Sunday 18 Dec 2011

[JTEC]

OK, I am not very pleased with how things worked yesterday:

The day took way too long to complete by at least and hour to an hour and half.  We have drivers not getting to the drivers stand in a timely manner, still working on their gear.  Changing transponders (to include personal ones different than what you ran the time before.), grabbing the wrong transponder from the charging rack. Not grabbing the transponder that is assigned to you on the sheet.  Every time this or that happens it slows the race down for everybody else to make computer changes to the race.  Drivers not listening to the race director for checking in vehicles and drivers taking victory laps. Everyone has the same amount of time to make it to the track.  The computer has a timing system built into the start and then the races start automatically and from now on it will be the timer for all races.  No more adding time to the computer over and over because you can't make it to the drivers stand or marshalling area.  The buzzer goes off the track is hot.  No more waiting to make it to the drivers stand or to your marshalling spot.  If you are not on the stand you are losing laps, and if you are not at your Marshaling spot you will be docked lap (s) in your main.

I do not know why everything was so hard yesterday.  I will take the responsibility for all the problems yesterday when it comes to the race schedule and getting everyone moving.  We will not have that problem anymore.  Also I will have Alex come in earlier than 10:30 so he can make it to work on time.  This started us off 7 minutes late on the day getting everyone signed up.  I hate that!!!

I should not of put the 18th Scale LM drivers that were left in the B Main after Mike left having the BQ.  The drivers that were left were at least 12 to 15 laps slower than the drivers in the A Main.  That was my fault and that will not happen again.  I apologize to the other drivers, it’s hard to drive with that much lap traffic.

I’ll take the hit for that as well.


Drivers not helping to change the track around.  This is crazy everyone has to drive on the track.  The oval guys can’t drive over the jumps help take them off.  Off road guys want the jumps on the track, help put them on.  And last but not least the road course drivers don’t want to run on an oval, and  they do not want jumps.  There you go everyone can help with the track changes, instead of a little girl (10) on the track by herself picking up the jumps.  When we had drivers in the pits waiting for her to change the entire track.   That was sad.

If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know.  We will run a tighter program at the next race.  Guaranteed!!!!!

[Lonestar]

IMHO   I don't mind " helping out" but when guys run 4,5,or maybe even 6 classes, and they r all in a row, they marshal 1 time when they r done with there last race! I come over to race , not volunteer marshal all day because guys wanna run  several classes ! Maybe if they had to start paying for some more classes the hobby shop would benefit more ! I think the third class free thing is great but  it should start over again with the fourth class at 12 bucks 5 at 8 !! I was at the hobby shop for 9 hrs  and raced for 15 min. Max!!  Until that greatly improves  count me out!  I have an 8 year old that won't even come over there to race because of the amount of time it takes!!  Maybe try two race days  an oval day  and a off road road course day!  But it will ruin the track if it continues to "last so long". BUT this is just my opion!

[racecar21]

IMHO   I don't mind " helping out" but when guys run 4,5,or maybe even 6 classes, and they r all in a row, they marshal 1 time when they r done with there last race! I come over to race , not volunteer marshal all day because guys wanna run  several classes ! Maybe if they had to start paying for some more classes the hobby shop would benefit more ! I think the third class free thing is great but  it should start over again with the fourth class at 12 bucks 5 at 8 !! I was at the hobby shop for 9 hrs  and raced for 15 min. Max!!  Until that greatly improves  count me out!  I have an 8 year old that won't even come over there to race because of the amount of time it takes!!  Maybe try two race days  an oval day  and a off road road course day!  But it will ruin the track if it continues to "last so long". BUT this is just my opion!

True story right there!!
Maybe you shouldn't try to race so many classes yourself donnie, you spent as much time messin with your cars between rounds witch kinda held up the show also. The oval one day and road course stuff another is a good idea i think. I like the big fast track but i'm not hanging around 9 hrs to run for 15 min. It kinda ticked me off i hung around ALL day to break in the main.

[slowpoke]

I agree with the timer starting the race automaticaly as it does not care who is not ready, but.......
I think there should be an exception about starting the race when we don't have marshels on the track, this hurts the drivers of the race they are missing from, not the people that are doing wrong. If the heat is held up waiting for someone take away from their laps, after they get bit a few times they will figure it out (unlike me and my grammer)

[Lonestar]

That's fine. But what I see happening is three guys in a four car race run the following race also, so the racers r ready but no marshes. Then you have to yell for them to " volunteer " yet again !! Then the next race it happens again !!  Then skip two and oh wait. Only two marshals this time cause the other two r driving again!!   

