Saturday, October 18, 2008

Track General Safety Rules


DO NOT CROSS THE WHITE LINE WHEN ENTERING THE TRACK!


While leaving the pits and entering the track, STAY TO THE FAR RIGHT INTO AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH TURN 1. Once you pass the end of the white line DO NOT SWERVE LEFT INTO THE PATH OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ALREADY ON THE TRACK. Other motorcycles on track approach Turn 1 at speeds over 250 KM/H. If you cross the white line from the pits or if you swerve to the left after the end of the white line you may be hit from behind at extreme speeds and cause extreme injuries or death to yourself or other riders!


This rider(below pic) is safely exiting the pits and entering the track. He briefly looks over his shoulder to check for fast oncoming traffic already on the straight . . .


then he safely stays to his right all the way into Turn 1. Well done.



DO NOT CRASH.

However, if you do crash,
1. WAIT to make sure you are OK before trying to get up.
2. LOOK at the nearest corner worker and follow their instructions.
3. If you can do it SAFELY, get yourself and your bike out of the crash zone.
4. If you are HURT, do not move. WAIT for the AMBULANCE to come to you.

This rider has crashed but he is unhurt. He is moving himself and his bike out of the crash zone...

However, there always exists a danger from other riders still on track



DO NOT STOP ON THE TRACK FOR ANY REASON,

EVEN IF ANOTHER RIDER CRASHES AND YOU KNOW THE RIDER; the corner workers will assist crashed riders. Come into the pits to sort any problems and let the track staff know about any problems or crashes. If your motorcycle stops running on track, signal with a raised left hand and safely get off of the riding line, away from the track surface, onto the grass in a safe, non-impact zone. Follow the corner worker̢۪s instructions. Stopping anywhere on the track is extremely dangerous. You endanger yourself and other riders. You may be hit by other riders at extreme speeds and cause extreme injuries or death to yourself or other riders.

In this photo, only one rider has overrun off of the track, but THREE RIDERS have unwisely stopped, greatly increasing the danger. Now the risk of being hit by other riders at speed has increased fourfold! Do not stop on the track. It ADDS to the danger. Do not endanger yourself by becoming a hazard. THE CORNER WORKERS WILL ASSIST CRASHED RIDERS!


SIGNAL EARLY BEFORE EXITING THE TRACK.

Plan ahead and signal early with a RAISED LEFT HAND before exiting the track. Make your decision one or two corners before the exit and raise your left hand. Move smoothly and safely to the exit side of the track BEFORE the last corner. Stay close to the track edge and continue signaling. Gradually decrease your speed until you are safely into the pits. Once you have signaled to exit, DO NOT change your mind or reenter the riding line. If you do not signal early and exit safely, you may be hit from behind at extreme speeds and cause extreme injuries or death to yourself or other riders!

Following the above rule could have prevented this high-speed collision. Two riders were sent to hospital with broken bones. . .


DO NOT TRAVEL AGAINST THE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC AT ANY TIME.

If you miss the pit entrance then continue around the track again for an entire lap to the pit entrance. NEVER TURN INTO THE PITS FROM THE END OF THE FRONT STRAIGHT. If you are traveling in the pit lane and need to return to the garages, enter the paddock at the end of the pit lane or turn into an open garage.


PASS ONLY IF IT IS SAFE.

If you are uncertain whether you can safely pass, DON'T TRY IT. The OVERTAKING rider is always responsible for making a SAFE pass. Allow 2 METERS of space when passing. The rider being passed has the right of way. Do not attempt to swerve for overtaking riders. Be predictable and smooth and hold a tight line so that they may safely pass. If you are frustrated with a rider or group of riders in front of you that you cannot safely pass, exit into the pits for 30 seconds, then reenter the track once it is clear.


WARM UP YOUR TIRES FOR 2 TO 3 LAPS EVERY TIME YOU ENTER THE TRACK.

Start slowly, leaning your bike over a little more and going a little faster in each turn before you increase your pace. Be patient. It is silly to crash on the first lap because you were too impatient to warm up your tires. Remember that tires become cold when stopped in the pits and you must warm them again when you reenter the track. Trying to go fast on cold tires is the number one cause of trackday crashes.


BE PREDICTABLE and SIGNAL WITH A RAISED LEFT HAND BEFORE DOING ANYTHING UNUSUAL.

When approaching a corner maintain your line. DO NOT swerve outside then dive back inside! Be PREDICTABLE, MAINTAIN your line, and SMOOTHLY turn your bike into the corner. After entering a corner, maintain a smooth and predictable line all the way through it. If you (a) see a yellow or red flag, ( need to slow in an unusual place for any other reason, or © need to do anything else unpredictable, raise your left hand to signal that you are about to slow or do something unusual BEFORE you do it. The person right behind you may not see the flag or problem; if you slow suddenly before signaling, you may get hit from behind.


USE CAUTION IN THE PITS.

Do not speed in the pits or paddock. Speed limit is 15 KM/H or IDLE in 1st gear. Look behind you and clear your path before turning in the pit lane. Use the Travel Lane to travel along the pits, turning in only once you reach your pit garage. Be very ALERT and keep your speeds low within the paddock.


PARK YOUR MOTORCYCLE ONLY IN THE COVERED PIT GARAGES.

Do not park on the pit lane.


NO STUNTS AT ANY TIME, ANYWHERE ON THE TRACK PREMISES.

No intentional wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, skids, or other stunts.


RIDE SAFELY AND WITHIN YOUR ABILITY.

Riding fast on a motorcycle is inherently dangerous, that is why it is illegal everywhere but the track. Although proper bike PREPARATION, riding GEAR, and mental ATTITUDE, along with the track benefits of run-off areas and the elimination of street traffic reduce many of the risks of riding fast, the risk that you, or another rider affecting you might make a mistake cannot be eliminated.

This rider is not wearing complete riding gear. Jeans and armor will NOT protect you in a trackday crash. His skin is exposed, and his jacket is free to roll up to expose even more skin in a crash or fall . . .

KNOW THE FLAGS AND SAFETY LIGHTS AND WHAT THEY MEAN:


GREEN - TRACK IS OPEN!

YELLOW - CAUTION, NO PASSING. This could be waving or steady. Use caution, safely reduce your pace to 60% - 70% so you are in complete control of your bike; do not suddenly slow or stop. DO NOT PASS other riders, and be extra alert for possible trouble. The track will remain open, but there is a hazard that could cause a problem. If the yellow flag is waving, the problem or hazard is immediately ahead. Passing and resumption of full speed is not allowed until you pass (a) the incident, ( a GREEN flag or © a subsequent, occupied flag station where the YELLOW flag is not displayed. An example for a YELLOW flag might be a crashed bike that is off the track and being moved out of a run-off area.

YELLOW/RED STRIPES - SLIPPERY SURFACE or HAZARDOUS OBJECT ON THE TRACK SURFACE AHEAD.
It might be oil, coolant, or rain, a knee slider, or something that fell off a bike. Use caution and be prepared to avoid the hazard.

RED - TRACK IS CLOSED, most likely due to a crash or some other hazard that needs to be cleaned up. Signal by raising your left hand when you see the RED flag, slow your pace SAFELY, be ALERT for hazards, and then clear the track by entering the pits. NO PASSING.

BLACK- POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH YOU OR YOUR MOTORCYCLE.
If the BLACK flag is pointed directly at you, it means that there is something wrong with you or your bike that may be a safety concern. Signal by raising your hand. Move off the riding line in case you are leaking fluids. When it is safe, visually check your motorcycle. Make your way to the pits and ask the track personnel to tell you what the problem is.