On Track Conduct
Standards for offenses that warrant a Black Flag or Penalties
It is hard to believe that after 5 decades of karting, that a standard like this has not been put together long ago. Most other forms of Motorsports have something equivalent, but in Karting the definitions for the common conditions for throwing the Black Flag have never been well defined.
We will be bringing you a series of articles on the art of driving and to do the job right, we wanted to start with the 101 level of driving. After all, if you can't avoid the Black Flag, then why bother learning how to brake steer?
OK so everyone with at least a year of experience knows how to avoid the Black Flag right? Wrong. In all the years I have served as a Flagman or Race Director it has always been the more experienced drivers I DQ'd, and never a novice or junior. At every Sprint Race I have served as Race Director this year each event had an experienced shifter driver (and someone whom I like and still get along well with) took the Black Flag with a DQ while they were in the top 3 positions. And after each DQ, I would have to explain simple things like blocking, or bumping, or crowding.
Of course the definitions in the rulebooks of any organization also leave a little to be desired. Sure I just got done reviewing the rulebooks from the "Big 4", and sure enough there are definitions of crew conduct, bad checks, even penalties, but what about the Black Flag? Other then the Drivers helmet fell off, why do they use the Black Flag?
The On-Track Conduct document is something that dates back a few years and has been reviewed with comments by over 100 racers, corner workers, and Race Directors over the last two years.
What it comes down to are 8 basic offenses that can cause a Black Flag for driving. Some are intentional, some are not, but all pose an unacceptable risk that already result in Black Flags, and penalties.
A good many folks would like to see shifter karts become a higher rung on the ladder to pro Motorsports. A written set of standards are just one of the many things that can help raise the rung on that ladder.
In the Technology Room of the forum there is a topic for On Track Conduct. Let us know what you think of developing a standard for driving offenses.