T. Kenji Sugahara
How about lead and follow go-karts?
On May 11, 2007, at 1:39 PM, Mike Murray wrote:
> The current rules re: passing are:
>
> "15.1.3 Field passing - Should a field catch another field of
> racers that
> started separately (except in a Handicap Race) the slower field
> will slow
> and ride at a neutral speed as soon as practical after they are
> caught by
> the faster field or its lead car to allow the faster field to pass.
> They
> will then continue to ride at a neutral slowed pace until the
> faster field
> is 300 meters ahead or until they are released by an official
> attending
> their race. The field being passed will stay to the far right of
> the road
> allowing room for the passing field unless instructed by an official
> otherwise. Passes will not occur in the final 2 kilometers of a
> race. Riders
> will not pass unless there is clear space to pass subject to rule
> 15.1.2."
>
> Some have suggested that directing the slower field to the right is
> not a
> good idea but that is only on a closed course. On open roads the
> slower
> field should ALWAYS be to the right. Thus the "unless instructed
> by an
> official otherwise" phrase.
>
> At PIR it is best if the slower field is to the outside of the turn
> and away
> from the retaining walls. Unfortunately this is nether
> consistently to the
> right or left. In addition, if the slower field does not note the
> faster
> field approaching the slower field will generally be on the inside and
> against the wall. Trying to make them move across the road is
> obviously
> dangerous. The best plan is that the field being passed hold their
> line and
> the passing field work their way around them. Those being passed
> should try
> to avoid being in the middle of the road. If you are off the back by
> yourself or in a small group you need to keep an eye out for groups
> approaching from the rear and ride to the outside of turns and NOT
> against
> the walls when possible.
>
> Although having the passing field announce their presence is a good
> idea it
> is not reasonable to expect that this message will be consistently
> passed up
> to the leaders of the field being passed. It will be good if this
> happens
> but it simply will not happen every time.
>
> Attacking from the front of the slower field during the
> neutralization will
> rarely be of benefit unless you also do not neutralize when the
> faster field
> eventually passes you. In fact more often the break off the front
> suffers a
> loss of advantage when they slow for the pass while the field
> behind them
> continues to race.
>
> Ideally there would be a lead and follow vehicle for each field and
> they
> would be connected by radios. This way the vehicles could manage the
> neutralization; indicate which side the slower field should be on,
> when the
> neutral starts and when it ends, penalize non-neutralizing riders,
> etc.
> This is what is done at most road races. I think it would also be
> a good
> idea at PIR but I concede that things work out pretty well without
> lead and
> follow vehicles so maybe it is not worth the trouble of arranging.
>
> Mike Murray
>
>
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