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Post by prancingdawg on Feb 21, 2008 13:25:37 GMT -5
;D Hello gurlz and boyz-
I'd suggest everyone in the core positions review this thread in its entirety and see if we need to incorporate any of these suggestions if we haven't already. The new season is upon us. ;D
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Post by prancingdawg on Feb 21, 2008 14:11:10 GMT -5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously submitted by Dean Furr in a similar old thread...
"What CCR does very well:
- Keeps us up-to-date on events via the forums.
- Maintains a core-group that is surprisingly proficient.
- Smooth tech and registration.
- Good courses, though I could tolerate a tighter course on occasion.
- Rapid posting of scores on the forum
- Good at-event atmosphere. It's surprising how many event officials elsewhere are quick to put drivers in their place. CCR seems more helpful, less officious. (I know first-hand that it be tough to stay "helpful"when a glitch slows the flow of the event, but CCR does well.)
- Good job of drawing a broad variety of entrants. Driving is only part of an autocross. Seeing other machinery driven well, and talking with other competitors is also part of the event.
- Exceptional job of finding and maintaining sites.
- Well-run timing van. It's amazing that the club can run 120+ cars through four runs and still get out at a reasonable time.
- Good focus on safety awareness, beginnning with the driver's meeting. There are occasionally courses that are borderline, but I have always gotten a good response from the safety stewards when I mention items. (They don't always agree with me, but they do listen. At least I know they gave my concerns due consideration, even if they disagreed.)
- Good sense of community. The after-event dinners feel like a group of friends, even if I've never seen the guy to my left without his helmet on. (We don't need name-tags, but I sure could recognize some of you better if you had a photo of your car on your pocket!)
CCR has grown in many ways in the last ten years. I'm glad to be back. "
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Post by prancingdawg on Feb 21, 2008 14:13:13 GMT -5
OHBOY! T*O*P!
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Post by C4Shane on Feb 21, 2008 22:39:01 GMT -5
Isn't JB going to get the Celtic Wimmen to be our Helmet Hotties this year...
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Post by prancingdawg on Apr 21, 2008 14:29:35 GMT -5
Potential improvement: Post times more often. It's hard to keep track of a baseball game without a scoreboard, and they only have two teams. *bump* |
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Post by MrsVlad on Apr 21, 2008 15:01:48 GMT -5
How about a card stating you joined the SCCA at Event ----- day -- year----.
I know Topeka is a bit overwhelmed, getting out the member cards.
I lost count , waivering , hearing "I joined at ,,,event, and have not got it yet. I don't know my #"
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Post by VpointVick on Apr 21, 2008 17:31:19 GMT -5
Potential improvement: Post times more often. It's hard to keep track of a baseball game without a scoreboard, and they only have two teams. *bump* When the timing program crashed during the first run group, it took the communication with the printer with it. I tried to get reports printed between every run group, but just didn't have time, and when we did have time, after the event, the printer cartridge crapped out, meaning Dave had to read the results off the laptop screen.  I know how inportant it is to get the reports out after each run group, and have been making every effort to make sure that it happens. Circumstances were against us yesterday, though. Rich and I are also trying to get the timeslip printer operational. Having run almost every one of my autocrosses in a PAX division, I recognize how important it is to get that going. Without it, it can be very difficult to know where you stand vs. your competitors. |
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Post by xeric13x on Apr 21, 2008 22:51:23 GMT -5
I think we need a lesson on counting during the driver's meeting. I worked cone cards during the 4th run group and noticed more than a few ppl taking 6 runs.
Also remind ppl to not run through the timing lights to fix cones.
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Post by W. Dean Furr on Apr 22, 2008 19:32:10 GMT -5
The "sixth runs" may not all be what they seem. At trophy presentation, I was credited with a 31.7 which was a good bit faster than any of my runs. When I checked, I found the 31.7 was shown as my first run, followed by the times for my first four runs. My fifth run was not recorded for some reason, possibly because timing thought it was my sixth run. (I reported the error as soon as I found it, and the 31.7 was changed to something else so it did not affect the results.) I see five cars shown with just four runs. It makes me wonder if perhaps more of sixth runs were really fifth runs.
IDEALLY, when Timing shows a driver in line has made all his/her runs, timing would ask the starter to tell the driver, who would then pull to the side of the line so they could resolve the error then. If timing is too busy to resolve it then, grant the extra run and straighen it out after the runs are done. (That said, it really isn't much of a big deal if a few drivers can't count to six. It's only a problem when dozens of drivers can't count, or if the same driver can't count event-after-event.)
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Post by soloracer on Apr 22, 2008 21:38:25 GMT -5
The sixth run problem:
I made 4 runs , Jeannie made 5. To the casual observer it could look like six or seven runs for one driver. *
A possible solution would be for the "crossover grid director" to check a card. Or the "helmet hottie" to do so. In the New York region everyone had an index card . As expressed elsewhere we DO need someone to check belts, helmets, helmet decals, inspection stickers straps, and loose items. This was the responsibility of the "checker" in New York. Look for the above and circle runs made. the same person could circle the run #. In the heat of competition it is easy to lose count as runs blend toghether. Not to mention senior moments for drivers such as me.
* Especially when I was # 32 and Jeannie was #3. Since in one of "those" moments i sent her out as #2. Since i pulled the wrong magnets.
