fatal crash at Goodwood today
Discussion
I've just spent the last hour reading all the messages following the fatal crash at Goodwood at the end of June of the driver of the Ferrari and four things come to mind.
Firstly, shock, and condolances to the family of the deceased.
Secondly, the crass term 'Billy' for 'punters' (which, in itself,is almost equally patronising). It's pretty obvious that it readily conjures up Billy Goat, Billy No Mates, Silly Billy, etc., and just adds to the notion of dim-witted customers glibly handing over wads of cash to be piloted round circuits in fast cars. It just denotes lack of respect. Maybe some people do fall into that category, but a lot do not.
Thirdly, I think the instructors are incredibly brave to get into a strange fast road car next to a total stranger and be propelled around a circuit with nothing to do in an emergency but grab the wheel or handbrake. I think they should be paid a lot more. I remember making one instructor jump when I put the tail of my Griff out when going through St Mary's, at Goodwood, on a GRRC members' track day, but caught it in time, only to do exactly the same thing on the next lap! However, on a rally day,at a rather ramshackle set-up somewhere in The Cotswolds, my instructor was so utterly hung-over he just sat next to me looking green, grimly hanging onto a large bottle of water, leaping out after one session to throw-up behind a shed! There always seems to be one rotten apple.
Finally it really does seem that something must be done to revise the set-up of track days. I've now given up going to Goodwood track-days, not just because I've long since sold my Griff, but because people are now turning up in some fearsomely fast cars, mostly Porsches & Ferraris, capable of extraordinary speeds, and screaming round a circuit that hasn't been largely modified since 1965. I'm a big fan of the Revival meetings in September and have been to every single one, and wouldn't want the essence of the circuit to be altered so as to preserve the atmosphere of this great event, but surely some well placed gravel traps between Ford Water and St. Marys would be a good idea?
Firstly, shock, and condolances to the family of the deceased.
Secondly, the crass term 'Billy' for 'punters' (which, in itself,is almost equally patronising). It's pretty obvious that it readily conjures up Billy Goat, Billy No Mates, Silly Billy, etc., and just adds to the notion of dim-witted customers glibly handing over wads of cash to be piloted round circuits in fast cars. It just denotes lack of respect. Maybe some people do fall into that category, but a lot do not.
Thirdly, I think the instructors are incredibly brave to get into a strange fast road car next to a total stranger and be propelled around a circuit with nothing to do in an emergency but grab the wheel or handbrake. I think they should be paid a lot more. I remember making one instructor jump when I put the tail of my Griff out when going through St Mary's, at Goodwood, on a GRRC members' track day, but caught it in time, only to do exactly the same thing on the next lap! However, on a rally day,at a rather ramshackle set-up somewhere in The Cotswolds, my instructor was so utterly hung-over he just sat next to me looking green, grimly hanging onto a large bottle of water, leaping out after one session to throw-up behind a shed! There always seems to be one rotten apple.
Finally it really does seem that something must be done to revise the set-up of track days. I've now given up going to Goodwood track-days, not just because I've long since sold my Griff, but because people are now turning up in some fearsomely fast cars, mostly Porsches & Ferraris, capable of extraordinary speeds, and screaming round a circuit that hasn't been largely modified since 1965. I'm a big fan of the Revival meetings in September and have been to every single one, and wouldn't want the essence of the circuit to be altered so as to preserve the atmosphere of this great event, but surely some well placed gravel traps between Ford Water and St. Marys would be a good idea?
Some interesting posts on here, It's a real shame this happened and get well Matt and condolances to John.
I don't agree that ARDS is a waste of time as it is a move in the right direction. I do think that just because you can race, doesn't mean you can instruct and this ultimately boils down to the communication of the instructor to the driver.
I have been on a number of track days and used to book with a company called Track Action. They advertise ARDS instructors but actually use several 'Billy's' as you all put it, which was worrying.
Any suggestions on safety? Good circuits.
I don't agree that ARDS is a waste of time as it is a move in the right direction. I do think that just because you can race, doesn't mean you can instruct and this ultimately boils down to the communication of the instructor to the driver.
I have been on a number of track days and used to book with a company called Track Action. They advertise ARDS instructors but actually use several 'Billy's' as you all put it, which was worrying.
Any suggestions on safety? Good circuits.
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