Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: tallguy on June 13, 2015, 10:14:07 PM
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It seems to me that additional course markers would be a good idea, primarily for
safety reasons.
After (for example) the first mile, when speeds are substantial, it could be helpful
to have course markers every tenth of a mile, instead of every quarter-mile. Some
racers have very limited visibility, and depending on things like optical distortion due
to the helmet visor and/or windshield, the view may be quite "fish-eyed", making some
of the course markers quite hard to see. The intended route should be more
"continuously" (or close to it) indicated, which could help someone make necessary
corrections by steering.
I suggest -- and would be willing to contribute to a fund for -- many more course markers
along the racing lanes, as well as a dense bunch of the markers at each turnout, so the
drivers/riders can easily know well in advance where to turn out, thereby avoiding rough salt.
Who's with me? Can we "vote" on this somewhere? Where should I send the donation?
tallguy
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Last year Ron Main spearheaded an effort to install a bunch more course markers. The effort went through a heck of a lot of trials and tribulations - including how to make the things be both resilient to the vagaries of weather and safe to hit at speed. The group eventually made the (in)famous foam rubber-on-a-plastic-pipe dildos (as they were dubbed) and tried putting them out. The weather didn't cooperate to allow much testing, though. It took quite a bunch of time to make them, and then bunches more to install the things. I don't remember the spacing they were trying - whether it was 1/8 mile or 100 yards or what - but the amount of them because quite astounding.
And then there was the issue of what color to make 'em, and how to make them that color (foam chunks a few feet long by four or six inches square don't come in many colors - so they got rattle-can painted once or twice. And on and on it went.
The concept was initiated by George Poteet's inability to see the sides of the course when he was ensconced in the Speed Demon and going at speed, and the markers were then allowed to be tried for everyone, not just George. Main's crew and helpers did the manufacture and installation of 'em. I don't know if there's been a final decision to use them again this year or give the heck up or try something different. But it sure was more hassle and work and cost than first thought.
Maybe we'll get in put from others that remember the attempt.
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So the blue lines down the side of the course does not give enough of a directional indicator?
DW
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I believe that a lot of drivers that are not familiar with the layout have problems because they're not looking farther enuf ahead, and are concentrating on the markers that they are going thru. Their eyes skip from target to target, and that can be confusing.
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Stan, probably... I would suggest to tall as well as all drivers to walk up to the start line, and look at the track... see where the arrow (formed by the markers every 1/4 mile) is going. There is usually a reference mountain at the end of the long course... yes I know some of the other tracks don't always have good markers on the horizon... but even in our car that has a very low vision line, you can still see the arrow. Drive to the pointy end, it gets wider as you get closer.
If you have to turn the wheel, pull the chute :roll:
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Denis Manning invented a bunch of great course markers that survived some horrible weather. I think they were two poles stuck into the ground attached at the top, making a triangle, with a red/green/yellow square flag hanging down that acted as a marker/wind gauge. I don't know how to insert pics of one of them, but I betcha someone out there can do that.
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What about golf flags?.
You'll even have wind direction.
Just my 2c.
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Stan's thoughts are likely true. I think Stainless' approach is probably the best, but you could stretch the paint by painting dashes rather than a solid line.
Another thought would be balloons like at Elmo, placed at the 3 and the 5, double tethered.
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Stan's thoughts are likely true. I think Stainless' approach is probably the best, but you could stretch the paint by painting dashes rather than a solid line.
Another thought would be balloons like at Elmo, placed at the 3 and the 5, double tethered.
Floating mountain is a help on the horizon on the down run. But it is no help on the return run at BMST.
Side line paint is no help to me, but a center black line would be.
I also like the idea of balloons at the beginning and the end of the timing section (the 2 & the 3 at BMST), because being higher, they should be easier to see especially for laydown machines. This should also prevent riders/drivers from continuing on too far (last balloon; time to slow down!)
Tom
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We had the PVC pipe with a garbage bag markers. Guys that hit them didn't like them much.
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Problem Solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiX6PEaRL0
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Last time I closed the container with all the BNI stuff in Wendover, there were hundreds of Foam Markers stored away.
Just like SSS explained above, the leg work was all done by Ron Main and George Poteet. Thanks to donations and sponsors
the came out great and would have worked well. Due to the harsh course conditions last year, some of the markers did not make it.
But it was a Great idea and we still have them. I'll try to attach some pics here.
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just line the sides of the course with k rails. then it'd be like lane bumpers for bowling like little kids use to get their ball down the lane. the cars and bikes will just bounce between the rails to make it down the course. no visual markers necessary.
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how about just putting a line down the middle of the course, like the old days. the usfra did that at the wos last year and it helps a bunch. i, for one, do not like the idea of running into anything, even if it is supposed to be "soft".
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How about that after the drivers meeting they follow the officals down the course so they know where the markers and lines are. they are told they can do this prior running. The rookies are required to do this, but still it a good idea to check the courses and turn outs etc.
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Problem Solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiX6PEaRL0
They draw 8 amps each, so you can get 2 to a circuit, which means you only need 32 2-circuit 4k generators and 96 1320' long 14 gauge extension cords . . .
Yup - problem solved! :-D
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And that quantity is for just one out of four courses.
DW
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How much of this "problem" is because people are looking but cant see the markers, or because people are not looking forward?
I have never had any problems seeing the course, even on record return runs driving right into the sun, but I have never been down the course on a M/C. I can imagine a M/C rider in full tuck would have a serious lack of peripheral vision compared to somebody in a traditional sit-up car. In that case I would think a center line could be a very welcome addition for the bike guys.
Is this a bike issue and the car guys are not seeing it (no pun intended) or is it a universal problem?
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Problem Solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiX6PEaRL0
That's funny Dallas :-D
I guess you'll have to look up a few guys and physically pull their leg for them to know when someone is pulling their leg :cheers:
JL222
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Hey be carefull what you wish for... if that center line is not arrow straight.... and it never is... if just might scare the shit out of you as it wanders around in front of you :-o
Hard to tell if it is you or the line in a short car.
:cheers: :dhorse:
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Problem Solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiX6PEaRL0
That's funny Dallas :-D
I guess you'll have to look up a few guys and physically pull their leg for them to know when someone is pulling their leg :cheers:
JL222
I would not think that anyone would take seriously a resolution that involves using several hundred 40 foot tall "wild wacky waving inflatable tube men" as course markers. :?
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someone on here is bound to be a government employee.
i honestly seriously can't even begin to believe that this is still being talked about.
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stainless, i have made a few laps down the course in the last 35 years and i really would like to have a centerline back. the vesco team has been on a campaign to get a centerline reinstated as well. does not have to be prettily straight, it is just a reference.
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Problem Solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiX6PEaRL0
+1 :-D
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As I recall, the reason for getting rid of the center line was the fact that it was like a magnet, and everyone ran either on it or next to it, destroying the center of the course. With the salt as fragile as has been reported, I would think it would be beneficial for all racers to not have a center line and go to a plan B, what ever that might be.
Tom G.