That invitation goes for you too Janni, I know you would put up a better showing than Scary
And I don't think any of us would be "scared" to be on the track with you. As far as the "driving incident" would you please elaborate on exactly what consitutes a "driving incident" from an unbiased first hand standpoint? With pics if available... Does this type of "incident" create a track wide black flag? In our series (SAFE Motorsports) two of these "incidents" in a day and you are sent home. I was told first hand that this particular driver "loses his head out there".
This was a "racing incident". Any time there is contact in the Viper Racing League, the chief steward, and the Stewards of the Meet, review the incident and make a determination to assign blame, fault and penalties. The stewards of the meet are preselected from the VRL drivers before the races - typically, they are one GT1 driver and one CC driver. All drivers rotate through being a SOM. The stewards review the videotapes from the parties involved in car cameras, interview the drivers, witnesses and may ask for any other video from any other competitor that may show the incident more clearly. During the meeting, the group discusses how it occured, who was at fault, was it dangerous or deliberate, etc., etc. In this case, no blame was assessed. Sometimes, when you are racing - wheel to wheel - contact occurs. Either party could have done things differently, but the "wrongdoing" of either party is not significant enough to casue blame or assess any penalty.
As this is a race, there is not a black flag thrown unless there is a danger on the track or the race needs to be stopped. Neither occured here - as both parties were able to continue on and finish the race.
In the Viper Racing League, three spins / offs during qualifying or a race and you ar ecalled in.
I am not sure what SAFE Motorsports does - but I don't think that they are a race series - but a HPDE type event. In that case, they would be similar to the Michelin Challenge Series at Viper Days - a driving school and timed event - with point by passing and NO RACING. In the Challenge Series - off tracks and spins get you a "Woodchuck". Three woodchucks in a day and you park it. In any HPDE type event, rules are much more strict regarding offs, spins and certainly contact. I don't think you can compare SAFE with the VRL - unles syou guys are down there running door to door with full blown race cars (cages, fire suppression, etc.) and I don't know about it.
Please understand that the VRL guys are out there racing for position in safe, race prepped cars. Most have crew chiefs with radio headsets to help them through the race - whether it's traffic, time / laps remaining, who's coming up on them, who they are coming up on. But in actual racing (NOT timed events), contact will happen.
Sunday races are long and the qualifying grid is inverted. With heat, speed, lots of passing action and time - any driver can lose their head or lose concentration. I am not out there racing - only standing on pit wall and watching every lap - so I am not qualified to judge someone's adequacy or inadequacy as a race driver. And I don't think you are either. I will say that if Henry or I thought that it was unsafe to be running with anyone in the VRL - he wouldn't be out there.
Looking forward to being at Sebring. Don't expect I'll be out there running - unless I rent the SRT-4. These days, my crew chief activities take up a WHOLE bunch of time - and besides - the longer I stay away - the f-a-s-t-e-r I was!!!!
