I have also been told to start when I saw people still on the course. I just pointed it out to the starter and waited. When I'm waiting to start I look out over the track. It isn't easy being the starter because there is usually a car still on the track when you go to start the next guy, so something could happen when you look away.
I'm glad you came to a Full Stop and avoided hitting ME . I was pretty pissed because I knew the safety proceedures were not being followed. I am sorry that I blew up (apparently not as much as Dave), but in my defense I was almost hit by a speeding race car.
Word mentioned why no red flag. There was no time Jeremy. I was just a little way down the track at station 2. That also pissed me off because I was not far from the starting line and I should have been easily seen.