Well, in the San Francisco Region, we have someone award timing slips. I
have NO IDEA how this whole idea got started, but I hear it caught on in
Seattle, so it must be a good idea.
Someone gets the cush job of sitting in a chair past the finish lights (we
have strict safety requirements), and writes each competitor's time down,
plus any pylon penalties, DNF's, whatever as announced over the PA. All
competitors are required to stop to receive their timing slips, usually
post-it notes. The only downside is, I STILL keep finding these nasty
buggers, even when I swear I've got my car cleaned out. Anyway, the beauty
is, not only is the competitor slowed down to a safe speed after the finish,
he or she can then look at this piece of paper and say, "What? I DNF'ed? How
could this be?" Or, if it's a good time, he or she can walk around the grid
and gloat, maybe tape the slip to his or her shirt, casually hinting to
others to take a looksee. Or, if the time is questionable, he or she can go
back to the timing trailer.
This also helps in instances when, perhaps, there was a mix up in the
trailer, like when the wrong time gets put on the wrong card. Or say the
time recorder MISSES the time. The announcer can say, "Will so and so come
to the trailer with your timing slip?"
Of course, we in the SFR SELDOM make such mistakes. That's because I've been
banished from the trailer. But on those rare occurances, and they DO happen,
it certainly is nice to have a back-up. And I can see, in Mr. Bultemeier's
case, something like this would have saved him some later frustration.
Anyway, my dad says that if people find out this is how it's done in SFR,
then there's NO WAY anyone would think this is a good idea. People might
think if they adopt this idea, they'll suddenly wear more pink, and, God
forbid, vote democratic. Or woe the day this happens at Nationals. It's bad
enough that they line the course. Anyway, I'd like to tell you none of this
could happen, that your lives as known are completely safe, but I fear you
won't believe me. Which is why I'm going to tell you I think this was
originated somewhere in Nebraska. Some guy came out from Nebraska with this
great idea, and we adapted it.
Long live Nebraska!
Over and out.
Katie Kelly
(one quarter Nebraskan, one quarter Minnesotan, one of my parents is NOT a
native Californian, and I grew up near farm land with real cows)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Randy Chase [SMTP:randyc2@home.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 1:16 PM
> To: Eric Linnhoff
> Cc: autocross
> Subject: Re: hypothetical ? revisited
>
>
>
> Eric Linnhoff wrote:
> >
> > Okay, so far most people have said that it's basically up to the driver
> > to check their own times after each run. I can buy that. Keep in mind
> > that this didn't happen to me but since this was my first "big" event I
> > wasn't even aware that "official" times were posted anywhere other than
> > on the chalkboard of the worker by the finish lights after each run.
>
> In many events, there is not enough time to check the boards anyways. At
> the San Diego Divisional, I didn't see many people running to the
> boards, and if they did, they would have had to run back to their cars.
>
> I think the point is that it is the driver's responsibility to be aware
> of how they did, but I agree that under normal situations, I would
> expect someone (competitors, friends, kindly strangers) to let me know I
> was DNFing the same spot.
>
> Again, I think the PA announcer should mention the DNF and the board
> should have a time/DNF written on it. Just about every event I have
> seen, the announcer has taken the responsibility to ask someone to talk
> to the driver and tell them where the DNF was.
>
>
> > Thats pretty bad if you ask me. There are also common courtesy and
> > respect issues to be dealt with here.
>
> Yep. If no one told me, perhaps everyone assumed that someone else did.
> Or perhaps some introspection is in order by the driver to see why no
> one cared enough to help, after the he/she DNFed all 4 runs.
>
>
> Come on folks, we're not fighting
> > for money. Bragging rights and maybe a nice piece of walnut to hang on
> > the wall is our prize. What price are we willing to pay for that small
> > piece of wood?
>
> Well, some folks are running for money at a Divisional. And obviously
> it's not the wood. It's what the wood represents, and we do put a lot of
> money and time into that quest.
>
> Randy Chase "...Got Wood?" 8-P
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