Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race

dant · 7/22/08, 2:23 AM

Very interesting debate.other than when I was front row,I've never looked at the flagman at the start.I look at the pole sitters left rear ,when he lights it ,it's GO TIME....The flagman can decide if the front row did it right ,I usually have my hands full with that raging beast I'm holding on to.......

SUPERDUKE · 7/22/08, 6:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Willy

i always liked the way the hav-a-tampa late models started their races. they carried a big box with a green flood lights in it and the flagman had control of the switch. the drivers had to maintain their 2 x 2 position and kept the pace slow until the flagman turned on the green light. any jumping of the start relegated the offender to the rear of the event. the rows behind all fired when the man ahead of him did and there was hardly ever a bad start. that caution thrown on the backstretch is very dangerous especially with sprint cars on small tight race tracks.

THANK YOU! THATS WHAT I SAID! :checkered:

Sprinter21 · 7/22/08, 8:58 AM

This one is for you SUPERDUKE. Jack Hewitt on the subject. Rated R

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tAJtnl_1bQ

SUPERDUKE · 7/22/08, 9:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprinter21

This one is for you SUPERDUKE. Jack Hewitt on the subject. Rated R

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tAJtnl_1bQ

I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THE BEST FROM ALL THE HEWITTS! JACK WAS THE BEST AT JUMPING THE GUN! AND GOT A WAY WITH IT A LOT!:checkered:

Offy22 · 7/22/08, 11:02 AM

The most common way to restart 'em down here was by the starter using the green lights as he waved the flag. The racer could use whatever green light that he had the best view of as they were located at various points around the track. :greenflag:

zeroracer · 7/22/08, 12:59 PM

If the flagman is starting the race you need to be able to see him, your reaction time might be better than the guy infront of you and if you can pass when it drops and get a better fire than the guy in front of you thats one more car passed before you get to turn 1, thats why seeing him is an issue, if he is the starter and not the pole sitter

Knoke77 · 7/22/08, 1:58 PM

I'll give you another reason why the current starting process is flawed. Say you are sitting about three rows deep in the field coming through 3 and 4 for the start. Not only are you trying to watch for the flagman to wave the green but your trying to keep from beating the rear bumper off the car in front of you plus the guy running next to you. This method I think came from the flagmans North Vernon days.

Honestly in the 3 L-Burg races I have been to this year I've seen more miscues on starts then should be happening. These guys are trying to anticipate what the flagman is going to do and it causes nothing more than beat up bumpers and accordian affects on the guys in the middle and back.

USAC has a pretty good system where you have two cones. When you get to the first cone you increase your speed slightly and when you hit the second cone it's game on. No passing until you get past the second cone. If you take off before you get to the second cone you get one more shot and then go backwards. If the flagman likes the pass the polesitter is setting and sees that he started the race at the appropriate spot then he waves the green. If the start is jumped by the pole or outside pole guy then he throws the yellow after the first corner.

Everyone complains about how late programs are running so if you want the best of both worlds you need to put a system in place where the leader gets to a designated cone and can take off. The guys in back know where it is and they know that they can't pass the guy in front of them until they are past that so there is no guessing which leads to bumper tag.

<Puts on his helmet and awaits SUPERDUKES tirade about the way things used to be>

Charles Nungester · 7/22/08, 2:09 PM

I always thought the pole sitter should start anytime between two cones in 4. It's worked for years, This system to me isn't working very well.

Not a *****, Just a observation

SUPERDUKE · 7/22/08, 2:54 PM

:redflag:YOUR NOT TO PASS ANYBODY TILL YOU GO BUY THE STARTING LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS WHAT THE STARTING LINE IS FOR! IF THEY WANT YOU TO START IN 3 & 4 THEY WOULD PUT IT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE I SAID ITS OUT OF HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUPERDUKE · 7/22/08, 2:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dant

very interesting debate.other than when i was front row,i've never looked at the flagman at the start.i look at the pole sitters left rear ,when he lights it ,it's go time....the flagman can decide if the front row did it right ,i usually have my hands full with that raging beast i'm holding on to.......

good thinking!

7/22/08, 2:09 PM	#28 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
Charles Nungester Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 14 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22,067	I always thought the pole sitter should start anytime between two cones in 4. It's worked for years, This system to me isn't working very well. Not a *****, Just a observation __________________ Charles Nungester

7/22/08, 2:23 AM	#21 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
dant Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 191	Very interesting debate.other than when I was front row,I've never looked at the flagman at the start.I look at the pole sitters left rear ,when he lights it ,it's GO TIME....The flagman can decide if the front row did it right ,I usually have my hands full with that raging beast I'm holding on to.......

7/22/08, 8:58 AM	#23 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
Sprinter21 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	This one is for you SUPERDUKE. Jack Hewitt on the subject. Rated R http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tAJtnl_1bQ

7/22/08, 11:02 AM	#25 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
Offy22 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 126	The most common way to restart 'em down here was by the starter using the green lights as he waved the flag. The racer could use whatever green light that he had the best view of as they were located at various points around the track. :greenflag:

7/22/08, 12:59 PM	#26 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
zeroracer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 251	If the flagman is starting the race you need to be able to see him, your reaction time might be better than the guy infront of you and if you can pass when it drops and get a better fire than the guy in front of you thats one more car passed before you get to turn 1, thats why seeing him is an issue, if he is the starter and not the pole sitter

7/22/08, 1:58 PM	#27 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
Knoke77 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 381	I'll give you another reason why the current starting process is flawed. Say you are sitting about three rows deep in the field coming through 3 and 4 for the start. Not only are you trying to watch for the flagman to wave the green but your trying to keep from beating the rear bumper off the car in front of you plus the guy running next to you. This method I think came from the flagmans North Vernon days. Honestly in the 3 L-Burg races I have been to this year I've seen more miscues on starts then should be happening. These guys are trying to anticipate what the flagman is going to do and it causes nothing more than beat up bumpers and accordian affects on the guys in the middle and back. USAC has a pretty good system where you have two cones. When you get to the first cone you increase your speed slightly and when you hit the second cone it's game on. No passing until you get past the second cone. If you take off before you get to the second cone you get one more shot and then go backwards. If the flagman likes the pass the polesitter is setting and sees that he started the race at the appropriate spot then he waves the green. If the start is jumped by the pole or outside pole guy then he throws the yellow after the first corner. Everyone complains about how late programs are running so if you want the best of both worlds you need to put a system in place where the leader gets to a designated cone and can take off. The guys in back know where it is and they know that they can't pass the guy in front of them until they are past that so there is no guessing which leads to bumper tag. <Puts on his helmet and awaits SUPERDUKES tirade about the way things used to be>

7/22/08, 2:54 PM	#29 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
SUPERDUKE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,256	:redflag:YOUR NOT TO PASS ANYBODY TILL YOU GO BUY THE STARTING LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS WHAT THE STARTING LINE IS FOR! IF THEY WANT YOU TO START IN 3 & 4 THEY WOULD PUT IT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE I SAID ITS OUT OF HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!