THSCC Forums

Amen!! Just once it would be nice to let Novices make their own observations, opinions, and ideas of how to better imrpove the system.

Btw, The Novice Survey will be going out within a week or two to every person we can find an email address for. That info will be compiled and presented. Right now we have about 8 Novices talking about the season. But we had well over 100 new people try autocross this year.

Come on Novices speak up, we know you're out there.

Regards, The Grumpy Novice Coordinator

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http://www.greywinds.com

Bernies recommendation for the year long novice class.....

1. Continue the year long program (eight autox's)
this allows novices up to eight autox's, if they need to use them,
to become comfortable with autoxing, THSCC, and what class to "graduate" to,

2. Set a limit on the number of trophies positions before moving up to regular classes, and do away with the season long trophy.
My thought is four. This still gives the accomplished novice four events to become comfortable with autoxing, THSCC, and what class to "graduate" to. The season trophy gives the program a finite start and stop point, and does not allow the new novices a point to enter from. So eliminate it.

3. Give out name tags at the gate.
This will identify the novices, as well as the people they need to contact

4. expand the mentor program so 1st time autoxers are guided through work schedules, registering, Grid and work schedule relationship etc.

I still believe that the YL novice class is a good thing but it needs modifications such as the above for flexability to allow continuous enrollment and turn over. Thus preventing the over experienced people at years end.

There are lots of good Ideas out there lets not keep them to ourselves 05 novices. put your two cents in now!!!

Bernie

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

OK, my 2¢ worth.
This has been a great year for us, participating in all 8 events (+ as many others as we could find in NC). I’ve said a number of times how lucky we were to have joined the club in January so we began with the Novice School in March. I’m a proponent of the year long novice class. Even with the school, it took about 3 events to not feel lost with work assignments vs run order, A & B grid, etc., not to mention what to look for while walking the course. Every event now another “light” comes on and I find myself thinking, “cool, I see that now”. I had a great time competing against the other novices and getting to know them. That being said, there probably should be a limit to the number to wins, or trophy placements, a novice can have before “moving up”. I was gaining on the top 5, but just couldn’t quite catch up. Perhaps a limit of 3 or 4 placements, then move on, would be a good thing. Certainly, with the caliber of competition we had in novice this year, if you can trophy 3-4 times, you’ll be no further behind in your next class than you were the first time you drove in novice. Getting in the rearview mirrors of some of our really good seasoned drivers is a great incentive. That’s why I went ahead and moved to Ladies once I had my 6 runs in Novice. I’ve watched the times on these ladies for 6 months now and my goal is to improve enough to catch them.

Amy asked me to take a novice on a course walk in L’burg last Sunday. I’m certain I learned more than he did, just by explaining the course to him. Hummmm. Sounds like schools, schools, schools are a good thing. (Even for the instructors.) I wouldn’t presume to want to instruct a novice in the car, but I’d feel comfortable with the ground work, course walks, etc. There are some great guys in novice all year that would be comfortable with that and more, I’m sure.

So, I think: Novice ‘til you trophy 3-4 times, then move up.
Have as many schools as we can get instructors to do.
Expand the Mentor program to take Newbies by the hand and explain more.

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SCCA Solo Triad Award Recipient 2014
SCCA HSL National Champion 2012
SCCA DSL National Champion 2013
SCCA DSL National Champion 2014
NCR National Driver of the Year 2012
THSCC Heel of the Year 2011
Former Club Secretary
http://www.petscompanioninn.com

Question: Don't you have to be a member to access this forum? How many novices are members? How many novices/members are told about this forum when they join/register? I'd expect the answer to why not too many novice replies reside in the answers. Just a thought...

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

I knew I had forgotten to do something...

I sent out the Novice Survey tonight. I had roughly 80 people who I had email addresses for out of about 105 that have run with us.

This eliminates the forum issues and went to member and non-member alike. If they ran at least one event with us and had a valid email address then they got the survey. The survey covers the YLN and Mentor Program and a few General questions.

The information will be compiled and the responses will be anonymous. The summary will be posted on the forum after it has been sent to the officers.

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com