Opinions... Trackday, was I treated fairly?

Opinions... Trackday, was I treated fairly?

Author
Discussion

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Thursday 16th June 2022
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Hi all,

I'd like some feedback on a trackday at Anglesey following a black flag incident.

I was in a 2005 Audi A4 diesel estate, full interior, stock engine, **** tyres, towbar on the back. I've only been to Anglesey twice before and am still learning the track.

After my stint, I was politely told by the TDO I was "too aggressive" and "wasn't moving over for people", but there was nobody behind me the whole 8 lap stint. The only thing I can think of was coming past the pit wall with a GT3RS right behind me... but as you can see on the video, I'd just overtaken him. Ditto the other 911, the Megane IV RS, the VX220, the M3. They were only behind me after being overtaken. So why was I "not letting people through"? Seems an odd complaint.

Question 1) I've looked back over the video and not seen a single blue flag (I could be wrong). Shouldn't the marshalls have been doing this to let me through? Why were they actively doing it with other cars, but not mine? There was a couple of Ariel Atoms on what looked like a similar pace to me, getting waved through at every opporunity.

Question 2) Should people be backing off, and moving over to the right to let me through? I spectated, and many did this for other cars. I also spent 3 whole laps up close behind a Caterfield as an experiment and it would not move. Is that fair?

This isn't a pop at the TDO I am just trying to make sense of it all and learn from it. Admittedly my patience could be better, but it's hard to overtake on the big straights when I'm in a lardy diesel estate. Stupid car to track, I know.

Video here



Edited by Kellerman on Friday 17th June 00:28

85Carrera

3,503 posts

237 months

Thursday 16th June 2022
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It was because you drove like a cock. Not seen the whole video (because I got bored with the music and the fawning laughter of your passenger) but no need to be all over the back of other cars going into corners on a trackday.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
quotequote all
85Carrera said:
It was because you drove like a cock. Not seen the whole video (because I got bored with the music and the fawning laughter of your passenger) but no need to be all over the back of other cars going into corners on a trackday.
Erm, thanks for that?

It wouldn't be happening if they used their mirrors, got blue flagged or just moved over though would it?

thebraketester

14,224 posts

138 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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Reminds me of that clown in the Nissan GTR.

If I was a TDO and saw that video I would blacklist you.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
quotequote all
The whole point of a trackday is to learn the handling of your car, to push it harder than you do on the road. Why would you turn up and drive slowly? Imagine being that risk-averse! laugh

I'm putting this one down to marshalling. Blue flagging would have solved all of this.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
quotequote all
thebraketester said:
Reminds me of that clown in the Nissan GTR.

If I was a TDO and saw that video I would blacklist you.
What would you say to questions 1 and 2?

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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Nevermind.

I won't get any joy discussing this with risk-averse killjoys.

roadsmash

2,622 posts

70 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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Spoilsport, why delete your post?

thebraketester

14,224 posts

138 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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roadsmash said:
Spoilsport, why delete your post?


No doubt that YT video will be deleted in about 5 seconds.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
quotequote all
I won't delete it.

I just thought I could have a sensible discussion with enthusiasts, without being rude about it.

But then I remembered this is PH.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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Also looking for suggestions for better seats. Standard leather ones are horrid.

roadsmash

2,622 posts

70 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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You asked for people’s opinions… you received two opinions before you deleted the post? Two? Why did you make the post? Did you expect everyone to agree with you?

Even more bizarrely, the answer to all your possible questions are answered PERFECTLY by the very kind and patient marshal at the end of the video! confused

He explains that your driving was just a little bit too aggressive.

Also your comment in the video “why come to a track day and go so slow” is a bit arrogant really. Not everyone wants to drive as fast as you, some people get just as much enjoyment when driving slower.

As the marshal said to you, everyone has different abilities.

Also, the way you hold the steering wheel screams “I’m an amateur.” Hands are all over the place! For you to judge others is a bit of a dick move to be honest. Wind your neck in.

If you want to race aggressively, get a race license.

Pebbles167

3,442 posts

152 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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Trying to be impartial. You were aggressive, overtaking through corners, chopping some others in the apex, and bumper riding.

But I've seen worse. Maybe just try be a bit calmer in future? You'll probably enjoy it more too.

Gotta say though, your car was pretty quick.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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roadsmash said:
You asked for people’s opinions… you received two opinions before you deleted the post? Two? Why did you make the post? Did you expect everyone to agree with you?

