Talent Fail at Combe (and the sad death of a MKII Golf)

[Horney]

Combe is way too bumpy, and many of the corners don't have adequate run off.

Yeah it's bumpy and the run off's are grass, it makes it mans circuit and not for the boys.

And as that vid showed - Combe seems to operate with an utter disregard for safety!   When the Mk2 had its unfortunate tyre wall to bodywork interface, the red flags should have been thrown immediately.  When ANY of those cars spun on that corner, yellow flags should have been shown - but fcuk all was shown to the drivers who were approaching a blind bend, to be horribly greeted by a stationary car (or cars) broadside blocking the track.   The place should have a serious change in the way they manage their track days.

 

ETTO though.

These action days are alwyas a nightmare and I have to agree on these days the marshaling does seem  a little lapse. I've been on non action days though and it's much better as well as running less cars on track and less first timers on track.

As for that specific incident you can't see the marshalls waving flags so how do you know they weren't out? More likely the Fiesta driver ignored or didn't see them till it was too late and he was committed.

Nick

[JC]

should have been red flagged 

[Horney]

It may well have been but from where the camera man is you can't see the marshals post or the flags.

nick

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I strongly disagree about these 'imaginary' marshals!  It wasn't just the Fiesta driver who 'ignored' the 'imaginary' red flag - because with every single spin shown on that vid, others came merrily barreling into the corner with fcuk-all notice of stationary vehicles blocking the track ahead! 

I've seen way to many vids, and have personally watched one track day (was a few years back, so may give the benefit of time for this particular occurance) - and I have NEVER seen even the most basic of marshalling - sorry, but that place needs a serious visit from the HSE.

Track days, by their very nature, normally have standard road cars - and not race prepared cars, with all their saftey devices, such as cages, 5-point harnesses, fire extinguishers, kill switches and the likes - so the moment ANY spin or loss of control - there should be some vigorous waving of yellow flags.  End of!  You certainly don't get such a shocking lack of safety at say Snetterton or Cadwell.

[bored_Welsh_lad]

Most of the cars spinning are on the inside line though.. the racing line takes you to the outside of the bend and most of the spun cars aint too bad 2bh...

The golf is definatley one to be flagged, there are marshalls before that bend and after the bend and everytime i have been to japfest, they have been quick to close down the track if theres a big off.. like the skyline i saw that ended up the size of a fiesta..

[Diamond Hell]

I don't have a problem with the marshalling at Combe, or the track itself.

If I want a bowling green-smooth surface, I'll go bowling.  I want a track that's a challenge, so Combe is good.  Nowhere near as good as the 'ring........ guess I'm unlikely to see TT out there, judging by his demanding safety requirements, for a very smooth track, with lots of run off and particularly vigourous marshalling.

If they closed the track at the drop of a hat then very little would happen at the Action Days.  That would be a shame.  At the end of the day, you've signed the disclaimer and it's up to you to assess the risk and drive or not drive.  If you don't like it, don't go, but don't start throwing about HSE, as I think Combe sees enough of them already.  The marshals there are quite judicious enough, to the point they want to see people 'driving by numbers'.  I get in trouble because I don't drive by numbers, which gets them twitchy.

IMO the only way you would be able to improve the safety at Combe would be to improve the driving standards of the participants.  Good luck with that.

[Paul86S2]

One car into the tyres a distance from the track isn't a red flag event, nor is a little spin. Both are yellow flag.

Combe is an excellant circuit with very good marshalls and if you red flagged every spin or off where there is no serious danger then no-one would ever complete a lap.

Action days (Eurofest, Japfest etc) are mad with some seriously bad driving standards, only venture out on those if you can afford to have a numpty run into you. I have done a fair few of them and you need eyes everywhere to survive.

Normal and private trackdays at Combe are very well run fun days. The Golf driver was just unlucky but hey motorsport comes with warnings.

The Marshals at Combe get a thumbs up from me - they even had the sense to black flag DH

Paul

[Horney]

The Marshals at Combe get a thumbs up from me - they even had the sense to black flag DH

Paul

Twice

nick

[Diamond Hell]

Since bloody when.

It was only once!

Did that get me hoofed out of the 928 group BTW?

[Paul86S2]

Since bloody when.

It was only once!

Did that get me hoofed out of the 928 group BTW?

No - I posted your vid on the 928 sites and it caused some controversy on one or two of the 928's driving standards but not yours. (I only posted it because it showed one 928 driver being a knob and overtaking in the braking zones and corners, he's a knob anyway) Rich A the organiser is a good mate of mine and he has no problem with anyone who has been on his trackdays except the Red BMW crew at the last Castle Combe day who had a lot of complaints about their driving skills / ettiquette. They apparently won't be invited again.

Rich A was the one who stuffed his black racecar into the armco at quarry and made a mess of the rear end of his car. Nick you was on that session. They had it rebuilt and back on the grid for the HSCC historic 70's roadsport race by the next weekend.

Still black flags are reserved for Golf2 pilots.

Paul