Track Driver Integrity
 

I wanted to share with you guys something that happened to me last weekend in Pittsburgh Racing Complex (Awesome track by the way).
It shows that no matter what you drive, the person in the seat makes all the difference.
I have been instructing for about 12 years and I am fully committed to it.
My BRZ is committed to HPDE as it is fully gutted, caged and prepped very well. It hangs out with almost anything in most tracks in the Instructors group, which is usually very good and with very capable equipment for sure.
In any case, I am always very alert in my mirrors as our car is not the fastest in long straights or up the hills.
Nobody ever has complained to me about holding them but in the same token I usually do not lift much as it really takes a toll in lap times and usually I am competing with me and myself.
When I say hang out I mean exactly that, in some tracks a much higher HP will pass me in the straight and then I will pass him or her in the twisty sectors and laps go on and on.
I noticed a race prepped Corvette approaching behind me in turn 13. I knew he would not catch me on 14 just yet as I carry a lot of speed and is a full gas turn for me when they have to brake but as soon as I was tracking out of 15 (left bender), I pointed him by on my left so I can keep the next apex and stay behind him once he passes me. He pushed like crazy when tracking out and I saw him with the corner of my eye coming right to my door so I smoothly went off track to the right to give him room and proceeded with all 4 in the grass farming veggies for about 50 yards. Luckily I kept good control of the car and was able to merge out of the grass without any issues but I did bounced a little hard a couple of times while farming. We both pitted out and he told control he made a mistake and he was really sorry, etc...
I was a little upset so I figured to talk to him later so I parked and inspected and found that my front APR splitter was mostly gone and my car had about 20 pounds worth of wet grass and mud underneath. My rear diffuser was a little bent but super easy fix.
As I was cleaning my car and more at ease since there was not really any serious issues with my car, the guy came by and apologized profusely about his mistake and he confessed he was chasing a Cayman GT4 Club Sport that I did point by in turn 12.
I thought it was nice of the guy to apologize and I was cool with it. Track incident between Gentleman.
Next morning he is looking for me before drivers meeting.
He comes and says, I am really sorry for what happened and I had a hard time sleeping feeling so guilty that because of my mistake you have to fix your car. I really thank you for saving both of our cars from a much worst problem and please take this money so you can fix you car with a new splitter.
I had thought of it and I put myself in his situation and I had concluded that I would do exactly what he did.
None of us is professional and even them have incidents and issues, just much bigger pockets than most of us.
Track driver integrity is something that is never thought in depth in the classroom but it is within ourselves to listen to what is right or not.
Drive well and track on.

Did you take the money? Or was it just a track incident between gentlemen?

--kC

Did you take the money
 

I told him that he did not have to do that and he said that if I did not take it, he was not going to be at peace. So after he insisted, I took his $400 bucks and as soon as I did that, I ordered the same splitter that I broke for $396 bucks. Basically a wash.
The guy saw the broken pieces. It happened at the last session of the day and he was there apologizing to me when the corner worker brought me the pieces that were left in the grass. He saw the APR logo in one of the pieces and figured the rest.

I wish more folks were like this at events. Its not a race.

Useful information
 

Also just in case you wonder, I ran the second day without a splitter and it indeed affects the turn in of the car. I had to "advance" my turn in timing and I did not have the same stick.
I left first my GT200 wing at 0 degrees AOA as it was before the incident. Then I went to -2 degrees AOA. Not much of a change between those two settings without the front splitter.
In other words, the turn it was not horrible but I definitely felt less front downforce and adjusting the wing for less downforce did not do much to compensate.

I was there on Sunday only. I saw your car and a few other twins but no one was around when I came by. I had a white BRZ. I had some issues when trying some different lines later on in the day. I kept picking up marbles and at one point the car was vibrating so bad I ended up pulling into the pits thinking something broke. That is the most dirty that I have ever seen this track. I cleaned the tires off some but could only go so hard until the I started to pick up more marbles and the car started to act up again. Slowed down and the tires got scrubbed again. All in all it was a fun day.

My APR splitter died in a similar fashion (guy in front of my had his hood pop off and smash his windshield, went off to avoid him). I didnt get money but I wouldnt have taken it anyways, as I know he is in a very tight budget (miata). Odly enought, I wasnt mad about it, a bit sad, but not mad. I consider it lucky all we needed was a new bumper + splitter (my case) and a new hood and hardtop for him. Altho after more indepth look, I think it bent my frame up front a bit.

Sorry I did not see you
 

So sorry we did not hook up. I did talk to 3 other BRZ / FRS owners and I made a train in the novice group on Sunday to tow them working the line.
Two of them had been my students before so it worked out great.
Perhaps you were in intermediate because I know I was the only BRZ in advanced/instructor group.
There was another white one with a supercharger.
If you see my car around please do not be shy. Come see me and I will do everything I can to help you or I will get you help with the organizers.

Is accepting the money NOT consistent with a track incident between gentlemen?


My #1 goal being the owner of a damaged car was to take care of the individual at the wheel - and I was comfortable with the idea that I would accept any proposal they were comfortable with as the driver. I consider it a very generous offer considering everything - I was still out money and quite a bit of time (parts, installation, setup), but the time is far more easily forgiven, and the money I could afford. I'd have accepted less, or alternatives.


I still feel guilty, and I was in the passenger seat of my own car... I can't imagine how it would feel to have messed up and caused damage to another vehicle.



C

I did talk to you. I had the BRZ with supercharger parked by the BBQ trailer. I looked around and did not see the other cars lined up so I went out by myself.

The whole day was strange in some respects. Near the end of each session, it felt like I had a tire going down. I kept checking the pressure and that was not the case. I guess I am not used to picking up that much rubber on the tires. There was a lot of fast cars, lot of slicks, and this led to a lot of marbles. When I am on the track at other times, the groups are smaller and the cars are not all as good as they were on Sunday.

Track Driver Integrity
 

What a great story, Andy, and a great example of the Chin Trackdays group's emphasis on how we're all responsible for each other's safety and fun at track events. That Corvette driver was a real stand-up guy, (unlike the guy in the new C7 who roared past me 4 turns after the checkers Saturday, presumably because I'd passed him in every session?? :D )
Forgetting about that (throw out the low score) it was a great time at an amazing track, my first time there. **Anyone in the eastern half of the country needs to put Pitt Raceway on their list- incredible track that seems like it was designed just for our cars! **

When I was doing a track day on a bike, I stayed to the left coming out of a right hand turn when the next turn is a left (so you shoudl go back to the right). Rather than pass me on the right where there was 25 feet of track, he tried to pass me on the left where there was about 1 foot of room. He goes by and clips my handlebars, sending me end over end and totaling my brand new, 1500 mile CBR.

I think the guy paid $1000, but I was more pissed that he could have serious hurt me. And there was no god damn reason for it other than to be a show off an buzz me.