296 replies to this topic

[steveracer]

About 1 hour.

[Caesar Vielmas]

I'm curious - How much time passed between the first SM registered and the 85th (or 86th)?

Not much! How do you think it feels to be 86th? If only I hadn't wasted time "changing" my number....FUDGE FUDGE FUDGE!!!!!

[steveracer]

I went back to remove some double posted crew members and went from 21st to 33rd...

[Lee Thomas]

I'm curious - How much time passed between the first SM registered and the 85th (or 86th)?

About 30 minutes.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

Not much! How do you think it feels to be 86th? If only I hadn't wasted time "changing" my number....FUDGE FUDGE FUDGE!!!!!

Is probably my fault. I was registering Greg Able because he was having problems. There were 84 when I started and 86 when I finished. I wasn't sure where he ended up, but if your 86 that means he got in.

[Lee Thomas]

Someone in the Lone Star Region needs to make a few calculations for qualifying in a single session.

Assuming 2 seconds between cars going onto the track times 85 cars is 170 seconds which is equal to 2.83 minutes = 2 minutes 50 seconds. A lap around COTA should take +/- 2 minutes and 40 seconds. So by the time the first car out has made it back to the pit exit to the track the last car in the paddock will not have left yet.

Qualitying should be broken down into two sessions with 43 cars in one session and 42 in the other. That is the only way any reasonable qualifying can be done.

MPR 22 Sr.

Good point. I'll forward this on as this seems like it could be a big issue. Another person brought this up in another thread.

[KentCarter]

yes, I was 'in', too... until I edited my car info. Then I was 'out'

[Bench Racer]

Thread opened at 11:59 AM today and has 168 posts. "Could" be a record.

[suck fumes]

I thought u could register then go back and edit stuff without loosing your spot??? O well we are in so all is good

[Brian Ghidinelli]

yes, I was 'in', too... until I edited my car info. Then I was 'out'

Is this for real? Editing crew member names or car info killed your registration??

[Cnj]

I have been out all afternoon/evening and this exploded while I was away from a computer....(although the texts came fast and furious)

The Lone Star race chair has described COTA as a "jewel" for us to race on. I agree. I saw this as a spectacular oportunity to celebrate and promote SCCA and racing in the SOW Div with possibly the most successful inaugural weekend in the history of SCCA racing. Clearly 200 entrants ("legitimate" or not) in one hour is unprecedented and leads me to suspect that a well promoted and produced event could host up to 500 cars annually. That we have over 100 Spec Miatas wanting to come from all over the country is amazing.

And yet here we sit. This is a SCCA and Texas Region PR disaster and we look incompetent. We have had almost no communication from SCCA on what was happening to date and almost all race promotion has been internal to racer groups. Lee is the only person who has made an effort to communicate and is now apparently in trouble for his good efforts (efforts I greatly appreciate) - while we all still sit with no information from those making decisions. Registration is a shambles and racers are legitimately upset that after following a SCCA SOW Div published web link and registering for hotly contested postions, they are being told thier registration does not count - and there is no directional clarity for next steps. Lee posted a link to an active SCCA division web site which then allowed actual registration - and any suggestion that the fault lies with him linking to the division site reflects a basic misunderstanding of the digital world. Key SCCA leadership (who are they?) can make this better or they can make it a lot worse - but they need to communicate quickly and clearly what is going on. Any hint, real or percieved, from Lone Star SCCA leadership indicating that the COTA race is in such demand that Lone Star can do whatever they want will cost the club very dearly. The club exists because of the support of its members and folds when that support whithers - or members simply race elsewhere because they feel that they are not being listened to, or being treated poorly. Simply talking to us will help, maintaining silence will exacerbate the PR problem.

My best hopes are with the Lone Star leadership whom I have raced with for a number of years. They work hard. On this issue and the race they need great wisdom and probably a lot of help which I hope Topeka is stepping up to give, others are offering (I have) and they are accepting.

