Rule of the Day - "racing room"
25.4 Rules For Overtaking
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25.4.2 Punting
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Once the trailing car has its front wheel next to the driver of the other vehicle, it is considered that the trailing car has a right to be there. And, that the leading driver must leave the trailing driver enough “racing room.” In most cases, “racing room” is defined as “at least three quarters of one car width.”
I talked to a few of you about this part of the passing rule section at TWS and actually over the last year have gotten several different interpretations. Sooo..
My expectation has always been that racing room in club racing was determined as the area between my car and your car, NOT the amount of room I leave you "on track".
If I am the lead car, I am obligated to give you enough room to place 4 wheels on track PLUS additional room between us so that we can both negotiate the turn without having to lean on each other. As specified that is typically "at least three quarters of one car width" BETWEEN us in addition to whatever room you need to keep four wheels on.
Yes? No?
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Re: Rule of the Day - "racing room"
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueFirePony
If I am the lead car, I am obligated to give you enough room to place 4 wheels on track PLUS additional room between us so that we can both negotiate the turn without having to lean on each other.Yes? No?
I'll take "no" and "why do I feel compelled to answer this."
Total required space, including space between the cars, is 3/4ths of a car when there is no fixed barrier. I still think there is some grey area when two cars are door to door with no clear position and that the passing car has to safely complete the pass.
It IS wheel to wheel racing and not time trial. I have found all of this group to attempt to give "as much room as possible." Usually. I have also had the nose chopped pretty good on a couple of occassions.
It is advantageous to be able to lean on another driver's comfort zone; if I know that driving very close to someone will aid me in cleanly gaining track position, expect it to happen.
Now, will some folks disagree on what is too aggressive in the quest for plastic medals? Certainly; we've seen some of that this week. Does that necessarily make anyone wrong? I don't think so.
My limited experience to date is that someone in a session has more skill, more car and more determination to get to the front than I do. Doesn't mean I have to roll over and give it to them.
Did this come from anything specific at TWS, pre-Hallett jitters, growth as a driver? Just curious.
Re: Rule of the Day - "racing room"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal
Regarding distance for side-to-side and front-to-back, there is no "buffer" as long as there is no contact.
This is the way I've always read that rule. The room between your car the car next to you is determined by how pretty a paint job he has or how expensive their car is. ie, for when Jay Carley passes me, I'm giving 2+ car widths :)
I'm pretty sure the intent of the 3/4 rule is how much track you (leading car) are supposed to leave the other guy. Agreed that for this level of racing it might be best to word it as min 1 car width.