[Lonestar]

Post your thoughts!!  He ask for them

[RickV]

I like the idea of running 2 different days, short course and stadium trucks on SAT, oval and world GT/12th scale on Sundays. I work 3 on and 3 off so I only make 3 Sat and 3 Sun in a row before missing 3 of each but I would gladly drive over from Lafayette 2 different days to run

[rcrbullet]

I just want to put in my two cents.... Since you asked. I think you should do away with the house transponders. It always seems to be a big issue. People get the wrong ones then we have to wait for the computer to be updated. Even at 2 minutes to do that.. times 13 races.. this is a long time waiting on something as simple as getting the right transponder. Everyone needs to be involved in turn marshaling and changing the track over.  Maybe on the heat postings you can add a place to sign up for turn marshals. This way the turn marshals are already set before the heats even start. If by chance you break and cant make you turn to marshal have someone trade with you. But this way everyone is involved. I also think that you use the computer for what you bought it for..It has a start time.. so use it. When its time to race then lets race! Sorry about your luck if your not ready. If YOU'RE not ready YOU dont race! Its pretty simple. Ive never seen NASCAR hold up the start time so that a driver could do final adjustments.
I enjoy racing at JTECH, its a cool track, but I agree it is a long day when things dont flow and I spend 9 hours only race 20 min.

[arecee]

RC racing has always been hours of waiting, wrenching and jawing with a few minutes of racing ever since I started in the 80s.  Though we only had three classes then, stock 2wd buggy, mod 2wd buggy and open 4wd buggy all 1/10 but we had thre to five heats of stock (4 minutes), a couple of mod and 4wd.  Later on super stock was introduced and then stadium truck now we had six classes and the day went from 5 hours to 7 or 8 hours or longer with watering the track between rounds.  So running 13 heats in 8 to 9 hours isn't too bad.

Has anyone ever raced at RJD or Leisure on a Friday or Wednesday night and got there at 5 to practice, 7 to race and home by 1AM or 2AM?  It takes time even if run efficiently and today it's even worse with everyone wanting to run longer heats. (Years ago the 1200mah NiCads were lucky to make the 4 minutes for off-road and 8 minutes for 1/12.)

That is part of racing.  Same thing if you race the 1:1 cars.  I've been to sprint races and the same can be said there, "I spent the whole weekend only to race 10 minutes and break in the final."   It's racing multi-class cars.  If you just limit it to one class you will be done sooner but after a while the track will be gone for lack of business.

I agree about the Marshalling situation but either you space out the heats or limit entries by each individual.

[arecee]

Remember this, where else can you spend a whole day of entertainment for $20?

[pettyeagles]

Remember this, where else can you spend a whole day of entertainment for $20?

+1

[Scooter]

1. I don't think the track would survive if the classes were split between 2 days. Some of us guys that bring our children would have to spend the entire weekend at the track to be able to race our purpose built car/ truck. 2. Each person should be limited to 3 classes. I like the idea of having a set marshalling schedule for each racer but it would be nice to incorporate all races and marshalling on one sheet of paper that each racer can take to his/ her work station. This would solve some confusion. 3. First come first serve on the rental transponders. You are asigned a transponder at sign in and you keep that same one throughout the day. The transponder cradle should be unhooked from the race computer so individuals can charge the units anytime throughout the day BUT, you are financially responsible for the unit you are assigned. The way I see it, if you can afford to buy, build or aquire three R/C cars then you should be able to afford the 100 bucks to buy your own transponder. 4. Changing the track around isn't fun for me considering I take a variety of pills for a back injury, but I still do it and endure the pain. I see the same people helping with this week after week and the same people sitting at their work area peering out at us in disgust like we aren't doing the job fast enough. That being said, assign each racer 2 changeover duties and put that on the schedule sheet they take to their work station. I'm not picking on the elderly or handicapped here but if you are physically capable of climbing two very long flights of stairs with gear in hand then you should be willing and able to help change the track around.

[Lonestar]

Remember this, where else can you spend a whole day of entertainment for $20?

One of my points. 20 bucks and 6 classes later 15x5=75  you race 75 min for. 20 bucks I race 15 for 12. Where is the trace making the money? And if my boy races it's another 12. Even though the money is comi g outta my pocket  so the price break don't affect me me  so I pay 24 bucks for 2 classes and you still pay 20 for 5 or six?? Don't seem fair to me there either

[Scooter]

Remember this, where else can you spend a whole day of entertainment for $20?

. +2

[racecar21]

you could save time by starting the race a little different. line all cars up on back stretch and the roll them off at the tone, and dont aloow passing till after the line. simple but it would save a few minutes.