Poor HPDE Driving Etiquette - How Not to Act at a Track Day

Рет қаралды 9,022

Жыл бұрын

An example of how not to drive during a track day or HPDE event:
If a slower car catches you (and not because you were held up by traffic), you should point them by as they caught you for a reason.
If you pull far away on the straights and they catch you again in the next set of turns, your overall pace is slower and you are slowing them down in the turns. Let them pass.
It's not a race, and there's nothing to be gained by holding up another car every set of corners just because they can't muscle past you in the straights.
Normally I wouldn't post something like this, but 4 laps in a row with a car getting that close to you and still not letting them pass is a bit ridiculous. It's either poor sportsmanship or a complete lack of situational awareness, which is a major safety issue.
If you are unaware of your surroundings and can't notice a car flying up onto your bumper into the corners for continuous laps, you should not be driving solo without an instructor, and need to practice using your mirrors in the novice group.
I hope this video can be used as a realization moment and a learning tool to help keep track days enjoyable for everyone.

Пікірлер: 48

@humbucker87 Жыл бұрын

Wow, yeah don't think I've ever seen a case this bad. When there was a train of cars in front I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. But at the end? That almost looked out of spite.

@sportbikejesus6297 Жыл бұрын

Yep. It was 1:21 before I thought he was being a bad sport. All the previous times he could think he was only being caught when he was stuck in his own traffic. I try to be cognizant of that on the street and on the track.

@Apintobean Жыл бұрын

Shoulda gave em the ole pit maneuver

@Yavorh55 2 ай бұрын

I had a similar case today where I was the "bad etiquette" driver. It was my first day and it was the last session, and I was DETERMINED to lower my time. I had just done a perfect run through a difficult technical session and knew this would be my chance to beat my PB. On the straight before a 90 degree turn a driver who is a bit, but not very much faster than me tries to overtake. He overshoots the turn and ends up in the grass. Later we discussed and I apologized. My contrapoint however - I'm 100% concentrated on trying to drive safe and fast, I cant know if the dude behind me is a faster if the speed diff is tiny and I'd rather not jeoperdize my only chance. And I feel like it's partly the other person's responsibility to also overtake in a safe manner.

@JDNJTX 6 ай бұрын

Had my first track day last week. Mustang and Vette owners don't feel right letting a stock GR86 pass them. They often needed several laps before they were convinced...

@ISpinUWin Жыл бұрын

I’ve posted a lot of examples like this too. It is sooo annoying. Another one is when you get a point to pass and they don’t let off the gas so you can get by. The often get mad because they don’t think you are trying. Well just because my car has less HP doesn’t mean I am not lapping the track faster. You know fast Miata drivers must live this nightmare often. Anyway after a lap I usually go into hot pit, report them, then when I am back on track I’m far enough away from them. But - sometimes I catch back up and have to do it all again.

@stevenbarts330 8 ай бұрын

this happened to me at VIR last November. I have a cayman s and there was a hellcat on the track with an instructor. he would give a point by then drag race you down the straight.

@MuffinKingStudios 8 ай бұрын

Please correct me if I'm wrong but where are the blue flags? After 3 laps the corner marshals should have noticed.

@mirrekku Жыл бұрын

Seems like he watched a whole lotta donut media and has 100+ hours of experience in nfs underground 😂

@not_the_stig Жыл бұрын

Also bad corner worker management. They should have blue flagged this car.

@ant_suds Жыл бұрын

Absolutely agreed

@afterburn2600 3 ай бұрын

A fellow racer imparted some sage wisdom upon me many years ago: "If you are driving and you see a car in your mirrors but you know you're faster than they are and then a few corners later they're still in your mirrors, and a lap later they're still in your mirrors...YOU'RE NOT FASTER THAN THEM - LET THEM BY." Luckily I wasn't the ignorant driver in this case - had the fortune of getting wisdom before making this mistake.

@johnnycage5513 Жыл бұрын

if u can't beat him in a straight do what everyone else does don't brake in a turn in corner and use him as support

@CameronParkhurst 7 ай бұрын

What organization lets you drive in shorts?

@madmannmotorsports 6 ай бұрын

But who's the dummy that followed him for four laps? Just pit in, ask the pit marshal for space. Someone who's that unaware would probably not see blue flags either, if they were to be shown. Flaggers for these type of events typically have very little experience and only about 10 minutes of superficial instruction that morning. They are only looking for spins and crashes with the yellow at the ready, often you'll see them on their phones. Any additional flags (blue, debris, meatball) would likely only be displayed on stewards command. These events are run much differently than a club race.

@stevenbarts330 8 ай бұрын

i find them in the pitts...ask if they are oblivious or just an asshole...

@thosetwodudes Жыл бұрын

At my track events, they have people along the track with different flags, I think it's a black flag to let the driver know they need to let someone pass.

@GR_FOURRARIS Жыл бұрын

incorrect its a blue flag with a yellow bar across to let driver in front car behind is faster.

@thosetwodudes Жыл бұрын

@@GR_FOURRARIS okay that's fine, I got the flag color wrong. But, did the rest of my comment make sense to you?

@GR_FOURRARIS Жыл бұрын

@@thosetwodudes ohh absolutely!!!! Driver in the big wang z should have be given notification that he is holding up the car behind. Sometimes even that doesnt work sadly. Some drivers have tunnel vision and never look behind them or at the flag stations. Ive been there myself my little 4 banger NA boxer cant pass a turbo inline 6 bmw on the straights so i have to hope they will let me pass in the passing zones.

@andydhillon1977 8 ай бұрын

He should've technically let you by but it looks like the bedt option would've been for you to just slow down fir a few seconds to give him.some room. It doesn't look like he held you up too much and had he let you by, you would've held him.up more in the long run. I get your point, but it's not as ckear-cut of a situation than others.

