Here's what happened:
Because of our late start (due to the late arrival of the motorhome), the
grid and motorhome were set up too quickly and logistically poorly. It was
hard enough seeing cars at the line. Karts were impossible.
There were terrible communication problems. Someone was announcing by radio
who it was at the line, but it was never correct. Since we couldn't see who
it was, we had to trust the person on the radio. We were completely blind in
there. The scorer was trying desperately to see the numbers on the karts as
they went by on course, but it was impossibly frustrating.
This wasn't just a problem for the third group, but for all the remaining
groups. Sometimes, the card sorter couldn't see who was there, so s/he'd
just guess. Or s/he would just neglect to even find the card. Sometimes
s/he'd go strictly by the radio, which was always wrong. That's the part I
don't get, but I SUSPECT it's because who ever was radioing in the car
numbers was going by who was being SENT to the line, versus who was AT the
line. Meaning there were three or four cars in front of the number presently
being radioed in. I say this, because finally, in group six, I was watching
Vernon card sort. He was going by what was on the radio, and it NEVER
matched who was at the line. I saw this with my very own eyes. So, we turned
off the radio, and did it solely by our own eyes, and suddenly everything
was all better.
This is a serious problem and if something isn't done to fix it, we're going
to have nightmares like this forever. That motorhome is really comfy and
convenient, but when you can't see who's at the line and who's finishing,
and who's out on course, it defeats the whole purpose. We were better off
with the old trailer.
My suggestion for now is that since we probably do need to use radios at
least for the start, PLEASE let it be the starter who has the radio. Say
simply, "At the line, car number 123, CSP, White Honda Prelude, followed by
46, ESP, Blue Mustang." That's ALL. We were sometimes getting these long
lists, like, "Okay, it's 47, then 34, then 99, then 128, did you get that?"
Uh....
There was a problem with the coordination of the karts with cars, and that's
my fault. I had told the grid person that the karts go at once, but I
neglected, due to my own assumptions, to explain that the karts would get
one run each, and then the cars would go, and they'd rotate. I assumed that
this was all known, and it wasn't.
At any rate, yes, you are absolutely correct. The times are incorrect. It
looks like they're wrong for the junior karts as well. I know that for
regular cars, there were mistakes made all day. I don't know what the rules
are about changing times, but since it's so obvious that there were so many
mistakes made, I think we should fix these times. Charlie? Magical Results
Lady?
Katie
-----Original Message-----
From: dcolicch@ix.netcom.com [mailto:dcolicch@ix.netcom.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2001 7:04 PM
To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: Trailer crew in 3rd heat
Can anyone explain what happend in the trailer when the karts were running.
Almost everyone in f125, and I suspect jr kart has incorrect times.
-Tony
|