Suggestions from Lemons Racers for Consideration By Lemons HQ (Page 1 of 2)

Some really good ideas here.  Never heard of the messaging system (I've only ever raced Lemons) - but, that does sound extremely useful.  Some of these tracks, it's all but impossible to hear what's coming over the loud speakers. 

Agree on the flagging - I try not to rag too hard on corner workers, because I know it's a tough job (I have the attention span of a gnat, no way I could do it) but it does seem to be quite disjointed sometimes.  And I know it's probably the thing that Lemons has the least control over.  But still.  Would be willing to try out the light things.  Especially if you can choose where they go in the car, just put them right on top of the instrument cluster. 

Rain lights - definitely something to consider/something that's needed.  I know we like to keep cost and complexity down - which is very much appreciated - but I think brake lights are something we're a little too lenient on.  Even in regular daylight races, cars with lights in odd places and extremely dim lights are problematic.  For me, I don't think a special rain light is strictly necessary - I think most car running lights would be sufficient - as long as they reach a certain brightness.  I know we're testing headlight cutoff for 24hr races now (thank god) - for races where rain/fog/etc are likely, I don't think it's unreasonable that if a cars brake lights and/or running lights don't 'look' bright enough, they should be tested with a lux meter, and if they don't pass - well, go get some LED bulbs, auxiliary taillights, etc.  If cars don't have running lights, they could add a battery operated rain light.  That way, almost no one has to change anything about their car, but the 'worst offenders' can be corrected. 

Anthem - No real opinion on that one.  It would be neat, but, logistically, it seems like it would be kind of hard to organize.

Doesn't race monitor report black flags?  I remember seeing it do it at least once.

My team tested Flagtronics when Lemons did it. It became a distraction and it didn't always match what the flag stand. It is a decent sized item that now blocks part of your vision.We didn't like it and it would be another expense added to a race weekend.

Rain lights are a good idea and probably should've been mandated already...not really a big deal when you are building a car to keep the lights.It doesn't need to be crazy bright and it won't add $$$ to the build.

Don't care if Lemons wants to do the national anthem or not

Thanks for your response Eric!  It's always good to know that HQ is at least listening to us common folks.   

-Vincent

The whole track *does* go green at the same time after a FCY. Race Control calls for a green flag, and at that moment, the whole track goes green. This is the norm in North American amateur motorsports, made explicit in the rulebooks for series that like long rulebooks (NASA, SCCA, etc.). Thus, it's how the corner workers are going to operate by default. I'm not aware of anyone getting called for PUY for a trailing FCY in the moments after Race Control has said, "green flag, green flag, all stations drop your flags", at least at any of the races we've been to, though I would be interested to hear counterexamples.

Jeff

Instead of flagtronics, maybe test out digital flag station markers like what nascar and other series use. Some tracks already have them permanently installed. Seeing bright light flag panels at stations in addition to, or in place of some flag stations would be better than trying to handle rentals, purchasing, syncing, firmware updates, etc... to deal with an in-car unit like flagtronics.

If you really want the national anthem, you can take your team to the nearest flying flag and play your own recording. Its not like most tracks follow traditional American flag flying practice anyways, and playing a recording at any drivers meeting just seems tacky (I've seen it done at AER, NASA and SCCA events and half the people just wander away during it). There's a lot more people present at a race than just drivers.

Rain lights 100% agree with, and we already use one from racing in other series. Maybe it confuses other drivers, maybe not, but Lemons hasn't asked us to turn it off yet. Seeing the pinball effect every year at Road Atlanta and Barber kind of reinforces the need for it.

SMS, take it or leave it. Easy to coordinate but there are still tracks outside of cell phone range of certain providers.

Nyancar but lee greenwood

The best (easiest) example is at the start of the race.  Say you're at NCM and you are in the keyhole section when S/F drops the green flag.  The keyhole station is still showing a standing yellow, but, but you're teammate who is watching the tower at S/F says "GREEN, GREEN, GREEN" to you on the radio, so you jump 5 cars and are all proud of yourself.  You will (and I have) get called for PUY.  Happens ALL THE TIME.  If it never happened to you, well you might be one of those 5 cars who just got passed.

AER's (not sure about any other series) rain light rule seems to make the most sense to me.  The light is supposed to be flashing, but must stop flashing and go to solid under braking.

The OTS ones I found were quite pricey for what they are, so I made my own with a LED trailer light and timed relay for about $20.  YMMV.

Yeah I thought $120 was crazy $$$ for a flashing light, so I made my own.  It was super easy.  Tech guy at AER said it was the first DIY one he has seen that actually worked....LOL.

Here's the schematic I came up with:

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipN … vm71cJTtsk

Here's the flasher I used.  The flash rate is adjustable.

Amazon Link

I tried it four times (trying to embed an image) but it didn't work.  I guess I'll try it again...

Photo Link