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Let's see if I can help us reach page 16.
I've always had the sense that our novice retention rate is pretty low. I've thought that for years and years. I haven't taken the time to plow through the numbers, and probably won't, so that is just my sense of things. I remember so many events where we had 20 to 30 novices that it almost seems "typical" to have those numbers. And so many of them were first timers at each event.
I'm guessing, but we must easily have run anywhere from 80 to 150 novices through the club in a single typical season lately. Yet, it seems to me that we are fortunate if we end up with two to five people that actually stick with the sport long term and become core members. And maybe only one or two of those will go on to become officers, event chairs and major supporters. Sometimes, we luck out and get three or four long termers in a single year.. but our rention rate is probably only a few percent. That may just be "normal" for this type of situation.
We have to recognize that may be the case, no matter what program or format we use. Some people try this and just don't like it, for a variety of reasons. Cost, concerns over "beating up their car", "too difficult and confusing", etc., are common reasons people don't stick around. We can't fix those too much. We can help those stay that might quit because they thought we were unfriendly, or they didn't get any help.
Regardless of novice format though, I think efforts like those of our current novice coordinators will make more of a difference than the format. The mentor program is a great idea. I'm sorry to hear that the club as a whole hasn't supported that with the numbers I would have thought we'd get in terms of mentors. That will change in time hopefully.
Every person I know that is currently involved in the club can cite at least one or two or more people that took an interest in them as a novice and helped them out. Were it not for those people, most novices would not have stayed. That, in my opinion, is THE key.
As a novice, I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience, that I just wanted to figure out what to do, where to go, and not get lost on course. Times, results, etc. didn't even matter to me until I'd been at this awhile. And even then, it was as important to me as how far I was from the bottom as I was from the top. I didn't expect to win at this sport from the beginning. I just wanted to do better each time and learn something. If I beat anybody when I was new at this, I was happy! Some experienced guy taught me that in the beginning, all I needed to worry about was improving and learning each time, and not worry about finish position for a long time.
One problem with the trophy and out, or three and out rule, is that if you trophy early, you are forced to go to a class before you even understand classing. You may also be forced into an open class where you have ZERO competitors. I've been there.. and that is a lonely feeling. At least when we created TIR, it became a default place to go if you were new and had no competition in open class. If you want novices and new drivers to feel welcome, they need a class to run in with other cars and drivers in the same class. We still have some classes with no competition or consistent participants. At least a year long Novice class gives people a place to call "home" while they figure out classes, meet people, learn the rules, and so forth.
Concerns about first time novices feeling hopeless about results after their first event if they come into the program in July is understandable. But honestly, I think that view is the way an _experienced_ autocrosser looks at things. I don't think that's the way most novices actually see it. I just don't think the first time autocrosser is obsessed with finish times or classing. He hardly knows what an autocross is, and only a truly arrogant first timer would expect to finish high or win at a new sport on his first try.
The first autocross or two can be a nearly overwhelming experience for many people. It was for me. You guys can argue format til you're blue in the face. I think what matters far more is people in the club with a helpful attitude toward any of the novices that need it.
In contrast to the last statement, when I started this post, I didn't feel strongly one way or the other about the format question. But writing it helped me remember how lost I felt when I was forced to run in a class with no consistent competition. That was not a good feeling when I was new, and it isn't a fun thing even for experienced drivers. And I've never forgotten how much I valued the help of the experienced drivers.
So, now, after this college essay I've inadvertently written, I like the year long novice class. I see problems with it when I examine it with the eyes of an experienced autocrosser. But I see great advantages when I remember what I struggled with as a novice. And isn't that who the class should really please- those that are intended to run in it?
Summary:
I'd say that unless we get significant feedback from the novices that the year long novice class is not working for them, we need to leave it alone.
Regardless of format though, our novice retention efforts can best be improved by having all the regulars pitch in and help the newbies.
Miles
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