What worked and what needs to be changed for 2011

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momec
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Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 8:15 pm

Post by momec »

Dr G

Some good points about staight line return roads and flags. A lot of what happened this year was made up as we went along because what we drew on paper at home did'nt work on the lake.
l sat on the tractor all Thursday and sometimes had to guess where l reckoned the return road would meet the end of GPS track return etc.
Its like you were a pimple on a pin head on an A3 sheet of paper and at times l was as lost as all you guys.
The extra complexity of having to run all the return roads past the GPS end made it confusing for most. A simple mud map would have helped everyone. One was drawn on a white board at scruit but not many new about it.
Last year there was a flag X distance from the track to indicate you were clear enough to pull up and pack your chute whatever, l did'nt see that this this year.
Flags are troublesome to keep there because of the wind so would be impractical for all the return roads corners etc (think up a suitable anchor perhaps)
Straight lines we can do. The big kink in the return road at pits was a clusterf##k which required several participants to perfect which l think we succeeded. Problem is once you grade a road its hard to ungrade it.

Chris
Acme Racing #251
Rob
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Post by Rob »

Just had another thought,

More flouro vests for GPS track officials and a small table for the GPS time recorder(s) under the shade would be a bonus.

Cheers,
Rob
I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.
Rocket
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Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:29 am
Location: Keith S.A.

Post by Rocket »

Many a great idea here guy's :D

I'd also like to point out that there where a few leaving on the test track, well before the previous the driver/rider had returned.
A big concern.
(wasn't there a plan at one stage for the test track runs to head back via the return road ? One way traffic like the other tracks?)
Limiting speeds on the test track is not an easy one.
Maybe it has to be manned as well?? (I realise it was manned a few times)

The idea of signs for all tracks is a great idea. Info for spectators, spose?
I'm not sure if the club has a signwritter in tow, but I can assist if need be.

A follow up track for support crews is also a good idea. More work though I spose.

There was a few spectators on the lake that had no idea there was a cost involved.
Who would have thought $20 was a lot to ask for getting up close to the cars & teams :roll:

I also noted a few who just drove straight onto the lake without blowing the dust off their cars (one guy drove right around the line up & straight on) just as many did not check for or remove salt prior to departing.
Do we "need" the enterance to be "manned" or an info sheet given out :? :? How about those walking on ? (I'd rather help solve the racers problems though :wink: )
CHEERS,
Rod. #811

www.rodsandrelics.com.au
penny
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Location: adelaide

Post by penny »

The last two years we have had a lot of down time,this year we had some scruitineering and made something of this non race time, it made for great spectating up at the canteen but unfortunatly for me i was volunteering elsewhere. If this happens again could we please look at having an AGM during one of these days .
OLDtimer
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Location: Eyre, South Australia.

Post by OLDtimer »

Rod, the test track was to be one way, a return road was scraped,but the bottom end was too mushy for it to be used. I agree, someone needs to police it,but as you said, its another job. This years tracks were set out under extreme pressure, due to the designers of the original set up not knowing enough of the lake surface & not consulting those of us who do . Next year will no doubt be better. Pete. DLRA #6
Rocket
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Location: Keith S.A.

Post by Rocket »

OLDtimer wrote:Rod, the test track was to be one way, a return road was scraped,but the bottom end was too mushy for it to be used. I agree, someone needs to police it,but as you said, its another job. This years tracks were set out under extreme pressure, due to the designers of the original set up not knowing enough of the lake surface & not consulting those of us who do . Next year will no doubt be better. Pete. DLRA #6


Thanks Pete, I though that was the idea!
We can't help a soft surface :cry:

Considering the "false" start, I reckon all went extremely well.
Most do understand that all duties are handled by volunteers, but there is always room for improvement (if everyone helps out that is)

Be very wary of volunteers that don't race :shock: :shock: :lol:
CHEERS,
Rod. #811

www.rodsandrelics.com.au
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Lynchy
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Post by Lynchy »

I think the best "Test Track" is the GPS course. It is "policed" and racers are accountable. There was also reasonable wait time. I drove down the warm up track Tuesday afternoon and it was covered in water as was the return road. It was pretty soft and slippy then, mind you I was driving Chris Hanlon's wagon which has seen better days so managed to keep it under control.

