itrbruce
02-01-2010, 10:11 AM
Part of the problem was probably my extreme rustiness in running the computer in the trailer (and probably not being ideally suited for the job either, but that is another story), but SCNAX was desperate for someone to take the job and I wasn't feeling up to be able to shag cones, so I took it. But this is all somewhat besides the point.
The point is, PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE EASILY READABLE NUMBERS.
It is not so much to ask for, is it?
And I am not talking about while standing next to the car, but rather as the trailer will have to look to see them which is sometimes close to 200 feet away and looking at the car being back lit.
I added the "back lit" issue because of car 1017. It was a black car using blue tape numbers. In the 5th run group, with the sun moving down towards the horizon behind the cars at the start line, these numbers were very nice and large, but still very hard to read. So much so that I wondered "how the hell could anyone think these were reasonable". But then I saw the car over near the finish line and the numbers stood out and were easy to read.
So the take away point is: number should have HIGH contrast to their background. Readable at Tech does not always translate to readable from the trailer and out on course, where they actually matter.
But car 54 / 154, a yellow car with white numbers... I am sorry Bill and Diane, those just ain't cutting it. Please either use black electrical tape, a black marker or something to "fix" these numbers or get new ones. Being hard to read and needing to see whether or not the 1 was there was a problem.
And I believe (but can't quite remember so probably could be wrong) car 146 with 2 easy to read numbers (14) followed by a hard to read number (6), sorry, that was trouble too.
Also, if you are running X-runs, please put the X on and place it right next to the class numbers.
And it is not just the trailer that needs to read the numbers. Course workers need to be able to read the numbers as your car zooms by scattering cones along the way.
The rules spell out the numbering requirements quite clearly. I have included the rules at the bottom of this post.
Tech.
People working Tech should not allow cars to pass that have unacceptable numbers. Unfortunately, this is probably me pissing into the wind since as Larry Chan sagely points out (and probably states more eloquently)
"since the trailer is the end user of the 'product' but has no feedback to the 'quality and control' aspect of the numbers getting through Tech, there will always be a problem"
Well, here is the only feedback I can muster (for now). Just know that having events run smoothly is in everyone's best interest, so Tech workers, please 'reject' questionable numbers... they may be in your run group. And there is no excuse for not having good, readable numbers, high quality paper numbers are available right there at Tech.
And instructors!!! Dang (to put it nicely) there were a lot of instructor runs in the 5th group yesterday. I should probably let the instructor chief give the official comment, but I'll throw my $0.02 in anyway while I am ranting. Instructors should only take (i.e. drive) AT MOST 1 run per novice per run group. Period. If they are flailing so badly due to not walking or not being good at the sport or whatever, well, sometimes that is just the way it is. If they seem like they will be a safety hazard and that is why you think another instructor-driving-run is warranted, taking one of their runs sounds like a better idea and prompting them to be better prepared in the future.
*** 1 (driving) instructor run per novice per run group ****
Also, if possible, blatantly place the instructor magnet across the car number (but so that they are still readable :) ) or at least place it boldly and irregularly as opposed to neatly lined up where it could be some other sticker. They are not large and from the distance from the trailer to start line yesterday (especially for cars "cluttered" with other stickers) it was easy to miss. Yeah yeah yeah... I know, I am not one to talk about excess stickers.
Other considerations.
Grid person
Some cars might have issues with a long (>6) line at the start line, but keeping an absolute minimum of 3 cars would sure be nice. FYI, this is not directed to whoever was running grid during the 5th group yesterday. He or she did a good job.
Course layout.
I really liked running the course yesterday, but was it possible to have the start line any further from the trailer? I'm just saying.
And while I am on this subject, but a bit off the main topic, it was made crystal clear from Saturday's starting light / early cone positioning how critical their mutual placement is. In the future, we need to have the timing lights positioned reasonably far from any upstream cone that might be knocked into the beam. Hopefully input from one of the trailer gurus on timing light positioning AND the cones around them will be met with extreme acceptance.
Sorry if this sounded overly harsh, but like I said above, having things run smoothly in the trailer is in everyone's best interest and since there isn't really any excuse for having difficult to read numbers, we will all appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Thanks,
Bruce
SCCA numbering rules (please read carefully)
--------------------
3.7 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
A. All vehicles must display numbers and class letters on both
sides, which must be readable by Timing & Scoring, Course, and
Grid workers at all times.
B. Only one set of numbers and class letters may be visible while
the vehicle is running. (are you still reading Kiesels with your slashed 1?)
C. Class shall be represented by the upper-case abbreviated form
rather than be spelled out. Ladies’ classes shall be indicated by
the letter “L” following the class letters. (Example: “BSPL” instead
of “B Street Prepared Ladies”).
D. Numbers and class letters should be positioned next to each
other. All letters and numbers must be on body panels, not on
windows. All numbers and class letters must use the same
typeface and the same color, and this color must provide adequate
contrast to the background color (see Appendix F for
examples).
E. Numbers must be a minimum of 8" high with a 1.25" stroke.
Class letters must be a minimum of 4" high with a 0.75" stroke.
In all cases, the height of the class letters must be between 25%
and 75% of the height of the numbers. Stroke width must be at
least 10% of the height. (See Appendix F.) [i.e. tape doesn't cut it]
F. The “1” on two-driver cars and the “L” on Ladies class cars are
subject to all of the above requirements with regard to placement,
color, size, and stroke.
