Incorrect Novice Classes

[martinreinhardt]

NOTE: I went over the results and had to correct some X cars which where in Porsche classes and remove drivers who had over 6 events for this event. It's important for drivers and maybe registration to help the drivers to be in the correct classes when they get it wrong.

As for the Novice classes, personally I think they should be eliminated as there seems to be a mass confusion. I corrected the novice class results for this event, but the results for the novice classes for 2011 are incorrect due to misclassifications.

Below is a copy of a clarified version of the rules.

Novice 1 For drivers with any vehicle that would fall into classes A through K, with any level of modification.

A All push-rod 356, 912, 914 1.7 & 1.8
C 914 2.0, 912E, 924
F All 4-Cam 356, ‘65-‘68 911 & 911L 2.0, ‘69-‘71 911E 2.0 & 2.2, ‘68- ‘73 911T 2.0, 2.2, & 2.4
G 944 2.5 & 2.7, 924S 2.5, 924 Turbo 2.0, 944S 2.5
H '67-'69 911S 2.0, '70-'71 911S 2.2, 914-6 2.0, '74 -'77 911 & 911S 2.7, '74-'75 911 Carrera 2.7
I ‘78-‘83 911SC 3.0, ‘72-‘73 911S 2.4, ‘72-‘73 911E 2.4, ‘78-‘84 928 & 928S
J ‘84-‘89 911 Carrera 3.2, ‘86-‘88 944 Turbo 2.5, ‘85-‘86 928S, ‘89-‘91 944S2 3.0
K ’76-’77 930 Turbo, ‘87-‘95 928 (all), ‘88 944 Turbo S, ‘89 944 Turbo, 968, ‘89-‘94 964 2&4, 964 Speedster, 964 American Roadster, 964 RS America, 964 Turbo look

Novice 2 For drivers with any vehicle that would fall into classes L through N, with any level of modification.

L ’97-’04 986 Boxster
M ’00-’04 986 Boxster S, ’05-On 987 Boxster, Cayman
N ’05-On 987 Boxster S, Cayman S, Boxster Spyder, Cayman R

Novice 3 For drivers with any vehicle that would fall into classes O through R, with any level of modification.

O ‘78-’92 930 & 911 Turbo, 993 2&4, 993 C2S, 993 C4S,’99-’01 996
P ’02-‘04 996, 996 C4S, 997 Q 1994 911 Turbo, 993 Turbo, 996 Turbo , 997 C2S, 997 C4S, 997 Turbo & Turbo S, 997 GTS, 997 Speedster
R 996 GT2, 996 GT3, 997 GT2 & GT2 RS, 997 GT3 & GT3 RS

These classes are for novice drivers (in Autocross only). Therefore these classes are only for drivers with no performance driving experience within the last five years. Drivers are only eligible to participate in these classes for their first 6 events, after which they will be required to move to the correct class for their car. Moving to the correct class prematurely does not extend this number. Drivers and vehicles in all event types (AX, DE, TT) are required to have all necessary safety equipment as required for their level of modification.

[tb911]

the 2012 rules only have one novice class
so the confusion novices have over which class to register in will be going away next year.

In the meantime
993, 996 & 997 and almost all 911 Turbo belong in Novice 3
Boxster & Cayman in Novice 2
Everything else in Novice 1

[carnitasboy]

Just a question on the BRI stats and novices. Why are the BRI stats for novices so skewed? I was sharing a car with my buddy in the *** class and his BRI was much better. And I was even faster than him! I don't really care, yet, just curious. Thanks. P

[tb911]

Because the Novice classes have so many different models lumped into one class, it doesn't really make sense to have a BRI number for them. The BRI is about attempting to equalize the classes mathematically -- This really isn't possible with a class that has so much variation with in it.

[ttweed]

The X class is in the same boat and has the same impossibly high BRI of 3.000, since it may consist of cars from a Ferrari to a Toyota Corolla. There is no way to assign a single accurate index to the class, so they are essentially removed from that "unofficial" competition.

