03-22-2007, 12:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2007, 01:08 PM by Brian Minkin.)
There was certainly some very strange passing behavior going on in the black run group at Zone 2 VIR. I would give a car an early pass as I entered the front straight and even with me lifting off the throttle it would take forever for these guys to complete the pass. As they are taking their Sunday drive sort of pass a really fast car would come up and I would give them the pass as well. In an instant they are up on the first car who is completing their Sunday drive pass and slowing down as they get back on the line. There is no room for car 2 to tuck in as I am now gaining on the first car I gave the pass too. Car 2 has no choice at that point but to pass car 1 who is not giving them a passing signal. Scary stuff. I have never before experienced anything like it and their was more then one driver taking forever to complete the pass they where given. I also found myself in a situation a couple of times where the car I gave a pass to gets back in line, comes up on the next car which is very slow and gives both of us the pass. (two signals). The guy would pull out and then do the really slow pass thing. I would pull out and have to lift or even brake because car 1 is backing off as they get back on the line. ( its still 1000 feet to turn 1). Also had a situation on the back straight after Oak Tree that cars would pass left and then stay left and have me pass them on the right instead of getting back on line and having me pass them on the left after they got back on line. So I am zigging doing a left pass and then getting back on line to take the right pass. Worked but did not make sense. Perhaps this is just the result of putting a lot of cars together that have not driven together before but I think some people put themselves in black that did not have the experience it takes to run in that fast a group.
I am not trying to justify the situations that occured at VIR. I would never be comfortable running in a passing signals optional group. Just let it be that these guys would not be running in black if they where RTR participants so I don't think these situations would be common at our events.
I am not trying to justify the situations that occured at VIR. I would never be comfortable running in a passing signals optional group. Just let it be that these guys would not be running in black if they where RTR participants so I don't think these situations would be common at our events.
1995 993 - Track car
1994 965 - Race car
2002 Boxster - Her car but I get to drive it
2008 Cayenne S - Her daily driver
2006 Ford F-250 crew cab diesel - Porsche Suppport Vehicle & Tow truck
1994 965 - Race car
2002 Boxster - Her car but I get to drive it
2008 Cayenne S - Her daily driver
2006 Ford F-250 crew cab diesel - Porsche Suppport Vehicle & Tow truck