Mr. Token, where was your custom trunk decor last weekend?:(

2nd tier SM is just as competitive as 1st tier

OK, ready for my $.02.

Novice is not broken and does not need to be fixed. We have 2 specific Timing & Scoring related issues with Novice that need to be addressed without creating new ones for registration.

1. Novices change numbers every event which is a nightmare for T&S.
2. Entering names for novices is a nightmare related to issue 1 as well as all the new folks

I think the solution to #1 is to make a bunch of magnetic 1-9s, Rs and Ns and rent or sell them cheap. I think this would fix this issue as even novices have favorite numbers. I think we should do other letters as well and make all the a-holes who have driven all season with crappy or non-existent numbers or classes buy them. This may make a bit more work for Registration up front, but after they get their numbers I think it would actually reduce it since the Ns would register just as other drivers do. No paper to hand out, etc.

For #2, we have discussed pre-adding a bunch of novice numbers to our timing software so they work just don't have names. Announcer could read names off of sheet if time runs out to get them typed in.

On the Novice chief...

It is a great idea, but practicality rears it's head. Myself or one of the 20 or so other people who keep the events running isn't always available to do it.

We need more people willing to do more than just drive and shag cones!!!

We need more trained and qualified T&S people, Bus setup and tear down people, Registration people, Safety Stewards, event chairs, announcers, course setup, tear down folks, etc... before we can staff the Novice chief position. Right now, the same 20 or so people do all those jobs across 4 run groups as well as before and after the run groups.

I tried to do guided course walks and such as time permitted, but if you look at the past few events, I have worked 2-3 run groups in each and for the last two, that was in addition to being the event chair.

So if you think we need a Novice chief, you better already be one of those 20 or so people busting their ass, or better become one of them.

Anyone capable of posting in this forum is likely capable of doing bus setup and tear down as well as T&S jobs with a little training.

Anybody can get out there early or stay and help tear down the course, and the more the merrier!!! (Thanks again to everyone who helped us setup as well as set record times for tear down both days of the last weekend.)


I'll comment on Bumping order, PAX and street tires later.

Good points there Dean. I agree after hearing everyone's input, we should leave the novice program as-is, and work on the T&S issues to support it.

We need more help in all areas of the Reno SCCA. If you care, you should get involved.

It was too cold for him to hang on Saturday, but he was there Sunday!

Very true! The couple times you Jason and I were all at the same event, we were all withing tenths or even hundreths of one another!

Ladies and gents, watch for ScottyS rolling on the Lightstars for the 08 autoX season. :)

The Reno SCCA meeting tonight was not very heated. I thought I'd see a little more action. No real street tire talk until Matt stoked the fire. But still not as much as I'd thought would come up.

The idea of multiple PAX champs is not for me. There should be one top dog on top of the hill at the end of it all, in my opinion.

The k work was only heard once and sounded more like joking than anything.

Sounds like the only seat to be contested between two folks a this point is between Randy and Dean. I'm voting for Dean. We may have to have a big Subaru turn out to push Dean over the top. Any chance to beat down a Corvette and I'm in.

Note, Speed is playing races from Nationals tonight. Set the DVRs. I think GT Lites are going to be on tonight.:)

Yes, oddly, it looks as if Dean and Randy Jones are going for the same seat on the board... SCCA Members, your vote matters this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm voting for Randy since street tyres aren't legal in FP

Yeah, I already have my race tires for next year. I'm voting for Randy!

Really? Slicks or something with tread?

Kart slicks.

2008 PAX Factors are out. Looks like everything got harder.

http://scca-chicago.com/solo/indexes/rtp2008.html

Is anyone running DS???? Looks like a good chance to play spoiler.

Ouch... FSP got HAMMERED. :(

Here is the % change, from highest to lowest.

GS 1.4944
STS2 1.48883
STX 1.48515
FS 1.48331
STS 1.36646
CSP 1.30178
FSP 1.21507
STU 1.09622
CS 1.09489
DS 0.99502
XP 0.91533
EM 0.91013
ESP 0.83933
DSP 0.83732
ES 0.61576
BSP 0.58617
SM2 0.58005
FM 0.5618
BS 0.48309
AS 0.47733
SS 0.4717
SM 0.46729
ASP 0.4662
FP 0.46083
HS 0.38023
DP 0.34884
F125 0.21142
DM 0.11249
BP 0
CP 0
AM 0
GP 0
EP -0.23175
FSAE -0.31612
CM -0.55006
BM -0.74153

So, what's SU gonna be? ;)

1

So, has anybody given any thought to the Class Restructuring for 08? Will we still have an overall PAX Championship? Was the Pro Class for 07 on a trial period or is it sticking around?

Figured I'd ask some of these questions do to the Reno SCCA news letter talking about it so much. I'm still out on the class restructuring for now. I don't really see how it increases competition. We allready watch everyone elses times and compete against everyone else on the overall PAX level. I think the buddy verses buddy competition that is going on out on the grid is well and alive for most everyone.

Last but not least, I'm for the old folks not having to snag cones but I'm not sure if we need to make it a rule. Holding a radio on the other hand and waving a flag is well within there grasp. Put them out on the course with a youngster and let them teach them something.

Considering there isn't a ton of youngsters, I don't know how well that would work.

One thing that Taylor (540i) and I have noticed is we feel very alienated at events, as if we are not wanted there by many of the older competitors, so I doubt forcing them to help us youngsters learn would work very well at all.

I think people will change class for competition or compare their times to anyone who they believe to be their competition. The only value added by collapsing classes is to give away fewer year end trophies which I don't think is necessary for a club with a bank balance like ours.

I also think there will be a clear "dominant" car/driver within any collapsed structure such that it may cause additional frustration more than competition.

Also, any change is more work for Timing and Scoring and I think they do enough as it is.

As far as Senior work requirements... There are plenty of jobs they could do without having to run for cones. Registration, tech, announce, timing slips, etc. If they are so inclined, they could also exert the time and energy to become competent in T&S. That is at least 16-20 or so worker positions per day.

We also need more of the younger crew to step up to important roles like Safety, grid, setup and tear down. Many already help out with the later, but we can always use more.

We can change the T modifier to .97, split the classes T&R, split just PAX, or any combination. I don't really care, but I think we should keep the modifier in some form so folks can compare times if they choose. Nobody seams to believe the numbers when I do the Nationals ST to SP comparisons, so unless somebody asks, I'm not doing it this year.

I am all for learning whatever will be helpful, if someone wants to teach me T&S I am more than willing, but positions like starter, grid and safety seem as though they would be more appropriate for the old geezers since there is less running involved, that is why I never really asked, but if someone wants to teach me, I am more than willing to learn.

When will some of these ideas actually get put to a vote? Next seasons schedule will start getting worked on after elections, correct?

Soon, there's a lot of work put into making a schedule, asside from just picking weekends, and a lot of that includes waiting on other people (regions)...

And just a note, for every time someone asks me about the schedule...It's release gets pushed back by a day. :cool:

Actually you should bump it up by one day because I was kinda looking to volunteer some time and help with it, Mr. Matt.