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Maybe lunch break would have be a good time to go over course working in minute detail. Yesterday there were times when the flag people did not know how to display the red flag, and drivers that didn't know what to do when they saw it. I believe I also heard a course worker asking "if the driver went on the outside of the gate but hit the cone was it a DNF or a cone penalty?", and another time "is a spin a DNF?"
I don't think it would be a bad idea to go over cone penalties and red flag use/reaction at every driver's meeting so there is less likely to be a misunderstanding? I'd be willing to give that presentation each event if you'd like?

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

I posted most of my thoughts in my thank you thread. Again I had a blast and as a participant I thought things ran pretty smooth both days. A few explanations of some of the penalties would have been nice, but all I did was shag cones and let my experienced worker call everything. As a newbie it worked for me.

One thing that I did share on day of and I can't remember when I heard it or even for sure if it was a novice, but whoever was announcing told the driver that they had a DNF and that they "should spend more time to learn the course". Pretty harsh words for some one NEW TO AUTOCROSSING to hear. As the driver you are already grossly overwhelmed, probably pissed off at a DNF and to top it off with a remark like that is well, pretty crappy. It wasn't directed at me, but if it was, I would have talked to the announcer to find out "what gives" and to remind him that he also started out not knowing much about this stuff at one point too.

hopefully Jeb that remark was not directed @ a novice. more than likely that was some friendly cut throat competition coming into play. from what i have seen, announcing entitles some commentary and possibly some strategy to overcome an opponnent within one's class.

Jeb this has already been discussed on the staff forum, it did not go unnoticed, and we will strive to take easier on novices, But as you can tell there's alot of playful bantering going back and forth between drivers, fans of different ACC basketball teams and almost anything and anyone is fair game. While your perfecting your driving skills, developing a thick skin or waxing your back will also be helpful. I quickly found this out last year when I started. Its really meant to be good natured kidding Don't read too much into it.
I also agree with Chuck, since I was the guy outside the gate who hit the cone and was called in as a DNF. Course working is essential for the novices, I'd like to believe that most everyone else is aware of the cone calls

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
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^i'm pretty darn sure i got a DNF called for that as well on my 4th run. I was going to go protest it, but then i realized my time was crap anyway

its my fault for not making sure it was clear in the novice meeting.

This was my first novice school as an instructor or a student. So I do not have anything to compare it too. However, I thought it went perfect. Both my students improved throughout the day, and told me they gained a lot from the school. Most importantly, they also told me several times that they were having a blast!

My only regret is that I didn't take each of them on one run with me driving in the morning. It really seemed to open their eyes when I took them for rides at the end of the day. Not sure if it would have helped, but the main thing I kept telling both of them by the end of the afternoon session was to go faster! I think they finally realized that they could go much faster after the ride with me.

Once again, great event!
Charlie

I was announcing the first heat and there were a couple of novices that DNF'd two runs in a row. I told them over the loudspeaker if they were DNF'ing they might want to get an experienced driver to ride along to help them find the course. I hope that did not get misunderstood. I in know way meant for that to be a crack on their skills.

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No, you're a towel!

I saw a incorrect DNF called on the car in front of me while I was waiting to start on my last run. I got Mitch to call it in as cone and not a DNF. It's usually not a huge deal, since your time is wasted anyway, but it can definitely make you second guess your run.

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In need of car.

Or maybe the instructors who were working the course with the students should've done that. (that was the intention, anyway... thought I made it pretty clear)

i gotta admit, i'm a little fuzzy on this rule as well. if the car nicks the cone and it falls, we all know that is a penalty...if they run directly over it, that's a penalty...but what if they get so out of shape that they are totally on the wrong side of the cone, but they nick it and it falls - is that a penalty or is that a DNF?

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05 MCS

Chris wrote


It is a cone penalty.

ok, thx for the info

btw, there was an event in greenville two years ago, where there was a chicago box that almost brought you down to a stop....i joked that if you just blew right by the box but was able to nick the pointer cone, then you'd actually make up more than the 2 second penalty...i really didn't think you could do that at the time, but now i know

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05 MCS

Truthfully, I have found that even at national events, not all the participants fully understand the cone penalties or use of the red flag, so you may find the blind leading the blind. I heard over the radio 3 competitors called off course at a Pro Solo for going the wrong way around a short wall of laying down cones before I realized what was happening and corrected the worker.
Most clubs do go over the rules at every driver's meeting so there is no misunderstanding or accident. I am willing to do that at each driver's meeting so it is a consistant presentation, I think it is important enough to be presented to the entire event not just to the novices. I'd be willing to wager that Chris is not the only non-novice in the club who didn't know the correct answer.

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