Pushing Part Deux

Peter Zambos · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:58 am Post subject:

Not to sound like an old curmudgeon, but times have changed.

Decades ago in Yamaha pipe sit-up at Putman, Lance, Marc, Matlock, another driver whose name escapes me at the moment, and myself were the second pack. We didn't push. We didn't bump draft. We raced in a tight pack for 30 minutes. At the race's end, we were actually praised by the officials for how hard we raced each other without contact.
As an aside, after Matlock commented to me how tight and contact-free the race was, we noticed that on one side of my kart JUST the number tape, not the fiberglass and not even the paper of the number, had a half-moon scorch from a wheel.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago at Putnam, the WKA officials nearly made themselves blue in the face by saying how much pushing would not be allowed, but apart from one DQ that I can remember, that was pretty much all that was done: talk about it. During my event a was pushed down the straight, and each time I waived the driver by. After a few times of this (I'd pass him again because he wasn't able to steer or brake effectively) he actually began making obscene gestures at me from my refusal to be pushed. Then, at the end of the race, in the pits, he was verbally abusive in front of an official. After the driver stopped, I asked the official what would be done in light of such on and off-track behavior. His response was "for what?".
This is why, for the exception of RA due to my family's history with the venue, we stopped going to WKA road racing events. If something is illegal, then enforce it, instead of encouraging it in everything save for formality.

I'm not saying that my series has it perfect. We know that we don't have the number of workers to ensure that we can effectively police it by the presence of officials. However, we have done well by policing ourselves, as drivers, on several occasions.

Larry Dobbs · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:29 am Post subject:

It takes two to tango. When someone cheats, report them to the official. I could not live another day without sorrow if I ever killed someone. It is exciting enough without pushing.

Dan Davis · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:32 am Post subject:

Ray Chiappe · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:16 am Post subject:

Chris Hegar · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:40 am Post subject:

Yea Ok Mr Safety.

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Kerry Matthews · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:05 pm Post subject:

I'll bet he spun out, and was push starting it, and this picture was taken just as he was jumping back in.

But it's Dobbs, so who knows???

Rolling Eyes

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Larry Dobbs · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:39 pm Post subject:

The amazing thing is that Jerry our track photographer was at the right place at the right time to take this shot!

Johnny Brooks · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:35 pm Post subject:

Figured it was just the next craze from the left coast....kart luge Smile

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Bryan Norman · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:56 pm Post subject:

All he needed was a push and he wouldn't have been in that scenario. See everyone needs a good push every now and again.
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Jimmy McNeil · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject:

I think he's so far ahead of the rest of the field that he's just showing off crossing the start finish line, kind of like those supercross guys.

Larry Dobbs · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:01 pm Post subject:

Debbie Kuntze · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:07 am Post subject:

You watch practices long enough you learn who has a habit of the red mist when the helmet goes on. I watch, listen in the pits, the garage and then I have my eye on you Wink

15 years one red flag at the beginning because one yahoo didn't believe me about securing the rear hubs properly at Streets and he lost one-kart dug in and flipped, he rolled across the skid pad, got up cussing at himself

And no you can't catch them all even with on the ball corner workers.
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ric mcdade · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 152

We push regularly here in the Midwest. Usually have a conversation on the grid, and I have heard some opt out, which was respected during the race. Usually, the bump is very gentle, sometimes a little harder, but we use hand signal's often. I have and have seen others signal for someone to come up behind them and help. At heartland park, that was mentioned, a push is worth a little over a second a lap! At Garnett Ks., with a very long straight, it's worth 2 seconds a lap. I will motion you up, but if I'm uncomfortable with how your doing it, I will wave you off in a heartbeat. Works for us.