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Post by Keith Tanaka on Jul 21, 2014 21:35:56 GMT -8
Last Sunday's monthly race saw a larger field of racers which ended up with two NASCAR mains instead of one. The increase in participation is good, but we need to think seriously about changing the race day schedule to accommodate more races while finishing the last race at a reasonable time. We all know that the normal race day begins around 1 pm (or earlier sometimes). We need to start at Noon, but in the past we didn't have enough racers (and turn marshalls) so we waited until around 1 pm to start. To alleviate this problem, we can actually start the first race of the day at noon, but with one major change. We can run the combined race and mixed races before the NASCAR race(s). The mixed race currently has 3 cars (GTP) entered by the Wattersons so they might want the 2nd race to be the mixed race so they can race their GTPs. This change would provide more turn marshalls for the first two races while the start of the NASCAR race(s) would be around 2:30 pm which isn't much different from what we normally do. Let's discuss this potential race day schedule change, comments? Keith
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Post by bob krigbaum on Jul 22, 2014 0:13:11 GMT -8
This is a great problem to have, too many guys! Your suggested schedule change sounds reasonable and will allow those of us who want to race in the mixed race to have turn marshals without having to resort to snagging kids from the back, I'll race in all three races regardless. We even had several regulars missing last weekend and still had 15 NASCAR'S and a good field of 3C's as well. This might even get more guys interested in the other classes as well adding to the "problem" though! More is better as far as I'm concerned. BTW, I'm building a NASCAR for Phil Nyland and he was asking for a 3C car to be built as well, so it will soon be even more difficult to get on the podium as Phil is always very fast.
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timneja
Full Member
Love racing these hard body cars!! The new knee is working better--so I'll be back soon!!
Posts: 191
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Post by timneja on Jul 22, 2014 7:09:37 GMT -8
I'd like to start a little earlier like you are suggesting Keith-- because most Sundays--we have a family dinner, and I need to be home for that by around 5:30 at the latest. So if you start on time--perhaps I can stay for all three races! Thanks for all you do for the D3 racing---it's a growing event again with Phil Nyland and others starting to participate more. T
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Post by mkalelaw on Jul 22, 2014 8:26:06 GMT -8
I am all for the earlier start and earlier finish. Why not start at 11 or 11:30?
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Jul 22, 2014 9:59:08 GMT -8
I've tried to start our monthly races at noon in the past, but many of our racers don't show up until after noon time. This past Sunday was unusual as we had quite a few racers show up earlier than in the past. Hopefully, we can get enough racers to show up for a noon race and get our race day started sooner.
I do think that having the NASCAR race(s) last will help the other races as far as having enough turn marshalls. We need at least 2 turn marshalls (and a race director) in order to run a normal race with just 8 heats rather than running 4 lanes at a time with sitouts/turn marshalls which makes the races longer (time wise).
I'm open to any suggestions which will improve our race day as far as getting in 3 different races without reducing the participation level.
Thanks for any suggestions provided,
Keith
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Post by craigg on Jul 22, 2014 11:17:39 GMT -8
As for the people who don't show up on time: you snooze, you loose. Seriously, I think they don't try to be on time because they know we will wait to start the race. If they know it will start at noon, whether they are there or not, they may make an effort to be there at noon.
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Jul 22, 2014 12:11:56 GMT -8
You're probably right Craig. I do think some racers arrive later since it's Sunday (Church, sleep in, family activities).
Whatever race schedule works better is ok with me. I don't have a preference except I do believe running NASCAR race(s) last will help provide more turn marshalls for the other races. An important part of racing is being a turn marshall. Everyone needs to turn marshall in order to provide support for all racers.
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Post by mkalelaw on Jul 22, 2014 18:36:52 GMT -8
Or will having the NASCAR first get the racers there because it seems to be the most popular race?
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Jul 22, 2014 20:07:03 GMT -8
Michael, a number of racers who run in the NASCAR race cannot be at the track early (church, sleep-in, family, etc.) and thus we would lose some race entries. Also, you'll lose several turn marshalls once the NASCAR race ends since they don't run in the other races. Unfortunately, there's no best scenario to solve this issue, but a good discussion "might" come up with a better race schedule than our current one.
