Drivers Etiquette, How to teach your fellow racers without knocking their teeth out
#31
I think the hot headed A holes are worse for the hobby than the new guy that hacks me because he made a dumb mistake. He made a MISTAKE , being a A hole is on purpose. Being friends with those I race with allows me to kindly repay him another day , with a laugh .
The title of this thread may offer some insight into the problem as well ... I could never see myself fighting over someones mistake on the track. Rediculous
The title of this thread may offer some insight into the problem as well ... I could never see myself fighting over someones mistake on the track. Rediculous
Yea there's nothing you can do about guys who take it to seriously racing/marshalling. But really i learned over the years to just race my truck and ignore them guys . I remmend new guys to do the same thing.
#32
I like the idea of a drivers meeting/etiquette class. I will be the first to admit, I have taken people out on accident, normally it's because I lose traction, or carry too much speed into a corner, and the person Infront if me is slower through that turn. The stock buggy class at our track has slowly turned into who has the fastest motor, and can go the fastest down the straightaway. People aren't focusing on lines, instead they are running as much throttle as they can at all times. There is very little finely tuned stock buggies now, I feel like it is a sloppy mod class with the way they are running. The triple/ quad section should be a downside triple, instead they are trying to flat land it, or even quad it. My car is set to barely clear the triple and I have an 8.5. This is far more consistent, the stock class is an absolute drag to Marshall. I think if will be talking to the RD about a little etiquette class next time I am there for racing
My opinion is the RD should have a clear meeting before the races(each heat and main) talking about clean races. He should also penalize the people who don't drive clean if they are complained about,legit complaints.
#33
Jacob, you get it. I tried everything to keep it together Wed night. As you no, I am a descent driver without wicked moves, a bit more on the smooth side. As running from7th qualifier up to 2nd I figured I was out of the mess, then whammy as a car flies across the pipes head on into me. To add to the nightmare certain drivers there just can't grasp the fact we have open wheels on the buggies. Talking to our RD does nothing. I have asked him to do something about this a number of times with no results. When he did, he was calling out people who weren't an issue. It really just boils down to the fact our stock class is full of guys trying to win no matter what without any concern about doing it clean. I completely understand when something happens on the track by accident like when the 2 of us got together in Mod on the step on step off. You are not an issue as I can see, you drive as clean as possible without any wicked moves unlike some others.When the driving is clearly too aggressive is what my issue is about. Try to talk to RD, but I think it will go nowhere. BTW, if you need some tips or help getting your B5 dial I would be glad to help you.
My opinion is the RD should have a clear meeting before the races(each heat and main) talking about clean races. He should also penalize the people who don't drive clean if they are complained about,legit complaints.
My opinion is the RD should have a clear meeting before the races(each heat and main) talking about clean races. He should also penalize the people who don't drive clean if they are complained about,legit complaints.
#34
R/C Tech Elite Member
iTrader: (114)
I think the hot headed A holes are worse for the hobby than the new guy that hacks me because he made a dumb mistake. He made a MISTAKE , being a A hole is on purpose. Being friends with those I race with allows me to kindly repay him another day , with a laugh .
The title of this thread may offer some insight into the problem as well ... I could never see myself fighting over someones mistake on the track. Rediculous
The title of this thread may offer some insight into the problem as well ... I could never see myself fighting over someones mistake on the track. Rediculous
#35
Tech Fanatic
iTrader: (11)
I also agree though, that there should be some form of education by the RD or somebody experienced/fast guy at the track to help the newbie who just doesn't know and/or doesn't have the skill yet.
#38
step 1 is to identify what you are dealing with
there are two types of drivers, newbies who cant control their car and seasoned racers who choose not to.
If its a newbie, theres nothing you can do, they should be fairly easy to avoid with the exception of jumping into oncoming traffic (clearly a newbie, accident in this case)
If its a seasoned racer who chooses not to drive clean on a consistent basis, you teach him a lesson on the track. If he's going to consistently ruin your race, just put him in the wall a few times. He will think twice about doing it again. No words need to be exchanged.
Problem solved.
there are two types of drivers, newbies who cant control their car and seasoned racers who choose not to.
If its a newbie, theres nothing you can do, they should be fairly easy to avoid with the exception of jumping into oncoming traffic (clearly a newbie, accident in this case)
If its a seasoned racer who chooses not to drive clean on a consistent basis, you teach him a lesson on the track. If he's going to consistently ruin your race, just put him in the wall a few times. He will think twice about doing it again. No words need to be exchanged.
Problem solved.
#39
While the title is slightly misleading, mr.bennett is one of the most cool minded people I have met, Wednesday night he got taken out a few times, he didn't once yell on the drivers stand, he pulled of, and walked calmly back to the pits. That is how it is supposed to be done. We have a few young kids, younger than me(just turned 18), at our track that if they aren't in the lead they drive like idiots, jumping pipes, and crashing horrendously. This is something I would like to see change, just have the RD say calm it down out there to those people when they are driving like that. Now if they are having a good race, then they are normally good drivers
#40
Tech Legend
iTrader: (294)
one thing that I know taught a few of us a lesson when first started offroad was a driver dropping one of those silver can mabuchi motors in the stock class and spanking us. He said it was because he felt the 27T motors were overpowered for the conditions and it showed. When he lent me his car I was amazed how much faster I could drive it by being slower.
I did something kind of like that once on indoors carpet for the mod class, winning using a 17.5T motor with 12.5mm rotor.
