2006 Autocross Points Tally Method Notice!

[pdy]

Our primary goal was to recognize the drivers who were the best in their class. With no throw-outs, our usual system tends to benefit those who are at every event, rather than those who drive the best. With too many throw-outs, you win five races and can go home for the year. We are trying to find balance, and this is how we did it.

Well, I think this makes perfect sense. In my
class, it may not make much difference, but
even in other classes, I find it hard to guess
what anybody whould have done different, or
would do different if they knew this in January
or if it was a secret until December 2006.

I also kinda thought there always was an unwritten
rule that there would be a few through-outs, so
this certainly wasn't a surprise to me.

And finally, you AX chairs are way to devoted,
kind, and generous with your time, efforts,
planning, and outright enthusiastic hard work
to deserve having your virtual temperature
taken by such an enormous Forum-Thermometer.
I think the plan is just fine!

[gulf911]

Change - particularly Rules Change - is inevitable. Since everyone is never going to be satisfied, the rules will constantly change to try and make all the people happy all the time (good luck with that!)

Dano, Perhaps you have been smoking that wax on your board??

Change is NOT the issue, its WHEN it was implemented and deemed final without any notice or discussion with the members that make up pcasdr.

While I can an do appreciate your pedigree of volunteer work, I am a card carrying member of PCA which should give me a right to voice an opinion when something is not fair in its extremely late execution. So you'll have to excuse me if I choose not to sit down and shut up. Perhaps your speech would work in Cuba??

I offer a suggestion that we establish a points sub-committee under the rules committee next year, to address this issue and recommend a permanent policy. As relative rookies, it's truly outside of our expertise to understand all the nuances involved. "

Then why make a change at all?

All rights reserved Member FDIC Your mileage may vary....

[Henry Walker]

Curt,
I like the idea of having a couple of throw-outs for the year. Hard to believe, but I have other obligations that unfortunately take priority over autocrossing. In fact, At the beginning of the year the FS drivers got together and made a gentlemen's (and one lady) agreement to allow 2 throw outs.
THAT is the ONLY time to do this - BEFORE the first event. Certainly not now. No matter how great your intentions, this is not the time to change the rules. The ONLY time a mid-season rules change would be appropriate, would be for safety reasons.
Now maybe we should use this discussion to decide what we want NEXT YEAR. It's too late to change this year's rules. They were set in stone after that first event in January.
My two cents.

[ttweed]

Tom, aren't the Z8 sanctioned events part of the yearly SDR ax points total?

Yes, the two events we put on as Zone events are tallied in both our regional series and in the Zone series. However, in the Zone series, at the end of the year, they will add the bonus points for travel out of state and for attending all events. We don't add those points to our regional series total.

For instance, Bob Bertrand came over from Arizona for the July 15th event at the Q, which was a Zone 8 event, and scored 12 points for a 3rd place showing in AM in our regional results. In the Zone results, however, he will score 17 for that event (5 points extra will be added for traveling outside his state of residence for that event.) He had already attended the Speed Festival autox and earned 10 extra points for that, as it was his first "out of state" event for the year. He will be eligible to earn 5 more points (the max is 20) if he attends another Zone 8 autox in CA before the end of the season.

In our regional series, these "travel" points have never been recognized or tallied in the class totals, at least for the 9 seasons that I've seen, so we have always deviated somewhat from the Zone 8 rules in this regard, AFAIK.

