944 spec video clip

[Tim Comeau]

Just practicing "you tube" stuff.
A small clip from Fontana. I didn't run into him, the Honda turned in on me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dO72XRoG88

[gulf911]

Nice Job Tim! I thought you were going to tbone him for sure... I was surprised to see him with you after you outbraked him...pesky little buggers..

[Tim Comeau]

Yeah, he stayed right with me through turn 3, which really surprised me, then he had the inside into 4. We had contact in 5.

[kary]

Seems to me you did not have the corner so wouldn't that be your fault in terms of the contact? Any ramifications in terms of the organization?

[Tim Comeau]

Actually, Kary, I DID have the corner. That's why the first post says, "He turned in on me." That's also why the video clip has text overlay saying, I popped on him and "established position". After having established a position on his inside left, he should have given me room to exist, according to the NASA rules. I was well up beside him, which doesn't show really well with that video lens.
Even so, if you study the video, you'll see that I tried to get out of the way of his driving mistake. It doesn't pay to be in the right if your car is damaged, no?
I was quickly and easily cleared of any wrong doing based mostly on the other drivers input to the officials.
His car was light on that side going into the turn so it didn't take much more to spin. Our contact was very light and I only had to pop my front bumper back out.
I know some people believe that NASA has a worse record of racing incidents than POC, but they're probably about the same when you factor in the number of events, drivers, cars, etc., in other words, it's proportional.

[kary]

Actually, Kary, I DID have the corner. That's why the first post says, "He turned in on me." That's also why the video clip has text overlay saying, I popped on him and "established position". After having established a position on his inside left, he should have given me room to exist, according to the NASA rules. I was well up beside him, which doesn't show really well with that video lens.
Even so, if you study the video, you'll see that I tried to get out of the way of his driving mistake. It doesn't pay to be in the right if your car is damaged, no?
I was quickly and easily cleared of any wrong doing based mostly on the other drivers input to the officials.
His car was light on that side going into the turn so it didn't take much more to spin. Our contact was very light and I only had to pop my front bumper back out.
I know some people believe that NASA has a worse record of racing incidents than POC, but they're probably about the same when you factor in the number of events, drivers, cars, etc., in other words, it's proportional.

Good thing you did not use this video to demonstrate your innocence. Could be the video angle but looking at the video several times the nose of your car was no where near his B pillar and more near the rear bumper. Not sure where you felt you had the corner since you hit him. It is the responsibility of the over taking car to execute a pass safely and cleanly. Those are the basic rules everywhere that I am aware of.

Perhaps your call out of POC and NASA would be better validated by posting this video on POC and see what they say I have already had a few private mails on my post here questioning this video so I know what a few POC'ers believe is correct already.

[Tim Comeau]

Yes, as I already stated, it's the video angle. I've already stated that and also stated that I was found NOT at fault. So why do you insist on trying to find fault with my driving, Kary?
Yes, the other driver said I was not at fault.
Yes, the clean pass is on the overtaking driver, but the NASA rules for road racing are clear. In short, once you establish position, which I had, the other driver can't squeeze you off the track to the inside or outside. Racing room must be given.
I know the video lens distorts distances, especially at the far sides. You're calling it as you see it, but what you're seeing isn't an accurate representation of what actually occurred.
The trial is over and the defendent has been cleared long ago.
When you think about it deeper, why would I post a video if I thought the contact was my fault?

[kary]

Perhaps the question is why did you post the video given it is so distorted? You must admit there are some very different club percpetions about PCA, POC, and NASA. When you think about how everyone else might view it there really should be no surprise that there are questions regardless of the statements of judgement.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Tim,
I remember you showing this on the big screen TV in the back room at Willow Ranch restaurant (I believe) a few years back and after watching it again I have the same response...

Didn't look like you had the corner to me... But you have more race experience that I do by a huge margin.

It's a great clip to watch... great sounds, close action and a climatic ending...

Just a good thing that car didn't have a 97 on the door...

[Mike]

I popped on him and "established position". After having established a position on his inside left, he should have given me room to exist, according to the NASA rules.

Tim quoted the NASA passing rules.
In NASA's opinion Tim used the NASA passing rule to his advantage, good job.

Tim did it because the NASA passing rule requires that the car being passed accommodate the passing car once he has "popped on him".

I have heard passing rules differ for each race group.

How do PCA/POC/TCRA or others passing rules compare to NASA?

[Curt]

Tim,
I see nothing wrong with that pass of yours. As long as you are wearing this bandana under your helmet



and as long as you loudly yell "BANZAI!" before you do this



I don't see what anyone would have to say about it.

Note to self...... stay the hell away from racing with NASA

[Tim Comeau]

Curt,
I'm not so sure you can read Japanese....
His bandana reads "Safe racer award, 2005."
Is that what you meant to point out?

Anyway, as I said, yes the video is deceiving. It's as if I showed a zebra, posted a sign saying it was a horse, then proved it was actually a horse. You're still seeing a zebra. I understand the misperception. The reason I posted that clip is that it was the only one short enough that I had ready to go. I just wanted to check out the youtube system. I'm glad it has inspired everyone to be safer racers. No, Curt, NASA isn't any more likely a place to have contact than any other racing club.
You just have to know the passing rules in each club that you race with, then keep them straight! Check out the NASA rule book. They have about 12 hand drawn scenarios that show different types of contact and who's at fault, as well as , why. They've done a great job of explaining clearly what's expected of you as a racing driver. Most passes are going to be clear cut, but once in a while you need to make a decision. Contact always costs money, so even if I'm in the right, I'll try to back out of a deteriorating situation. You can see me go to neutral in the video. We ended up barely touching.

[gulf911]

Well, not to beat a dead zebra...however, after closer inspection, camera angle or no, I'd have to agree with the masses and say he was ahead of you going in to that corner and stayed that way until he spun.. What exactly do you mean by popped?? Maybe you could clarify established position? How far must you be along side for him to have to give you room?

[Tim Comeau]

Nope, you can't say "camera angle or no" because that's the most important thing about why the video clip is controversial, as pointed out in the other posts.
"Popped" means I followed him into the braking zone then popped out from behind him when he hit the brakes earlier than I needed to. I knew I could brake deeper than when he hit the brakes, so I did. I pulled along side and "established position" (see NASA rules) on him, at which point he should have given me room to race. We should have gone into the turn side by side.

[Gary Burch]

Tim, I think you did a damn fine job, by the way is that NASA or NASCAR?