's good karma!
This is part of my support team. My wife, Pamela, who is on her own now at the registration desk as my daughter and other support staff, Alisha, moved to British Columbia. Katie, my daughter and co-driver, is not driving as much since she moved to Melbourne, Australia. And my car plus my home away from home – both well used at local race tracks.