Cnj

[Danny Steyn]

CNJ - thanks for the post above

The efforts by Lee not only to promote the event, but to also try to understand and help us with all the questions we have had over the past few weeks is something the I would hope ALL SCCA OFFICIALS EVERYWHERE would try to emulate. Openness, candor, transparency, humility.... wow, if only more were like Lee.

And in that spirit I would personally like to thank Lee, Butch Kummer, Jim Creighton and other SCCA officials who not only give up their time, but also actively solicit feedback from forums like these. If you are ignoring forums, social media or other opportunities to communicate with your demographic, you will go the way of the dinosaur.

Just look at the investment that NASCAR has put into fully understanding and tracking in real time what is happening on social media, RSS feeds and other media, DURING THEIR EVENT.
http://www.racer.com...article/276085/

Not suggesting SCCA has to spend any money, it just has to pay attention and be quick to communicate to its members

[pmiranda]

Just to offer a perspective from somebody that's not a regular on this site... there was no official word of when registration would open. To me, it's like I was patiently waiting at the front entrance to the super bowl when somebody noticed the side door was accidentally left open, told all their friends about it, rushed in to grab all the beer and got mad when management told them they would have to go get back in line. Hopefully nobody gets arrested and we can all just get along and have a good time if the beer can be shared fairly among everybody and not just those who happened to be near the side door.
I don't know all the details so I can definitely be wrong, but it sounds kinda like Lee was the roadie that noticed the side door was open while everyone was still at the main entrance, and instead of trying to get it closed, told his buddies about it. I hope I am wrong, but you folks should know not everybody has the same perspective as you.

[Ralph Dommes]

It's all good. I just want some guidance so I can go. It's an awsome track. I was there for the F1 race and it will impress. Come on SCCA - get it open!

[Blake Clements]

Just to offer a perspective from somebody that's not a regular on this site... there was no official word of when registration would open. To me, it's like I was patiently waiting at the front entrance to the super bowl when somebody noticed the side door was accidentally left open, told all their friends about it, rushed in to grab all the beer and got mad when management told them they would have to go get back in line. Hopefully nobody gets arrested and we can all just get along and have a good time if the beer can be shared fairly among everybody and not just those who happened to be near the side door.
I don't know all the details so I can definitely be wrong, but it sounds kinda like Lee was the roadie that noticed the side door was open while everyone was still at the main entrance, and instead of trying to get it closed, told his buddies about it. I hope I am wrong, but you folks should know not everybody has the same perspective as you.

Thats all fine and dandy, except The LINK was posted on the SOWDIV, the hosting division, website!

[KentCarter]

Is this for real? Editing crew member names or car info killed your registration??

Yes. It looks like it put me in a different place in the queue after making the edits. I was in 'SM', after the edits, I was in 'SM (FULL)' which I assume is the waitlist. This wouldn't usually matter... just when it's a sellout.

[Mike Collins]

And what about the folks who registered, think they are registered, have sent money and don't troll the forums? I know many folks who have no idea about this DRAMA who registered. Whatever "team" they race with sent them the link when registration opened. And YES it was open. They registered, they have a spot in a hauler and are taking time off work. They need to be notified long in advance before the Lone Star Region makes some knee jerk reaction.

[Caesar Vielmas]

Yes. It looks like it put me in a different place in the queue after making the edits. I was in 'SM', after the edits, I was in 'SM (FULL)' which I assume is the waitlist. This wouldn't usually matter... just when it's a sellout.

I second this, I don't know "where" I was or if I was ever "in" but I know I went through the process frantically just clicking "continue" then realized my number was 49 so I went back to "edit" when I did that the only option for class was sm (full) so I clicked that and the rest is history.

I just need to know what the deal is so I can get back to work and stop trolling forums and FB all day. If the list will stand and I'm on the wait list so be it but make a decision and let us know.

I, of course, prefer to take my chances with MC suggestion on the less than popular approach "top 85 qualifiers" race the rest go to the stands. But obviously I'm bias, had I been "in" I'd be "trying" to stay in...

Blah blah blah. Make a decision already!

[KentCarter]

Mike, seems like someone said they'd be sent an email to inform them of the status.... I haven't seen one.

[KentCarter]

Did anyone actually pay??