Chasing the Bee

[RSO 34]

Here is a video of a hot lap at Watkins Glen from last week where I am chasing the award-winning Bumblebee NSX around the track.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?...invite&cmp=EMC-IS_other&creative=album-invite


NOTE: This is a 35mb file.

 

[Acura NsX Pilot]

Hey Bob ...stupid question but does everyone drive with there windows open or is this a rule ?

 

[RSO 34]

The rule is that all cars must have the windows down. Another reason to hate when it rains at the track.

 

[nsx1164]

Hey Bob ...stupid question but does everyone drive with there windows open or is this a rule ?

Most event organizers I've run with require this -- makes it easier for the safety crew to extricate anyone from the vehicle, should such assistance be necessary.

 

[DanO]

The down side is that without arm restraints or window nets, it is much more likely to injure an arm in a rollover. The Gingerman event Monday demonstrated this vividly when a Neon rolled over in 9. The driver’s left arm got between the roof and the ground. Fortunately, the injury did not look too bad at the time. When I have the option, I run with the windows up—if the crew needs to, they can easily break the window to get me out.

DanO

 

[docjohn]

On track as in life,,,lawyers chasing doctors lol

 

[DONYMO]

On track as in life,,,lawyers chasing doctors lol

Now THAT'S funny!

 

[ak]

Walls everywhere!!!!

 

[RSO 34]

On track as in life,,,lawyers chasing doctors

Exactly. In fact, most people guess wrong about me buying the NSX in the first place as a sign of a mid-life crisis. The truth is that the performance of ambulances nowadays made it crucial to have a faster car to try to chase them.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Wow, looks like a fast and exciting track. Those armco barrier is almost as scary as the old Sears. I can't wait for NSXPO 2004.

Bob,
next time, try to use a wide angle lens, will ya. It will capture the whole windshield width. Much better to watch it. Don't get too wide, as it will create a fish eye effect.

 

[RSO 34]

Believe it or not that was on wide angle. I forgot my remote so I needed to move the mount forward to be able to turn the camera on while tucked into the 5 point restraints. That was the widest view I could capture.

And, yes, there is a lot of armco close to the edges. There are 4 gravel traps in total and some of the armco is covered in styrofoam. If that is not enough to keep you alert, the tire walls should get your attention as well.

If you like speed, you will love coming out of turn 1 and standing on it all the way up through the esses and not braking until shortly before the bus stop.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Yes, I like it fast and challenging. Looks like this track will seperate the man from the boys

 

[RSO 34]

Looks like this track will seperate the man from the boys

As long as we are not then separating the men from the armco.

 

[TigerNSX]

Yes, I like it fast and challenging. Looks like this track will seperate the man from the boys

Wow.. my only chance to go back to being a boy!!!

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Hey Bob ...stupid question but does everyone drive with there windows open or is this a rule ?

Many clubs say all the way up or all the way down. This way the chance of broken glass in a roll-over is limited.

 

[nsxtasy]

Hey Bob ...stupid question but does everyone drive with there windows open or is this a rule ?

Aside from the safety aspect which was previously addressed, groups that require hand signals for passing require windows down for this purpose.

 

[RSO 34]

Bailey,

I forgot one of the reasons as indicated by Ken. Most organizations require that you may not pass a car unless given a point-by by that car. The driver of the car being passed will give an arm signal on the side on which you should pass: arm straight out you pass on the left and arm up with hand pointed over the roof you pass on the right.

Here is a sample vid of passing during that Glen session where you can see the manadatory hand signals of this school:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?...invite&cmp=EMC-IS_other&creative=album-invite

 

[NSX-Racer]

Astonishing for us on the other side of the lake: Here it was required at every event I attended that the windows have to be up at least 2/3. I guess that's mainly to prevent gravel or other debris to fly into the drivers compartment (and that does happen inevitably when you spin into a gravel trap).

Maybe it's also because of a roll over situation, but I never asked.

 

[gheba_nsx]

The only two times I was on a track they wanted the windows up (or at least 70% up as NSX-Racer pointed out).

The reason that was given to me it was safety in case of a roll over: unfortunately it is not unusual to lose one arm if it remains between car and ground...

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Yes,

the European and Japanese has different safety view onthis. Just like their race cars can use lexan side window, but the US counterpart use the window net.

Me personally like the lexan window and inquire about this to SCCA and NASA. But their response was it is not legal.