Crazy Drivers and Dive Bombers_Just my opinion (Page 3 of 4)

I agree 100%.  It was easy for me to tell who would "cut down on you" and generally speaking it was a heavy large car like a Crown Vic or Mercedes 90% of the time.  They would enter the turns on the outside...and even though I was fully on the inside (all the way beside their door) they would still try to make the apex....where I was there or not.  Obviously this wasn't true 100% of the time, but after a few laps I could tell who would do what and I had to find other ways to pass.

That is the difference bewteen someone with HPDE or some other type of track experience.  I do the same thing myself.  Good hand signals make for a safer better race IMO.  The quick waving motion by drivers to acknowledge a yellow flag up ahead (thus warning the drivers behind) is a HUGE help in preventing rear end collisions.

I would be nice if someone could set up a FAQ or similar for the newbies with this type of info so they 'have a clue' before getting on track.

I too did the "thank you wave" when it was done right. Same with point bys. I use them in racing racing too. Point bys are a good thing:
- It acknowledges that you see them
- It acknowledges that you know they are faster
- It acknowledges that you know they are going to pass
- It TELLS THEM where you want them to pass you so that when they are there it is a non-issue.

Point bys are not a bad thing, yes we are racing but we aren't always racing the person in front/behind us. If I am running for position (AND I KNOW IT) I am not giving a point by and damnit they are working for that pass.

When you run in most orgs (NASA, SCCA, etc) there are multiple race classes in a particular race. Point bys are greatly appreciated in those circumstances.

Agreed.  Race hard but be aware, predictable and courteous.  Signaling your intent when able is a good thing -  "point by", "pit in", "caution ahead", "thanks" are all part of my plan, has served me well (with several top 20 finishes), and I always appreciate when others do it too.

I've been at both ends of the spectrum. At CMP last time, our Lincoln turned a 1:02.6 in traffic with me at the wheel. It was probably one of the three fastest cars on the track, on the rare occasions we were actually out there, and not waiting for it to cool to add 3 more gallons of water to go 10 more laps. If you watch the video, I took anything but the "correct" racing line in most places, due to traffic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq6gf4NqV5g

I would prefer slower cars react predictably, and we ARE racing, so I don't ask anyone to lift. However, they should YIELD to much faster cars whenever it's safe to do so. In my pink Caddy at NL, I took the outside line whenever I saw a faster car approaching in my mirror, and did point-by's whenever I could. The Caddy held the sweeping turns remarkably well (go to the 1:04 mark in this vid, you'll see what I mean):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlt8VvqMOFg

However, it was one of the slower cars on the track, with a best of 1:44. On the straights, I just got out of the way to whichever side was clear. Usually, I keyed off the faster car, using the side they were choosing for their pass to move away from. I only LIFTED when it came to voluntarily going to the outside in the tight turns, and I didn't want that big pig sliding off course. Could I have held the inside line in a nearly 20' car that weighs 5k? Hell yes! I already had it most of the time. Would that be courteous to the races that are actually in the hunt for a decent overall finish? Not exactly.

You don't have to lift to yield. Faster cars should be patient and pass where it's safe. Slower cars should A) try to be predictable, and B) yield to faster cars and give point-by's whenever possible, again, where it's safe to do so. Cars that are closely matched should race the wheels off'n the damn cars, and not yield an inch. That's when this sport is the most fun!!!

I must have gone 20 minutes straight at Stafford with Vlad the Impala, swapping positions and racing nose-to-tail lap after lap. I normally don't agree with blocking, but obviously if it's the last laps and you are fighting for the win with the #2 car (a la Buttonwillow), you do what you gotta do. Racing a closely matched car in the middle of a 14-24 hours race doesn't call for blocking, just maximum driving enjoyment!

Agree, I am talking about sprint races. For Lemons I would still revert to letting them go and making up the time against a slower driver/penalty/mechanical/curse/etc

it's ok as long as you don't crash and bring out the safety car

The "thanks" wave is  single motion done only once and generally only that car sees it.  The "oh shit look out wave" is several more frantic-type motions. I've never seen the two confused.

I would have let the first place car do the same had he not been a d*ck to me in T14 earlier.  besides I didn't look at it as helping him win, more like not helping him lose by being in the way.  He was much faster anyway so he would have passed me regardless.  I just makde it easy for him...and agian would have done so for the leader had he been more courteous a little earlier that session.

Kinda like this?

or riding as a passenger.  or having those strings attached to your arms.  or being made of wood.

Maybe add an AK-47 and scream "Death to America the great Satan!"...do this on Sunday afternoon  to avoid ruining your whole weekend...

Or do it on Friday and win an award!