TT

[Jad]

I certainly was not trying to be mean or say the AX chairs don't do a great job, I just think they went beyond their duties or power to correct this 'problem' they felt existed. We have a system for changing the rules, submissions must be made by certain dates, this allows a discussion for a period of time among the members and then a decision is made for the coming year. This policy was created several years ago to avoid this quick decision by a few people that may have effects not immediately apparent to those making the decisions. Will this change anyones life, no probably not, and will I still attend the remaining events, of course, though I will be much more likely to skip 1 or 2. However, that does not mean any volunteer should be able to change any rule at any time. I know Tami is on the board and more than once I have heard talk among KP drivers that black 944's should be kicked out of KP class , but fortunately for me she hasn't changed that rule. And recently, I personally think a certain white 964 C2 needs to be kicked out of the competition. Anyone know who the out of town tech chair is so he can change the rules for Pahrump??? All of his decisions will be made immediately following timed runs and will be retroactively enforced and final

All I was trying to say when this thread started, and several others seem to agree, the problem isn't really whether we throw out an event or not, just that the rules should not be changed-for better or worse-in the way they were. The rules are changed annually before the season starts, and should not constantly evolve as Dan C. says. Lets decide NOW, if we should have throw outs in 2007. The chairs could mandate that without any complaints from me.

[Curt Yaws]

OK…..the ax chairs will be the guys with their helmets on all day Saturday. Tech will be doing extra screening for drivers trying to sneak in baseball bats and sticks.

We apologize for the late notice. Our goal is to be as fair to everyone as possible, and we think our lousy schedule this year with so many holiday weekend events created problems for many people.

Thank you for the positive comments. Being completely naïve, we volunteered to be ax chairs. David is even going to do it again, but he may be a slow learner. Please note that we generally only post announcements on the forum. We don’t see it as our job to audit or correct people who make statements we didn’t agree to, and none of us like to participate in disagreements. We get plenty of those during timed runs at each ax. We’d like to make as many people happy as possible.

Our primary goal was to recognize the drivers who were the best in their class. With no throw-outs, our usual system tends to benefit those who are at every event, rather than those who drive the best. With too many throw-outs, you win five races and can go home for the year. We are trying to find balance, and this is how we did it. It may not be the best way, it’s just the way we did it. We thought it was the most fair.

We will require a minimum of 51 percent of races to be run to be eligible for a trophy. Of course, in a competitive class, showing up 51 percent of the time will not allow you to win. (This has been edited from 50%)

I offer a suggestion that we establish a points sub-committee under the rules committee next year, to address this issue and recommend a permanent policy. As relative rookies, it's truly outside of our expertise to understand all the nuances involved.

Thank you for your support and participation this year.

[pdy]

Slightly related, the Zone 8 WebSite lists the
November 25 SDR Autocross as a Zone 8 event.
Our region calendar shows it as Zone 8 too,
but the SDR Autocross calendar doesn't say
it's a Z8 event. Just want to confirm that
the November 25 Autocross is also a Zone 8
event - right?

BTW another awesome event on the 16th - Thanks!

[Jad]

OK, I am still not sure what is a points event and what isn't, ignoring the throw out thing. Is the calendar on the website correct, Dec 3 in a no points instructor day, but Dec 16 is for points? I looked quickly at a schedule in the trailer this weekend, and that isn't what I recall the trailer posting said.

So can we get an official list of what events are left and which ones are for points?

Thanks and sorry for all the grief I seemed to have caused the AX chairs, that was not my intention.

[993Panzer]

Jad,

My understanding is that the Oct and Nov AX's are for points. The Dec AX is the usual year end run your other car event for no points.

Dave

[Curt Yaws]

The October 22 date is a points event, and the Nov 10th Friday is a fun day with no points. Nov 25th will be the last points event of the year and is a Zone 8 event. Dec 3 will be an Instructor Training Day, and Dec 16 the annual Other Car Day with no points.

Thanks to everyone for your attendance. We may not always be on top of everything, but we take very little offense at being advised of our errors and indiscretions. Mostly we are amazed that such a big series of events can be pulled off by a loose group of highly dedicated volunteers with unbelieveable depth. Our club works so well because there are many people doing many seriously necessary things, and they do them cheerfully and without any need to be pushed. It's really what makes this all work. Thanks, and KEEP VOLUNTEERING!

[Jad]

Thanks. And for what it is worth, I think that is a good decision on which events are for points and which are not