Lawrenceburg

Phylo82 · 7/21/08, 2:48 PM

I am curious what other folks think of the flagman starting the races at Lawrenceburg rather than the driver on the pole getting on the gas at a pre-determined location coming out of turn 4.

The starts have not been very good. It is hard for drivers at the rear of the field to see the flagman coming out of turn 4. Drivers at the back are running into cars in front of them because they are looking at the flagman rather than the car in front of them. There has also been inconsistency as to when the green flag is being thrown.

There have been numerous restarts because cars in the front row are checking up so they don't jump the start......cars in the second row are either running into them or passing them (jumping the start).

We have only raced there twice with the AMSA so we don't have a whole lot of experience, but from what I have witnessed it would be better on the drivers and the cars if they stuck a cone out there and let the pole sitter start the race when he gets to the cone.

slide22 · 7/21/08, 3:42 PM

I hate this idea. The race should start coming out of turn 4, not when the flagman decides to throw the green. Just be like all of the other dirt tracks in the country and start the race as the cars come out of 4. This is just a wreck waiting to happen..

cecil98 · 7/21/08, 3:45 PM

I think it's ridiculous that the polesitter can "jump" (and be penalized!) the start. I've watched races from darn near my infancy (I'm 55 this week!) and the polesitter has always started the race somewhere in four. It's worked for decades and now they change it. Put the chalk line on the track and when he crosses it, he can start the race. There have been several "restarts" this year due to this stupid rule. Letting the polesitter start the race will eliminate about 90% of the restarts at the outset of a race.

SHORTBUS · 7/21/08, 3:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cecil98

I think it's ridiculous that the polesitter can "jump" (and be penalized!) the start. I've watched races from darn near my infancy (I'm 55 this week!) and the polesitter has always started the race somewhere in four. It's worked for decades and now they change it. Put the chalk line on the track and when he crosses it, he can start the race. There have been several "restarts" this year due to this stupid rule. Letting the polesitter start the race will eliminate about 90% of the restarts at the outset of a race.

CECIL,
I HAVE SEEN SOME TRACKS USE TWO CHALK LINES SPACED SO MANY FEET APART.WHEN THE LEAD CARS GET BETWEEN THE TWO LINES THEY POLE CAR CAN TAKE OFF AT ANY WHERE IN BETWEEN THE LINES.SEEMED TO WORK PRETTY GOOD. :checkered:

ThaBurgFan · 7/21/08, 3:56 PM

Phil,

I have been thinking about posting something on this topic for awhile now but did not out of respect to Dave and crew because my opinion is negative. This rule seems to be causing more problems than anything. Everyone we talk to at the races doesn't like the rule and the drivers I talk too all say they don't like it and can't watch the cars in front of them and the flagman. It seems to me that it causes more cautions than you would normally have if you let the polesitter start the race. A few weeks ago I was totally baffled at the start of an AMSA race when a good start got yellow flagged and then the next start a car from the third row jumped the start and was in the lead by the time they made it too the flagstand but no yellow came out. Just my opinion but things were better off when the polesitter started the race. Also curious to see what others think.

Later,

Shane

SUPERDUKE · 7/21/08, 4:13 PM

Its out of hand everwhere! I drove from 1963 to 1988 from coast to coast! The starter should start the race!!!!!!!!!!! I raced imca at state fair in st paul minn. In 1966 and pete folse was the champion stated on the pole of the first heat he was the slowest guy to make the heats! And he jumped the start and they put him to the tail and he missed the feature! Frank winkley run the show with a iron fist! And there was no more jumping the starts after that for 4 more days of racing!!!!! There is a start and finnish line at the flag stand!!!! Not in the 3rd turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seen a lot of cars torn up and guys hurt from the false starts!!!!!!!!!! If a driver jumps the start put him to the tail and if he does it again put him on the trailer!!!!!!! Let the starter do it right! EVEN NASCAR YOU DON'T JUMP THE GUN!!!!!! AND THERE NOT REAL SMART! AND DRAG RACING YOU WAIT TILL THE STARTER SAYS GO!

Seadog · 7/21/08, 4:24 PM

Is the problem due to the new track configuration or has it always been a problem?

Phylo82 · 7/21/08, 4:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaBurgFan

Phil,

I have been thinking about posting something on this topic for awhile now but did not out of respect to Dave and crew because my opinion is negative. This rule seems to be causing more problems than anything. Everyone we talk to at the races doesn't like the rule and the drivers I talk too all say they don't like it and can't watch the cars in front of them and the flagman. It seems to me that it causes more cautions than you would normally have if you let the polesitter start the race. A few weeks ago I was totally baffled at the start of an AMSA race when a good start got yellow flagged and then the next start a car from the third row jumped the start and was in the lead by the time they made it too the flagstand but no yellow came out. Just my opinion but things were better off when the polesitter started the race. Also curious to see what others think.

