Track day paddock etiquette when borrowing stuff

[GreigM]

One of the things I like about track days is the community spirit and the knoweldge that the vast majority will help a hand with the loan of tools/equiment and knowledge where appropriate.

I benefitted from this myself this week at Spa when a mystery misfire occured and before I knew it I had a new coil pack, plugs, leads and a thousand theories and helping hands appearing.

However this kind of falls down when an individual exhibits extreme bad manners. Also at Spa a gentleman (an ARDS instructor who I won't name, but was there being paid for his services) came around looking to borrow an SD card to test a device to see if it was the card or not. I duly gave him a card with the understanding that he'd test it and be right back, and I did make the point that so long as I had it for the start of the 2nd day (2 day event) that would be fine.

Did I see the card back - nope. Its not the cost of the card which particularly bothers me, its just the downright bad manners to borrow and not make any attempt to return - it also left me unable to video several of my sessions on the day.

I'm hoping he reads this and is shamed into getting in touch and at least returning the card.

No real point to this post except to vent my frustration that another of the unwritten rules of track days is falling by the wayside.

[MattStorey]

Give the guy a call? I agree that he should have returned it asap.

http://ards.co.uk/instructors_list.asp

[motco]

I found a memory stick on the beach in Sussex; returned it to the address found on a document stored on it with a note from me saying where it found c/w email. Thanks? No chance! Manners of pigs, some people.

[darronwall]

never a borrower or a lender be!!
had my fingers burned a few times lending stuff or doing little jobs,even trailering broken cars off site for no thanks,or stuff not being returned.even given a jerry can of petrol and not been paid for it

[mgv8dave]

I done well, I found a Mac Lap top in a car park in Cambridge started it up and after about 10 minutes found the owners parents details under mum & dad.
I gave them a call and they lived about 15 minutes away so we met up and they gave me £50 :-)

On the OP topic what car were you in as I have about two hours of footage from my car, if you are on any i will send you a clip, you should be able to trust folk in the pit lane on a track day !

[GreigM]

mgv8dave said:

On the OP topic what car were you in as I have about two hours of footage from my car, if you are on any i will send you a clip, you should be able to trust folk in the pit lane on a track day !

White caterham - if you have anything that would be fab.

[Partyvan]

On the odd occasion I've borrowed a tool I take it straight back after use, like I'd expect if it were me doing the lending. I also strive to repay the favour by offering any relevant advice on the persons' car or the track if they are new to it.

[ScorpKing]

Its a really tricky one this, the arrangements at most trackdays - and one of the good things as mentioned in the original post is in the "mixing in" of everyone but its obvious that not all people are aware of the casual approach. This said the fundanmentals of lending / borrowing and returning should be utmost in peoples mind and when ever I have loaned out anything I impress upon the borrower - very forcefully that I don't expect to come looking for the borrowed part at the end of the day ! I have an open cockpit car and as such most trackdays I get a pit garage in which I regularly find people "looking over" the car especially if the bodywork is off and its quite funny the approach of people from being very rude to almost invisible - hovering around and taking photo's etc. I have got use to it now but if you have all your "kit out" (no pun intended) then it gets a bit concerning. I just wish people would just ask the questions they want to ask or ask if its OK to take a picture. I guess we are a very funny and varied breed at trackdays !Still it more enjoyable than a day at work eh !
P.S. My car is a Radical.

[corporalsparrow]

I hope he's a rare case.

I have had to borrow stuff, and expertise, from people on several occasions (my car's 50 years old!) and have always found people to be decent, polite, eager and helpful.

1) Ask nicely.
2) Treat their stuff with respect.
3) try not to take up too much of their valuable time.
4) Thank them warmly.

Not hard is it?

[TheAllSeeingPie]

To play devils advocate he might have been quite busy and totally forgotten, however this isn't really acceptable as it was supposed to be a "test" which surely would have been "plug it in and see if it works then return it straight away". I'd suggest calling him too, to at least get him to return the card as if he has forgotten and there are no contact details he might have trouble returning it. Alternatively though, if he hasn't "forgotten" then he's a thieving git and deserves to be named and shamed!

[LindsayMac]

On the same trip to Spa I leant a hand lamp/torch to some lads fixing a Golf outside the hotel as darkness was falling. They hunted me down on the second day at Spa to return it. I guess it the minority that cause us to be guarded in releasing tools and equipment. Hopefully the chap "remembers" and posts it back "overseas" to Scotland........!