Just got on and saw all the posts. After having read them I will add my two sense worth.
Remember ..this is a racing club ...not a league...no points are being won or lost. We are here to just have fun, drive hard for sure and try to win or beat the guys around you but using sportsmanship and racing craft as a high priority...while trying hard not to ruin someone else experience....no matter their abilities...and that starts in qualie.
I have the right to a fair qualie lap as well as the slowest and the fastest drivers. The last thing that any of us want to do is ruin some else qualie but fate is a part of the equation. Many things can ruin a hot lap ... some uncontrolled( going off track) and some controlled.
I'm a mid to the lower pack guy, so I always wait until most have exited pits for their qualie, and/or I let faster ones by me in the pit lane or early on in the out lap but I can't wait until guys are near completing their out lap to join. I've got to get in a form a gap with the pack.
If you come up from behind me I may be driving slow on purpose.....to leave a gap for the guys in front of me ....here me...guys in front of me. So I slow for those in front of me and next thing I know someone behind me is pressing my a#$. ( advantage of using Teamspeak ) Maybe there is a valid reason for my slow driving. We have to act as a team here, each giving a bit for the others. So be it if your hot lap is tarnished a bit once and a while. It is not only happening to you, it happens to all of us once in a while. I know many of the fastest drivers who start at the back on purpose for what ever reasons. There are pros and cons to this practice but not here now. Point being ...they are here to have fun first...win second.
Now the business of quickly catching up to a slower driver on your out lap and trying to passing them. In my opinion you first response should be back off....leave a gap that you think will provide enough space for you to get a good hot lap without being hampered by the guy in front. Your second thought ...I got to pass this guy quickly .. should be put in the trash. Do so if they provide you an opportunity to do so, if not back off..... period. Don't be pressuring them, forcing them to let you by. Not all slow driver are idiots and not all fast drivers are maniacs.
Now it works both ways ....if I am not on a hot lap or have ruined a hot lap and a quicker driver is on his hot lap then I should definitely try to allow them by.
Remember why most of us are here. How many races has Fans ( named changed to protect the innocent ) and myself won over the years.... ya I know... but that is not why we are here.
After you have been here for a while you will realize what a unique little family we have here..sharing more then just racing. Some of my closest friendships have been made here...fact. If some of the vets are concerned about a situation then perhaps we should listen.
PS.... turned out to be more than two sense worth ...sorry.