@Tangent360 4 ай бұрын

If the 350 was running lower lap times it would have been consistently pulling away instead of repeatedly holding up the following car. The Lexus absolutely would not have held the 350 up beyond maybe the first or second straight after being let by.

@andydhillon1977 4 ай бұрын

@Tangent360 Objectively, the 350Z was faster overall. Not in some of the talent sections but overall it was faster. That's why the Lexus owner had to keep fast-forwarding the video. Let's be honest here. The Lexus owner wanted to get a point-by from the 350Z because the 350Z is a sports car and that would make the ego feel happy. Ive been tracking for just over 20 years. Even after all that time, it's extremely satisfying passing "faster" cars Best solution would've been to slow down for 5-6 seconds and problem solved. Or pit in and get away from the 350Z.

@davidvo8240 Жыл бұрын

Guys like this erks me so bad. Try to be positive but kinda hard when their obviously slowing you down.

@johnnyhoodz Жыл бұрын

2 full laps with no point bye is ridiculous 🤣!

@remissiveslave Жыл бұрын

Track looks familiar but forget the name

@ant_suds Жыл бұрын

Homestead Miami Speedway

@8300rpmallday 8 ай бұрын

from watching the video i think you could have passed him, there where a few opening i saw possible to over take on the inside and outside. but how his power is on the straight i can see how he feel he had the right of way which isn't track etiquette but its racing!!! next pin him in to the outside and send him in the grass. will maybe get a point across

@xnadave 6 ай бұрын

That's not how HPDEs work. Passing without a point-by is a big no-no and a real safety concern.

@8300rpmallday 6 ай бұрын

@@xnadave interesting I pretty sure I had someone pass me without a wave or any indication other I was slower.

@xnadave 6 ай бұрын

@@8300rpmallday What organization was running the event? They should have covered this in the driver's meeting. If they didn't go over passing rules, don't go out with them again. That's how people crack up cars and get hurt. I've run with multiple groups, all over the country, over the past 20 years. *EVERY* HPDE has friendly passing rules. It's not a race.

@8300rpmallday 6 ай бұрын

@@xnadave I understand

@onehundredpicks5531 2 ай бұрын

@@xnadavethis is why racing in the USA sucks. I want door slammer dtm btcc type action.

@ghnl1961 Жыл бұрын

Rather than get so frustrated, pull into pit lane and wait for some clear track &/or speak to the track steward. The other driver has paid for his/her track time, too.

@ant_suds Жыл бұрын

The following lap I came into the pits and spoke with the track official. It's a safety concern having an oblivious driver on the track without an instructor. Creating distance works only until you catch them again, and shouldn't be necessary aside from a novice group, which this wasn't. Them having paid for a track day does not give them the right to disregard proper track safety and etiquette, as they are not the only person on the track.

@DOOMLORDHOKAGE 10 ай бұрын

So if you paid money you can do whatever you want? Lmao wild

@cyborgjoe1000 Жыл бұрын

Isn't this a race? Can someone explain to me why this is bad? This 350Z seems to be faster also just struggles with technique in the corners 🤔

@IcySTi Жыл бұрын

lol no its not a race

@cyborgjoe1000 Жыл бұрын

@@IcySTi So it's like the nurburgring ring as far as rules? 🤨 Signal and let others pass on the left if you can't maintain your moment or if said moment is lower then the cars around you?

@Mr.SlipperyX Жыл бұрын

@@cyborgjoe1000 The way most track days work is, you point drivers past. Pointing left, car passes on the left. Point right, car passes on the right. You're not supposed to hold people up, once a car is behind you, its faster. How else did it get there, it wasnt there a minute ago, let it by. This guy held him up for several laps, usually ego. "A modded Z could never be slower than an old IS300, I'll show him what real speed looks like." Also these days aren't cheapm some costing over a 1000 per day with insurance, its annoying to pay to have time wasted. So remain calm it will sort itself. To the driver, I sympathize and I offer a tip. Two ways to go about this, pit get some room. HOWEVER if you want that pass my go to is to get in there drivers mirror, get as close as you SAFELY can to the rear left corner of their car, and flash the high beams NONSTOP until they move. I've seen people go off, I've seen people drop tires, I haven't had a "short stop" happen yet, but be prepared, your going to stress their little birdbrain to the maximum. ps, awesome to see an is on track

@user-nr3ik2it5r Жыл бұрын

stop being a party pooper. if you got the skills then pass them. they dont block you intentionally they are keeping their lines. accept the challenge they give to you and enjoy it. this is why you go on track. challenge is what makes it fun.

@AX-Driver Жыл бұрын

It is an HPDE event. Many of them have restriction and where you can pass (straights only) or passing only with a point by. HPDE isn't supposed to have offense/defense manuvers like a real race. HPDE is where you drive fast and if someone is faster you let the faster driver bye. It is why HPDE is fairly safe. It keeps people from doing competitve manuvers to force another driver into a tough spot which increases the risk of a crash 10X. The recourse here is to go talk to that driver after the session and explain the issue. And, even better, have the race superviser with you when you have that discussion. The supervisor likely saw the issue if it was a NASA event where they are pretty good at keeping people safe.

@ant_suds Жыл бұрын

The 350z is the party pooper. It's a track day, not a race. The slower driver holding up traffic is expected to give the point by to faster traffic, which includes letting off the throttle to allow a lower powered car to pass on a straight if needed. David is correct. It's unsafe to dive bomb an oblivious driver in a braking zone and attempt to pass them mid corner when they are clearly not paying attention to their surroundings.

@imboredder Ай бұрын

@@ant_sudsah so a time trial with multiple people doing it not so much a who got 1st 2nd etc