Expanded the season from 8 regular season and 1 post-season event to 11 regular and 1 post season. More autocross for everyone! Part of that is that we're now counting the MiDiv weekend as 2 events (just like how MiDiv counts it), but we're adding 2 extra days. Also, we're considering making our post-season event a different format, to mix things up.
Continued use of our very successful new wifi based live timing system. See if we can mount one of the routers in a different way to get better signal strength at the very edges of the venue (weather permitting).
Looking into adding online prepayment capability. The problem is, as a non-profit, our gross margins are so tiny (even negative for smaller events) that the club can't absorb the fees involved in doing this, so if we can do it, it's going to have to include a convenience fee. Looking around the web, though, I still can't find another SCCA region in the country that charges as little for autocross entry as we do.
Adding an OMR Taxi program. Designated members known to be skilled drivers and approved by Solo Director/Eventmaster will have their cars labeled for easy identification and will offer rides to those who want to. Passenger priority is to be given to new drivers, but non-minor spectators will be allowed, too. Care must be taken to avoid causing delays in the flow of grid, but we're making our regular ambassadors more easily identified. No rides are to be given after the 3rd run of a heat, for competitive reasons for our volunteers. We'll waive the "no rides before your first timed run" for new drivers only. This doesn't apply to the MiDiv.
Course preview for new competitors. We'll go a little quicker through the novice course walk and try to reduce the time of the driver's meeting so that we'll have time to have some designated regulars safely drive novices around the course at ~75% to 80% effort before the timed runs begin. This should show novices where the course goes a little more in case there's confusion, and give them some insight into where to apex and so forth. 75%-80% effort is equivalent to getting off course following a red flag and should not be heating tires appreciably. It's all in the interest of fun, and fewer novices DNFing makes for a better event for everyone. The no course preview rule is waived for our regional events for this express purpose only.
We're getting some SCCA memento stickers for newbies.
We've replaced the amp (the old one would die and require rebooting periodically). The new amp is similar, but also has bluetooth and some other additional inputs, so we're looking at streaming some car related music at appropriate times. I suppose sound effects would be a possibility, too.
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
We've replaced a broken speaker and are working on getting better stands/mounts made for the speakers. We're also working on getting some of the speakers located much closer to grid, rather than right by the trailer. This should help a lot.
We're working on figuring out how to track results to include an additional novice class for people who have self reported as having done 3 or fewer previous autocrosses. If we can figure this out (not apparently native to the software, so we're working on how best to go about it), then they'd be included in PAX and Class results, but also in a separate novice results list (based on PAX). This might give some rookies some bragging rights and increase their enjoyment as they start to work their way up the learning curve.
While the members of this region are a very friendly, inviting bunch, as far as I know we've never had a work assignment of going out and chatting up new people and spectators before. Starting this year, if we have enough people at an event and can afford a worker, we'll have somebody serve as liaison to go out and actively do this, rather than take the more passive approach we've done in the past. We want to make sure new people get their questions answered and know what to do, and get a better sense of what a great group this is.
This ought to be a great season!