Be very wary of volunteers that don't race


Volunteers are always needed whether they race or not. They just need guidance.

Lynchy
Rocket
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Post by Rocket »

Lynchy wrote:
Be very wary of volunteers that don't race


Volunteers are always needed whether they race or not. They just need guidance.

Lynchy


I agree, I always need guidance :lol: :lol:

(apparently I have upset someone by taking the piss out of myself? I don't race either but have the passion for the sport...... which I thought everyone knew. They must have thought I was having a dig at all the volunteers?? ........ Don't pm's suck!)
CHEERS,
Rod. #811

www.rodsandrelics.com.au
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geocacher
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Post by geocacher »

Rocket wrote:Be very wary of volunteers that don't race :shock: :shock: :lol:


How about be very careful of insulting volunteers that don't race....

After coming in 2006 as a spectator, and volunteering to solder hundreds of joints into miles of timing wire while others who weren't necessarily competitors assisted untangle miles of wire from a broken drum, before racing could even start, I was already pretty keen to be further involved.

Other jobs followed - volunteering my services for the remainder of the week when the nurse had to go home and left the event with only first aiders for medical support - including patching up a couple of competitors and organising to fly one out to hospital.

Last year I decided to join the club, though I may not race for years, if ever, because I believe in the club and what it achieves. Once at the event I worked in merchandising, collecting spectator fees and spent days on the start line.

It's easier as a non racer to be involved far more heavily as a volunteer and still have plenty of time for spectating & socialising. And being involved is a far more satisfying way of experiencing the event in my opinion.

For every non racing volunteer, particularly if they aren't also pit crew for someone, you get 20-30 hours of potential man hours that might have otherwise had to be spread over as many as 10 racing/team members.

I love being involved. I got nothing but thanks for the time I put in on the start line - from competitors and from Don & Cled. I'm up for pretty much any role if I make it to the event, if it's one I've not done before there are plenty of people to offer the guidance Lynchy mentioned.

That makes it easier for you to race.

Might see you next year.

Dave
#794
Rocket
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Post by Rocket »

geocacher wrote:
Rocket wrote:Be very wary of volunteers that don't race :shock: :shock: :lol:


How about be very careful of insulting volunteers that don't race....

After coming in 2006 as a spectator, and volunteering to solder hundreds of joints into miles of timing wire while others who weren't necessarily competitors assisted untangle miles of wire from a broken drum, before racing could even start, I was already pretty keen to be further involved.

Other jobs followed - volunteering my services for the remainder of the week when the nurse had to go home and left the event with only first aiders for medical support - including patching up a couple of competitors and organising to fly one out to hospital.

Last year I decided to join the club, though I may not race for years, if ever, because I believe in the club and what it achieves. Once at the event I worked in merchandising, collecting spectator fees and spent days on the start line.

It's easier as a non racer to be involved far more heavily as a volunteer and still have plenty of time for spectating & socialising. And being involved is a far more satisfying way of experiencing the event in my opinion.

For every non racing volunteer, particularly if they aren't also pit crew for someone, you get 20-30 hours of potential man hours that might have otherwise had to be spread over as many as 10 racing/team members.

I love being involved. I got nothing but thanks for the time I put in on the start line - from competitors and from Don & Cled. I'm up for pretty much any role if I make it to the event, if it's one I've not done before there are plenty of people to offer the guidance Lynchy mentioned.

That makes it easier for you to race.

Might see you next year.

Dave
#794


OH! COME ON!! :roll: :roll:

WHat don't people get that it was ME!! I was pocking fun at !!
I've already had a pm having a shot at me Geeesh!!

I am NOT a racer.............but a volunteer!! :roll: :roll:
I have known many people in this sport for many more years than I've been involved in it.

If people have to know,
I was at the camp from Firday night (with number 1 member Mike Davidson) & proptly started work from the word go!!
Scrutineered for a couple of days, walked the pits doing a job that no one wanted, buy checking arm bands & we where there until Firday luck time packing up Geeeeeeeeesh!!
Do I have to defend a dig that I made about myself??

