YOU should be an Event Chair!

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 12:16 pm

Event Chairing! What is it all about? Why should you do it?

Being an Event Chair for an autocross means a few things:

You show up the day before the event (usually Saturday for a Sunday event).
You work with the event staff to design the course.
You get to test (read: drive at speed) the course as required to ensure a safe and fun course.
You get to design the artwork for one of our famous dash plaques used for souvenir magnets and trophies at the event (perfect chance to poke some fun, show off your comedic and/or artistic talent. NOTE: Photos of pets are not allowed on dash plaques.)
You can chair an event by yourself or with a friend if you like.

WHY should you be an Event Chair? Besides getting to design a sweet dash plaque and awesome autocross course?

You get FREE entry to the event.
You do not have to work the course during the event (since you worked the previous day to create the course).
You will get lots of praise from attendees for your awesome course. In fact, no Event Chair in the history of the club has ever received negative comments about their course!
Okay, that last one may not be entirely true, but you can't please everyone and the vast majority of folks truly do appreciate your work! (if anyone complains, inform them that they are welcome to chair the next event)
Having a verity of folks chairing events helps keep our autocross program fresh and new, and reduces the burden on our core staff and officers to design courses at every event.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Chairing an event is fun!

So, you want to Chair an event?

If you have been to several THSCC autocrosses and understand how they work, congratulations! You are qualified to chair an event!
If it is your first time Chairing, don't worry, there will be experienced folks there to help guide you in your course design, and make sure that you don't add 18 pivot cones or set up a 105 MPH straightaway.
There are many approaches for designing a course. Some people like to use protractors, rulers, and satellite maps to come up with a detailed course months in advance; others like to show up and throw cones out on the fly. The only goals are that it should be fun and safe. Here is a great resource for course building written by the Houston Region SCCA: Solo Course Design Handbook (PDF)

Okay, you are going to Chair an event, what is the next step?

Find an upcoming event that you know you will be able to attend (and show up the day before).
Contact an Autocross VP by sending them a PM, or better yet, emailing the autocross team at autocross@thscc.com.
Be sure to design and submit your dash plaque artwork in time to be printed and ready for the event (usually a few weeks).
Review the Solo Course Design Handbook (PDF) for general guidelines for designing your course.

If you have any questions about Event Chairing, feel free to post them here or ask an officer.

What are you waiting for? Go on, Chair an event! And thanks very much to all future event chairs!

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:43 pm

If Danville makes the schedule in June or July, I'll chair that one.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 6:10 pm

yeah, chairing is on my list as well. See if I can make another "you want fries with that" event =) Ah, the donut at the start of the sweeper in L-burg, man did I take crap for that move, but, some folks actually liked it.....

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 6:15 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

yeah, chairing is on my list as well. See if I can make another "you want fries with that" event =) Ah, the donut at the start of the sweeper in L-burg, man did I take crap for that move, but, some folks actually liked it.....

Hey you called that "thing" an onion back then.

It was actually very challenging to drive a 360 at the limit...too challenging for most not to overdrive it I suppose, but I enjoyed it.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:24 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Hey you called that "thing" an onion ring back then.

FTFY Chuck :thumbsup:

Great post Mr. Prez! I agree, chairing an event is a blast if you have several autocrosses under your belt and no one's going to toss you to the wolves during course design.

Not having to walk & memorize the course on race morning is a glorious thing too. Unless of course you want to get a couple more walks under your belt.

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:29 pm

The onion was a challenge but it was fun too!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:21 pm

oh yeah, it was the onion ring....man, my memory sucks. Good thing I've got you guys around!

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:12 am

If you don't chair I have more cats. Rob Lupella has like 8 dogs now, thats like a whole season of dash plaques.

In all seriousness I'll offer to help with two this year. But only if the other chair hasn't done it before. We need some fresh faces and new ideas are always welcome. I think it would be great if we could pair up newbs and old farts with this Task.

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:28 pm

Rob Keehner wrote:

In all seriousness I'll offer to help with two this year. But only if the other chair hasn't done it before. We need some fresh faces and new ideas are always welcome. I think it would be great if we could pair up newbs and old farts with this Task.

I think working as a team to Chair events is a great idea, especially with an experienced person and someone new to it. :thumbsup:

But, NO MORE DASH PLAQUE CATS!! :soap:

Derek DeLong · **Joined:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:39 am **Posts:** 45

Zach Hill wrote:

Rob Keehner wrote:

In all seriousness I'll offer to help with two this year. But only if the other chair hasn't done it before. We need some fresh faces and new ideas are always welcome. I think it would be great if we could pair up newbs and old farts with this Task.

I think working as a team to Chair events is a great idea, especially with an experienced person and someone new to it. :thumbsup:

But, NO MORE DASH PLAQUE CATS!! :soap:

That is what we have planned for the first event. Dash plaque to come soon, and I am sorry Rob but it is not a cat, at least not yet.

markmerrill · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:21 pm **Posts:** 48

Roberta and I would like to chair the April event. I sent a message to Brice a while ago but haven't heard back yet.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

You're in Mark, sorry. I updated the schedule thread I thought, but didn't reoply to PM, my bad.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:30 pm

Zach Hill wrote:

Rob Keehner wrote:

In all seriousness I'll offer to help with two this year. But only if the other chair hasn't done it before. We need some fresh faces and new ideas are always welcome. I think it would be great if we could pair up newbs and old farts with this Task.

I think working as a team to Chair events is a great idea, especially with an experienced person and someone new to it. :thumbsup:

But, NO MORE DASH PLAQUE CATS!! :soap:

How about this

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:28 pm

I have a pet snake, we could put snakes on one! lol

markmerrill · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:21 pm **Posts:** 48

Rob that looks like a fabulous beginning for a dash plaque.

NP Brice. Thanks for the confirmation. :-)

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