Sept SPC 2011

[garage west]

Regarding ties, I'm not sure how the software handles it. It's not 2nd fastest time, because John's was faster. I doubt that it's average time. It's probably just chronological, the first one to get that time wins. As in "I laid it down, it's up to you to BEAT it". Or "I'm the better driver because I was able to get that time with fewer runs."

I'm inclined to leave it as is, simply because it's a lot easier than trying to manually manipulate ties when they occur. (which isn't often)

Fair enough.

[Jamie]

Whoever ordered the food, it was awesome. I heard a lot of rave reviews about the food.

That was Brian...and Bill Beers doing the emergency run for paper plates.

Zuzy got to race today too

Good pose -- right foot hard on the floor, left foot not paying any attention to the brake pedal....

And everything Brian said except:

M GO BLUE

[Solar]

Whoever ordered the food, it was awesome. I heard a lot of rave reviews about the food.

That was Brian...and Bill Beers doing the emergency run for paper plates.

Zuzy got to race today too

Good pose -- right foot hard on the floor, left foot not paying any attention to the brake pedal....

And everything Brian said except:

M GO BLUE

Lol ! Didn't know you were a Dame fan. Or you just don't like Michigan ? I'm figuring the later :-)

[Tim_M]

Reiterating the rest of the posters...had a blast at the season starter!

BBQ was indeed tasty and just the right amount!

Course was fitting for the conditions...longer is always better, but enjoyed the sweepers nontheless.

One comment...not sure I'm a fan of the handing out the awards at the end. It is a small crowd and honestly, I'm pressed for time/priorities on the weekends (ie got to still unpack, repack, mow the lawn, clean the wifes cars, etc). I will likely depart early unless I'm scheduled to work last...

Maybe another way to look at the old way-it might allow the novice folks some assistance to ID someone they could ask during the driver's meetings (of course a 'sticker' doesn't necessarily equate to instructor capability, etc).

[Jamie]

Lol ! Didn't know you were a Dame fan. Or you just don't like Michigan ? I'm figuring the later :-)

U of I grad, so it's institutional. The fact that Michigan has the best football team money can buy doesn't help that most years the Illini can't field a decent team.

...not sure I'm a fan of the handing out the awards at the end. It is a small crowd and honestly, I'm pressed for time/priorities on the weekends (ie got to still unpack, repack, mow the lawn, clean the wifes cars, etc). I will likely depart early unless I'm scheduled to work last...

No sympathy...I mowed and edged the lawn today, changed the oil on one of the cars, unloaded groceries, made sure there wasn't anything still wet in the trailer, etc. We talked about this at the August meeting, and decided it was a good way of immediately rewarding those who won, gets events started faster (don't have to have a pre-event awards session), and encourages some extra hands to help with cleanup. If you want your sticker and can't stay, though, just get someone to collect it for you, or make other arrangements with Brian. Or we can schedule you to always work last, and remove the conflict.

[Native]

[rant] Well Brian and I put the new Teins on my car a couple weeks ago, and this was supposed to be a shakedown event for me. Get 'em all dialed in, yano? Right. 3 dry-ish runs. I put down that 3rd place tie-time (10th-tie overall) on my second run on a brand new (to me), not-really-adjusted suspension and 15-month old cold Kumhos that want 4 runs to come up to full-stick. Sheesh. I can't make Oct, so it'll be November. I'm already praying for dry.

Next time the eagle flies I'm hitting the Tire Rack.

John - no more ties.
Drew, Chris, other Chris - it ain't gonna be so easy this season... [/rant]

Also, I had a blast. I love this club and the events. Excellent find on lunch, Brian, and you and Jamie did a fantastic job (with help from a cast of, well, not 1000s...) - 78 cars, 6 runs, rain delay and still done by 3:30. Most excellent! Great job, everyone!


WE NEED CHAIRS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER - SOMEONE COMMIT!!!

[pmhaddad]

Had a blast!

Anyone got pics?

[Native]

re-read page 1, Phil.

[Jamie]

WE NEED CHAIRS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER - SOMEONE COMMIT!!!

I'll take 'em both if you want...could be for the next few months, the racing budget will be very shallow, so working off my entry fees may be the only way to get seat time.

[Native]

JAMIE NEEDS CO-CHAIRS FOR THE NEXT 2 EVENTS after October -
This is a great chance for a noob to learn how to chair, or at least sand off the rust (Phil).

[warneej]

Congrats to Greg for finally beating me, you've been on my ass since about mid-last season and its about time

Hadn't got to race in the rain in a looooong time, always somehow get in the run group before the heavens open. Had a blast even though I couldn't find much grip out there. Good to see everyone back at it and can't wait for next month's sleepover race!

[islandmon]

Regarding the change in handing out rewards, I heard more than a few comments in opposition. I agree we need more people to help tear down at the end of the day however holding the awards until the end only incents those who think they have an award coming. I agree with Tim there are benefits to handlng out the awards as part of the drivers meeting and it takes just a few minutes.

I think we may want to consider offering partial event credits or bonus runs to those who stay to the end and help pack up and clean up. If this were set up as a regular part of the program we could make the end of the day assignments more desireable.

[Loren]

End of day fun runs are generally a recipe for trouble with any group larger than about 30 (and we exceeded that a long, long time ago). Not gonna do it.

I'm gonna suggest that we give this more than one event before we give up on it. For a lot of people "change is bad".

[pmhaddad]

JAMIE NEEDS CO-CHAIRS FOR THE NEXT 2 EVENTS after October -
This is a great chance for a noob to learn how to chair, or at least sand off the rust (Phil).