Where has all the humour gone???????
People who know me will know where I'm at & what I'm about, none of it is for any reward excpet to mix it amoungst some wonderfull people.
Mark Dunn has been kind enough to welcome me into his team the last couple of years........be it only as chief umbrella holder :lol:

Come one guys.........I even had a pm about what I said to Cookey.......we are always giving each other shit.........if people think it's serious..........ya obviously don't know me.

Thanks for the ribbing all round :roll: :roll:
CHEERS,
Rod. #811

www.rodsandrelics.com.au
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geocacher
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Post by geocacher »

Fer enuf then Rocket.

One problem with forums is they lack the tone, body language and cheeky smile - and the can being handed to you at the same time as the verbal is delivered that you get in the competitors camp.

I take it all back... but you can still get the first round though I'll happily provide the next...

Looks like I took seriously something that had context behind it... and the reason I piped up is that the next prospective volunteer might also take it that way.

Sorry,

Dave
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Lynchy
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Post by Lynchy »

Rod

I saw the smiley face on your post and didn't think you were being too hard, I was just unsure of what you were getting at. I'd hate non racing volunteers to be put off in any way at all as I'm sure things would grind to a halt very quickly if they did.

Dave is a great example - Big Gaz and I worked with him all day untangling, soldering and heat shrinking timing wire in order to help get the event underway in 2006 and I know he continued to work for the rest of the event.

Andrew (the Ginger Ninja) from this year as well. As soon as he arrived he started work and did not stop for the whole event. Paul Penny organised and manned the ice truck all week going way beyond most people's expectations. Rob spent his week at the GPS track as well as the ice truck.

I think for people who "get it", as you do, it is more enjoyable being involved than just sitting and watching.

I'm off to Bonneville later this year with Andy Jenkins and Big Gaz and hope to see how they run things over there.

Hopefully we'll catch up next year.

Lynchy
Dr Goggles
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Post by Dr Goggles »

[quote="geocacher] It's easier as a non racer to be involved far more heavily as a volunteer and still have plenty of time for spectating & socialising. And being involved is a far more satisfying way of experiencing the event in my opinion.
Dave
#794[/quote]

I didn't do any tasks other than some on-the-spot stuff because the jobs I volunteered for were early in the week.

Building, maintaining and running the car during the week is a big job , it costs a lot and takes a lot of time during the year. I would like to be more involved in the club but having a full time job that ISN'T in the motor trade , trying to maintain some semblance of a music career and last but not least a home life is a pretty busy life. I would like to be more involved in the club but it is not a practical possibility, I couldn't devote enough time to it.

I'll be honest here and say I enjoyed Speedweek every bit as much or more when it didn't involve the stress and expense of the race car.Now we are part of the entertainment and I'm not complaining one bit, it's all worth it and it's a privileged place to be able to run.

There is no place for bitching in all this.It's a privilege to be involved ,the work one does during the week is a passport to close proximity to the action, the dunny guys are the real martyrs.

The week can't happen without the work of the volunteers, that's a given but no-one is being forced to go and that also is a given.

The recipe is : get involved or get out of the way.........we are a resourceful bunch, offer up your abilities and available time , behave responsibly and things will fall into place ....sounds like la la land? no , it is a natural system where capable people cope. There are people who have been involved in the past who aren't anymore and still carry an axe about it.....but whaddyaknow? the club keeps getting bigger and stronger.

Personally I wrote an account of each of the speedweeks I went to as a spectator ,smart-arse stories that people got a laugh out of, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to do that now that we are running a car, I try to stick to our car and the diaries we write as entertainment . But I'd really like to write the "Speedweek Record" if the club is prepared to back it.

Once again I'd like to thank everyone involved the volunteers AND the competitors it only works when everyone is there.......
...few understand what I'm trying to do , but they vastly outnumber those who understand why..
Rob
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Post by Rob »

Lynchy wrote:Rob spent his week at the GPS track as well as the ice truck.


Words cannot convey how "hard" it is to climb into the -5'C ice truck after a day on the salt :D It was hell but somebody had to do it and Paul had hogged it for most of the day time anyhow :wink:

Both jobs are a great way to meet more of the people racing and spectating than you would otherwise.

I'll be back next year, I missed out on Cookey's Pimms this time..... :shock:

Rob
I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.
Rob
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Post by Rob »

Had another thought today, shade for all of the scrutineering bays would be a good idea.

Cheers,
Rob
I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.
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