Red Flags

[jev61]

It appears we may need a little extra training for corner captains and course workers, maybe collect course workers at the beginning of each run group and remind everyone the of Top 5 most important things to do or not do while working course. We might have timing, starter and grid huddle, while corner captains and course workers huddle for two or three minutes before walking out to stations.

[Jeremy]

Some things that have made an impression on me over the years.

1. SCCA has a different dedicated safety steward assigned to every heat. They are mostly eyes on the course the entire time although it's not required, they can walk around and inspect grid or whatever during their heat. Most of the time, anything safety related on the radio was spoken by the safety steward on duty. FAST doesn't really have that? Seems like whoever happens to be standing around the trailer or working Timing is all of the sudden in charge of safety without knowing it. I have a specific example of this but I don't want to say it publicly. If Dave or Steve care they can PM me.
2. GCAC has a dedicated person to speak on courseworking during the driver's meeting. The volunteer chairman of the month at FAST events might not be the best public speaker, so possibly have someone who commands attention cover the courseworking portions. I think maybe this is already done in FAST(?), but it's not really course specific, just more safety in general. Not sure, I stopped listening at drivers meetings about 10 years ago.
3. Have a safety steward walk to each station while the course is hot, at least once per event or per heat if you want to get crazy, and check the station for safety in it's location, and ask the workers if they have any questions or problems.

Not saying FAST is doing anything wrong at all, just saying what has helped me understand that courseworking is an important job.

[Loren]

Some things that have made an impression on me over the years.

3. Have a safety steward walk to each station while the course is hot, at least once per event or per heat if you want to get crazy, and check the station for safety in it's location, and ask the workers if they have any questions or problems.

I like this idea. It doesn't hinder getting the heat started (which always seems to be everyone's primary concern), but it gets someone out to each station who can be sure the workers understand what they're out there for. Also gives us experienced "safety" eyes on workstation position, which is good.

[jmdoc66]

Really Jeremy?

"That's a good thing? One station still needs to be the first person to make the decision to throw the flag."

I guess I assumed...you would understand this is a given.

My bad.

[Jeremy]

Really Jeremy?

"That's a good thing? One station still needs to be the first person to make the decision to throw the flag."

I guess I assumed...you would understand this is a given.

My bad.

It doesn't really matter. I just don't want to get red flagged for no reason if I am on a good run.
Tires are expensive these days.

[Native]

Seems like whoever happens to be standing around the trailer or working Timing is all of the sudden in charge of safety without knowing it. I have a specific example of this but I don't want to say it publicly. If Dave or Steve care they can PM me.

I care.
I love you man.
I respect your not wanting to "go public."
Consider this a public pm. PM or email me back what you're talking about.
But, understand, one of the things we ask people at the drivers' meeting (that you'd know if you were listening) is that we ask anyone who sees something unsafe to say something to someone. So if someone ends up "all of a sudden in charge of safety" - good. Putting safety for the entire event in the hands of only one person (or even one person per heat) and absolving others of responsibility - not so good.

[Loren]

True enough. While we do try to have at least one dedicated and trained "Safety" person assigned at all times, ALL eyes on safety is far better than just two.

[puncturina]

Unless I am reading that wrong, it sounds like a red flag was called over the radio and no one did anything. How is that going to be different at FAST events?

It seemed to me that someone called the red flag because course workers were resetting cones, and other people did not respond because they were trying to figure out what was going on and/or they thought that the red flag was unnecessary. I never saw anything other than some workers running out to re-set cones at one station, but I don't know if something else might have been happening.

The point is that if we make it clear that a red flag anywhere means a red flag everywhere, and everyone is clear on this, then you wouldn't (shouldn't) have this happen. Just because you disagree with the red flag call does not mean you should ignore it. On the other hand, if all the course workers are just clueless and asleep, that is a different problem.

[Bjpusf]

Thank you guys for bringing this up. I was having an issue with the red flags back at B'Ville in March because I would see a red flag out and release mine. I made eye contact with some of the other corner captains and often there was a shrug afterward. I know that not all of us are available for every autocross due to our schedule, but is there possibly a way to use corner captains with experience at the events? I would love to volunteer for this position again. Please don't take my post as any sort of criticism, I simply wanted to say thanks for the clarity and put my suggestion in the comment box.

[Native]

Not sure if you noticed or not, Brian, but the thread you responded to is 4 years old. Everything old is new again, huh?
Just so's you know, it is always our intention to pair courseworkers in such a way that someone with experience works with someone without. Once in a while, depending on registration and attendance, that's very difficult to do. I believe that the event you are referring to was one of those instances. Many novices, not many veterans to work with them and train them.

If I recall correctly, there were numerous instances of indecision on flagging during a specific run group at that event, and your corner was actually doing the right thing, that is, if you saw a red flag wave, they all should wave. The problem was that folks were waiving flags for reasons that flags shouldn't get waved, stopping, and you guys kept waving. Drivers were confused, timing was frustrated, and so on.

We try to be as detailed as we can during the drivers' meeting about the rules and philosophy behind red flags - things have evolved a lot since this thread was posted. But, clearly, there's no 100% solution.

[Carracer]

We try to be as detailed as we can during the drivers' meeting about the rules and philosophy behind red flags - things have evolved a lot since this thread was posted. But, clearly, there's no 100% solution.

Robot course workers! If we can put a man on the moon how hard can it be to make a robot that will work course?