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We paired up 1st timers with experienced drivers on Sunday. I'd be curious to know how that went. I realize now that we should have done that at the end of the driver's meeting, not in the middle of it.

Thank you to those that volunteered. I'm sure you have some interesting stories to tell us about your "student".

Do tell us though- was this a good idea? bad idea? helpful to them? pain your rear?? fun and enjoyable??

Miles
(headed for a long afternoon nap)

Borderline pain in the rear... We assigned people at random, so it makes things tougher when you have to coordinate between work assignments, running different heats, etc.

I also noticed that the people that are doing everything else also ended up being the volunteers. There are a few people out there that have to run events with other clubs to have a good time *relaxing* at an event.

Scott

That and if that was going to be done, I think it should have done in the Novice meeting. As apposed to the main drivers meeting. It took quite a while to do it. And then the pairs of people were talking to each other and not listening to the info being given out at the drivers meeting for everybody.

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85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
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One thing I found helpful was running around the course with the instructor.

Morning: Student gets a few runs, goes for ride with instructor to see how it's done.

Afternoon: Student goes with instructor first, then goes out to try and improve upon their own runs based on example just set.

I believe that some folks did it that way and some did not; I think it's the superior format for the student.

My "student" was Rick somebody - nice guy - absolute first timer and he arrived late which meant he didn't even get to walk the course completely. He was deeply grateful for the "tutoring". I rode with him on his first two runs while he was still "finding" the course. After the first run I had to explain what a slalom was (which explains his magnificent DNF). I had him ride along with me on my first two runs after that and, ahem, widened his perceptions of how agressive one can be. He thoroughly enjoyed it and even wanted to buy my lunch to show his gratitude.

Since I had done tech I was able to give him the attention he needed without it cutting into my work schedule but I could see it getting a bit rushed if I had to work a normal schedule.

Rick is a success story for the newbie program and, for him, was a good idea. I agree that the absolute novices who would like an experienced partner should be identified in the novice meeting. And maybe we could get some volunteers before the main drivers meeting.

Simon

It could have gone better IMHO. I was "volunteered" by Shawn in front of everybody, and I felt like an ass turning him down b/c I wanted to concentrate on learning how to drive my car (look at the results to see how much I failed at that). I was then subsequently "volunteered" by Chris to drive a novice on course as well. Perhaps it would have been better to ask for volunteers ahead of time so that those individuals would have the time to prepare working with 1st timers.

I realize that I have had a lot of help along the past year from very experienced people, and have to pay that debt back at some time in the future, it's just that yesterday was not that time or place to start.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

I brought my own 1st timer with me (Eric, a friend of Kristin's) and he had a blast from what I could tell. He was driving my new (old) MR2 and did very well for his first time auto-x'ing coupled with driving a totally unfamiliar car. Between jumping in and out of the MR2 for ride alongs with Eric and Kristin, I definitely had my hands full. Many thanks to Rob Lupella for not only allowing me to share his Miata for the event but also riding along with Eric and Kristin when I had to run. A class guy...

And thanks to the various people working grid who had to put up with us jumping around in different cars generally throwing the natural order out of balance.

I think the novice program may need a little tweaking but it seemed to greatly benefit the newcomers I talked with. I agree that the regular folks that are helping run the actual event are probably burdened enough as is but there should be plenty of other people who can lend a hand. I think back to all the help Jim Pastorius gave to Kristin when she first came out and without that, she may not have ever come back. (Thanks again Jim!) While I was more than willing to help her out, she sure wasn't in the mood to listen to anything I had to say...

Jim

i'm with simon...my guy was a complete newbie and hadn't arrived in time to walk the course at all, and no top of that he was in group 1...i had him stage in the B lane and then got him a couple of rides in the A line (thanks Wes for "volunteering").

if it weren't for those runs, the guy would have been LOST, but i think that turned it around for him and he had a good day...i could tell by the big, "wooooohoooooo" as he crossed the line after his 2nd run.

i'm in favor of this but it needs to be run by the novice coordinator (whoever that is) and set up in advance....maybe at registration the newbie could be asked, "hey newbie, do you want an experienced driver to help you out?"...then the list could be given to the novice coordinator before the novice mtg.

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05 MCS

As Scott alluded to, we could improve the effectiveness of the program by making sure that we assign pairs with some pre-thought as to when they are each running/working. Perhaps if they were in the same run group would be a good start.

First thought on this:

(1) ask for volunteers to be "year long instructors"
(2) keep the list at novice table
(3) as newbies and instructors arrive, pair up on paper
(4) post or announce instructor/student pairing list at END of driver's meeting or novice meeting.

Mike <-- I volunteer to be a yearlong instructor in 2005. Can I get a special hat or something?

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

AS one of the novice co-ordinators, I agree with Chris that this is something that could (should) be done at registration for novices. We would have to change the registration process to allow for that as most of the time is taken up in trying to give out numbers, and get people signed up for worker assignments. If it was not for Ann Jagger, we probably would not get any course walks in, or worker assignments done.

