SCCAForums.com

I find myself in the status of new event attendee, after taking several years off for car building.  And the event format changed while I was off, so I went looking in the local website for some written information.  I see we are not having driver's meetings now, and everything I read on the website seems to be written from the point of view that the reader is already well acquainted with the ritual of participating in an autocross event, up to the point that the reader is assumed to have participated in one or more events last year and the information is mostly "how things changed since last year" which is not quite my starting point, and definitely not the starting point of a new event participant.

 

This sort of takes me back to the ever popular question from conventions and articles: "How do we get more people introduced to the SCCA and retain more members?"  Our national website starts out with "Some where, some time, you were bit with the bug...", and our regional website assumes you are already well acquainted with the system.  Somebody should be presenting the really basic information like a basic, one sentence explanation of what autocross is, and a really short and simple "Idiots Guide to What Happens on Autocross Sunday" down to the detail of "park your car, get in line to pay, unload your car, get in line for tech, walk the course, etc."  I've only seen this in Henry Watts "Secrets of Solo Racing", which is out of date, not specific to changes in our local program (like no driver's meetings), and it is a little much to expect the general public to go out and buy a book just to satisfy their passing curiosity of "what is autocross, I'm not sure if I want to do this". 

I don't think we can expect the national office and the national website to be the first line of interaction with prospective participants and members.  We can't expect to refer everyone to Topeka for events happening in St. Louis (or anywhere else).  The Region really is the storefront for the national organization, and we really need to be presenting this information if we expect to be able to market our events, which are run on the local level.

That said, this information needs to be presented in a way that our experienced members aren't tripping over or wading through it to get to the event results, schedule, and rules.

 

As far as the idea of not having a driver's meeting...  May I suggest that an abbreviated selection of the basic "Idiot's Guide to Autocross" be presented at the begining of the rookie walk through.  New participants and people who have driven in from other Regions are the people who can most benefit from this information and need to know things like how our events are run differently from other Region's events, the system of lining up in grid, driving the course and returing to grid,  the work and run order, how to determine if a cone is knocked down or not, and how to work a corner safely.

 

Before someone volunteers me to do all of this, I would point out that many people do not like my writing style, dry sense of humor, or use of profanity as punctuation.  I will be more than happy to help.  I think the information is likely already written and just needs to be gathered from corners and compiled in one place.  I also think this might be best done more as a wikipedia style project, so that people can work on it at will and add to the content.

We will be handing out a brief "No Drivers Meeting Flyer" when you check in. Also our Novice Chief will be handling the exact details you have mentioned. That same "No Drivers Meeting" document was posted here I believe. It also has a link on the home page of the www.stlsolo.org page on the left in red. We also have the weekend membership table where new non-members must check in before getting into the registration check-in line so they can fill out the temporary membership forms. The two people who will be taking care of that table have volunteered to meet, greet and discuss the typical event for those who are unfamiliar with our format. We have also posted on the stlsolo pages our typical days schedule.

I'm sure that with all of that that we may miss something but we are trying. And yes some people would say we are very trying at times, me especially. I hope this eases your mind somewhat. By the way, look me up tomorrow so we can chat some more. I very well might be at the gates when you come through since I am the waivers chief and during the early part of the day I spend a lot of time at the gate. I will be wearing a name badge with Waivers Chief on it as well as have my SCCA membership card on a lanyard around my neck.

If you don't see me at the gate I will most likely be somewhere near the RX7 F Prepared wishing we had a heater in it.

Bill Schnardthorst
 

---

Bare Metal Racing -87 RX7 F Prepared

Bill, you don't really think I can NOT volunteer you to do some more work  (I believe you have been helping at almost every event as part of the set up crew for years and not even entering - THANKS for all that work ).

The Rookie Walk Thru does include some of those things, but I don't think all of them.  I love your idea of a "Idiot's Guide to Autocross"!  Nick Jackson, our 2008 Rookie Chief is very interested along with John Schmid in getting people feeling comfortable quickly and may be able to incorporate your ideas into the program. 

