Run group/heat wheel to help noobs

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

Relating to my complaint of confusing when I had to report to work, I am volunteering to fabricate a board to indicate what heat and grid we are on. It will simply indicate what heat we are on (1-4) and what grid we are currently on. I saw something like this at some point, I SWEAR it was at a tarheel event, but maybe I'm wrong. Does this wheel still exist, or should I make one for Sanford? Just let me know, any suggestions of additional information to include would be welcome, just keep in mind, I want to keep the construction cost on this to a minimum, considering I'll be doing it out of pocket.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 10:48 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Relating to my complaint of confusing when I had to report to work, I am volunteering to fabricate a board to indicate what heat and grid we are on. It will simply indicate what heat we are on (1-4) and what grid we are currently on. I saw something like this at some point, I SWEAR it was at a tarheel event, but maybe I'm wrong. Does this wheel still exist, or should I make one for Sanford? Just let me know, any suggestions of additional information to include would be welcome, just keep in mind, I want to keep the construction cost on this to a minimum, considering I'll be doing it out of pocket.

This was at a Triad event, I've seen it. I can't wait to see how big this will be to be seen from the pits in Laurinburg. A billboard comes to mind.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

BriceJohnson wrote:

Relating to my complaint of confusing when I had to report to work, I am volunteering to fabricate a board to indicate what heat and grid we are on. It will simply indicate what heat we are on (1-4) and what grid we are currently on. I saw something like this at some point, I SWEAR it was at a tarheel event, but maybe I'm wrong. Does this wheel still exist, or should I make one for Sanford? Just let me know, any suggestions of additional information to include would be welcome, just keep in mind, I want to keep the construction cost on this to a minimum, considering I'll be doing it out of pocket.

I saw the wheel at the Triad-hosted NCAC last year.

EDIT: crap, beat out by a miata driver once again...

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

its not gonna be huge, the Triad one was maybe 2.5 feet in diameter. Its just supposed to be something that we can put near the bus so you can walk up there and very quickly determine what heat/grid you are on without knowing what the run groups are and which class is in which and not have to ask someone in the bus.

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

thats a pretty good idea. i often wonder where the heck we are heat/group wise

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 11:23 am

The Triad also runs a siren when it's time to "stage" the course workers they are all sent out at about the same time after they stage at the sound of the siren they also work two shifts.. Its the siren that collects the workers... they still have issues with folks comming late and not hearing the siren...

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 11:29 am

Bernie Baake wrote:

The Triad also runs a siren when it's time to "stage" the course workers they are all sent out at about the same time after they stage at the sound of the siren they also work two shifts.. Its the siren that collects the workers... they still have issues with folks comming late and not hearing the siren...

IMO, even if we gave people those light-up, vibrating pager thingys (like restaurants use) some people would still show up late for their work assignment.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Possibly an alternate suggestion to the message board thing:

Attach big "A" and "B" orange flags to the "A" and "B" signs on a 12' high springy pole that can be folded under the sign and attached with clips. Attach "1" "2" orange flags to the A sign and "3" "4" to B. Grid worker pops up the current run group flag and takes stows the old one.

Then again maybe we're trying to solve a problem that really isn't a big deal... And visibility of the flags would be dependent on how close pits are to grid. And a lot of people wouldn't pay attention anyways. And it's just as easy to look at the cars in grid and figure it out...

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

MikeWhitney wrote:

Possibly an alternate suggestion to the message board thing:

Attach big "A" and "B" orange flags to the "A" and "B" signs on a 12' high springy pole that can be folded under the sign and attached with clips. Attach "1" "2" orange flags to the A sign and "3" "4" to B. Grid worker pops up the current run group flag and takes stows the old one.

Then again maybe we're trying to solve a problem that really isn't a big deal... And visibility of the flags would be dependent on how close pits are to grid. And a lot of people wouldn't pay attention anyways. And it's just as easy to look at the cars in grid and figure it out...

The problem doesn't lie with the many, it's with the few. Neither a siren, system of flags, message flown behind a Cessna, semaphore, Indian smoke signals nor anything short of an electric dog obedience collar will work in these cases. I believe that we're discussing options that will be ignored by those that enjoy living their lives in such ignorance. It would be a lot easier if people just paid attention during the drivers' meeting (which by the looks of things wasn't attended by everyone yesterday).

RobLupella · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 12:28 pm

How about making it like a big worker roulette wheel. Put work assignments on it, heats and big LEDs and flashing lights and everyone's name. It can be mounted on the roof of the trailer and spun so the lights go on and blink to get everyone's attention. The announcer can then read off the name and station.

"John Q Racer, you are the next worker chosen by the Wheel of Worker Fortune. You are to go to....click.....click...click...station 6 now"
:wink:

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 12:33 pm

Thus far I'm finding that the reason the majority of poeple come late is:
#1 Not listening or understanding the at the drivers meeting
#2 I was driving in the B group, see #1
#3 I was working on my car
As Wes said nothing is going to change that, unless there's a penalty for tardiness ie. lose you best time, get punched in the stomach, etc.

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

MikeWhitney wrote:

Possibly an alternate suggestion to the message board thing:
And it's just as easy to look at the cars in grid and figure it out...

you're not getting me, it requires you to know what cars are in what heats. Yes you say it in the driver's meeting, but people usually only note what run THEY are in when given that information, you've been doing it for forever, so you know where STS runs and where SM runs etc. I don't, and to expect novices to remember where every class runs just from having heard it in the drivers meeting is a little unreasonable.

I never said it was something that had to be visible from the pits, just something to put near the bus, since people get so ornery when I ask what heat we are on, not to mention I'll get two different answers if I ask two people.

And wes and rob and bernie, please don't bother making any more suggestions, your sarcasm isn't helping nor is it appreciated. You clearly have an axe to grind and a misunderstanding of what its like to be a novice at these events. All you've done is make me realize that I'd be wasting my effort to build something that nobody would appreciate. Luckily for the rest of us (I have had several positive responses to the idea), I'm ignoring you. I'm interested in making this club friendly to new people, you clearly would rather just have all the people you know show up and nobody else.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 12:47 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

And wes and rob and bernie, please don't bother making any more suggestions, your sarcasm isn't helping nor is it appreciated. You clearly have an axe to grind and a misunderstanding of what its like to be a novice at these events.

Yep, you've got it. Wes, Rob, and Bernie were never Novices. They don't understand a thing. :roll:

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

BriceJohnson wrote:

And wes and rob and bernie, please don't bother making any more suggestions, your sarcasm isn't helping nor is it appreciated.

You know what really grinds my gears? It's when the truth rears its ugly head and isn't appreciated. I'm not against one making the board nor am I unwilling to answer any question at events when asked. And as far as Bernie and myself being extremely seasoned veterans, that makes me giggle a little bit.

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

NEver mind, please close this thread, no such board will be made (at least not by me), I'm sorry I brought it up, I won't ever complain about a THSCC autocross again, I certainly don't want to have to go through all this lecturing again. . .

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Run group/heat wheel to help noobs

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