At a recent club meeting post final all drivers were called to the Clerk of the Course's office for dressing down. His position was that following deployment of the Battenberg (Yellow/Black Quartered) flag all drivers did not slow down significantly until waved down my the marshals perhaps two laps later. Every driver on track was threatened with exclusion but no disciplinary action was taken.
Several drivers I spoke to afterwards said they driven as through they were under a yellow flag with expectation to further slow down when caught up with the wagon trail behind the pace setter. The sector and lap times attest to this. The drivers simply didn't understand what they had done wrong.
My query here is in relation to the two prime MSA blue book rules;
6.2.2. On passing the flag at the start/finish line, the race leader must slow down to a steady pace (as on a rolling start) and all competing Karts must line up in order behind the leader who will act as the pace setter.
6.2.5. Competitors who fail to slow down sufficiently or who overtake under the Yellow/Black flag may be excluded or otherwise penalised.
You see what does "... slow down sufficiently ..." mean ?. I've had a look at many kart track/club websites incl. their SRs and there is an interesting set of guidance; for example;
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36. When a black and yellow quartered flag is shown, all drivers must reduce their speed by at least 25% of race pace – C1-11.6 2014 MSA Year book.
Source : Supplementary Regulations HKRC Club Championship 2014
http://www.hkrc.co.uk/pdf/HKRC_Application_Form_2014.pdf
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Black/Yellow quarter flag, shown to indicate incident on circuit, leader becomes "pace kart" and slows to walking pace. All other drivers to follow in single file, strictly NO OVERTAKING until green flag shown at start/finish line.
Source : CKRC website page "Know Your Flags"
http://www.cumbriakrc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=7&Itemid=34
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To me, the Battenberg is a "special" type of yellow flag. The MSA blue book tells us "... U 15.1 (e) Yellow flag – Stationary: Danger, slow down sufficiently to ensure that full control of the vehicle can be retained. No overtaking. ..."
MSA blue book 6.2.5 seems to be poorly worded. This situation even gets worse with next year's changes to these rules.
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6.2.2. Upon display of the Yellow/Black quartered all Karts must slow down to a steady pace (as on a rolling start) and must line up in order behind the leader who will act as the pace setter.
6.2.5. Competitors who fail to slow down sufficiently or who overtake under the Yellow/Black flag may be excluded or otherwise penalised.
Source : RULE CHANGES Decisions taken at the Motor Sports Council meeting of
4 March 2014 that affect regulations in the MSA Yearbook
https://www.msauk.org/assets/rulessummer2014.pdf
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The MSA should sort out this debacle.
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Battenberg - driving speed until pace kart catchup by 'IamSpartacus' << You are here!