I agree that the region should be the first first line of interaction with prospective participants and members.  You are correct when you state The Region really is the storefront for the national organization, and we really need to be presenting this information if we expect to be able to market our events, which are run on the local level.

All that said - send me some ideas for the website. I will not allow you to hide behind your dry sense of humor , I will delete your profanity and and try to fix your punctuation (could be the blind leading the blind). 

A page can be added called "Idiot's Guide to Autocross". 

 Until then - ROOKIES - ASK FOR HELP - PLEASE - walk up to someone state loudly and clearly "I AM A ROOKIE AND I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION" you will get one on one help - I promise! 

---

Janice Rick

www.soloperformance.com
We offer the autocross, track day, road racing, rally and rallycross products you need at the best prices on the internet.
SCCA Logo Merchandise now at
www.sccagear.com

Janice Rick:

ROOKIES - ASK FOR HELP - PLEASE - walk up to someone state loudly and clearly "I AM A ROOKIE AND I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION" you will get one on one help

That's not a lie!  It really does work like that!

---

#12 STS 2007 Scion tC
#24 ITS/DSP 1991 Nissan 240SX

JT191:

 I would point out that many people do not like my writing style, dry sense of humor, or use of profanity as punctuation.  I will be more than happy to help. 

But all of us who have taken the time to get to know you understand.

---

Bryan S.
Autocross semi-sabbitical 2008
Thanks Jan for the 06, 07 Mini co-drive
'91 Miata (STS2 for 09?)
Course Chief
Novice Autocross School Chairman
Support my MS 150 Bike Ride: bikemos.nationalmssociety.org

Hey Bill, let me first say that it was great to see you actually racing yesterday! Hope you had fun?

As far as an idiots guide to getting started, Check out the Novice Guide at www.omrscca.org. When I first got interested in autox last year I found it to be a big help. I have some other ideas also, some of which I have already mentioned elsewhere. For starters I think we should run the Novice School like a regular event. Set up grid, registration, tech etc just like we do at regular events. I think that would be a huge help to keep people from feeling lost at their first event. I know I felt completely lost and overwhelmed at my first couple events. Setting up the Novice School like a mini event would be more work but I think it would be worth it and I've already volunteered to help with this next year.

Another idea I had is starting some kind of mentor program.  Pair newcomers with someone at their first event or two. Someone who could walk them threw all the morning procedures. And ride along with them on their first runs so they can safely and easily get out of grid, threw the course and back into grid. Now I realize all of this help is already there for the asking, but a lot of people are shy or just don't know who to approach. On the other hand, if the mentors all wore say bright (insert color of your choice) shirts with the word mentor on them, then the new people would know exactly who to seek out when they arrive. And it could be a self supporting program after the first year or so. If you got mentored to, then you in turn would be a mentor.

Or maybe I just think too much............ 

---

Mike Webers
91 Civic STS
08 Escape 5-speed
08 Fit
www.powerdownracing.com

Some one from my VW club found this from the Rocky Mountain region.

 

http://www.rmsolo.org/rmsoloschool/index.html

---

Daily Drive?AutoCross 99 VW Jetta GLX 31 DSP, 03 Miata 113CS, 73 Vette EM(for sale) see owner for details
Co-founder of A.D.D. motorsports Circa...Dude your not going to.. What was I doing?

I like all the comments I read and heard.

But I did not have any luck with the link to the rmsolo.org website.  It is not loading for me on Firefox/Netscape or Internet Destroyer with a DSL connection (at long last and lots of loud complaining, AT&T gave in).

I will sit down and try to come up with a step by step list of what goes into a day of autocross.

Part of whatever is put together should definitely explain that everyone works and the amount of time worked may sound long for the amount of time behind the wheel, but this is all in order to provide the most ideal driving circumstances, with the highest level of safety, and that only with everyone pitching in and doing their part do we each get that few minutes of ideal conditions and safety for less than $300+.

