YouTube, Facebook and Driving Standards

[Trevor Williams]

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, and the propensity of people posting videos of their escapades, I can not only follow the races live through TSL, but I can also see them a few hours / days / or weeks later.

My point in posting this is that the two videos posted on Facebook have called into question certain drivers racecraft, and also questioned why no action was taken. Whilst I cannot comment on the latter, and won't comment on individuals, I will explain the process the MUST happen in order for the Clerk of the Course to take action.

First, their must be a written report of the incident from an observer out on post. Normally, an incident is first radioed (or telephoned) in and a written report is collected by the Chief Observer after the session

If, however, the incident is witnessed by any of the Clerks on duty, action can be instigated by them submitting the written report. This is because ALL Clerks are considered Driving Standards Observers by the MSA.

If you have been the victim of an incident on track and feel that it warrants action being taken, you should see the Clerk of the Course after the race / session to make sure that 1. The incident was called in, and 2. A written report is being provided.
It is then up to the Clerk to investigate, using whatever evidence is available to them, and make a decision.

If there is no report from an observer, and therefore no written report, you now have two choices. 1. Put your hand in your pocket and protest the other party, or 2. Chalk it up to "Sh*t happens.
If you have a video camera in your car, you would expect that if you felt that strongly about it, you would review the video and probably decide on option 1. If you don't have a video camera in the car, see option 2.

Remember, unless there is a WRITTEN report from an observer out on the circuit, the chances are that nothing will be done as in the eyes of the MSA, the incident didn't happen (I refer you to the underweight cars that never were at Silverstone)

The processes of how incidents are investigated, and the mechanism of how to, and who can, protest are all in the relevant sections of the Blue Book. You don't need to know the book verbatim, just where to look and what to do.

And just for info, Clerks do look at YouTube etc... I have just given out two penalties for an incident that happened during a race I was Clerking (two weeks ago) after reviewing the in-car footage from another uninvolved car that was posted on YouTube

Have fun!!

[Nick clarke]

Thanks for the info Trevor i did not know about the written  report i have been partipating in motorsport for over 25 years but until 2012 only in NASA Autograss racing im still heavily involved with that being the chairman of the East Midlands League.
Up until now i have not had any problems myself but i have heard and saw clips of some very poor driving standards so when i had a problem i raised it with our drivers rep,s assistant in his absence but also felt i should tell the C of the C because i dont see the point of moaning but doing nothing about it, i told him what happened and he said he would look into it i said i had  an on board camera which he said he was happy to see so i showed him the incident and he said he would deal with it ? i dont know what if any action was taken, if i had know i had to pay to protest it i would of (my own fault not knowing rule) you can see its deliberate and when i asked him why he did it his reply was "you turned me sideways in tower so i took you off ! " i have posted whole race and 3 min clip of incident i have nothing to hide i never turned him round anywhere

[Scooterman]

I don't think many of us want to go down the route of complaining to the clerk of the course. Personally I'd like these matters to be sorted within the club. The 2cv racing club is a great community in the paddock, we just need a few drivers to calm down a bit and not see the red mist. Wrecked cars do not benefit anyone, most of our drivers can race close, hard, safely and put on a great show.

[Nick clarke]

I would agree Adam but i had numerous people coming to me saying its gone to far there were a few incidents last year and at oulton,
mat hollis clip from oulton was not good :( so i think the feeling was the club have not done enough so higher action was needed ? TBH with you if we were nearer the pile of tyres i would of been wrote off and then he says i took you off deliberatly i think a lot of people would of taken it in to there own hands in parc ferme

[Scooterman]

I agree Nick, things should have been dealt with at Oulton and not allowed to continue in to Croft. We all make mistakes, I believe they are referred to as 'racing incidents' we shake hands and move on. It's the level of aggression in recent incidents that is the problem.

[racing pigeon]

Why does the club not do something?

One reason why  a Chairman and drivers representative are appointed is to ensure good driving standards ? Or would you prefer to let this type of thing run its course and eventually have anarchy. Your members have expressed a concern



By the look of his car he should be in banger racing anyway.

[Trevor Williams]

Because there is nothing in the regulations that allows the Club to do anything?

A quick bit of advice.... Don't wish for something that when it happens you don't like...

If the Clerks get involved you will be looking at exclusions, penalty points, fines etc....

Understand the penalties that are available and clean up the house first!!

If people complain about the entry fees, imagine the furore when someone gets hit with a fine of up to £865.00?

[Nick clarke]

Bit confused you say club can't do anything ? But also say clean up in house,

Bit Hard if club can't Do anything . Maybe a few penalties or fines would make people think
Before bouncing off others cars ??

[Paul]

However you can't race unless you are a member of the club,so although the regs don't allow the club to penalise it isn't true to say the club cannot do anything.

[RLambert]

I didn't see the Facebook comments, who is blaming who for what.....?

I think the driving standards are pretty good given how close the racing is.

A drivers attempting an overtake can easily make an error of judgement with braking or how much space there is and that puts the onus on the leading car, they can either stick to their line and have an accident or to get out of the way and try a repass later.
Sometimes the leading driver hasn't seen the contact coming (perhaps they don't use their mirrors!  ::)) which is fair enough but often it is the driver being bl00dy minded and staying put.

Moral of the story is drive safely and use the system if you need to raise a grievance, oh yes and have a front and rear camera in the car !

[Nick clarke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R06KoMLmfrk



Take a look after about 2 mins video speaks for itself
I asked Mr Fox why ? He said "you had me sideways in
Tower so I took you off !!! "
The first hit didn't put me on grass so he hit me again
Tbh if we were nearer the tyres this could of ended very badly for all
It's worrying that lots of people seem to be having hits off the same person :(

[Louis]

Because there is nothing in the regulations that allows the Club to do anything?

A quick bit of advice.... Don't wish for something that when it happens you don't like...

If the Clerks get involved you will be looking at exclusions, penalty points, fines etc....

Understand the penalties that are available and clean up the house first!!

If people complain about the entry fees, imagine the furore when someone gets hit with a fine of up to £865.00?

I think what Trevor means is that we asked for scrutineering, so at croft they gave us scrutineering.
If we ask for fines they might well apply the same logic.

Maybe there needs to be a brief which it is mandatory to attend (from the club) at the next meeting regarding the issues and the consequences should such behaviors continue, unfortunately I imagine the party who is in the wrong will think, moreover believe that they haven't done wrong.

[RLambert]

Perhaps if drivers were encouraged to keep their cars presentable it might result in less contact. If you already have a dent then getting another one doesn't really matter, but if you have pristine wings then it would be nice to keep them looking that way.

Would also mean we have a nicer looking grid of cars and we may be able to shake off the banger image that people still associate with the 2CV.

[Scooterman]

I agree with RLambert about the presentation of the cars. Mine was in a more aesthetically pleasing state at Oulton, now it looks like a Bombay taxi. Driving at Oulton I was very mindful of keeping it dent free whereas some drivers had battered cars and didn't mind getting more. Standards of presentation may well have an impact on standards of driving.

[Andrew Bull]

Maybe the log book can be used to advise on vehicle issues (such as general condition) and as such the rules state that it must be right by the next race?

5.4 General Technical Requirements And Exceptions:
The car shall be of sound construction, in good mechanical condition and well maintained in accordance with MSA General Technical Regulations (Sections J & Q) as appropriate. It shall be presented in good order.

There is another way to skin a cat!