Red Flagged for putting foot down at Eastern Creek (Big Track),

[dessy]

G'day Guys,

I did a track day at E.C this week and preferred foot down vs knee in the slower corners (2 & 9 primarily) but promtly got red flagged for doing it. My lines were not much different and my foot was no further out than my knee would have been. Is that normal or does it depend on the flag marshals on a given day?

Might be a case of 'when in Rome...' and I guess that is fine. I still had fun.

Cheers.

[JB]

Yea. Sounds normal, have seen it elsewhere for trackdays. When in Rome.

[KTM39]

What's the problem with it? Do the squid bikes get embarrassed about being out cornered by the motards?

[MarkeeMark]

If they didn't want you to do it they should say so clearly in the riders briefing, otherwise argue the point and say Rossi does it so why cant I?

[Dyer]

i've always wondered if you can go dirt style on a road race track, well there you go.

[devo]

As soon as they start making a point of it you're farked. No use arguing your case in my experience. But I still do think it's a bit ridiculous. The argument is that a roadie will take my foot off while zipping up the inside. Not only have I never had a roadie zip up the inside, I hang my leg out a bit more unco than average (+ I'm a bit over 6'2") and if you look at my avatar as an example, be buggered if a roadie is going to run over my foot before taking us both out.

Just roll with it.

[charlie]

lmao! a squid comming up the inside of a motard and taking off your foot

i like what mark said as that is what i was going to say.. rossi amongst others does it.. go figure.. what if you were on a road bike and had your leg out aka rossi stylez??

[vagrant]

Sounds like a bullshit rule to me. Might want to have a word with the head honcho between sessions just to clarify whether its an official stance of the org or just one marshall's interpretation of a non-existent rule.

[charlie]

rules are rules .. you must obey no matter how shitty they may be...

if your mate says to you not to wear your shoes in his house do you tell him to fark off and walk in with your shoes on coz you do at home?? or do you comply and take them off

[vagrant]

rules are rules .. you must obey no matter how shitty they may be...

if your mate says to you not to wear your shoes in his house do you tell him to fark off and walk in with your shoes on coz you do at home?? or do you comply and take them off


Exactly why I said it might be worth a quiet word with the guy who actually runs the show for clarification. I've heard differing interpretations of rules from different track marshalls on the same day several times.

[dessy]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Next time as you suggest I'll ask in advance to get the 'official' answer, if there is one. Lets also see what happens when someone puts their foot down in the new motard road race series......

[Pedro]

that's odd. I called the guys that run it a while back and asked the questing and they said they had not heard of it. I guess it depends on gear you are wearing if you are overtaking on the outside etc. I did last time and there was no problem, I'll be doing a day there soon and will see.

[Daws]

I've had this discussion a number of times at racetracks and got a lot of different answers, ranging from what Devo said to "you might catch your foot on a kerb". None of them really make much sense but at the end of the day, the practice supervisor/clerk of the course/trackday operator has the final say and if you want to ride you must obey.

Even the slowest corners on big tracks can be taken relatively quickly so most people find it better to ride road-race style. Obviously there are exceptions to this, if you watch the top level motard racers when they ride on fast tracks, they put their foot flat on the ground, not out in front but this is often because the bike is leant over so far, the footpeg is folded up and there is no room for their foot.

[Gonzo]

Turns 2 and 9 at EC are fast enough that you don't need to kick your foot out. You'll probably go faster if you try and do it RR style.
EC kart track is another matter.

[Flash]

Obviously there are exceptions to this, if you watch the top level motard racers when they ride on fast tracks, they put their foot flat on the ground, not out in front but this is often because the bike is leant over so far, the footpeg is folded up and there is no room for their foot.

I have to agree with this you, I can't leave my feet on the pegs for this exact reason.

[Dyer]

i was wondering the same thing, i usually down pegs when going flat out and will be at broady this weekend at the vics.

[Gonzo]

On a big track like EC, you've got plenty of time to adjust you body position and get your arse of the seat.

[nitronaf]

yeh my foot gets crushed by the peg on 2 and 9
it sux and i dont understand the rule. and neither do some of my marshall mates that actually work there.
the 2 meter passing rule should be safe enough for foot out.

[DRZ_Paul]

A lot depends on the Flaggie on the corner, I can tell you you will definately be reported for it at turn 7, also you may be interested to know I have never been instructed as a flaggie to report it!
Just talking to my G/F and she has said they are told to report it at Superbike school, (she has flagged both I just do ride days) the Flaggie at 7 does a lot ofsuperbike school flagging so maybe that's where the confusion comes from?
If you want a definitive answer ask for Paul Bailey as he is the man in charge out there and if you ask him politely he is very approachable.

[prid1279]

It is a general rule at EC ride days and as yet I have not heard a reasonable explanation for it.

The best you will get is that "someone may run into it". I have worked there along with Paul and his G/F and have not been able to get a sensible answer. As others have said, rules are rules.

It is probably not mentioned at briefings cause there aren't too many motard riders frequenting the main track.

[Pedro]

this probably depends also on how you are sticking your leg out. some people really do stick it out at strange angles for no affect, if you are dragging pegs and have your knee up inside the bars and your foot inside your own bike's footprint they won't even notice.

http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bjr9523/_DSC2002.jpg

in short point, doubt they'd kick iddo off the track for that.