A note about Fun Series and the Rules

[kevinb]

thread edited, see note below regarding rules policy in the fun series.

[charchri4]

For me in a race I always tense up when another driver gets close to me and usually don't remember what happens before I'm headed to the sand. I think it would be very helpful if you experienced guys could come along side us rookies and let us know when we mess up. It doesn't have to be publicly but send us a note and let us know what you saw so we can learn from it. I would really appreciate any opportunity to correct mistakes on the track.

I made contact with a guy lapping me last week but I have no idea if he bumped me or I bumped him. I know everyone has to play by the same rules but personally I wish he would not have waited for me to get going again. He was clearly faster then me and I have no doubt it was an honest accident that neither of us wanted to happen.

Yeah the chat during racing was over the top last week. I do enjoy visiting during warm up but I wish the language could be kept clean enough for little ones to over hear.

Thanks for all your hard work on the fun races Kevin. We really appreciate you!!

[Kartracer]

Jim just remember it is not your resposibillty to get out of the way of a passing car. Just hold your line. The over taking car doesn't know where you are going or what your thinking is. The only exception to this is (in my opinon) is if you know there is a battle going behind you for the cars that are going to lap you. In this case you still are not required to move over but if you feel comfotable doing it it is OK. I agree with the fool langauge statement I have to race through my headphone so the kid can't hear for that reason.

[David Kessler]

It can be pretty stressful for a novice (like myself) when you have fast guys behind you. Glen's advice is dead on. Just drive the line and they'll get around you (I still don't know how they do it, but they always manage). If you want to make it easy for them, just back off the throttle a bit (but not so much that it takes you off the line).

On the other side of the coin, I encourage the fast guys to remember that us novices will usually brake much earlier than you're expecting, so adjust your following distance accordingly. Everyone falls into that trap occasionally (I nailed Kevin pretty good coming into the hairpin in one of last week's races), but just remember that if I see a blue flag, I'm going to make it as easy as possible for you to pass safely, so you shouldn't have to resort to any high-risk stuff.

[Vern U]

Novice and midpackers shouldn't be reluctant to race with the mid pack cars. When you're new or slower than the top tier then this is where you can get your race experience, competition and fun. When the faster ones are past you then race for position and hold your line as best you can. Mid packers need to learn how to pass safely also. It's not a race if you don't fight a little for your position. After awhile if they're obviously faster then let them by on the straight and attempt to keep up with them or take the fight to the next car coming up.

[HeatCAN]

Good point, Kevin about knocking someone off track and then waiting for them. I saw a couple of instances of that, last week.

As far as too much talking during the race, I was probably the major culprit. It was my first race in the fun series, despite participating in the NA/World Lemans, and Historic series', for a couple of seasons now. So, as you can see, I already to a lot of serious racing here at CMS, and thought I'd join a fun series, where I can relax, not worry about the seriousness, and to have some fun. After reading this, I see the fun series is just a serious as any of the real series I run in.
Many of you must not be familiar with the ability to mute anyone on TS. I'm sure a tutorial is available online somewhere. Or like some do, just turn TS off completely, if you are really serious about your racing.

Anyway, I will stay away from this series, and leave the serious fun to you guys. I've got a couple of pretty cool and really fun leagues, I can recommend, if any of you having fun with me last week are interested. Just PM me.

[davidan]

Guys, actually the official documented rules for all the CMS points Divisions DO NOT FORMALLY apply to the fun series. This is by design. Kevin, my apologies if you did not know this, as I know the transition is new. But the fun series has always been about fun, relaxed, no points, not a whole long list of rules, etc. Phil, myself, and others have worked very hard to keep that the approach over the years. We want drivers to not in anyway be intimidated by rules and a serious approach with the fun series, but the series is meant more to encourage all skill levels to come out one night a week on Sundays to laugh, have fun, try some new mods, not take ourselves too seriously etc. Now, with that said we do abide by a general code of conduct here at CMS and that includes on the track. There are certain things that are common courtesy as Kevin mentioned. If you lose control of your car for instance and take out another driver in the attempt of a pass, you absolutely should lift on the next straight or possible area you can safely do so and let him or her back by. That's common courtesy. I do recommend everyone read the rules Kevin posted because if you race within any of our points series here at CMS those are expected to be followed and ahdered to at all times. And they are a good , best practice for any on track situation including the fun series. But, just wanted to clarlify that the rules do not officially apply to the fun series.

Also, someone else in this thread made a great point, Glen I believe about holding your line. As a slower driver that is the very best thing you can do. Be predictable, hold your line, and let the faster driver find a fast and safe way around you when they are able. If you are changing your line and acting in an unpredictable fashion disaster almost always happens.

I hope this helps, if anyone has any questions or concerns please let me know -- thanks - David