2009 Season Review, Good, bad and the ugly Options

[midship]

SASC 2009 season comes to a close. We would like to hear from all competitor with we do good, bad and ugly?

I have to thank all of you make this short season an enjoyable one with mother nature co-operating. From setting up the event to packing up, everyone was chipping in their effort. Thank you for that! All the competitor did a splendid job of keeping their exhaust noises to a minimum which we didn't have to pull out our sound meter policing, and have to turn people away. Thanks Matt and the "towing" team for moving cars in the morning. We definitely need you if we run at this venue in the future! All in all, I think the season although a short but sweet. Also kudo to all the works our board members has done to secure venue, insurance, admin and organizing the SoloPro school!

Last but not least, Murray for taking up the challenge for scoring with the incomplete log files. Its fun wasn't it?


This will give us/future committee as references to improve upon. You can make your comment in the following categories. Thank you for your input in advance!


1. Event Organization (format, registration process )
2. Fun factor
3. Course design
4. Safety
5. Others?


Q: If there is 1 thing you want to change what would it be?

[Murray Peterson]

...
Last but not least, Murray for taking up the challenge for scoring with the incomplete log files. Its fun wasn't it?

Oh yeah -- loads of fun...

1. Event Organization (format, registration process )
Registration was a bit "sloppy" -- we always had some incorrect car classes, rookie standings, street tires, etc.

2. Fun factor
Awesome! Too bad computer/timing issues kept us from getting more runs.

3. Course design
The final day's courses were the best -- short and fast but still challenging. I didn't expect to like the shorter courses, but they worked so well for getting people through in a hurry. It was nice to have each heat get through in a short time period. If it wasn't for the computer, we would have managed fun runs!

4. Safety
Only two things I was concerned about. The elimination challenge had marshals running out and back because of the 1 run changeover and didn't feel safe. The courses with multiple laps needed utmost care -- we almost had a collision at one event when a competitor decided to go for a 3rd lap.

5. Others?
Computer/timing glitches -- what else? No fun for people waiting to run, nor for the scoring agonies after the event.

Q: If there is 1 thing you want to change what would it be?

Sorry, but I have to mention more than one thing:
1. More formal registration at the event -- really work at getting that data correct
2. Fix timing glitches! (upgrade timing software or switch to pure battery power or both)
3. Self tech and/or season tech for experienced members

[Sugarphreak]

Great year, I am pretty happy I was able to come to every event. I learned a LOT this year and a big part of that is having a club with people that take the time to help you out and enourage you at the events. I wanted to give a big thanks to you guys for putting in all the hard work to make them happen, there must be a lot going on behind the scenes to make them run this smoothly.

1. Event Organization (format, registration process )

I would say this aspect of the club is very good, there doesn't seem to be any hicups with the registration at all. The only thing I saw popping up once in a while is the errors with who is running R's and who isn't.

2. Fun factor

My experence with this club has been pretty good, I enjoy that the emphasis is on fun but still allows for a little bit of competitiveness too! Fun Factor gets top points, don't change anything!

3. Course design

I enjoyed the course design, the only one I had a tough time with was events #5 & #6... but that would have been more to do with the driver than the course

4. Safety

Overall I would say safety is pretty good, we did have some issues with people crossing into the area on some of the earlier events but with more attention to where we put the barriers that seemed to have been resolved.

One thing I wanted to mention is that yesterday when we did the "ellimination" challange that was pretty scary; I saw several close calls... and once very close one. I even had to ease up on the throttle a bit coming into the first couple of gates because I spotted somebody sprinting accross the course. I don't think in the future Marshalls should be switching out from thier stations when the course is hot like that unless we structure it so we can hold the cars while maybe 10 people at a time come out.

5. Others?

Timing equipment delays... I will leave this one there. It can be a hot lonely place on the course as a Marshall when you are waiting!

I was also thinking we could pick up some cheap patio umbrella's and heavy bases for the marshall stations to help shade people so they don't get heat stroke. This year it wasn't too hot, but even then I was feeling the affects a few times. I did see more than a few hand held umbrellas out there this time, but they are hard to run with and if the wind catches it a bit it could fly into the course and be a bit dangerous.

I spotted some big ones at JYSK for 7$ each, I could grab a few and donate them to the club if you guys think it is a good idea.

Q: If there is 1 thing you want to change what would it be?

I enjoyed the ellimination challange, the only thing I wouldn't mind is if we could get started a bit earlier so we could squeeze some fun runs in near the end of the day.

[samol_hok]

event organization 8/10
fun factor 10/10
course design 10/10
safety 10/10 (not counting elimination)

in new to autocross this year
only thing i would change would be....... my tires lol
jk jk imo it was good

[oldskier]

Awesome events guys. I am very new to autocross but after several years of running ski races, I must say that you guys do a great job to get us as many runs as possible, always an important thing in both sports.
I look forward to next year.

Cheers

Geoff McMillan
Black wrx wagon

[ocrat]

Class act.
Learn lots, hopefully a better driver today than before I started.
Looking forward to next year.

1. Event Organization (format, registration process ) 9/10
2. Fun factor 10/10
3. Course design 10/10
4. Safety 8/10
5. Others?
- Love the Grey Eagle venue.
- Darn, this sport is expensive! : )

Q: If there is 1 thing you want to change what would it be?
Timing equipment.
I have some ideas on possible improvement perhaps using harden industrial technology (non-pc based).
Ambrose or Reijo, drop me an email when you guys have sometime to meet to discuss.

George
CR guy

[ocrat]

Thanks to all the organizers and many volunteers.
Great bunch of guys and gals.

[randedge]

If there are any changes I would like to see, it would have to be more events. But of course I guess we're just limited by venue.