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rogeru
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by rogeru on Jul 23, 2014 16:25:01 GMT -8
If we can get started at 12:00 and have the final race start around 2:30 that would be great.
One option would be to run like some clubs do. They have several classes but they alternate classes running only one or two classes per race meeting. For example we could have 2 races on each of our usual third Sunday of the month meets - one month race NASCAR and Jalopies, the next month race 3-C's and Trans-Am, the next month race 2 other classes, etc. Then start the rotation again. However, I can see problems with deciding which 2 classes to run per race meet and also some people won't show up on the days when they didn't like the classes being raced, so, no turn marshalls.
If we are going to continue running all of our classes each month as we do now then I agree with Keiths idea of changing the class order and starting at noon with the final race starting around 2:30.
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Post by mkalelaw on Jul 24, 2014 6:56:22 GMT -8
More playing is good.
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timneja
Full Member
Love racing these hard body cars!! The new knee is working better--so I'll be back soon!!
Posts: 191
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Post by timneja on Sept 21, 2014 19:10:58 GMT -8
I think today was a perfect example of needing to start the racing earlier!! We had a large turn-out again--and everyone was there early enough to start even BEFORE 12:00. I think we would have been able to have 3 full races IF we had started anywhere near on time. I can help run some races if need be to help start earlier. Perhaps we could have the first race at 11:30-- then tighten up the schedule a little after that. If we can finish running by 5:30-- I know we'd get more people racing the last race. Couldn't we at least TRY it after the Nats?? I don't think we have any other races scheduled until then. VERY FUN DAY today Keith!!! Thanks to all that helped--Keith--Vic etc --and Eddie did a nice job getting the track cleaned and glued!! Thanks Eddie!!
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Post by mkalelaw on Sept 22, 2014 8:33:22 GMT -8
I agree with Tim. A good day at the track and we should be able to get the races in. Even if the first race has less racers.
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Sept 22, 2014 10:32:45 GMT -8
I agree it was a long day of racing with an excellent turnout of racers. I should have started the first race earlier but was a bit busy doing some last minute work on some cars. If we can "consistently" get racers to show up early (on time) each month for the first race we can definitely start earlier (noon). The key is having enough racers (and turn marshalls) to run a regular race (8 lanes at a time and at least two turn marshalls and a race director). In the recent past this was not the case as most racers would show up between 12:00 to 1 pm so we always had to wait until we had enough people to run the first race. Yesterday's race day was longer due to an "extended" lunch break (we usually take 15 minutes for a short lunch break or no break at all) and the 3rd (additional) NASCAR main race. That increased the normal race day by about an hour and a half. So, normally we would have finished our last race of the day (mixed race) around 5:30 pm, instead we finished the last race around 6:50 pm The increase in participation in the last few months has been very welcomed and hopefully will continue or better yet increase with time. From experience I believe two races each month is about the limit for "most" of our racers. The diehard racers (myself, Ken D., Gonzo, Bob K. and the Wattersons) will usually race in the last race of the day regardless of when we finish. Yesterday, Mike Brannian and a few of his Oceanside racing buddies stayed for the last race of the day so we had a full field for the Mixed race. That's unusual to have a full field for the Mixed race, but hopefully is a sign of what's to happen in the future. Some racers stay occasionally for the 3rd race, but most racers leave after the NASCAR race each month. That being said, I do think we might someday (don't know yet for sure) go to a twice monthly race schedule. Our regular 3rd Sunday of each month and perhaps a second race day on the 1st Sunday of each month. The purpose of going to two race days per month would be to reduce the number of races per day to 2 (not including more than one main per race category) so that everyone can get their races in and still leave at a reasonable time. For example, our 3rd Sunday for each month could be: 1980-Present NASCARs followed by the Mixed race (any D3 hardbody). The first Sunday of each month could be: Trans AM, Jalopy, 3 C's (or whatever races we want to run). Having one less race (main) per race day, we can start the first race at 1 pm and still finish the second race before dinner time. This race schedule would reduce the length of the race day while providing more variety of races by going to two race days per month. Long race days are not good for some of our racers due to health or other reasons. This is only a suggested format for the future, but we'll have to see if there's enough racer interest to try racing twice each month. Comments? Keith
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