Braking Distance Boards

[ooo000ooo]

Why do they still have them on the approach to corners? Do the best drivers in the world still need them after the first couple of practice sessions on a new circuit?

[CraigyMc]

ooo000ooo said:

Why do they still have them on the approach to corners? Do the best drivers in the world still need them after the first couple of practice sessions on a new circuit?

On circuits that are pretty featureless you need a point of reference for braking.

[Flooble]

You don't always brake in the same place either, so having reference points is useful.

[lord summerisle]

and when it rains - all you can see forward is a wall of spray - seeing the boards out of the corner of your eye means you still have your reference point for the corner.

[Drumroll]

Nearly all drivers/riders will use something as there "breaking point" be it the marker boards, gaps in fencing, marshals posts etc.

Several years ago we had a rider come off near us. when he had collected himself, it turned out he had missed his breaking point sign. The breaking point he had been using was a blanket hung over the fence. when the spectators moved so did his breaking point.

[Eric Mc]

Drumroll said:

Nearly all drivers/riders will use something as there "breaking point"

Has Rosberg hit his yet?

[Mr. H]

When I was marshaling a certain person told me they sometimes used to stand still for the first 20 minutes of a session then move 5 meters closer to the corner before the pack got around again.

If would be pretty foolish to use a marshal as a braking point but not unheard of if they happen to coincide.

[patmahe]

They don't do any harm and they are useful as a reference point. Plus cars get lighter during the race and the change tyres so drivers know when they can brake later or need to brake earlier depending on these variables, they will also be trying to keep temperatures in check so may need to cool the brakes for a lap or two at some point too.

I remember a good few years ago, I think it was Jenson Button in his Williams at Spa couldn't get his car stopped for turn 1 braking at the 100 metre board, this happened a few times in practice. He complained that the 100 metre sign must be off because he knew he could brake in his car from speed X to speed Y in 100 metres. He asked for it to be checked and sure enough the board was only 85 metres from the corner. That level of knowledge and confidence in his knowledge always impressed me.

[EnglishTony]

Also on an average race day it's not just F1 drivers hacking about. The Porsches, GP2, F3 etc need reference points too.

Edited by EnglishTony on Wednesday 27th July 18:17

[Tango13]

Mr. H said:

When I was marshaling a certain person told me they sometimes used to stand still for the first 20 minutes of a session then move 5 meters closer to the corner before the pack got around again.

If would be pretty foolish to use a marshal as a braking point but not unheard of if they happen to coincide.

A certain J Dunlop who was a bit good when it came to the TT was once using a young lady in a bright red dress as a braking marker at one of the Irish road races until he crashed.

His reason for crashing?

'The girl in the red dress fked off!'

I also heard of a bike racer using a large brown stone by side of the track at the end of Cadwells' straight as a braking marker until he too crashed. As he lay there wondering just what the F went wrong he noticed that the stone wasn't actually a stone, it was a hedgehog slowly shuffling towards him...