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CanAm · #51 03-20-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

Well... there were those comments from the CI at the BMW Race school! But they may not have been discussed quite as much here as in other forums. yet

roundel · #52 03-20-2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

X2

Well... there were those comments from the CI at the BMW Race school! But they may not have been discussed quite as much here as in other forums. yet

I thought there was a whole thread about Irfan's BMW Race School experience. Is there another thread on another forum?

CanAm · #53 03-20-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel

I thought there was a whole thread about Irfan's BMW Race School experience. Is there another thread on another forum?

Correct, and I'm not aware of any other thread in any forum. I've no idea what TR's referring to.

BTW, BMW CCA is doing the school again this season in May at SP and in June at Tbolt, and I plan to attend one of them if it works with my schedule. Worth doing again - as much track time as a DE, but more fun, you learn more, and not much extra cost. A bit more risk than a DE though, so not the ideal place for an expensive car.

http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/events/events.aspx

Vicegrip · #54 03-20-2013, 07:06 PM

Notes in red. Sorry pulling this out of history's yesterday just I stumbled onto this thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irfan

Regarding seeing flags, some things I do, and suggest/require the same with students:

- Make a point to look at every flag station on every lap, no exceptions. What? Sounds good on paper and works great so long as you are not doing much of anything else.

- Look directly at the flag station, don't just try to catch it in peripheral vision. That generally means choosing a specific point on the track to look at the flag station, with earlier usually being better. Speaking from my own experience.
Please don't teach this important skill in this format. The idea is to first note if a flag is being flown. If "yes" then more brain power is required. Remember we tend to drive where we look and the flaggers don't like getting hit by cars. Checking early and then not using peripheral vision means the station can change state and you don't see the information at a most important time when something is newly unfolding in the station's coverage.
I prefer to teach my students to call each manned station out on the first lap and I teach to glance at each one as soon as it comes into the sight picture. "sight picture" is key as when you use this method you are able to focus on what is needed while being able to trigger on a change such as a flagger moving to pull a flag. Goos sight picture skill will note when the flagger added a hat or is now sitting rather than standing. (or in the case of T4 awake for a change)

- Wave to flaggers whenever they display a flag, regardless of which flag it is. This is bullshit, sorry but I don't have a better word for it. Acknowledging some flags is important. Spending time and an entire arm waving to a flagger might be taking attention from what is needed. Example. You see a waving yellow in T3, please don't look at and wave at the flagger. You have garnered the information he was instructed to give. Looking at him more will not tell you more. Rather than looking at him/her and waving "Hi!" for dog's sake look up track and in your mirrors, gather information on the track and react to the waving flag accordingly.

- At the end of each session, wave to all flaggers after the checker (to let them know the checker was seen, and to say thank you). we teach to wave to the manned stations to reinforce the locations to the students

I also emphasize to students that flaggers are there to help and are part of the team, not simply there to catch you doing wrong things; they can prevent wrecks and possibly even save your life. I can't say I ever once thought the flaggers were there to catch me doing something and have never broached the idea to a student. Why even bother to say it and plant a thought? The flaggers are our forward eyes and ears and are there to protect. Full stop. BTW it is not " they can prevent wrecks" it is "they do prevent wrecks". most of the folks that have been tracking for a while have a flagger save story.

...

1ED1 · #55 03-20-2013, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

Notes in red. Sorry pulling this out of history's yesterday just I stumbled onto this thread. ...

+1

Jazzbass · #56 03-20-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ED1

+1

+2. Irfan, you clearly have a lot to learn as an instructor. Stop being in such a hurry to get in the right seat and take some more time to learn yourself. Some of the things you suggest that you'll have a student do are not just wrong but dangerous.

roundel · #57 03-20-2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

Sounds good on paper and works great so long as you are not doing much of anything else...

It would work fine on a nice Sunday drive.

rs911t · #58 03-20-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

+2. Irfan, you clearly have a lot to learn as an instructor. Stop being in such a hurry to get in the right seat and take some more time to learn yourself. Some of the things you suggest that you'll have a student do are not just wrong but dangerous.

+1

Fortunately you're publishing your "knowledge" in a public forum our CI and senior DE folks read. Keep it up.