Confession: I Got Black Flagged But Not Really

So for the first time in 35 years I actually got black flagged.

I did a PCA track day at Spring Mtn on Saturday; on the opening lap of the seconds session I was a hair late on the brakes and as I turned in locked the front brake for a split second (note I tend push on cold tires as it's good practice for race weekends). The car pushed a foot or two wide, just enough to get in the marbles, I actually got the car turned but it skated wide and I dropped the outside wheels in the dirt.

This was a slow speed corner (maybe 40 mph) so not a big deal..................except at PCA track days when you go off (even two wheels) they want you to report to the pits.  I'd forgotten about this

When I came round to start finish my car number was flashing on the board and then every corner station thereafter was showing my the black flag. I waved at the first couple to acknowledge but apparently the tower did a sort of black flag all for me.

I reported to the pits told them what happened they did a quick survey of the car and back out I went.

It's actually a good policy for street cars and desert track as gravel can get in between the rim and the bead of the tire.

I was groaning the whole way round..................a lesson in humility is good for the soul.

A good lesson and also a reminder to keep an eye on those flags. (How disconcerting is it to watch someone else miss a red flag?)

In reply to David S. Wallens :

They actually didn't start throwing the flags till the start finish line. Basically you're supposed to self report............I didn't so out came the flags.

In the last 30 years I've spun the car three times (once in the rain) and gone two off maybe three times including Saturday, so it didn't click.

The corner workers did say the enjoyed watching me skate the car around in every session.............so there's some redemption.

David S. Wallens said:

A good lesson and also a reminder to keep an eye on those flags. (How disconcerting is it to watch someone else miss a red flag?)

A few weeks ago I took a friend who had never been on track before to a private track event.  The plan was to do lead/follow with me in my car and him in his.  Before we went out I talked him through the common flags, but there weren't many people on track so I didn't go into great detail.  Wouldn't you know that on the 3rd lap an exotic British sports car hit the wall and made a massive inferno, bringing out the red flag.  As I and the other drivers were safely pulling to the side, I realized I never told him what a red flag meant and I wasn't sure if he could even see it.  In my rearview I saw him hauling a$$ at all of us and though he might take the whole group out.  Fortunately he figured it out and stopped before he hit anyone, but I felt like the biggest idiot in the world.  A good reminder that bad things happen when you get a little sloppy with safety details.