Proposal. Use of Reverse.

[oldtimeracer]

OK just a small point here.

Many clubs used to have a rule that if your car did not have reverse activated you ran with a sticker on the back window showing a black cross. This helped marshalling as those with reverse did not need to be marshalled so much reducing the risk of accidents when marshalls run across the track to get a car that reverses out of trouble just as you arrive there.

To my mind anything that helps marshalling and reduces the risk of a marshall stepping on someones car or getting hit by another car has to be good.

I am of course talking of indoor racing.

[TryHard]

Could I suggest that rather than it being a black cross, to use a more instantly obivous colouring, such as a bright orange circle? Could place it on the roof, as that should be viewable from all angles (unless it's upside down, in which case reverse won't be much help )

[Reality Racer]

I feel reverse should be banned from stock, pro stock & super stock classes as per BRCA rules, as these are generally the better drivers with much faster cars. A lot of damage can be done when a car reverses out in front of a car doing full speed on the straight.

Reverse should only aloud in Mini and Eco as these classes are generally aimed at the beginner and the cars do tend to be much stronger. So the black cross may be useful in these classes.

[oldtimeracer]

I admit I tend to agree with Terry as regards the banning of reverse in those classes mentioned.

Regarding black cross or some other marking it does not really matter as long as it is plainly visible. The brighter the better I would think.

[Reuben]

i like the idea of stickers for the mini and ansmann class (usually all ansmanns have reverse, as do most minis) so a bright sticker or something would be useful to the marshalls.

I think Pro-stock should definitely not have reverse, i dont think we have any that do??

but stock is an interesting one. It would be nice to hear from racers that use it in stock, to see if they really need it or wouldnt mind taking it off. The other route we go for in stock is that the RD or marshalls watch for any "dangerous" reversing. Any reversing deemed dangerous or causes a crash. That driver must immediately pull their car into the pits and stop racing in that heat / final ( a bit extreme, but it would stop dangerous reversing). ?

[Jazzler]

In my opinion, Stock indoors is practicly the same as pro stock with regards to speed in a few cases. And sometimes faster...

I have to agree with Terry too on this one, Reverse only for Eco and Mini, but not stock or pro stock.

That being said, I dont think we should ban those who have reverse from running in those classes, but I do feel that we should ban the use if it.

These cars are doing 6 second laps, even in stock, so how many seconds does it take to crash, reverse, straighten out, pull away.? Even if it is only 2 of seconds, that can be a thrid of a lap for some drivers ,which is plenty of time to cause an accident.

[oldtimeracer]

While there may be reasons for actually banning reverse my proposal was for cars WITHOUT reverse to be marked in some way for the benefit of marshalls.

There was no intention on my part to propose that reverse should be banned in any classes.

It is of course a fact that the BRCA do not allow reverse in competition and some clubs also do this.

[lesbaldry]

Im with Terry and Jason too...keep reverse in minis and Ansman but please lets see some sort of roof sticker to show you have this function...theres nothing more irritating to atempt to marshall a car then off it go's

[Darren]

At Dmcrc novice class can only use reverse and the car has a yellow sticker (not always used) Mini's and stock class are not to use reverse and if your caught using reverse you are asked to turn it off. This rule works fine and can improve peoples driving (no reverse makes you wanna crash less) Imo people with reverse tend to be abit impatient and pull out in front of an on coming car

[darrenoakley]

After not racing for long and now moving to stock I can say that I did not miss the reverse option on wed night. And i agree with Rookie in that no reverse also makes you drive more carefully meaning less crashes anyway.
I dont really see the point of it, if the whole class does not have it then there is no disadvantage time wise as you will all be the same.
Hope You know what i mean.
Sorry about the grammar.

[yellowshark]

If we are going to allow reverse, and I don't see why not as we always did so what has changed? Then beginners can start in TC stock, as they always did, so I think it should be allowed in stock. Of course if a proposal is made and passed to ban reverse then it is irrelevant. BRCA rules do not cover Stock.

The above is referring to asphalt.

I like Ed's idea of orange but methinks the reality is a black diagonal cross across the entire roof is easy to implement eg battery tape. Not sure where you get a large orange circle from?

[Reuben]

I think the general discussion here Pete was on Indoor racing, Outdoors you have a little more time to adjust to the car and the drivers can safely reverse out if a Marshall cant get to them quick enough.

also outdoors if you off, then your on the grass. Indoors its always possible to reverse away from the ropes into traffic.

However if and when this is proposed at the AGM, there will be a separate proposal for indoor, to outdoor. As they are very different.

[lesbaldry]

To my mind allowing reverse out doors is even more dangerous to the following cars as there is grater speeds involved there for heavier impacts...even just poking your nose onto the grass its still possible to reverse back onto the track

As Darren suggested having no reverse will make a new driver more cautious,plus a new driver with little skill is a liability to other cars...most reverse functions have a delay this is a disaster waiting to happen in the hands of a new over eager driver. At most clubs and any major meet reverse is banned for obvious reasons let please stick to this sensible rule for touring cars!!

[stevemorris]

i dont think any class should have reverse,in my opion evry race is marshalled and we tend to marshall quite well at our club so i feel its not needed,plusif u ask many of the faster,more talented drivers like i have in the past 9 out of 10 said to me you learn not to crash by not having reverse as an option.sorry to sound blunt but we race going forwards lol