Please show more concern for others at the track

[brownslane]

Dave, is there some way that, perhaps, all workers get an annual pass that they can use in their car? A registered and numbered pass would go a long way to identify the owner(s) of a car that is in the way, and would allow that individual to be spoken with (quietly) so they would not park that way again. Often the same perpetrator parks the same way, event after event....I think it is not because they don't care, but more likely because they did not know. Colene, was the car parked under the stands and close to pit lane because you needed access to the car for your work that weekend?

The other challenge would be the commitment that cars that are a problem are towed. I know this is not a constant problem, but it is a pretty consistent one! If a car is blocking a trailer or a access lane and there is a fire, medical emergency, etc. the car owner and race organizer could be held responsible if they knew and did nothing.

For me, when at Mosport, I park the truck or my car NOT in the paddock but in the grassy area beyond it. Not a big deal for me, and I know I will not be in the way. And because it is not in a busy corridor, I can be more confident it will not get damaged by constant traffic flows.

BTW, on a personal note,it was good to see you at the Victoria Day event. I am still smiling with the memory of the pulled pork sandwich! We always eat when we hang out, don't we?

[DEK]

Tom, thanks for the compliments about the food. I'm a sucker for ribs and pulled pork and it would have been tacky to eat in front of the rest of you. I think that was the only time you guys stopped from the crash until it was dark.

When I'm Scrutineering at a normal club race I park near the CASC trailer. At the BARC weekend, I think I'll put a note on the dash of whatever vehicle I bring that says something like "If you need to know about this vehicle, inquire at the CASC trailer"

I am the event Chief. I like you idea about some kind of a "parking pass" for people that NEED to park in the paddock.

DAVE KING

[Rich]

Bear in mind this was a visitor from overseas, who most likely was not intimately familiar with the pattern of race traffic flow at Shannonville. I'm not a 'regular' there either, and it can be somewhat confusing - especially very early in the morning when marshals park - and there is nothing else around to give a clue that what looks like a sopt out of the way under the grandstand is in fact the pit access road......

Better signage and designation would help a lot.

As for padocking at Mosport, getting very confusing. Take lower passock this Vintage weekend - usually you can drive from the new road, straight through the paddock to the gate at the back. Last weekend, the way the vintage guys paddocked it was rather a maze pushing us all to drive past on the grass. again, throughway being marked would help.

[brownslane]

Rich, as a competitor who shows up with family in tow and who stays at the track for the weekend in the paddock in the motor home, I would prefer that nobody drives through the paddock area...other than race cars and only to and from the grid. I have 3 kids and two dogs (always on leash / tied up). I take their safety seriously and the fewer vehicles that drive through our area, the better for safety, the quieter for competitors, and less chance of damage. Are you telling me the only way to get to the other side was driving through the paddock area?

In terms of Colene's friend, I am sure that he did not park there without her knowledge and approval. This guy comes from GB, where parking is seriously managed. He would know better than to park in a designated area that was inappropriate.

So the point really is, what is appropriate? prime example is that you feel it is OK to use the paddock area as a thoroughfare....I am uncomfortable with that, for the reasons stated above.

I think further to this, you might be a great guy and drive with extra care and slow speed through this area; but if the average Joe spectator sees you, follows through and does not take the same care, we all are at risk; This same spectator also might drive through many times a day as he/she drives to and from different viewing areas. More traffic, more risk. Frankly I see the paddock as an area for race vehicles and their specifically-required support vehicles only. That resolves the inappropriate parking problems, reduces congestion in an already busy and hectic area where golf carts, tow trucks, race cars, bicycles, etc are already heading in every direction. On the Victoria Day weekend a friend's wife got launched off her moped and received stitches and bruises due to congestion and people driving too fast in a controlled area. That sucks.

But this is a serious question; is the only way from the new entrance to the east gates through the paddock? I am talking Mosport here, just to be clear.

Colene, your initial post has drifted here, but onto a subject that I feel is a good idea to discuss. What we have seen here is a lot of intense feelings from various groups of people, spectators, workers, entrants and officials. Every one seems to have their own perspective on this, and some are pretty far apart!

