[Dean]

OK, ready for my $.02.

Novice is not broken and does not need to be fixed. We have 2 specific Timing & Scoring related issues with Novice that need to be addressed without creating new ones for registration.

1. Novices change numbers every event which is a nightmare for T&S.
2. Entering names for novices is a nightmare related to issue 1 as well as all the new folks

I think the solution to #1 is to make a bunch of magnetic 1-9s, Rs and Ns and rent or sell them cheap. I think this would fix this issue as even novices have favorite numbers. I think we should do other letters as well and make all the a-holes who have driven all season with crappy or non-existent numbers or classes buy them. This may make a bit more work for Registration up front, but after they get their numbers I think it would actually reduce it since the Ns would register just as other drivers do. No paper to hand out, etc.

For #2, we have discussed pre-adding a bunch of novice numbers to our timing software so they work just don't have names. Announcer could read names off of sheet if time runs out to get them typed in.

On the Novice chief...

It is a great idea, but practicality rears it's head. Myself or one of the 20 or so other people who keep the events running isn't always available to do it.

We need more people willing to do more than just drive and shag cones!!!

We need more trained and qualified T&S people, Bus setup and tear down people, Registration people, Safety Stewards, event chairs, announcers, course setup, tear down folks, etc... before we can staff the Novice chief position. Right now, the same 20 or so people do all those jobs across 4 run groups as well as before and after the run groups.

I tried to do guided course walks and such as time permitted, but if you look at the past few events, I have worked 2-3 run groups in each and for the last two, that was in addition to being the event chair.

So if you think we need a Novice chief, you better already be one of those 20 or so people busting their ass, or better become one of them.

Anyone capable of posting in this forum is likely capable of doing bus setup and tear down as well as T&S jobs with a little training.

Anybody can get out there early or stay and help tear down the course, and the more the merrier!!! (Thanks again to everyone who helped us setup as well as set record times for tear down both days of the last weekend.)


I'll comment on Bumping order, PAX and street tires later.