Stacey,
Thanks for the feedback and my apologies that we couldn't muster a Novice Chief
for the
event on Sunday. We tried and tried and tried and got one volunteer for a
Novice
afternoon course walk which we ran out of time to conduct.
As far as I know a position associated with shepherding SFR Novices this Season
remains
unfulfilled along with permante Tech Crew members and we're still calling for
instructors for the Drivers School. Multiple requests have gone out over this
list for
volunteers and the feedback I've observed is silence. This is a volunteer
organization
and if the positions don't get filled with sufficiently skilled or trainable
people we
suffer, that's just how it is, plain and simple. Even when others step up to do
multiple jobs they occasionally end up in the predicament of not being able to
be in two
places @ one time.
As Ed Runnion said earlier, this was the first event with the Access Control
Point
(dedicated Waiver Station) requirement (imposed by SCCA HQ) and we had an
opportunity to
make a few teething mistakes. I was behind schedule on Sunday morning arriving
the site
@ 6:45 AM to see several competitors already in the paddock. Our volunteer
Motorhome
driver arrived a bit later, dropped off the waiver table and chairs @ it's
Access
Control Point location, then the registration easy-up, table and materials and
then onto
setting up the course, timing, scoring and grid. The next I was able to get
back to the
Registration position was after the early morning drivers meeting and I found
that
"Registration" had been insightful enough to include a waiver station at their
position
to catch those who had missed being greeted @ the Access Control Point.
My finding is that the control point needs to be staffed first and early, very
early
and/or we need the backup waivers @ registration, we need the workers forms
modified to
include a gate control assignment throughout the day and we need to recognize
the
extraordinary efforts of volunteers such as Michelle Stewart who worked the
Access
Control Point when there was no relief in sight. The data I've collected
suggests that
the line was 12-15 minutes and 20 - 30 cars which is sufficiently longer than
what our
"regulars" had come to expect (zero) but equivalent to Access Control points
for other
venues I've participated in. Perhaps "expectation management" was the biggest
issue.
If you don't know, you can't plan or something like that.
Barry - the butt draggin' Chair by the 5th Run Group - Chafin
Stacey wrote:
> Sunday was great fun.
> It was my first SFR SCCA event.
> So I am a true novice, no 33+% issue here!
>
> I found the location no problem as when I got onto
> highway 17 in Los Gatos I saw a white s2000 hauling
> a trailer with 4 tires. At 6:30 AM he had to be going to
> Oakland so I followed him all the way him right into the parking lot
> to the sign-in tent.
>
> I had been planning to stop to get water and a sandwich but
> since you had the chuck wagon on site it all worked out just fine.
>
> But back to the waiver line...
> I never saw one.
> I got there at 7:15 AM and there was only about 15 or so
> people around the tent. No one was out at the fence/gate doing waivers.
>
> We signed a waiver while waiting in a line and I bought a
> SCCA Rule book. Then I showed my SCCA membership,
> license, got my run card to fill out, sign up for work as a novice
> and got a number and some tape. I also asked about being a
> novice and what to do, where was the tech etc.
>
> I was hoping that there was some sort of Novice orientation
> or course walk through which is why I showed up so early
> even though the Class I wanted to run was not until the afternoon.
> But there did not seem to be any official novice help.
>
> The first 3 people I talked to were also first timers.
> We were all looking for help.
>
> Do not get me wrong, there was plenty of unofficial help.
> Just ask anyone and they were all helpful. Very nice
> group. I did get a very detailed walk through from one
> of the other members that was running again for the first time
> in two years. He took plenty of time explaining stuff and
> was helpful throughout the day.
>
> I just expected some sort of organized assistance.
> Or possibly even some sort of instructor types to
> go on rides with you as a passenger and critique you etc.
>
> But no one mentioned anything to me about needing a
> wrist band in order to run. Some how I missed it on the table
> or something as the other novices seemed to get theirs OK.
>
> Later, when it was time for me to run, group 5, I asked in the
> drivers meeting, since I noticed everyone had one except me
> and they said I needed one and to get it at the registration table.
>
> I went over there and no one was there. I waited for some one to come back
>from the
> camper and they just gave me one. The bands were all just sitting there
> on the table unguarded.
>
> I guess my question is what was the point of the wrist band?
>
> If it was for proof that you signed why didn't I have to re-sign it
> so they knew I had signed up?
>
> Maybe it was just a glitch.
>
> I did think that things moved pretty
> smoothly. But I sure could have used a closer porta-potty!
> (Yes I know they usually have them.)
>
> I was also impressed that Pat Kelly came by to talk to me
> and asked why I was driving her car! Well one like it. I thought it was nice
> of her to talk to me, a virtual nobody in autox.
>
> Anyways it was a bunch of fun, even if I am a bit
> on the slow side. ( I am talking about my driving here not
> my thick headedness) Well, I guess as I get older I get slower!
>
> Maybe a bit grumpier too, sorry about that.
>
> Thanks again for a good time, hope to meet more of you on the 17th.
>
> -Stacey
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