Lakeside Laps V17 - 6 July 2013

[Machine]

Do you want a ride on the washing machine?

[55ASI GTI]

No worries.
Feel free to come spectate/ride shotgun with someone.

Oh yeah, I could do that... will see closer to the date

[Machine]

Oh yeah, I could do that... will see closer to the date

I recommend riding in Ben J's BMW. No airbags but.

[55ASI GTI]

I recommend riding in Ben J's BMW. No airbags but.

I recommend soap powder in the washer

[Machine]

Hahaha. Good one

[DonJuan]

Lakeside Laps V17 - 6 July 2013

So was that all the pics and vids peeps? No more anywhere? Used to be lots at these days...

[grandturismo]

Lakeside Laps V17 - 6 July 2013

Machine has one he wants to post

[Machine]

Ya, I've been workin on somethin

[Machine]

I think people are afraid now to post their videos. Even I won't post any with overlay. And I'm a pretty brave dude.

[team_v]

Normally we have a few people who bring their photographer friends but this time they were all absent.
I have in car video but with no overtaking it's basically pointless haha.

[Machine]

I have in-car and spectator from the back straight and from the tower.

[team_v]

I really need to get my tripod setup for "trackside" footage like Rhys does with his Dad.

[Machine]

Thanks, Clay, for the privilege of running my car at your Happy Laps event(s). I can say with confidence that I won't be coming back (at least not in the same car). I know I've said that before, but I'm pretty sure I mean it this time. And it's not because I became Doug's BFF; it's because I've outgrown it. I hope a few more people who become confident in their skills and want to pursue quicker times will graduate from happy laps to sprints. (I'd love to see your Tiguan out there. You drive the hell outta that thing!)

Now, I had about 15 minutes of really boring footage from this happy laps and I didn't do an overlay, because I've realised why we shouldn't be posting happy lap overlays...so I truncated my video down to a few minutes in order to prove a point about track etiquette. We always talk about allowing faster cars to overtake on the straight, even in happy laps. It's a courtesy. You don't HAVE to do it, but people will like you more if you do. If you were in a sprint event, and you shot down the straight, but held people up in the corners, you'd probably be reprimanded. If you did it in a happy laps that I was organising, I wouldn't let you come back if you did it again. In this happy laps, we had a driver who thought he was quicker in the corners, but he actually was not. I'm not trying to be confrontational here, I'm just trying to educate. I hope this video lends a better perspective.

Now, here's more, in case I wasn't wordy enough: This issue isn't new. It still frustrates a lot of drivers when someone doesn't realise that he's slower around the track. It's not just about being faster or slower, though; in happy laps, it's about giving someone else a go at being in front, whether or not he's got a "fast" car. There are lower-hp cars, for instance, with drivers who are brilliant in the corners, but these cars can't attain the same speed on the straight. These guys and gals also deserve a chance to get around without having someone in front of them, in my opinion. Everyone, regardless of vehicle or ability, should get a fair go, which is what puts the "happy" in happy lappies.

Now, it wasn't my intention to single anyone out with this video, but rather to provide an example of this kind of behaviour, which I happened to be lucky enough to witness and feel so compelled to send the world a message. Because the entire world reads this thread.

Now, let's all hug and be friends.

[Machine]

3 spectator videos

6 July 2013 Happy Laps - YouTube

6 July 2013 Happy Laps - YouTube

6 July 2013 Happy Laps - YouTube

[seangti]

Here's some more video looking backwards and forwards with I think it's Don catching and passing me. Backward vision also has Gav.

Looking at Ben's out of car footage its great to hear the noises. Well not the noise of my car as it purrs past, but others sound fantastic.