It is also a way to encourage people to leave the novice classes as soon as they are capable of driving solo. If you beat your buddy on raw time, maybe you should be in AS/S and not running in Novice? It is not mandatory that you run in Novice for any certain number of events--if you have enough performance driving experience to be safe on course, you may ask the CDIs for a check-out ride and be able to enter the open class at your first event with us, or the second or third, depending on your skills and learning curve, or comfort level. That is actually preferable, as it frees up an instructor for someone else who actually needs one, and increases the competition field in the open classes.

Besides each class consisting of a wide range of car types with different relative speed potential, novices can also have their instructors ride with them in timed runs, which is not exactly a level playing field for competition. Despite the weight disadvantage of having a passenger in the car, I have had many students who ran laps 2-3 seconds faster with me in the car coaching them around the course than when driving alone. The Novice classes are really designed just for complete beginners who are not comfortable driving on their own, and don't want to be compared to the experienced drivers. We didn't even have them when I started driving, and if we had, I would have left the Novice class as soon as I could and started chasing the faster drivers. If you had been entered in AS/S instead of Novice, you would have won that class and placed 50th out of 108 drivers on the BRI, quite a respectable result for someone with only 3 events in our records (if I have correctly guessed your identity from the clues you have given).


HTH,
TT

[NickP]

I'm curious about the classification system as well. Yesterday was my 4 th AX and it was my son's first. Our results were listed in the CSS class (stock 914) but shouldn't we have been in Novice 1? I dont care about points, I'm still just getting my feet wet here. We had a terrific time and I'd like to thank Don Middleton for instructing my son. It's great having a shared hobby with a son or daughter where you can spend some time together.

Nick

[Mmagus]

I'm curious about the classification system as well. Yesterday was my 4 th AX and it was my son's first. Our results were listed in the CSS class (stock 914) but shouldn't we have been in Novice 1? I dont care about points, I'm still just getting my feet wet here. We had a terrific time and I'd like to thank Don Middleton for instructing my son. It's great having a shared hobby with a son or daughter where you can spend some time together.

Nick

Hi Nick,

You could have been in either, its really your choice. Either way works just fine. When I started I never went the Novice Class route and personally I prefer that method feeling that its good to see how you do against similar cars right away. I wasn't worried about points either...that particular addictions comes later! Glad you both had a good time!

Mark
AX Whippingboy

[Don Middleton]

I'm curious about the classification system as well. Yesterday was my 4 th AX and it was my son's first. Our results were listed in the CSS class (stock 914) but shouldn't we have been in Novice 1? I dont care about points, I'm still just getting my feet wet here. We had a terrific time and I'd like to thank Don Middleton for instructing my son. It's great having a shared hobby with a son or daughter where you can spend some time together.

Nick, I enjoyed working with Matthew. In his first AX, he was a bit tentative. I wasn't sure if he learning the car, or protecting the car. Either way, it didn't seem like his first event was the time to push him. I see you got him on time by a half second. He improved dramatically throughout the day, so I'm sure he'll get you the next time out. No worries, it's the natural order of things and only a matter of time before he's showing you how it's done.

You are spot on with AX as a shared hobby. There's no greater father-son/daughter event for car guys/gals than a fun AX. Hope to see you out there again. Tell Matthew to bring his "heavy" right foot for the next one

[abrahim zaidi]

I hope Don Middleton doesn't bond with his son at any more events!

On a serious note, Don's a great instructor, he was having car trouble at willow springs and still gave me his full attention throughout the day; if it was me I'd have been raging and foaming at the mouth.

Even after a year I'm still amazed by all the motivated and talented instructors at pca sdr.

[NickP]

Thanks Don; I read your reply to my wife and she was happy to here that her son didn't have a heavy foot on his first time out! I know it will be no time at all till his times are much better than mine and he will be giving me advice on how to improve. I went through a similar experience with both my kids when they learned to snowboard. I was the best snowboarder in the family for exactly one season. Now I'm just getting older and I'm frequently following their line down the hill.

Matthew and I will attend as many AX events this summer before he returns to UCSB in the fall. I was very pleased with how our 914 performed, I believe it will be a good car for him to learn with. It's bone stock for now, but I anticipate we will begin improving the car as we go. That process will be part of the fun for us to share as well. Thanks again,

Nick

[carnitasboy]

Ok. Got it. The BRI is based off of class and not the cars. That makes sense. Thanks for responses. I do plan on leaving the novice class and entering the AS class. Then I can beat my buddy AND get points!!!