Also, my thought behind explaining what goes on at an event is partially to introduce new people and explain what happens, and partially as a cheat sheet for men.  Men don't ask for directions or help.  That's why shopping for men takes seconds, not hours.  We go through the front door, sprint directly to the item we need, grab it, sprint to the checkout, and we are out the door.  If we can't find something, we walk in circles searching and will give up and go home before asking for help, unless the thing we are looking for is life or death.  If we give the male half of our prospective event participants a cheat sheet of what is going to happen, they have that much more confidence.  New participants are already worried with thoughts that someone is going to comment about their car, driving ability, or something else, and while those things won't happen and we are all friendly and helpful, if people show up already knowing some details about what to expect, they transition from new person to experienced return participant more quickly and easily.

Pete W.:

Some one from my VW club found this from the Rocky Mountain region.

 

http://www.rmsolo.org/rmsoloschool/index.html

Or, you could grab it from http://stlsolo.org/Novices/tabid/58/Default.aspx

:)

DaveW

Dave, the SFR FAQ linked from the right side of that page is really close to what I was thinking of:

http://www.sfrscca.com/solo2/faq/auto.htm#102

And this page in particular:

http://www.sfrscca.com/solo2/faq/arr.htm

But more specific to our own Region's system.

The RMSolo link from that page worked for me too. 

JT191:

I will sit down and try to come up with a step by step list of what goes into a day of autocross.

Part of whatever is put together should definitely explain that everyone works and the amount of time worked may sound long for the amount of time behind the wheel, but this is all in order to provide the most ideal driving circumstances, with the highest level of safety, and that only with everyone pitching in and doing their part do we each get that few minutes of ideal conditions and safety for less than $300+.

The next event is both Mother's Day and my father's birthday, so as presents for both of them, I was going to take them out to the track for the day and enter them both in the event.  If you (or anyone else that wants to contribute) is game, I think we could get together and make a video documentary showing "a day at the track" by following them around from the drive there until track clean-up, presenting the premise that "it's so easy, your parents can do it!".  We can use that to create an additional readable blog-ish narration for the novice page, which I think would be the best way to present information to someone looking at joining.  It was frustrating how, despite reading everything on the novice page and being active on the forums, I still had no idea exactly what I should have been doing at the first event.  And reading about what should be done and how it should be done really would have been a great benefit to me.

---

#12 STS 2007 Scion tC
#24 ITS/DSP 1991 Nissan 240SX

OK, I'll try to take some notes on the chronology of next Sunday.  If we merge three or four different people's activities, we should have a pretty good representation of what happens for most of the various worker assignments.

Didn't they predict 50 degrees and rain?  That sounds a little warm for race Sunday.  If it's raining, I'm not shooting video. 

My name is John Schmid.  I am working hard to get participants comfortable with the process at Gateway.  At the next event, if I can be of any help please let me know.  I can usually be found with my wife Mirna under a white tent near registration prior to racing. And before anyone else says it, I am usually wearing a blue shirt with an STI logo on it....

 

Thanks,

John Schmid

---

SEA RAY - it's not just a boat, it's a way of life!!!

Who stickied this?  Somebody wants to put pressure on me...

 

OK, I spent the better part of the last two days trying to find pavement that was less than ankle deep in water, seriously considering having surgery to add gills, and trying to figure out what class an amphicar would be in.

 

Let's see if there is slightly less water for the next event and work on the video and written portion of the idiots guide to autocrossing in St. Louis at that time.

Chris D:

The next event is both Mother's Day and my father's birthday, so as presents for both of them, I was going to take them out to the track for the day and enter them both in the event.  If you (or anyone else that wants to contribute) is game, I think we could get together and make a video documentary showing "a day at the track" by following them around from the drive there until track clean-up, presenting the premise that "it's so easy, your parents can do it!".

 

OK, I have my camera batteries charged up and ready to go, and a couple blank video cassettes. Are we shooting this story line Sunday?