Andy, I understand the frustration, I've expressed it myself, BUT, IMHO
there still needs to be a "spirit of the rule" exemption available. I can
say with certainty (I tested a number of single and multicolor combinations
before selecting the one we now use) that there is no single vinyl color
that is as visible as our multicolored ones (white with orange and yellow
border) on our blue car, and even though our typeface is not a single
uniform width stroke, there is no mistaking what they say from a couple
hundred yards away. The fact is that any graphic design book will tell you
that non uniform width serif fonts are MUCH easier to read quickly than a
sans serif font like Helvetica. That's why you'll seldom see san serif fonts
used in publications save maybe the telephone book where it's used to save
ink. Don't "punish the masses for the sins of a few!" I for one don't want
to have to throw away a couple hundred dollars worth of magnets and buy all
new ones that are less visible due to a technicality. If the current class
and number rule compliance was checked and enforced in tech and/or grid this
rule revision discussion would be mostly unnecessary. A "law" is only as
good as the willingness to enforce it, and so far I haven't seen the one we
have being enforced. I think this is being attacked from the wrong end.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Hollis" <awhollis@swbell.net>
To: "autox" <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 9:13 PM
Subject: Numbers
> Sounds like some good point/counterpoint going on here. Keep it up. Its
> important that we deal with this once and move on.
>
> Since the proposal went out without some of the rationale, I'll jump in
and
> point out a few of the things that we are trying to get away from. This
is
> not a complete list by any means, but some that come to mind.
>
> 1) Use of a "1" that is different in either color or font or size from the
> rest of the numbers. This happens all the time. People borrow a 1 from a
> friend when they have a co-driver for a big event. Timing and Scoring
> and./or courseworkers can't tell whether its a one or a big stripe
covering
> up a 1. Or they borrow some other digit to make a number for just that
> event. Again, you can't easily tell what was intended.
>
> 2) Use of a piece of tape to X out a digit, usually a 1. Is it 1 or a
piece
> of tape Xing out a 1? Many times, it is totally unclear. The rules say
> that only one set of numbers may be visible at a time. Xing out a digit
> with a thin piece of tape does not make it invisible.
>
> 3) Multiple class designations visible at once. This is more of an issue
> for non-metallic bodied cars that run multiple classes at Pro solos.
Since
> magentics are not an option, they stick all the possible classes the car
> runs on the body. T&S should know what class is running after all, right?
> Sure, but when you are blindly typing info into a computer its much better
> if its obvious. Especially when you only have 15 seconds to get it right
> the first time. Covering up the irrelevant classes with low-tack
> body-colored panel is much more effective. And its the only legal way to
do
> it. Leaving multiple classes visible is also against the rules.
>
> 4) Numbers that are not adjacent to class letters. For example, number on
> the door, class letters on the back quarter panel , three feet away. Add
to
> that some sponsor id and it becomes nightmare for a corner worker to find
> the # and class when the car goes for maybe four seconds.
>
> 5) Spelled out class letters. While I know this is a fashion statement
for
> certain classes, its really hard to discern between Street Touring and
> Street Modified when the letters are so small. Add in something like D
> Street Prepared, all of which could be running in the same heat, and you
> have the makings of a mess.
>
> 6) Reflective material. Let's face it, chrome may look cool, but by
> definition it is anything but a single color, thus it provides constantly
> varying contrast. Depends on the time of day, weather, surface color,
etc.
>
> The goal is to make it easy for T&S and course workers to figure out
clearly
> what the car number and class is, in the several second window that they
> have as a car speeds by. The proposal gets that done, we believe, even
> though it may have restrictive downsides. But its better to be a bit
> restrictive in this case, in order to make protect competitors from their
> own shortsighted creativity. And none of this makes your car any slower!!
>
> Let me also say that the intent of all of this is to get the job done
> effectively while still remaining member-friendly. No one is trying to
piss
> anyone off. But we've been too lax for too long now and let too much slip
> by. With the advent of cheap computer controlled vinyl cutters, everyone
> and their mother is becoming a graphics designer. Cars are rolling
> billboards of creativity. But id that blends into that scenery fails to
do
> its job.
>
> --Andy, Frustrated Timing Captain - Nats 2002, SEB member
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