Why aren't you autocrossing? A chance to say why.

[ttweed]

I did recently run across an old member on a 914 forum who was very bitter at the SD crowd and somehow felt he'd been wronged although he'd offer no details as to why...

Let me guess...his initials are M.Z. maybe, and thought our tech inspection was too strict?

[Kim Crosser]

Or maybe:
The guy last year that said a few swear words to us and drove off when he found out that if he didn't show for corner working, he wouldn't be allowed to drive?
The guy who showed up a half-hour after tech closed and then harangued a CDI even as the CDI was allowing him to get tech'ed?
One of the drivers who failed to rein it in after numerous spins and got chastised for unsafe driving?
One of the folks blasting through pit road (or the pits) who had to be reminded to slow down?
One of the folks who disagreed with Stadium policies on noise and can't understand why we won't allow loud cars?
One of the folks who disagreed with PCA National/Zone 8 rules and can't understand why we won't ignore them?

There will always be some people who will find something they don't like about our events. I think the vast majority of attendees enjoy our AX events and understand why we have some limitations on what we can do.

[jenniferreinhardt]

-Been waiting for a chance to use that smiley stolen from Dan A. Hope our forum threads of dramatic opinions and suggestions initiate some positive changes for the club.

[harnishclan]

I actually really want to autocross, but...

I now own a business (veterinary practice) which happens to be really busy on Saturday, which does not allow me to play.

and...

I never seem to have the time to finish all the last little details of the car from my very bad streak of not finishing three events in a row. (refer back to item 1 here).

[blakebastain]

I love AXing. Love it. Have made excellent new friends, learned so much about my car (and myself), and plan on continuing to make the drive down from Bakersfield every time there's an event. Having made the leap (or did Jackie shove me off a cliff?) to being an instructor has even taught me a few tricks I plan to being into my classroom.

Here's something from my classroom I'll bring to the AX track. It's called "transparency in education." The idea is that everyone knows what's going on.

I wouldn't mind seeing a few changes to AX set-up and tear down. Having a large posted schedule of what needs to happen and when it needs to happen in the morning (the kind of thing that everyone can see and anyone can understand) would help us have the track go hot right at 9. You can tear the covers off "make your own cover" binders and provide a quick 'cheat sheet' to leave at the corners for basic rules and the proper format for calling in cones during timed runs. And having a "load plan" for the trailer--tables strapped in to make boxes for cones, and then what, and then what and then what--would get everything cleaned-up and put away faster at the end of the day.

I wouldn't mind run sessions of 6-6-4, and I think we could do it if everyone knew better what to do and when and how to do it.

[JERRY B]

What we really need is a Equipment Chair to do all those things, We started At exactly 9:00 am per stadium rules, At the last event, Blake for EQ chair.
Track breakup was a problem for most of the day.
No other club even does 14 laps, So I dont think that is a problem

[gocart]

I second the nomination.

Blake for equipment chair!

[stevemckay]

QUICK GET HIM SIGNED UP ALSO AS YOU KNOW WE CONSTATLY GO OVER THE CORNER WORK GUIDE LINES EVERY A/X.I THINK THAT TO MANY PEOPLE EITHER FORGET THE PROCESS OR MAY BE TO TIRED BY THE END OF THE DAY.IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE TREATED AS WE WERE THE ONES DRIVING WHEN WE ARE CORNER WORKING MARK AND I ARE CONSTANTLY BEING VIGALENT ABOUT REMINDING EVERY ONE OF THE TASK AT HAND

[Bob Gagnon]

Last time I autocrossed, I recall after doing corner working with my student, driving practice runs with my student, doing my practice runs, doing my corner working during timed runs (and having to run to pick up every cone quickly), and then doing my timed runs (and missing lunch) I was so tired, hungry and thirsty, I just threw my stuff in the car and drove home for a shower and a nap before dinner. I don't think I could have walked another inch after timed runs, let alone pick up the track. Old age has its issues I guess.

[Don Middleton]

...You can tear the covers off "make your own cover" binders and provide a quick 'cheat sheet' to leave at the corners for basic rules and the proper format for calling in cones during timed runs. And having a "load plan" for the trailer--tables strapped in to make boxes for cones, and then what, and then what and then what...

That's the spirit, Blake, but there is a plan/process for loading the trailer. Dan Chambers and Monica did the last one several years ago. Sounds like it has gone missing.

[blakebastain]

I don't mind organizing a few of the intellectual pursuits, but I can't be EQ. If this were an HBO series, I'd say, "Winter is coming," but in reality, "School starts in three days." My plate is about to get over-full over-quick.

And I know we we got started right at 9 last time, which was awesome. Wouldn't it be great if we had a few simple procedures in place to make sure that happens every time? I've already got the "Corner Working 101" cheat sheet typed and formatted. Send me an e-mail and I'll send you a copy.

blakebastain@gmail.com

I know there's a very small (one-page) 'load plan' that I used to see, but I haven't seen it in a while. I'd be more than happy to work up the next one, next time we load and unload the trailer, although I would love some input and direction from those who've done it before.

[JERRY B]

CORRECT ME IF i'M WRONG BUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THE LATEST WE STARTED WAS 9:15



.

[RETII]

Hey Jerry as they say "You can lead them to water but can't make them drink"

[Bob Gagnon]

CORRECT ME IF i'M WRONG BUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THE LATEST WE STARTED WAS 9:15



.

That may be true, but I know I have been standing at the driver's meetings running late listening to many announcements about things unrelated to autocross, including someone once announcing and discussing that his car was for sale - then starting after 9 am.

[stevemckay]

For those of you who are instructors and have been away for awhile, since I have been corner chair I have for the most part eliminated the double stint corner working.It makes my day a bit more challenging, but I believe as an instructor you become a type of chair person or a/x volunteer,so I try to limit corner duties as much as possible.The extra unnecciessary announcements often end up taking up time that could be better used for corner work instruction