This is a fantastic idea, and I think would make everyone happy. Everyone plays in the general pool, but one can select an optional class if one wants to. I like how this looks on the Excel, and just makes it easy to sort. No penalties for those who don't want to do it, and a fun way for the sub-groups to self-police and compete. Would be cool that if there were 4 or 5, depending on interest, fun classes, if the club could recognize a winner with a trophy/free admissions/whatever is currently done now. I really like it, and it seems that the check-box for fun classes could be incorporated into the signup without much trouble.BugBomb wrote:You have all brought up some very good points. We want to find solutions that appeal to the majority of our participants. We also want to make sure that what we do is simple and straightforward for new folks to pick up.
I have come up with an idea this morning that I want to share. For this moment, I want everyone to remember that none of what you are about to see has been vetted by the other organizers, so please treat it as a completely hypothetical solution at this moment.
My idea keeps the raw and index results as the core. Then from that core, we create many classes for people to choose from, but they ONLY serve as another tool to break down the results into more interesting, bite-size pieces. In other words, we would still have the index championship encompassing all competitors and awarding points thru the year and free passes at the end of the year (no more smallbore, unless we make it an optional class). The optional classes would be mostly for fun and bragging rights (no points accrued), but we could possibly offer trophies for the most top finishes in classes that gather a certain amount of participation. Classes would have very simple requirements and be self-policed by participants, but the system would only let you choose ONE class per event (things will get way too complicated if we have people swapping cars/classes throughout the day). For example, a Miata class would allow any Miata to participate, An AWD class would allow any AWD car, Rotary class for Rotary-powered cars, FRS/BRZ class, Muscle class for V8s, etc. We would let people petition to add classes before the season starts, but in order to keep from creating 100 different classes, we need a significant number of people to commit to a new class for it to be created. Also, we don't want to make changes to the classes during the season. Here is an example of what this would look like in the results:
Results with Optional Classes
(To show a specific class, click the button under the "Opt Class" Header, choose a class, and then re-sort by Best Time or Index Time if you wish)
Again, this is just an unofficial idea I had this morning, but it seems like a decent compromise to let folks mold new classes without making things too complicated for the organizers or the participants.
Question to tail off of this, could the classes choose to impart their own rules within the class? Since it is for fun, then the only implication here is to have the rules for a class listed next to the check-box during signup. No policing needed by the club, it would be done by the participants of that class. Obviously this would allow members of that class to have rules for competing if they want to. Example: FRS/BRZ Class can run only street tires, no-forced induction, any suspension goes. Another example: Miata Class can only run tire width up to 205. What do people think about this? I can see the warning for a slippery slope, but if the people within want to add another filter I think it could be cool.
Believe me, I would love to offer a season pass/subscription. This option would probably make it a little easier at registration and give some money upfront. However to be fair to those getting the pass, the participant has a right to know exactly how many events they are getting, and the only way to know this is if we had a firm schedule and total control of the various lots (right now, we are going back and forth with the various lots to get a mutual schedule that works for everyone, which is a very iterative process. Believe me, even when we think everything is done, we almost always have to change dates - and this is long before our schedule is even posted on the web site).
I think if the disclaimer is that you basically get entry into all events if desired, and it is on you if you miss some, most people will understand that. Last year there were 19 events total, 4 that were test & tunes. I would say that the test & tunes should probably be outside of the season package since they're specialized on participation. Lets take the 15 "championship" events. club membership for the year is $30, and then each event is $30 to attend, so basically $480 to come to everything. I think if you offered an upfront price of say $400 which included club fee and entry to all events, people would gladly pay it. Most people are going to miss 3-4 events (or more) anyway, but it gives it a nice up front amount and would bring in some convenience. You can pick the number, but I bet a lot of people would be for it.