AUGUST A/X

[stevemckay]

GREAT WEDDING THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!! HOPE EVERYTHING WENT WELL TODAY SORRY TO MISS OUT

[Don Middleton]

Steve, there were some problems, but we got through them. You were definitely missed.

[martinreinhardt]

It was a fun event, but have some suggestions to improve the corner-working duties.

- Corner-workers need to know at least the basic rules. Per example: if the corner-worker doesn't actually see the car hit the cone, then it doesn't count and someone got a freebee. You can't just guess and assign it to the car you think hit it. Maybe a special basic corner-working knowledge transfer speech from the CDI's or Corner-worker chairs to the first time Autocrosser's is needed.

- I think there should not be more than one corner-worker per corner if possible, because I witnessed a lot of chatting yesterday and not focusing on their task such as forgetting to wave the yellow flag, not chalking the track/cones or picking up cones on times.

- Remember each corner-worker is also safety chair and are mainly out there for the safety, then picking up cones. Please don't run in front of cars to pickup cones as you can trust me you can't outran a car. As a driver I rely on the corner-workers to provide a save environment, but how can you trust them when they are chatting with their back facing your car and flag rolled up (instead of furred) or even on their cell phone ?

- When the track is falling apart: please call it in to start/finish or request a broom to clean it up. The broken off pavement not, only damages cars, wheels etc, but it can also become a potential projectile and/or safety issue.

- Calling in cones: first wait until radio channel is free then call in corner station number, car number, number of cones hit and wait for confirmation from timing. Two-way radios only allow one person to talk a the time and sometime messages get lost when more than one person is talking.

I am just trying to point out some observations from yesterday. If my message comes across to strong sorry it's the german to english translation.

[gulf911]

Martin, there was just this issue (calling cones without seeing the culprit) described at the drivers meeting, so hopefully everybody was listening..

I do agree with the 1 person per corner as well , except in the case of the slalom cones yesterday..I dont think i saw Keith V. ever not running to get those cones.

The track was really good, but that slalom had to go! c'mon at least spread them out or remove 1 and spread it out. Somebody mentioned theres a typical 25 paces between slalom cones? And one last issue, did someone cut the length of the track width rope??

[martinreinhardt]

Martin, there was just this issue (calling cones without seeing the culprit) described at the drivers meeting, so hopefully everybody was listening..

I do agree with the 1 person per corner as well , except in the case of the slalom cones yesterday..I dont think i saw Keith V. ever not running to get those cones.

The track was really good, but that slalom had to go! c'mon at least spread them out or remove 1 and spread it out. Somebody mentioned theres a typical 25 paces between slalom cones? And one last issue, did someone cut the length of the track width rope??

I agree, the track width was inconsistent and the slalom cones were too close, although our car loved it I personally could live without the slaloms.

Keith probably lost 10 lbs yesterday , but I think he should have made his student work instead

[ttweed]

- I think there should not be more than one corner-worker per corner if possible...

There should only be two people at a corner station when there is an instructor training a student in corner-working. If a segment of the track is so chaotic that it takes two people to maintain the cones, there is something wrong with the course design or the drivers are going berserk (or it's just Jackie taking her practice runs ). I agree that the last slalom was too tight. I counted 18 paces between cones on the track walk.

TT

[jenniferreinhardt]

Oh Man, I hit so many cones yesterday. Martin was cleaning the cone marks off early this morning before driving the car to work. I figure I pay for those cones (or at least Martin does while I'm looking for a job!)

[martinreinhardt]

Here are some pictures Jennifer took yesterday
https://picasaweb.google.com/martin.reinhardt/PCASanDiegoAugust7thAutocross?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[Dallas]

Sorry about dumping coolant all over pre grid.

One new cap and nearly two gallons of coolant, and I think I'm back in business. We'll find out for sure on Oct. 1...