Later,

Shane

I agree completely. I have seen what appeared to be good starts yellow-flagged and starts that looked bad allowed to continue.

We have been involved with quarter midget racing for 4 years. Even at that level the driver on the pole is permitted to start the race once he/she has passed a line in turn three. It works well and the majority of the starts are clean.

My son told me you cannot see the flagman if you are in the middle of the pack or at the rear anyway. What ends up happening is the leaders slow down or brake check to avoid jumping the start. When that occurs it becomes a domino effect.....everyone running into the back of the car in front of them.

Maybe if enough drivers bring up the issue the 'Burg will go with a cone or white line. The race starts would be better and the drivers will be able to get going and race each other rather than being so bunched up.

SUPERDUKE · 7/21/08, 4:47 PM

I guess you never seen jack hewitt start in the back and be leading at the starting line?

smith19 · 7/21/08, 4:49 PM

Hell, i'll be glad when the flagman throws out the red when there's a crash. He's been having a problem with that. Maybe he needs an assistant.......cecil i do agree once again. Ding ding ding.

7/21/08, 2:48 PM	#1 Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
Phylo82 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,054	I am curious what other folks think of the flagman starting the races at Lawrenceburg rather than the driver on the pole getting on the gas at a pre-determined location coming out of turn 4. The starts have not been very good. It is hard for drivers at the rear of the field to see the flagman coming out of turn 4. Drivers at the back are running into cars in front of them because they are looking at the flagman rather than the car in front of them. There has also been inconsistency as to when the green flag is being thrown. There have been numerous restarts because cars in the front row are checking up so they don't jump the start......cars in the second row are either running into them or passing them (jumping the start). We have only raced there twice with the AMSA so we don't have a whole lot of experience, but from what I have witnessed it would be better on the drivers and the cars if they stuck a cone out there and let the pole sitter start the race when he gets to the cone.

7/21/08, 3:42 PM	#2 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
slide22 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 350	I hate this idea. The race should start coming out of turn 4, not when the flagman decides to throw the green. Just be like all of the other dirt tracks in the country and start the race as the cars come out of 4. This is just a wreck waiting to happen..

7/21/08, 3:45 PM	#3 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
cecil98 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,399	I think it's ridiculous that the polesitter can "jump" (and be penalized!) the start. I've watched races from darn near my infancy (I'm 55 this week!) and the polesitter has always started the race somewhere in four. It's worked for decades and now they change it. Put the chalk line on the track and when he crosses it, he can start the race. There have been several "restarts" this year due to this stupid rule. Letting the polesitter start the race will eliminate about 90% of the restarts at the outset of a race.

7/21/08, 3:56 PM	#5 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
ThaBurgFan Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 177	Phil, I have been thinking about posting something on this topic for awhile now but did not out of respect to Dave and crew because my opinion is negative. This rule seems to be causing more problems than anything. Everyone we talk to at the races doesn't like the rule and the drivers I talk too all say they don't like it and can't watch the cars in front of them and the flagman. It seems to me that it causes more cautions than you would normally have if you let the polesitter start the race. A few weeks ago I was totally baffled at the start of an AMSA race when a good start got yellow flagged and then the next start a car from the third row jumped the start and was in the lead by the time they made it too the flagstand but no yellow came out. Just my opinion but things were better off when the polesitter started the race. Also curious to see what others think. Later, Shane

7/21/08, 4:13 PM	#6 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
SUPERDUKE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,256	Its out of hand everwhere! I drove from 1963 to 1988 from coast to coast! The starter should start the race!!!!!!!!!!! I raced imca at state fair in st paul minn. In 1966 and pete folse was the champion stated on the pole of the first heat he was the slowest guy to make the heats! And he jumped the start and they put him to the tail and he missed the feature! Frank winkley run the show with a iron fist! And there was no more jumping the starts after that for 4 more days of racing!!!!! There is a start and finnish line at the flag stand!!!! Not in the 3rd turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seen a lot of cars torn up and guys hurt from the false starts!!!!!!!!!! If a driver jumps the start put him to the tail and if he does it again put him on the trailer!!!!!!! Let the starter do it right! EVEN NASCAR YOU DON'T JUMP THE GUN!!!!!! AND THERE NOT REAL SMART! AND DRAG RACING YOU WAIT TILL THE STARTER SAYS GO!

7/21/08, 4:24 PM	#7 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
Seadog Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,136	Is the problem due to the new track configuration or has it always been a problem?

7/21/08, 4:47 PM	#9 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
SUPERDUKE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,256	I guess you never seen jack hewitt start in the back and be leading at the starting line?

7/21/08, 4:49 PM	#10 Re: Lawrenceburg - Flagman Starting the Race
smith19 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,940	Hell, i'll be glad when the flagman throws out the red when there's a crash. He's been having a problem with that. Maybe he needs an assistant.......cecil i do agree once again. Ding ding ding.