Errata: June/July 1999 Newsletter

The newsletter stated INCORRECTLY that our last race of the season would be held at GingerMan. The CORRECT track is Grattan

Date                    September 4-5

Sanctioning Body        SCCA WMR/SCCA LSR

Event                   Double Regional Race        

Track/Location          Grattan Raceway, Grattan, MI

Event F&C Chief         Jason Gyulay tboer@execpc.com

Grattan Raceway Information (Free Camping for the Cornerworkers/Marshals) TRACK INFO http://www.wmr-scca.gen.mi.us/grtinfo.htm Restrooms, with showers, are kept very clean. Grattan is the only track in mid-America, if not the US, to have a SWIMMING POOL available for your use.

Keep yourself up-to date

Remember always to check for schedule updates and changes online at http://www.concentric.net/~Tbateman/

Keep MTM up-to-date

Reminder from Nancy, please send in your CANARY response forms to her as soon as possible.

The Phone Company has changed Nancy's area code to

313-295-7363 pnschilke@migate.net

Grattan Event (Dave Johnston)

The weather was wonderful all weekend with cool temps and low humidity.  Saturday was more or less uneventful and Nancy Johnson cut her teeth in race control for the first time as she continued to work on her national FC license.  She did a great job and we sent her back to turn one for the afternoon (I think with a new respect for RC) There were two races scheduled for after dinner, SRF and Formula Mazda.  This was to promote the Grand Rapids GP.  The volunteers for that event were suppose to be invited to watch, but it fell through and was canceled.  However the Western Mich. stewards continued with the scheduled anyway even though there was a provision in the “sups” to go back to a normal schedule.

The F&C crew were not happy working a 12 + hour day and comments like “The only reason they're complaining is because we are cutting into their beer time" (from a Steward!) did not endear it self to the volunteer staff.  I know some of the workers plan to write Denver and their regions to suggest strongly that evening races not be promoted in the future.  Also you would think that since two groups were run Sat. that Sunday would be shorted!  No!  We only save about ½ hour from the whole test.  The trivia went well.  Turn 5 (Mary Curtis, Willy Perez, Phil Schilke and two others (You need to write Willy for names) won. I will attach the questions.  Sunday went smooth.  We had Nancy Johnson call the CSR, DSR race.  I think she is ready for her national and maybe the next chief!

The FV and F500 race needed six wreckers now and one flat tow.  It was checkered at lap 19 (23 lap race) all wrecker calls were separate accidents and all drivers were OK.

Great News - Engagement

Bill Edwards & Mindy Puckett

May 27, 2000 2pm

St John's Church

Benton Harbor, MI

Marshal Driver (Michael "Winner" Burke)

The following are some thoughts from a longtime corner worker who occasionally drives:

For their own safety, corner workers should constantly be watching and aware of, oncoming traffic.  Workers need to recognize that drivers are operating in a very hostile environment at an intense concentration level.  Accordingly, drivers may be slow to react to inputs/stimulus outside their immediate focus.  Their environment coupled with a poor handling car, problems with heat, vision, or fatigue, and, or the stress of a race for position may be so dominating a driver’s senses that a flag condition change or an out from behind the barrier worker may not be immediately noticed.  Candidly, in my personal experience, it was well into my second season before I could divert enough attention from just staying on the road to properly observe workers, or even to glance at my gauges!

Another personal safety related tip is for workers to avoid surprising oncoming drivers.  Upon approaching an incident scene, a driver’s car control decisions are made very quickly, and when a worker(s) unexpectedly appears from behind the barrier or darts across the track, reactive changes in the previously made inputs can easily result in an out of control car. This is especially the case in the rain or on an oil/gravel-covered track. We must understand that the difference of a car being totally in control and being “on the ragged edge” can be only one or two MPH!

A final suggestion is that each worker purchase, read, and understand the current G.C.R.  Too often individuals become embroiled in heated situations with enemy producing results stemming from what “they thought the rulebook specified”.  As an example, blocking is a frequently misunderstood concept.  For safety reasons, drivers are trained to use the normal racing line when being overtaken and to avoid making unpredictable line changes.  Even though this “driving the normal line" practice may temporarily impede a faster competitor, a much safer situation results that should not be considered blocking.  Recognize, making a safe pass is the responsibility of the overtaking driver!

During the first lap of any weekend’s first session, a great feeling of reassurance develops when lots of people in white clothes can be seen around the course.  Since drivers are human, they frequently make car preparation and driving mistakes.  Knowing help is nearby certainly allows this driver to relax a few notches!!!!  Thanks for all your past support, and please keep coming!!!

See YOU at the races,

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Several people have expressed interest. pnschilke@migate.net

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