-Dallas

[jbscheff]

I rarely post on here, but Martin brings up some good points about the basic rules of corner working and safety. I wholeheartedly agree that corner workers need to know the basic rules before going out onto the track. I offer the following additional observations, however:

- I agree that if the corner-worker doesn't actually see the car hit the cone, they can't just guess and assign it to the car they think hit it. On the other hand, while it's usually possible to hear the cone as you hit it, with all the debris on the track, it's hard to be sure. I think you've got to take the corner worker's word.

- I agree that the corner workers need to focus on the task at hand. Also focus not just on their own section, but surrounding sections in order to get the flag out in time if there's a problem downstream so to speak. Having 2 people at one corner does run the risk of inattentiveness. However, if a section has several tricky sections and is too large for one person to cover, there should be more than one person there or the corner should be split in two. It should be clear to the two corner workers on that section why they are both there. My section yesterday had two areas on opposite ends that were knocked out consistently. There was no way to cover it all with one person.

- Martin is absolutely right about each corner-worker being out there for the safety, while picking up cones is a secondary responsibity. The corner worker must be the one to make the decision on whether it is safe to pick up a cone before the next car arrives. Yet only a few autocrosses earlier one of the more experienced AX'ers got on the radio and admonished corner workers for not being quick to pick up cones because it was timed runs. We should not pressure the corner workers to do something they think is unsafe. Instead, let them know it is okay to ask Start/Finish to put more space between the cars if there's a consistent problem.

- The Qualcomm parking lot is getting worse: do we have enough brooms to put out at each corner? Or maybe just the ones that will likely have problems? Of course this means that later in the day you may see a need to have more than one person on a bad corner: one to sweep the pothole, and one to chase cones. There was a recent autocross where we did just that. One corner got so bad that reinforcements were sent out to sweep the chunks after every car so timed runs could be completed.

- Martin illustrates the good ettiquete of how to call in cones: first wait until radio is free then call in corner station number, car number, number of cones hit and wait for confirmation from timing. Messages do get lost when more than one person is talking. The corallary to that is to keep the random conversations off the radio. Yesterday there was a conversation on the radio about whether one of the S2000's was supercharged or not. This kind of thing happens at almost every autocross. Often it's not even someone who's working but one of the many club members that keep a radio in the pits. Aside from the fact that this makes it hard to call in cones, it makes it impossible to call in a safety issue.

I've now used up my annual allocation for posting. I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but safety is one thing we can't afford to get wrong while we're out having fun in our cars.
-Jason

[stevemckay]

In my opinon two corner workers are a must during timed runs.Also as Tom said instructors with a student is going to happen usually during at least two run groups.
for the last two years we have struggled at times just to staff a minumn of corners, such as 8 or 9.That in my mindset can create a dangerous situation in that they are to far apart, and therefor are running about over to great of distances.The other side of this is the idea that if do not corner work you do not get a timed run.So if all you are going to do to help is corner work then you are going to corner work ,another reason we use two corner workers.We always seem to lose about half the participants as soon as they get their timed runs.Mark and I try to accomadate as many volunteers and instructors as possible,such as only working one session instead of two.We also try to relive as many tech,registration,a/x chairs cdi's and so on as possible.we also remind every corner change about cell phones and the like at every radio check.On the subject of track conditions,with the conditions as they are, it is a wonder that Jerry and Mark are able to pull this off month after month,my hat is off to them P.S.we always have brooms, cones and what ever else on the truck and one of us is always ready to help with any problems that come up.THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE APPRECIATED.STEVE

[Mike]

or the drivers are going berserk (or it's just Jackie taking her practice runs ). TT

The X factor...
a Leaf racer calling out a 944 racer...

[ttweed]

My section yesterday had two areas on opposite ends that were knocked out consistently. There was no way to cover it all with one person.

If that was the case, then it was a problem with the course design. There should have been two cornerworking stations in that area instead of just one, or two risky/sketchy features were linked too closely together.

TT

[sean_v8_914]

why did we run out of corner workers at teh end of the day?

[JERRY B]

This track was purposely designed to be a tight track, apparently it really tested the skills of some of the drivers, you guys need to learn to improvise, adapt and overcome any track that is thrown at you.