Zetec - as a newbie to the sport (3 months now) I feel this is exactly the problem. However, I would take it a step further in that I really believe the kids dont see what they are doing as dangerous driving. How that message can be brought home is a tricky question. The problem is the established drivers use contact to pass other karts, the newbies learn that its the way to get past from the actions of the established drivers. Thus the situation continues. I'll give an example of what I mean. My lad started by practicing on wednesdays at whilton having first a a days professional training. In all the wednesday session he did all he could to avoid contact. Then he attended his first official saturday practice. Yes he was slow and I'm sure an annoyance to the established drivers. During that day he got shunted off the track in every session. He was a bit upset about this and couldn't understand why the other drivers behaved in this way. Now fast forward a couple of weeks during which some intense track time was gained (around 10 hours) and we're back at whilton on a wednesday. During one of the sessions he was following a junior max that was slower than him on the corners but pulled away on the straights. For a lap and a half he did as I have instructed him. Watch the driver, learn where they are weak and then pick your overtake point. After the lap and a half it was obvious to him he couldn't take the driver due to the rotax speed on the straights to he shunted him off on a corner. Back in the pits I asked him why he did that. His reply "he was getting in the way and slowing me down". I then reminded him about how he felt when he was on the receiving end a few weeks earlier. I also pointed out that I never wanted to see him drive in that manner again.
Perhaps the change has to start with the parents? Yeah right.
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