Prassad,
Let me try to get this all cleared up.
You missing the drivers meeting was not the end of the world. Yes you did pass under the Yellow, a few people made mention, and I talked to you about it. If anything I should have made sure I went over the rules with you before you went out on the track.
Throughout the day however I had more and more drivers come up and express concern over your driving style.
Not being slow, but being dangerous, passing in corners where passing is not allowed, sliding through just about every corner in the back half of the track, going off course, etc...
First and foremost, none of us out there are experts, myself included. I tried to set you up with some other people to go out for rides and drive alongs.
The most dangerous thing you can do is try to drive beyond your abilities and this has more of an effect on other drivers than it does on you. We are all out there in our personal cars but you were driving beyond your abilities.
You also passed a few people on the INSIDE at turn 1, which is hardly a place for anyone who is not truly racing wheel to wheel to do at 80+mph.
You came off the track saying it was your brakes, tires, etc...
I guess my mistake was I tried to sugarcoat things a bit too much in trying to get you ride alongs and others to drive with you. I just should have said you need to slow down, period.
I should have been more clear that you needed to slow down or just taking a slower pace.
We watched you throughout the day and the corner workers even voiced their concern.
You got smoother as the day went on but as soon as you did a few smooth laps you went banzai again
Listen, its nothing personally against you. We're not out there to set any track or lap records. Everyone needs to start at someplace and if you go into the Autocross and Roadracing section a 500hp car is generally not the best place for a brand new driver to start out.
As I said, I did have alot of people come upto me, including some people who worked the Waterford event you were at.
Yes, I did PM BB69 too and told him my suggestion was, and this is in everyones best interest, was that you have an instructor with you.
Road racing is not drag racing and you'll find the crowd alot more humble. You've got a nice car and obviously the financials to make it what it is, you'd get alot more enjoyment out of it by attending some classes or hiring a personal instructor for the day.
I told BB69 that, if you were interested in coming to one of our events again I'd suggest you get an instructor.
There is nothing wrong with that its just something new that has to be learned.
It never got personal, never was meant to be. You do have to realize that this was not a few people coming up and saying something, it was the majority, including the corner workers. We tried as best we could to get other people in the car with you to slow you down a bit, learn the line, and let you build back up speed but your adrenaline seemed to get the best of you in alot of cases instead of listening to the advice that was being given.
I PM'd BB69 as a heads up for everyones safety including your own, you'd do far better and get more enjoyment having an instructor than heads/cam/brakes, etc.
Thats just the way it is and no other way to put it.
Your more than welcome to come back, but again, you really should have some instruction, do some reading, and take a slower pace or hook up with someone on here with some experience to ride along with you.
You were pretty excited that day and that excitement got the best of you
I took alot of stock in what you told me when you first arrived. That Ken(L98Terror) had taken you out, shown you the line, and you had a good grasp on things.
I guess there is a good lesson in this, I should get better at being the "Bad Daddy" and I could have probably saved alot of this confusion but the general impresson we got was that you were more concerned about blaming the car, the brakes, tires, etc rather than the driving style.
We did try to point out your mistakes as best we could but as I said your excitement and adrenaline seemed to get the best of you everytime you got behind the wheel.
Thats why I sent Mike out with you(The guy in the Jetta), Mike is a very patient and smooth driver. He is very smart in his driving style and a pretty calm guy. Even after going out he still voiced his concern about there being more of an interest in going fast than going smooth which leads to accidents.
As far as trailing cars too close, if he told you that, then he was incorrect. The guy in the Porsche did come upto me and say you apologized and all was good. I had to talk to a couple of drivers that day.
Its a practice day, no reason to be bumper to bumper. Please understand, this was not just one or two people, it was nearly the entire group. An accident was going to happen, there was no doubt of that. I was getting to the point of having to sit down with you but you came off the track after going off in corner 9 and said you were done for the day. I left it at that and planned on bringing it up with you if you were interested in attending again.
Figured it was better to speak to you about it outside of the enviroment about it if you decided to return.
There is nothing I'd like to see more than is for someone in your position to get some solid seat time and become a better driver. Its in everyones best interest especially your own.
I believe you still have my cell from the Grattan emails, if you like give me a call.