That said, on Sunday I tried to search out the novices who were at the school and hitch rides with them to see if I could impart some of my vast.....well large...well...uh..existant storehouse of knowledge to them.

I like the idea of having club members who want to be year-long instructors. This would make it less intimidating for novices to ask someone if they would ride with them or let them ride along on one of their runs. I would volunteer for that too. Maybe we could get cool badges to separate us from the bastards that don't want to help newbies

Jim obviously does not know me I enjoyed riding with both Eric and Kristin, Hopefully I was able to help them improve.

Actually, I think I learned a lot not only from riding in my car (which goes really fast when Jim drives ), but from his tips on set-up and strategy.

This is my first year with the club, and I would like to say that I am GLAD that there was some thought of getting the Novices some help.

I know with my first events with the club last year (Oct in Sanford last year), it was a TOTAL bummer as I did not have a CLUE as to what was going on. If it wasn't the help for some random individuals and nice people, I would have screwed up everything. As it was, I felt AWFUL after that event, and I didn't really ever feel like coming back.

Having said that, a NOVICE orientation and special 'set' of people who are there to help with orientation at each event would help with NOVICE retention and , IMHO, ease a lot of the worries someone has with doing a new event. I think the biggest of these would be working as we saw some 'fun' problems out on course (i.e. Red Flag, people stopping, reversing to hit gates [although legal, it causes lots of fun when they are already slow and then take more time on course]).

I would not mind having a 'group' of people in each class who are available to help, or just a 'set' of people who's job every autoX is to help NOVICEs. The 'group' idea just seems better as getting help from someone already running in your class, or even car, is MUCH more valuable. However, juset getting help whatsoever would be MUCH preferred.

To those who have been doing this forever, I can see the 'patterns' you get into make the day a set schedule. I have tried to bring a few of my friends to events, and trying to get them briefed on every little question + do my runs with them + have them ride along with me + work + get something to eat == frantic event.

So, having something for NOVICEs (which we always seem to have a healthy contingent at every event) I think would be a good thing. It would be nice if they had a resource/tent/place to go with their questions, and people who are available when THEY need them. With a small group of 'NOVICE HELPERS', it should allow the more senior members to do what they are accustomed to, and give the NOVICES a place of refuge and a directed answer to questions instead of 'bugging' members (as some like to answer, some are 'in the zone'.

Being a NOVICE is stressful enough, and knowing who to and not to talk to makes it hard. Having a connection to answers that is not at the bus seems like a great idea.

I think it is even better as people are switching around and it gives an anchor point for the NOVICE so they have one person they are always going to as there are 100+ people out there.

Good suggestion.

- brian

First off, Sorry for picking on you in the drivers meeting Wes, I could see where you might have felt singled out.

Other than that, it sounds like this idea was a good one and the novices got some help from it, the implementation was just a bit clumsy this time. We should probably think it through a little bit and see if we can make it work better.

The only thing I would say is that folks who already have a busy workload shouldn't do this as well. The good news is that this is something that almost anybody can do. Anyone who has run a few events with the club and knows the ropes can help a complete novice. You don't have to be the fastest guy in the club you just have to help them get to grid and work and maybe help them find the course.

Shawn

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OK so I'm back in. Now which tire should I buy??

I will throw my hat in to help with the implementation of a 'NOVICE' setup, if it is deemed needed. This could include things such as:

- eMail to all NOVICES letting them know when we are going to do an EARLY morning course walk, location of the 'NOVICE' tent/fixed location, people who are the NOVICE helpers.

- See how many NOVICEs are pregistered to see how many helpers are needed for that weekend.

- Allow NOVs to take ride alongs and do 'Kevin' co-driver ride along commentary "you're too slow,!! gas, Gas GAS!!!"

- PRINTOUTS of the rules from the rule book so they KNOW what the limitations are for their classes (or at least a visual outline available for them so they LEARN to class themselves).

- NOVICE ONLY Numbers and letter handouts (maybe we can get everyone to always bring their own numbers except for the NOVICI ).

- AVAILABLE free tool and AIR for those NOVs that don't realize they need more than 32 PSI to autoX.

- NOV specific tech so they know what they do and dont need on their cars so Simon isnt tell ing them "What are you doing?!! Get it all out!!! Take those spinnahs off there!!"

I don't know. Those are just some suggestions. I would be more than willing to help. I can't make EVERY event, but having a pool of members to choose from for the event, and the 'work' assignment being working with NOVs all day would be a benifical payoff.

Let me know what is decided. I think there was a CORRECT direction taken at Laurenburg, and I was happy to see it!

For a goal: I would want a NOVICE to come to the event with JUST themselves and the car, feel comfortable and safe the whole time, and feel like they learned something in a FUN environment, and want to come back again and again....

Just my ramblings.

- brian