I think this discussion is great! perhaps we can all see the various needs out there and come to some consensus going forward ?

I think some dispensation needs to be given to all the volunteer workers who do this hard (often thankless) job on their own dime....hats off to you all! Perhaps this "dash pass" could go a long way to identifying vehicles where/when they are parked. For those of us who don't know why a car would be parked in a specific area, we would at least know the car was there because "someone on the job" needed it there. And, honestly, if the car appears to be presenting a concern where it is parked, you all would have a way to identify the owner and get an emerging problem addressed before things like damage occur.

Just an observation based on way too long hanging around the track; there are always a few "bad apples" that seem to create more trouble and aggravation....luckily these folks are very few. One way to manage it is by applying the Mid-Ohio model This is rather draconian, but it sure works! Paddock is safe, low traffic volume and woe betide anybody who steps outta line!! Similar service at WGI...if you are parked incorrectly or caught speeding, the local COPS will bust you! We have been very lucky up here. We all need to continue to protect this relaxed atmosphere we all benefit from.

Rich, can you let me know if there was a "road way" available on the festival weekend? I thought there was a road that bisected the upper and lower paddocks that ran directly east from the entrance road. It is used to gain access to the upper paddock (hope I described it right )

Thanks, Tom

[DEK]

Tom, the "new" road was there. It has STEEL GUARD RAILS on both sides !!!. Perhaps some one from the organizing clubs could have "someone" or CTMP staff mark off a road at the "west" end of the lowest paddock to the road that goes up the hill. People using the lowest paddock would park to the east of this "road" Yes I know this would reduce the space in the lowest paddock by linear 40 feet. (The width of the marked "road').

Tom, if you want privileged parking at the BARC weekend come and help me at Tech (LOL)

DAVE KING

[brownslane]

Hmmm. Sorta thought that was a road . So was the problem that it was blocked, or the gate closed, or something?

Seriously, traffic control and parking seem to be common complaints. Everybody has a story! With that said, we ALL need to ensure that there is always easy and usable access roads every where. Sounds simple, we all know it is not the easy in practice. The fact that this happened to Colene who would never inconvenience folks purposefully, shows we all need a better understanding of acceptable practice.

And I KNOW what you are up to Dave!! Ya, a special parking spot.....probably right next to where you'll have me working for the next 16 hours! hehe!!

Best regards all, Tom

[DEK]

Tom, I'll have a look at the west end of the lowest paved paddock area this weekend. I'm not sure there is ANY define road to get from the road from the GREAt tunnel to the road at the top of the hill that goes from 2 towards 7 1/2. Perhaps some barrels and yellow tape can help with this.

On a different subject, I understand that volunteers can and do have other commitments. I hope I NEVER tell anyone helping me that they can't arrive or leave when they need to.
(although I might pout !! )

DAVE KING

[Rich]

Good points Tom, and the new traffic flow around the paddocks at CTMP is going to take a while to get used to.

For instance, coming through the East tunnel on Varac weekend, and keeping outside the paddock fence, suddenly I was surronded by race vehicles going to lower paddock. I also don't like the way the new barriered road spits visitor traffic out right into the middle of race cars.....

ON to the lower paddock. VDS weekend, there was a clear road through from the new road to the road leading to the hill. Varac, a whole pile of teams had paddocks over the traditional road. It also seems as if a fence has dissappeared, so they spilled onto the grass.

MMS has moved operations from the paddock up onto the hill, partly to relieve some of the traffic congestion - but this does mean we need to access our new home easily, a topic that is under discussion with the appropriate people.

[brownslane]

Rich, that sounds like it was a challenge for you. So, somebody needs to bring it up to Miles/crew. Do I understand that you have/are doing this? Not to get you to do any "dirty work" at all; just want to make sure that somehow they hear about it and perhaps can adjust accordingly. Mixing race cars and spectator cars is a big no-no IMO. Just risking too much.

Thanks for understanding my comments.

Tom

[bthonda104]

Really? Nice use of a road racing forum. Nothing better to do.