I believe we have the best flagman in the business and i am very proud to say that. He has done a great job for us and is the nicest guy you will ever meet. To come on here and bash a person for doing his job is way out of line. Most drivers have no problem with the starts. The guys that have problems are the rookies and they will learn with each race. Once again i am very proud of our flagman!!!
Thanks, Dave

Let's just start races F1 style... :thumb

With all due respect Dave, there are some very experienced drivers expressing concerns about the way the races are being started. You might want to speak with a few.

This is not the flagman's fault....what is happening is out of his control.

Best flagman in the business is a fromer L-Burg flagman, Tom Wilson.

The Flagman is MAN in charge when it race time!
The Pole Sitter is "the designated LEADER" for that short period of time while cars are lined up for the "START". The polesitter sets the pace for the start of the race and waits until he sees the :greenflag: to hammer down. PLAIN & SIMPLE.
Its up to the flagman to "START" the race when he decides everybody is ready. After all he is the one looking the field over and IS THE RACE STARTER! If not, he throws the yellow, points a black flag at problem driver and next time hes outa there!
In my opinion, he is "main man in charge" of the race. What he says, goes. Not the promoter or track owner.

YOUR 100% RIGHT I SAID THAT ALL ALONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:checkered:

I don't understand why your focus point needs to change? Focus on the car in front of you, just like you always have. The front row will go when they see the green and everybody else will follow.

I think the bigger issue is that everybody wants to get a "jump" instead of racing their way to the front. When using a designated starting point where the pole car can accelerate from, you will have cars in the back taking off (in turn 3 or even the back stretch) when the pole car hits that point, instead of everybody firing in an orderly fashion.

Bob,

I am with you. I enjoyed having Dave and Tom Wilson flag while racing at the Burg. What did you think of the fellow from USAC? Looked like he chugged a couple of Red Bulls before he got in the flagstand!!

Bottomline is this, the two cars on the front row watch for the flagman to drop the green flag and at the same time the lights turn green, everyone else behind the front row should be watching the car in front of them to go. That simple.
Thanks, Dave

I hadn't intended to post in this thread. What the heck do I know about :greenflag:ing a race? But, I have to jump in to state my complete agreement with this post. With respect to USAC, I go all the way back to a time when Ken Fowler was flagging. Ray Schaike, also a former 'Burg flagman, was the finest USAC flagman I had seen until Tom came along. Now the two of them are tied for numero uno IMHO. Further, I find it incredible that Dave Wilson isn't flagging somewhere. He had made tremendous strides and was the equal of any flagman doing regular shows at any IN or OH track I have visited, again just IMHO.This is NOT, in any way, a criticism of any other laundry wavers, and certainly I am not questioning the ability of the current 'Burg guy, Tim Montgomery.

:checkered:

Note: Jerry Shaw loaned me a few of his commas. :wink