Even more bizarrely, the answer to all your possible questions are answered PERFECTLY by the very kind and patient marshal at the end of the video! confused

He explains that your driving was just a little bit too aggressive.

Also your comment in the video “why come to a track day and go so slow” is a bit arrogant really. Not everyone wants to drive as fast as you, some people get just as much enjoyment when driving slower.

As the marshal said to you, everyone has different abilities.

Also, the way you hold the steering wheel screams “I’m an amateur.” Hands are all over the place! For you to judge others is a bit of a dick move to be honest. Wind your neck in.

If you want to race aggressively, get a race license.
Thanks for that.

Few points:

I am an amateur. I don't pretend otherwise.

I have an injury, I can't hold the wheel as I'd like to. And don't particularly care how it "looks", so long as I'm in control of the car.

I wasn't fast. It's an A4 diesel for christs sake. Other people were just rather oddly deciding to drive even slower than me.

There was no marshall in the video, that was a TDO. And he was objectively wrong about much of what he said so I won't pay too much attention to it. I also think you're similarly out of your depth (no offence).

Henz

210 posts

102 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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I wouldn't complain about the lack of marshalling on track as fair enough, they could have blue flagged some cars for you, but you would just as likely been black flagged during your laps for that driving rather than advised after the fact.

You overtook a lot of those cars in or shortly after corners as they were held up by traffic but respecting the track day rules. Doesn't mean you were faster than them and if they then caught you up once they'd cleared the traffic then let them back through.

BobM

886 posts

255 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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I'm afraid i agree with the others. It's not about your speed, it's about the way you drive in proximity to other cars.

Overtaking on a trackday is supposed to be on the straights and with consent. Your first overtake was past 2 cars when the 911 immediately in front of you was waiting to get past the TT. There's no indication either of them had indicated for you to pass or indeed were expecting you to pass.

Your second overtake was on the apex of the right hander coming up towards rocket. Again the guy in the Audi wasn't expecting you to pass on what is the fastest corner on the circuit. I didn't bother watching the rest.

I agree the other cars were going fairly slow. Why do you think that was? In my opinion it's likely to be because they were driving at the limits of their ability/confidence, something faster drivers tend to overlook. The last thing they want is someone buzzing around their ears in the corners or when they're trying to overtake someone themselves.

Glenn63

2,757 posts

84 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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I’m with the others on here, just getting far to close to the cars in front (but it is an Audi must have thought it was outside lane of m6 hehe) then making last minute diving overtakes into bends, no circuit likes that.

It can be annoying if people don’t move over, and people in ‘better’ cars don’t seem to like moving over as quickly for ‘lesser’ vehicles I find. But up catch keep a reasonable difference maybe gaining now and then to show I’m faster and hope they move or get the blue from a marshal.

I had a cayman gt4 at Anglesey refuse to move over lap after lap until he was blue flagged then decided to make an emergency pit when he clocked the flag, but I made no attempt to dive past as that will always look to be being dangerous.

Did they let you back out afterwards? Any other issues?

thebraketester

14,224 posts

138 months

Friday 17th June 2022
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I am convinced this is the OP


Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
quotequote all
Henz said:
I wouldn't complain about the lack of marshalling on track as fair enough, they could have blue flagged some cars for you, but you would just as likely been black flagged during your laps for that driving rather than advised after the fact.

You overtook a lot of those cars in or shortly after corners as they were held up by traffic but respecting the track day rules. Doesn't mean you were faster than them and if they then caught you up once they'd cleared the traffic then let them back through.
In fairness I caught all those cars outside of traffic. There were enough clear gaps to see it wasn't just about them being held up.

They didn't re-catch me at any point.

Kellerman

Original Poster:

174 posts

25 months

Friday 17th June 2022
quotequote all
BobM said:
Overtaking on a trackday is supposed to be on the straights and with consent. Your first overtake was past 2 cars when the 911 immediately in front of you was waiting to get past the TT. There's no indication either of them had indicated for you to pass or indeed were expecting you to pass.
Sorry Bob you're wrong there. I have just checked the event instructions from the TDO. It's not overtaking by consent at all and it never has been. That would be a horrendously boring trackday if you think about it!

They do however, specifically mention letting faster cars past by backing off, and moving over to the right. I didn't always see that happening, so technically some of the fault lies with the other cars.