Road Course and Methods of Use

Abstract

A system and corresponding method is provided for conveying driving-related information to vehicle drivers on a track or road course. The system includes evaluating a track or road course and determining recommended driving actions for various segments of the track or road course which may be suitable for drivers of different skill levels, including a relatively inexperienced driver. The recommendations can include speed-related information such a target speed, maximum speed, or a speed range. Optionally, the recommendations relate to other specific driving tasks such as starting or stopping a braking procedure, the appropriate line or path to follow around a curve at a given indicated speed, or starting or stopping an acceleration procedure. The recommendations are conveyed to the driver by way of indicia that is preferably provided on a portion of the driving surface of the track or road course. The indicia can be one or multiple colors, one or multiple shapes or symbols, or other suitable visually conspicuous elements or matter.

1 . A system for conveying information to a vehicle driver on a track or road course, comprising:
 one or more pieces of indicia provided a surface that is on a portion of the driving surface of the track or road course,   wherein the indicia conveys information relating to a recommended driving action to a driver upon the track or road course.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the information relates to a recommended vehicular speed. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the recommended vehicular speed information relates to at least one of a maximum vehicular speed or a recommended vehicular speed range. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the recommended maximum vehicular speed or recommended vehicular speed range is pre-established and conveyed to a track or road course driver by way of the indicia. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the indicia is visually conspicuous. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the indicia is visually conspicuous due to a color contrast between the indicia and the driving surface of the track or road course. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the indicia is visually conspicuous due to a color contrast between multiple colors provided in the indicia. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the indicia is visually conspicuous due to shapes that are readily distinguishable from the driving surface of the track or road course. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the indicia is visually conspicuous due to multiple non-analogous shapes provided in the indicia. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the information relates to beginning a driving task. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein beginning a driving task is a recommendation to start braking. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein beginning a driving task is a recommendation to start accelerating. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the information relates to ending a driving task. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein ending a driving task is a recommendation to stop braking. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein ending a driving task is a recommendation to stop accelerating. 
   
   
       16 . A method of conveying guidance to a vehicle driver using a track or road course, the method comprising:
 (a) evaluating a track or road course by a relatively more experienced track or road course driver;   (b) determining recommended driving actions suitable for a relatively less experienced track or road course driver based on the evaluation, for at least one segment of the track or road course;   (c) providing indicia indicative of the recommended driving actions upon a surface that is on or adjacent a driving surface of the track or road course.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the indicia provides at least one of a recommended maximum vehicular speed and a recommended vehicular speed range. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the indicia includes a color indicative of the recommended maximum vehicular speed or speed range. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the indicia includes multiple shapes that change as a function of a changing recommended maximum vehicular speed or speed range. 
   
   
       20 . A road course, comprising:
 a) an elongate driving surface defining a width thereof between first and second outer edges;   b) one or more pieces of indicia providing driving related information to a driver on the road course, the one or more pieces of indicia defined on a surface that is positioned laterally beyond the driving surface of the road course and is on a plane that is generally parallel to or coplanar with a plane defined by the driving surface.   
   
   
       21 . The road course of  claim 20  wherein a first and a second piece of indicia extend along a portion of the length of the driver surface and laterally out of each of the first and second outer edges of the driving surface. 
   
   
       21 . The road course of  claim 21  wherein the indicia conveys speed related information to a driver. 
   
   
       22 . The road course of  claim 20  further comprising a piece of indicia defined upon the driving surface indicating a recommended driving path.