I realized that was a bad pass as soon as that 6 foot gap became a 4 foot gap, so I tried to give him as much room as I could by inching toward the rumble strips. I apologized to him personally at the end of the session because I understood that I definitely fucked up there. I didn't feel the need to leave it out because I don't need unnamed dude to come back and say "hey but you left out that fucked up pass you did on me", and it gives PTT 2 examples of people doing it wrong.
When he told me to go to B group if I wanted to race, was the point where I realized he clearly didn't understand that trackdays are not a race, and that his showboating antics were making himself a danger to others. It's my second time at Laguna Seca, and if I was comfortable maintaining a B pace without putting myself and others at risk, I would've moved up to B.
If the incident was a mechanical failure, I would understand, and that would be the end of it. Mechanicals happen, it's not a big deal. My problem is with the showboating by pointing and looking at his friends in the grandstands (which he admitted) for a super-kewl-photo-op that caused the close call, and then denying any wrong-doing. I didn't bother going to course control because no amount of talking to him was going to make him realize how he fucked up.
I don't mind people trying to get interesting photos. What I do mind is people becoming a danger to themselves and others to get that photo. What happened already happened, there's nothing in the world that can change the fuck ups that occurred. The least we can do is learn from them, so other people don't do stupid unpredictable shit to get interesting photos in the future. What can be done is to remind people to be as predictable as they can be and not to be doing any weird shit on the racing line. It helps the passer's job of making a clean and safer pass easier.
Safer = no yellow or red flags = no boo-boos = more track time = more fun for everyone. I'm pretty sure that's what we all want.
If the guy reads this:
I hope you realize that trackdays are not races, and that you should check your ego at the gate when you sign the release of liability forms. Nobody else is treating trackdays like a race. Don't get butthurt because you got passed, everyone got passed yesterday (except Stefan Bradl). Yes it's my responsibility to maintain that cushion, and that cushion was what kept my bike out of your bike. There's no need to get defensive because someone told you that you created a dangerous situation. I let you know as a courtesy that I almost hit you, and that I made a very poor pass afterwards. First, because what you did was dumb, and secondly I wanted to apologize for fucking up on my part. You don't need to point fingers saying I got too close behind you. I
was 6 feet behind you, right before you chopped the throttle because you couldn't maintain your speed while posing. I was trying to help you understand what you did wrong so you don't get assraped by 450 pounds of metal and plastic in the future, but you were having none of it. I don't have anything against you personally, and I want to keep you out of the meat wagon. We're all out here to have fun, and while getting crash photos is interesting, it's definitely not fun.
P.S. PTT is awesome.
P.S.S. If you're going to pose, put your hand up so people behind you know you're about to do something stupid for Dito, then maintain your speed and do it off the racing line... and do it with mad style.