If I could co-chair an event before diving in head first, I'd like to do that. December is probably the best one for me to do right now, but I'm just not sure I want to do it myself, too much pressure haha. If someone wants to do it with me though and show me how you guys organize stuff etc, I'd be more than willing...

[Loren]

Chairing a FAST event is pretty easy. 95% of what you need to know is right here:
http://drivefast.org/volunteering/event-chair/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(be sure to click the link to the Event Chairman Guide that Steve's been promising to update for about a year now )

[Native]

^^^ Thanks Phil. Jamie has already volunteered to chair December, I'm just trying to find him some help. So you've got your co-chair already!

December's event will be co-chaired by Jamie and Phil - thanks to you both.

Now who's gonna co-chair November with Jamie??

(be sure to click the link to the Event Chairman Guide that Steve's been promising to update for about a year now )

edit: yeah, yeah, I'll get 'r done eventually. Jamie knows what's what - he'll steer Phil in the right direction (not that he needs it - he's being humble.)

[Jamie]

I think we may want to consider offering partial event credits or bonus runs to those who stay to the end and help pack up and clean up. If this were set up as a regular part of the program we could make the end of the day assignments more desireable.

Teardown is already a dedicated work assignment that gets a couple of people out of working during the event -- and even when we're pressed for workers, I go to lengths to avoid tapping the folks who come in very early or stay very late. Most clubs don't even go that far -- they pack up with whoever is willing to (or must, like the the tow driver) stay on, and if no one replaces those folks when they're burnt out, events stop. There's at least one club in this area facing that this year (no, it's not FAST!). If the days are so long that a very short (and still optional) awards ceremony afterwards is a chore, then we should cut a run off the event, so as not to stress people's schedules.

It's part of being in a club, rather than an organization set up to put on events -- people provide mutual support for each other, whether that's physical help, or just a little moral support. I couldn't have done so well yesterday without the assistance of you and many other club members.

If I could co-chair an event before diving in head first, I'd like to do that. December is probably the best one for me to do right now, but I'm just not sure I want to do it myself, too much pressure haha. If someone wants to do it with me though and show me how you guys organize stuff etc, I'd be more than willing...

Happy to have you on board, Phil!

[Native]

I think we may want to consider offering partial event credits or bonus runs to those who stay to the end and help pack up and clean up. If this were set up as a regular part of the program we could make the end of the day assignments more desireable.

Teardown is already a dedicated work assignment that gets a couple of people out of working during the event -- and even when we're pressed for workers, I go to lengths to avoid tapping the folks who come in very early or stay very late. Most clubs don't even go that far -- they pack up with whoever is willing to (or must, like the the tow driver) stay on, and if no one replaces those folks when they're burnt out, events stop. There's at least one club in this area facing that this year (no, it's not FAST!). If the days are so long that a very short (and still optional) awards ceremony afterwards is a chore, then we should cut a run off the event, so as not to stress people's schedules.

It's part of being in a club, rather than an organization set up to put on events -- people provide mutual support for each other, whether that's physical help, or just a little moral support. I couldn't have done so well yesterday without the assistance of you and many other club members.

Jamie put it much more eloquently than I was going to. whew.

[Loren]

Jamie put it much more eloquently than I was going to. whew.

Must be all that AF officer training.

I'll just add/reiterate... if you're expecting an award at the end of an event and you have to leave early, all you need to do is tap a friend who's gonna stick around and say "hey, if I get an award, grab it for me". Easy.

Or even... if you're THERE at the end, and one of your friends who you see regularly isn't there wins something, feel free to grab it for them whether they thought to ask you to or not.

The post-event awards ceremony can be a lot of fun once we get into doing it. If we get Ron (or one of his timing minions) to look at times, we can give awards or at least recognition to folks like the fastest "virgin" (first timer), cone killer (most cones), most spectacular spin, etc. Most of these things mean very little a week or so after the event when everyone has forgotten the highlights... but right there at the end of the event, it's great stuff! And event chairs, don't forget to choose your post-event meeting point and announce it!

Gotta agree with Jamie, we do a lot more than most clubs do to give incentive for people to work the "troublesome" jobs that people grow tired of doing all the time. Just off the top of my head:

• If you're one of the first to volunteer to help with setup or tear-down, you get out of the normal event worker rotation.
• If you are qualified as a safety marshal and volunteer to do safety for an event, you get out of the normal event worker rotation. (but you pretty much have to be on your toes all day)
• If you are a qualified instructor willing to commit to being full-time "novice coordinator" all day (novice walk, and shepherding novices throughout the day to be sure that they're all being tended to as needed), you get out of the normal event worker rotation.
• If you tow the trailer you get out of the normal event worker rotation AND get reimbursed generously for your expenses. (WAY cheaper than the club buying and maintaining a vehicle!)
• Event Chairman and co-chairman get an event entry credit.

That covers a lot of ground, but it's still nice to have extra "casual" help at setup and teardown just to move things along quicker. Even if all you do is carry a bag of trash to the dumpster or take a walk around the perimeter of the course and parking lot picking up trash (be sure to let the event chair know you did so that he knows it's done), or help take down a tent or two, that's one more thing that someone else won't have to do and it is always appreciated.

[Jeremy]

I will be more inclined to stay late and help clean up and attend an awards presentation after events and I don't care about stickers. So the new policy gained at least one more helper.

I enjoy seeing the people who won in person. I don't know a lot of people's names at FAST and this will help.

Are you guys announcing the classes and the times when you give out the awards?