Let me start by saying that what the rider coming onto track did was not okay.. He had passed the blend line it seems though. But he should NOT have crossed over like that!! I have always made sure to take extra care with the riders coming onto the track from pit lane (covering the brakes, even slowing down if I have to) as I have seen some close calls with riders not being up to speed when getting on track..
Don't apologize! You are correct in the fact that it should be longer on a mid straight, high speed section of the track. Hopefully, the management at Hallett will do something to keep this from happening again by extending the blend line as it obviously needs to be.
No track I've seen has a blend line that extends that far, they are simply to get you pointed out in the right direction and then it is up to the rider to use common sense on merging cleanly. Use Barber as an example, the blend line ends shortly after the end of pit out wall. If you merge over onto the race line then you could easily be in a world of hurt, it's far better to stay out in the second lane at Barber through turn 2 and blend smoothly. It's every riders responsibility to look at the track and determine how to get on safely. It's the one time you should be glancing over your shoulder to check behind you.
Mr. Brooks is correct. There is no painted line on any track that can take the place of using your head and being smart....
I certainly agree with you, riders should know what they're doing at all times. As far as blend lines go, it certainly wouldn't hurt to add some to the one at Hallett given that it's in the hard acceleration zone of a straight.
Last year was my first time back at the track after several years off from racing. I did a weekend at RPM (will always be MAM to me) in July and did think it went well. Does worry me a bit about people being able to self-tech, especially if they've never been to the track before. One guy I followed briefly had a fully functional brake light. But overall I thought it was well-run and safe. I'll be at RPM next weekend. Hoping to get to MPH this year too, have never been. Have heard it's a nice facility.
No need to apologize. We're agreed... and as Dave points out, a blend line ain't limited to just a line painted on the track. For sure.
Normally, for the new people that are doing the new rider school, one of the instructor techs the bikes (usually Larry if he's there). When I went through the school, he told me my tire pressures were too high and he even adjusted them himself while I was in the classroom . Maybe sometimes they drop the ball on that if some of the instructors are gone and there's a small class. Also sometimes it happens that the tapes come off the lights. I had that happen as well when I was riding a street bike at the track. I'll be there next weekend, and every weekend this year if all goes well! Come out to MPH in May! You'll love it!
This. None of the tracks have blend lines that extend all the way out to the area where it is safe to cross over. At Tally it ends right after you get on the straight, at Jennings it ends about halfway through T1, at Road Atlanta it ends as you are going up the hill. None of the blend lines are designed/setup to mean "ok, now that you are past here, you can swerve over". The blend lines just get you going down the right path, and you should stay on that path till you are up to speed and when it is clear to move over. Entering the track is the one time it is ok to look behind you for other riders. Nobody should ever blindly move over into the racing line.
Ah, I didn't do the new rider class so they very well could have done some tech talk for them and I didn't know. Not sure if I'll make MPH in May because I'll have my girls that weekend. I have the August 6-7 one highlighted.