Rules of passing for each Level
Level III: This is the fastest group and allows for passing inside and out any place on the track provided they are clean passes using the six foot passing rule.
Level II: Level II riders can pass on the inside or outside on the straight away but only on the outside in the corners. The corner starts where there are only two braking cones. If a rider in Level II passes on the inside after the two braking cones, it is considered an inside pass and they must be brought in for consultation with the pre grid. You must stay on top of this in all corners that have braking markers and all other corners watch for any inside passing.
Level I: This is the level where the riders do not have a lot of experience and ride at a slower pace. They do not like to be passed other than on the straight away. Level I allows passing on either side in the straights but their straight ends at the two braking cones marker. No passing in the corners unless designated in the riders meeting. For example at California Speedway in Level I we allow passing on the outside of turn two, Willow Springs Big Track the outside of turn two and turn eight, and LVMS 1.75 Classic Course the outside of turn five.
Novice Rider School, Two On One, and other students
At almost all events we will have Novice Rider School Students. This is their first time to the track so they are in classes between riding sessions and will ride with Level I. In addition they go out on the track at 8:10 AM for their own sighting laps while the other riders are in a riders meeting. Fastrack Riders also offers a Two On One training program where there are two riders working with one instructor. They will be riding in either Level I or Level II. Any student or rider receiving instruction will wear a colored vest so the corner worker team will know they are being taught.
Entering or Exiting the Track Procedures
The rules or proper way to enter and exit any race track is as follows. Always keep to the edge of the track when entering it till fully up to speed and then safely blend into the racing line. A rider should never immediately pull out into the racing line until properly up to speed.
Exiting the track the rider puts up their arm or sticks out their leg long before the exit point, moves to the edge they will be exiting from and exits the track. The rider should not slow down to much and keep their speed up till they are off the track. A rider cannot change their mind once signaling to exit and if they do, you must call this in to control start / finish.
If you notice a rider not following these procedures, you should call their number into control.
Mechanicals:
If a rider experiences a mechanical they should raise their arm or stick out their leg, get out of the riding line, once slowed down, get off the track and as far away from the track as possible. If they do not get away from the edge of the track, the corner worker should wave for them to move or go tell them to move.
Malfunctioning bike issues: Another responsibility of a corner worker is to watch for something happening to any of the motorcycles on the track. Things to watch for, lose things (bodywork, exhaust) appears to be coming off the bike or if a bike is smoking usually meaning it is about to blow up. Just a puff of smoke is one think, continued to smoke is a problem and the bike needs to be black flagged immediately before it blows up and puts oil down on the track.
Evaluating Riders:
The first session is usually a tune up for most riders so no one should evaluate a rider’s skill during the first session. However, once the second rotation has started for each Level corner workers should start watching for riders too slow for the group they are in or too fast for the group they are riding with. Do not use one corner when making this judgement. When a corner worker notices a slow rider in their corner over a number of laps call that rider ahead to the next couple of corners to observe as well. If they are slow there, then they should be called in to move down a level. This happens in Level III and Level II a lot.
There are a number of riders that like to pass a lot so they will sign up for a slower group just so they can get their jollies passing slower riders. Watch closely in Level I and sometimes in Level II for riders that are just passing everyone repeatedly. If so, call that rider in and they will graduate to the next group.
This is a sometimes subjective decision but we are trying to get some what similarly skilled riders in the same group. It is hard to do in a three group format like Fastrack Rides as the disparity in speed between the slowest rider and fastest rider in the group can be about twenty seconds per lap. We would prefer to run a four group rotation but most riders will not pay the price of California Speedway if we did that.
Please stay on top of this as well as the passing flag so the event flows well and is significantly safer because you are controlling the event from your corner station. Make sure the rider does not look back to see who is behind him. If they do, call them in to control for the grid marshals to talk to them.
RADIO PROBLEMS:
Fastrack spends a lot of money on radios and equipment and do all we can to keep it in tip top shape. Every now and then something can go wrong with your radio. If you notice no one is responding to you or you do not hear anything on the radio after requesting a radio check do the following.
1. Change the battery as we give each corner worker an extra battery. Do so by turning the radio off before doing this.
2. If that does not help, remove your headset from the radio and do a radio check by calling out “turn ? radio checkâ€!
3. If that fails and you cannot communicate via the radio to other corner workers. Roll up a green flag and a black flag and cross them waving to other corner workers till they acknowledge you. That tells us your radio is not working so the crash truck can bring you another radio.
4. All radios, headsets, and batteries are numbered. Each corner worker will be responsible for the units they are charged with using. In the event equipment is lost or damaged the corner worker will be responsible for the cost of repair or replacement. Please take care of the equipment. Radios are $379 each, batteries are $59 each, and headsets are $94 each.
VARIOUS TRACK DAY INFO:
Fastrack Riders runs a three group format consisting of Level I, Level II, and Level III. Level I is the novices and lesser experienced riders, Level II would be equivalent to intermediate, and Level III the fastest. Sometimes based upon turnout or if the event is before a race day, we might change the format.
Usually at the top of the hour Level III goes out on the track.
Twenty past the hour Level II goes on the track.
Twenty till the hour Level I and Novice Students go on the track.
Novice students will wear bright colored vest over their leathers for three quarters of the day.
Instructors will ride bikes that have working headlights, taillights, and have mirrors untapped.
If a rider crashes either the corner worker or the crash truck must pull their tech sticker. Ninety percent of the time, they are done for the day. If the rider picks up the bike before anyone can get to them, call in their number to control who will pass the information onto the grid marshals. The grid marshal will pull their sticker if not done when the rider crashes. Sometimes you will need to call the bike to the next corner worker so they can get the number. Each level has a different colored sticker.
We do sighting laps for each group during the first rotation. This would be a waving yellow situation as we do not want anyone to pass anyone during the sighting laps. A lead rider from Fastrack will lead each group at their appointed start time in the morning out on the track. No passing. Usually it is about a lap and a half so we can show the riders where they enter and where they exit the track, plus see all the corners. When the lead Fastrack Rider puts up his arm all other riders in the group are to do so and exit the track. They will proceed to the hot pit and be allowed back on the track in waves of four riders. The track should be green when they are released. If a rider fails to exit they should be given the meatball flag. The only exception is the Novice Rider Students and Instructors stay on the track in Level I during the sighting laps as they were out earlier.
Pre Grid can communicate to the riders what you need passed on positively or negative information. They will keep a clip board of information for each level. Again, you are the eyes and ears as to what is happening on the track. Pre Grid will be on channel two. Corner workers direct all of their communication through control and will be on channel one.
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