Maybe that would help with your track too. Though, part of me still feels that at some places even "stock" 17.5 is too fast for those starting out. darn near need a handout "stock" motor at those places in a 21.5 or even 25.5 setup.
I did something kind of like that once on indoors carpet for the mod class, winning using a 17.5T motor with 12.5mm rotor.
Maybe that would help with your track too. Though, part of me still feels that at some places even "stock" 17.5 is too fast for those starting out. darn near need a handout "stock" motor at those places in a 21.5 or even 25.5 setup.
#41
R/C Tech Elite Member
iTrader: (114)
+1 This type of behavior is the fastest way to ruin this hobby by keeping new people from joining.
I also agree though, that there should be some form of education by the RD or somebody experienced/fast guy at the track to help the newbie who just doesn't know and/or doesn't have the skill yet.
I also agree though, that there should be some form of education by the RD or somebody experienced/fast guy at the track to help the newbie who just doesn't know and/or doesn't have the skill yet.
A track could really help themselves by offering some occasional beginner courses for newbies. How to tune, maintain and race their cars. Raise their confidence big time.
Last edited by blade329; 05-23-2014 at 11:00 PM.
#42
Tech Elite
iTrader: (33)
Sounds like the track needs to split the classes into intermediate and expert. That's what our local track does and it really helps keep things cool between racers. The guys that have been racing for years and take it seriously run expert and the newer guys run int. We also have a rookie class for someone just getting started and the kids.
But bottom line it's the race director's job to keep people under control on the track. If they don't want to deal with it then the only other options are to stop racing stock or go somewhere else.
It's easy to say calm down and have fun they're just toy cars. If you were racing dirt bikes and some guy kept pulling an Alessi and taking you out would you have the same attitude? Calm down they're only toy motorcycles. Lol. You buy toy cars at radio shack.
But bottom line it's the race director's job to keep people under control on the track. If they don't want to deal with it then the only other options are to stop racing stock or go somewhere else.
It's easy to say calm down and have fun they're just toy cars. If you were racing dirt bikes and some guy kept pulling an Alessi and taking you out would you have the same attitude? Calm down they're only toy motorcycles. Lol. You buy toy cars at radio shack.
#43
One of the problems is that these guys who drive like this have been racing for more than 6 months, not exactly a newby anymore. IMO, it should be common sense not to drive thru others or overdrive your ability. We used to have one guy in stock that drove like this, he doesn't race anymore but now we have 9 more just like him. Another problem is sometimes there is not enough signed up to run 2 classes. Also, all the idiots who drive recklessly will sign up for expert because they feel they are. It cracks me up to watch these guys during practice. Drive,crash,walk down the drivers stand to get their car, back up the steps, repeat. Literally at most 1.5-2 laps before they are repeating the process. I can run a moderate pace with no crashes for at least 5 minutes most the time, however I don't have the fastest fast lap. Usually in mod I am 1 second of the leader and in stock almost a second, but I hate to rely on marshals so I drive conservatively.
To me, their behavior is a lack of conditioning. That is probably why they feel it is acceptable to drive like they do. A few have gotten so mad they just made it a point to throw their race and pay it back. This is not they correct thing to do, however it was really funny listening to the guy next to me on the stand bitching about someone hacking him. He is the biggest hack of them all. Karma!
To me, their behavior is a lack of conditioning. That is probably why they feel it is acceptable to drive like they do. A few have gotten so mad they just made it a point to throw their race and pay it back. This is not they correct thing to do, however it was really funny listening to the guy next to me on the stand bitching about someone hacking him. He is the biggest hack of them all. Karma!
#44
Like i was saying before there is nothing you can do about guys who yell at the marshalls you just ignore them there the ones who look like fools. During racing there is some guys who do it if you hit them.
Etc but most dont you got to remember also its in the heat of the moment so its not personall some guys get to hyped up . So to any newbie just ignore them and keep racing your own truck/buggy.
If a 17.5 brushless is to fast in anything 2wd than them guys need to race tycos sorry but there far from uncontrollble lol. I think most tracks should only have a Mod class anyways not stock we know what leads to $$ .
But yes the race directer needs to split up the fast guys from the slower ones (AKA hacks ) .
Etc but most dont you got to remember also its in the heat of the moment so its not personall some guys get to hyped up . So to any newbie just ignore them and keep racing your own truck/buggy.
If a 17.5 brushless is to fast in anything 2wd than them guys need to race tycos sorry but there far from uncontrollble lol. I think most tracks should only have a Mod class anyways not stock we know what leads to $$ .
But yes the race directer needs to split up the fast guys from the slower ones (AKA hacks ) .
#45
big track
+
3 marshals only
+
no running allowed
= problem solved. If the hacks spend 30 seconds on their lids, they'll learn eventually. Might be a few innocent bystanders along the way, but It should average out in the clean racers favor.
RD's do need to get on the ball about calling out penalties.
A mains and B mains split the men from the boys. No need for Dunce classes. Usually when the hacking is the worst at a track, they don't have enough racers in that class for a B main. So the hacks make the A. Still think the stock/mod split was a good idea? If you combined them in an open class, there would be a B main.
+
3 marshals only
+
no running allowed
= problem solved. If the hacks spend 30 seconds on their lids, they'll learn eventually. Might be a few innocent bystanders along the way, but It should average out in the clean racers favor.
RD's do need to get on the ball about calling out penalties.
A mains and B mains split the men from the boys. No need for Dunce classes. Usually when the hacking is the worst at a track, they don't have enough racers in that class for a B main. So the hacks make the A. Still think the stock/mod split was a good idea? If you combined them in an open class, there would be a B main.