James
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Post by xeric13x on Apr 22, 2008 22:19:08 GMT -5
James, no worries. You were not the problem.
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Post by ccytrader on Apr 23, 2008 13:02:22 GMT -5
So I have been thinking a bit about ways we could improve things for each event and how some things could improve the entire season. So here goes.
Adjust our morning schedule a bit to include multiple novice course walks. Make it more like a bus schedule where one leaves every say 5 min or so. Limit each party to 5 or so drivers. During these walks, you also get a short course on working a station and how to call/count cones. The leader of each walk would have a site map with labeled worker stations numbered accordingly. Run these from 9am to 930am. This would allow us to give every novice the info before they show up to get worker assignments to know which, if any, certain section they would like to see. And by doing the cone call/count during these walks takes a few minutes out of the drivers meeting.
Post total entrants and run/work groups by 915 on the side of the trailer. I know registration is still open and working through 915 but we should have enough info to be able to pull this off as I dont think we see that many late registrations that would totally skew a run group. This would help those who have to work group 1 get their affairs in order and possibly even sign up for a station before the drivers meeting ever starts.
Offer more than one novice class per season. After the 'smaller' turnout at the one in March, to me this would only make sense. I also think this idea is supported by the near constant flow of new drivers throughout the year. Perhaps within this idea, there could be a progressive class that evolves to more of a seat time/in car instruction class that could go on during the morning session while the first novice class is in the classroom setting. Granted this would take away from the instructors fun run time but all the same it would open the door to more driver development.
And lastly, due to the rising rate of scheduling conflicts, we should consider adopting a season points system allowing dropped events. Yes I know, dead horse getting beat here. Considering the first points event of this year had a 20%+ lower turnout than last year, a figure that can instantly be explained by the scheduled National Tour event within driving distance should be seen as a red flag that the current system may be a bit of a 'strong arm' technique to drive more participation from competitors. The next conflict actually came this past event, only our 3rd points event of the year, with 3 days of Evo school within driving distance which I figure we missed two Pro drivers and some open class talent too.
This participation counts idea is great and all, but I think when you look at it, the folks who want to get more seat time will still show up for as many events as possible. And to those who oppose this idea, perhaps if there is a certain individual(s) who may simply show up for the minimum required number of events and claim a trophy, YOU SHOULD DRIVE FASTER!!!!! We still have an unscheduled points event for July in Greenville, unfortunately one weekend is a holiday, one weekend is a National Tour, and another is a SEDiv event. That leaves the window open only to one weekend which I can only hope the site is available to us.
Even with drops, you still have healthy competition within any individual class. And given the previously mentioned scheduling conflicts, if you are already out 3 points events out of 3 events but could make events with another region, where does your focus go?
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Post by barbee810 on Apr 23, 2008 15:20:28 GMT -5
I am not going to quote them all but Great ideas Rob!!!!!
I know we have been having problems with the timing printer but that was just cool to get a timing slip at the end of each run in the 1st event because we could go back to the staging area and talk smack! Made it a lot of fun.
One additional idea: At continental, move the worker sign up outside the fenced area (at other sites, make the sign-up area away from the course), then have everyone wait together after they are given assignments until the end of the session. Stop cars for 3 minutes, everybody RUNS at the same time out to there worker station, make sure everyone is in place, restart the cars. The current system, people wander (or lolligag) out on course at various times is very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
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Post by autoxdad on Apr 23, 2008 15:21:07 GMT -5
James, no worries. You were not the problem. Doe that mean that Jeannie was the problem?  ??  |
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Post by MrsVlad on Apr 23, 2008 15:33:48 GMT -5
James, no worries. You were not the problem. Doe that mean that Jeannie was the problem? ?? Hay,,, I resemble that. The problem child. Yes , I am special, I like the short bus, it takes me to wonderful places. |
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Post by VpointVick on Apr 23, 2008 22:07:18 GMT -5
No freaking way will we ever be able to post the run/work groups that early. It takes every minute of my morning be able to hand the groups to Dave just before he reads them at the driver's meeting.
Maybe if we no longer allowed walk-up registration at all, but I really don't think that's a viable situation.
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Post by ccytrader on Apr 24, 2008 9:25:17 GMT -5
No freaking way will we ever be able to post the run/work groups that early. It takes every minute of my morning be able to hand the groups to Dave just before he reads them at the driver's meeting. Maybe if we no longer allowed walk-up registration at all, but I really don't think that's a viable situation. Here is an adjustment to my list of suggestions, make Vick's life a tad bit easier. Vick thanks for all the hard work and stepping up to take over timing. I did some work a little while back for another region out in the Midwest to help them sort their average class sizes which in turn allowed them to predetermine their run groups for the entire season. So before event #1 their drivers already knew which run group they would be in for the whole year. I personally dont think we need to go that far, but we could use the concept to have it all sorted prior to the start of each event. The other benefit to doing this would be getting back to having some key folks in each run group to perform certain, more skill required jobs. Maybe we could ask each person who has experience working timing, start, and grid to include those skills in their registration process via the message box at the bottom of the form online. This is a simple look at our average class size from 2007. And the region I did the work for had every event back to 2002 readily available for me to work with, very Monk like in their organizational skills!   |
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Post by trickbrick on Apr 28, 2008 11:44:50 GMT -5
Great work Rob . as for further suggestions, I don't have any at the moment ;D. I just want to come back to an event so I can get involved again! -Aimeee |
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