In Spec Racer Ford we all get plenty of rubber on the car during the race but sometimes we also get a rubber “donut” on our side pods. Doesn’t mean we like it. Nobody likes cleaning donuts off or the repairs that sometimes result from car to car contact. If there is an Incident on track and you come into impound and tell the Stewards “Rubbing Is Racing” that is a very quick way to get on probation or lose your racing license. Most sanctioning bodies have no contact rules and some are strictly enforced. The Spec Racer Ford takes side pod hits like a champ since it has a triangulated box section covered by fiberglass with an aluminum rub rail. But just because it is there doesn’t mean it has to be used.
Your goal when passing is to avoid any and all contact. No one likes making trackside repairs on a race weekend just because the other racer decide to push, rub or hit them to get past. It is a quick way to loose friends and the respect of fellow competitors.
Rubbing is NOT racing if you have to rub, push or hit someone out of the way to get the pass done you need to work on your car control, racecraft, situational awareness and judgement. We have all made mistakes and stupid moves out on track, myself included, use them as learning experience and get better. At certain corners, higher speeds or even different cars the situation can escalate quickly resulting in major car damage or worse someone being injured.
“No, no, he didn’t slam you, he didn’t bump you, he didn’t nudge you... he rubbed you. And rubbin, son, is racin’.”
The most fun I have in racing is when I know I can run side by side with another racer passing back and forth around the whole track without any contact. That is a great way to earn friends and the respect of fellow competitors. So things you can do to avoid incidents include:
Know What and Where
How is your situational awareness? No car should appear suddenly without you knowing. Look in your mirrors and peripherary enough to know what is going on around you. This can be tough when you are starting out with so much going on and the reason many track day groups have dedicated passing zones or a point-by system. Practice checking your mirrors on a test day. Check down the straight to see if anyone is coming up on you. A brief glance before the braking zone can help avoid a lot of contact. Make sure before you turn in you know no one is alongside.
Practice
A lot of incidents occur because a driver wasn’t expecting the reduced grip level when driving off line. Practice driving off the racing line. Do you know the grip levels on the outside of turns or how to drive the inside line? Take a session or two when you have a gap and no one is around you on a quiet test day and try driving as if there is a car next to you. Don’t drive erratic in a busy session, wait till no one is around. Could you run side by side through the Corkscrew or go around the outside of the sweeper? Find out. Not only will this help your car control but might just give you another tool for when that passing opportunity arises in the race.
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