G. Karts may use numbers and class letters of reduced size provided
that the following conditions are met: 1) Numbers must be
displayed on the front and rear in addition to both sides; 2) Class
letters must be on both sides; 3) In no case may the numbers be
smaller than 6" in height with ¾” stroke, using a high-contrast
color and background.
The point is, PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE EASILY READABLE NUMBERS.
It is not so much to ask for, is it?
And I am not talking about while standing next to the car, but rather as the trailer will have to look to see them which is sometimes close to 200 feet away and looking at the car being back lit.
I added the "back lit" issue because of car 1017. It was a black car using blue tape numbers. In the 5th run group, with the sun moving down towards the horizon behind the cars at the start line, these numbers were very nice and large, but still very hard to read. So much so that I wondered "how the hell could anyone think these were reasonable". But then I saw the car over near the finish line and the numbers stood out and were easy to read.
So the take away point is: number should have HIGH contrast to their background. Readable at Tech does not always translate to readable from the trailer and out on course, where they actually matter.
But car 54 / 154, a yellow car with white numbers... I am sorry Bill and Diane, those just ain't cutting it. Please either use black electrical tape, a black marker or something to "fix" these numbers or get new ones. Being hard to read and needing to see whether or not the 1 was there was a problem.
And I believe (but can't quite remember so probably could be wrong) car 146 with 2 easy to read numbers (14) followed by a hard to read number (6), sorry, that was trouble too.
Also, if you are running X-runs, please put the X on and place it right next to the class numbers.
And it is not just the trailer that needs to read the numbers. Course workers need to be able to read the numbers as your car zooms by scattering cones along the way.
The rules spell out the numbering requirements quite clearly. I have included the rules at the bottom of this post.
Tech.
People working Tech should not allow cars to pass that have unacceptable numbers. Unfortunately, this is probably me pissing into the wind since as Larry Chan sagely points out (and probably states more eloquently)
"since the trailer is the end user of the 'product' but has no feedback to the 'quality and control' aspect of the numbers getting through Tech, there will always be a problem"
Well, here is the only feedback I can muster (for now). Just know that having events run smoothly is in everyone's best interest, so Tech workers, please 'reject' questionable numbers... they may be in your run group. And there is no excuse for not having good, readable numbers, high quality paper numbers are available right there at Tech.
And instructors!!! Dang (to put it nicely) there were a lot of instructor runs in the 5th group yesterday. I should probably let the instructor chief give the official comment, but I'll throw my $0.02 in anyway while I am ranting. Instructors should only take (i.e. drive) AT MOST 1 run per novice per run group. Period. If they are flailing so badly due to not walking or not being good at the sport or whatever, well, sometimes that is just the way it is. If they seem like they will be a safety hazard and that is why you think another instructor-driving-run is warranted, taking one of their runs sounds like a better idea and prompting them to be better prepared in the future.
*** 1 (driving) instructor run per novice per run group ****
Also, if possible, blatantly place the instructor magnet across the car number (but so that they are still readable :) ) or at least place it boldly and irregularly as opposed to neatly lined up where it could be some other sticker. They are not large and from the distance from the trailer to start line yesterday (especially for cars "cluttered" with other stickers) it was easy to miss. Yeah yeah yeah... I know, I am not one to talk about excess stickers.
Other considerations.
Grid person
Some cars might have issues with a long (>6) line at the start line, but keeping an absolute minimum of 3 cars would sure be nice. FYI, this is not directed to whoever was running grid during the 5th group yesterday. He or she did a good job.
Course layout.
I really liked running the course yesterday, but was it possible to have the start line any further from the trailer? I'm just saying.
And while I am on this subject, but a bit off the main topic, it was made crystal clear from Saturday's starting light / early cone positioning how critical their mutual placement is. In the future, we need to have the timing lights positioned reasonably far from any upstream cone that might be knocked into the beam. Hopefully input from one of the trailer gurus on timing light positioning AND the cones around them will be met with extreme acceptance.
Sorry if this sounded overly harsh, but like I said above, having things run smoothly in the trailer is in everyone's best interest and since there isn't really any excuse for having difficult to read numbers, we will all appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Thanks,
Bruce
SCCA numbering rules (please read carefully)
--------------------
3.7 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
A. All vehicles must display numbers and class letters on both
sides, which must be readable by Timing & Scoring, Course, and
Grid workers at all times.
B. Only one set of numbers and class letters may be visible while
the vehicle is running. (are you still reading Kiesels with your slashed 1?)
C. Class shall be represented by the upper-case abbreviated form
rather than be spelled out. Ladies’ classes shall be indicated by
the letter “L” following the class letters. (Example: “BSPL” instead
of “B Street Prepared Ladies”).
D. Numbers and class letters should be positioned next to each
other. All letters and numbers must be on body panels, not on
windows. All numbers and class letters must use the same
typeface and the same color, and this color must provide adequate
contrast to the background color (see Appendix F for
examples).
E. Numbers must be a minimum of 8" high with a 1.25" stroke.
Class letters must be a minimum of 4" high with a 0.75" stroke.
In all cases, the height of the class letters must be between 25%
and 75% of the height of the numbers. Stroke width must be at
least 10% of the height. (See Appendix F.) [i.e. tape doesn't cut it]
F. The “1” on two-driver cars and the “L” on Ladies class cars are
subject to all of the above requirements with regard to placement,
color, size, and stroke.
G. Karts may use numbers and class letters of reduced size provided
that the following conditions are met: 1) Numbers must be
displayed on the front and rear in addition to both sides; 2) Class
letters must be on both sides; 3) In no case may the numbers be
smaller than 6" in height with ¾” stroke, using a high-contrast
color and background.