Rules of the Road - Apply To Everybody! The Drive 1) We will break up into 2 groups: 1st group will have more experienced while the 2nd group will contain the novice people. Within these two groups there will be someone to lead and bring up the rear. 2) We want these rides enjoyable no matter what skill level everyone is at. Equipment 1) Each car must have a walkie talkie so everyone can be in communication (Mandatory!!) 2) Makes sure tire pressure, lugs nuts , etc are checked prior to run Road Etiquette 1) Drive within your limits and your car's limits. 2) 5+ Subaru's together stand out, so keep in mind our image when driving in public view. 3) Slow down for residential areas. People live here and there may be dogs, kids, etc. Plus we are in the country and dogs tend to run loose. 4) No passing before hill crests or before corners(pass only when safe). Yes, some of those double yellow lines are stupid, but bikes can come around a corner quickly and you don't want to kill someone. 5) Inform others in the group of hazards, i.e. bicyclists, hikers, old men on mopeds... 6) Try to have someone bringing up the rear with a radio in case of breakdowns, accidents, or whatever. 7) When coming up on slower traffice (cars) please be patient. If they do not pull over either go there pace or find a pull off and give them 10mins to get ahead of us, plus there are some scenic views. Do not continually honk and flash your lights. I have heard where local drivers have placed calls into the Cops about large car / biker groups that were driving recklessly. We do not want this to happen to us! 8)
Thanks for gettin this started Brian. I have been stuck in bed sick since saturday evening. Not Fun. I will append to ya list.
I would also urge for a through check of your car before mountain runs. Check your tire pressure, check the conditions of the tires, torque your lug nuts and make sure your brake pads are in good condition. Here is a post I made in the other thread about events that occured with the s2000atlanta this weekend: http://www.wrxatl.com/forums/showthread.php?p=32285#post32285 These are events that could happen to anyone, and WRXatl has been very lucky to have not encountered any issues lately. I would also urge drivers going to the Dragon (deal's gap), to make sure that they know the limits of their car before going there. Messing up there will either put you into the side of a mountain, or off the edge of a mountain. This is probably the least forgiving, most technical places to go for a drive. I would not trust a stock wrx there, with re92s and stock brake pads. -- Brian
Good ideas’ fellas keep them coming. Keith has started a locked sticky with all the rules from over here so feel free to discuss potential rules for the runs. As we get bigger groups we need more rules as people get a little excited and forget to think sometimes. Also please help us come up with a check list for pre maintenance on the cars before you show up at the run. Now to my rules. 1 If its your first time out you have to go with the novice group at least twice before graduating to the experienced group. This is to familiarize your self with the roads and how to drive the mountain. 2 Try to maintain a safe distance with yourself the person in front of you. It is pertinent to do this because you never know what’s going to happen to the person in front of you. Also brakes have a tendency to fade after getting that hot. Don’t want to rear end the person in front of you because your going to fast. 3 know your car’s limits. This has been said but can’t be said enough! Don’t go into corners too hot and have to brake into the corner. This will do two things. You can understeer and lose control. The person behind you now has to work twice as hard to maintain composer and not hit you. 4 At the beginning of each run day we have a briefing of the roads we plan to travel and go over the rules that we are coming up with now. I know that sounds boring but if its fresh in your head your more than likely going to abide by them. Also the rules will be printed up and handed out before each run to the novice group. Remember it’s all about having fun but safety comes first.
It is also important to be aware of your blind spot when on the double lane roads. Avoid being in someone's blind spot. If you are trying to pass someone, and happen to end up in their blind spot, unable to pass, back off a bit and move out of their blind spot. It is best to keep in single-file if no passing is required. I have seen a few instances of this happening on the drives, and it is a great safety concern. -- Brian
let's add fluid levels to the check list if you don't mind. and a good medic kit would be good too (at least two people should have one, and no i don't mean the crappy one you pick up at walmart ).
so what's a decent walkie talkie model to buy since is going to be mandatory? can we all be on same frequency?...like a CB radio or whatever?...j/w
Everyone should be able to hop on one specific channel with any $15 + walkie talkie I think... I would like to say thank you for starting this thread. Although I've yet to go on a mountain run with the club as a group, I know that it is imperative that we all respect a few basic rules whilst driving. As common sense as it seems, it never hurts to spend the extra 5 mins to double check all of the small things. Hopefully, I will be able to attend the next one and then every one after that. I hope to work my way up to a comfortable level on our trails and soon be able to offer myself as a novice leader or rear control. Cheers guys, be safe.
Thanks Brian for posting this up. This should really help a few things out. Something else that might be worth noting is this. Almost every single one of us are "representing" for the club with stickers somewhere on the cars. People will notice this. Another note is that not all the cars we pass have grown adults in them. There are normally children in the cars that are being passed. We should be worried about their safety as much as our own. Thanks again guys, these have been great fun and good turnouts.
These sound like good rules. It seems when groups get bigger, things get harder to manage. I think that splitting up the groups will definately cut down on the confusion. Thanks for posting this brian!
I have totally stressed safety and caution in the past and I am glad that it is getting reinforced...Thanks Guys... Mark
rules definatly are going to have to be made. I think the walkie talkie thing is good to have but i have my music so loud i cant even hear mine haha....ill try and stop that. I agree with the double line passing be very careful and try to wait till it opens up. Another thing is i for one am guilty of not knowing my car i came out and pushed it harder and i actually ended up overcorrecting and getting half my car off the road throwing gravel on the road to the guys behind me. I definatly calmed down afterwards and i think knowing your car is IDEAL! I for one am gonna probably continue to drive in the amatuer group even though i have been 2 times now. Also like Ped said children are everywhere so keep an eye out.....thanks guys, im glad eveyrone is mature about all this.
i would STRONGLY recommend this to everyone interested in doing mountain runs: please participate in ur local autoX events... u may think ur the best driver in the world but an autoX has a way of humbling u... more importantly, u will learn how ur car handles when u demand a lot from it... plus the chance of a catastrophy at an autoX is minimal... personally, i would not feel safe going to the dragon with anyone without much experience in autoX, track events or serious mountain runs