Split Event - Odd/Even Car Numbers

[Loren]

FYI, Ron and I are going to try something different on September 20th and we're hoping it will work.

What we've been doing (making the early session use even numbers and the late session use odd numbers) has worked well for eliminating duplicates. But, it takes a surprising amount of work on our part to make that happen! It seems an awful lot of people don't bother to read anything you put in front of them, regardless of how big and bold you make it, or how many times you repeat it. (It's a combination of the "I've been autocrossing for years, I don't need to read this stuff" mentality, and just plain laziness) So, we inevitably get people registering with incorrect numbers that we have to go back and change to avoid duplicates. And, of course, that leads to the same people showing up at the event with the wrong number on their car because we changed it and they didn't bother to go back and verify their number.

In a perfect world, the Early=Even / Late=Odd thing would work great. In the real world, it has proven to be a hassle.

WHAT WE'RE DOING INSTEAD:
1. Let drivers register with any number the system will allow other than zero-prefix numbers or more than 4 digits. The system automatically won't allow you to take someone else's permanent number, so the only possible thing we'll have to deal with when we combine a split event for Timing & Scoring is duplicates between the Early and Late sessions. This WILL happen. Without restrictions, it will probably happen a lot.
2. We manually add a number prefix to all numbers (or maybe just the duplicates) in the Late session to eliminate the duplication. YOU don't need to do anything. We'll do it in the computer and keep track of it. You just put whatever number you registered with on your car and we'll do the rest. Easy. Your number may show up in the final results with some digits before it, but your NAME and results will be correct, and that's all that matters.

We're hoping that this will be easier and less confusing for everyone.

[Loren]

Here's the "official" number policy for Split Events (for now):

Zero and zero-prefix numbers are not valid.
Maximum four digits.
3 or 4 digit numbers cannot begin with "20".

[twistedwankel]

Guess the ability to read is why I still can beat over 1/2 the drivers ALL the time.

I fully understand. DOH