Team Autocross 2011

[SuperWhiteGT4]

Alright, lets do this...

Firstly- Hank is devoting more of his time to other car-related hobbies. As such, I've agreed to take over team autocross. If anyone else is interested in assisting, I would also welcome a co-captain!

Secondly- We're still having issues with most teams having enough active drivers to have a decent score for the event. I've been trying to think of ways to fix this. If you have any ideas, feel free to share. So far, I'm either thinking top 4 scores, or upping the team sizes to maybe 14 or 15 people max per team.

Here's the existing rules:
http://rmsolo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2621

Is there anything that anyone would like to change? Should we keep the handicap scoring system?

[Van]

I like top 4.

Van

[Jamie]

I like upping the team member number to 14-15. Team Torque struggled with having enough participation at each event last year, so this would really help us. It would also allow teams to include more novices, while retaining the core team mates. In the past it was awkward to "boot" team mates to make room for novices. I like this idea more and more every minute. :)

Also, I'm wondering if there could be a tie somehow between Team Autox and the new Speed Train program? Al/Clay - thoughts?

Thanks, Shaun. Your efforts are appreciated!

[PEZi303]

Upping the number of available team members would help for sure, OR my personal favorite.... wait for it..... TOP 3! YES.... 3! scores.

[SuperWhiteGT4]

I feel like 3 people is too few and kinda negates the purpose of such a huge team. 4 might even be pushing it, but if that's the solution so be it.

Is there any way that any of us can think of to get the novices more involved with team autocross? I know when i first started racing that apex racing really kept me involved.

[PEZi303]

Well my reason for 3 is simply if we have the current max for teams. Several teams have had events where only 3 people show up. If the team max is raised, then yes 4 or even the current 5 is fine. But if we leave the cap the same I feel 3 is a nice number. Meh...

[Jamie]

The original team autox rules required x number of novices per team. I think going back to that would ensure we encorporated novices -- I remember actively recruiting them on the forums. It was really a great way to engage them.

How about upping the number of team members per team to 15, with a minimum of 4 novices per team? That leaves 11 slots to be filled by non-novices. Then use the top 5 drivers to calculate team points. Keeping this number at 5 (or higher) would allow novices more of a chance to participate in the team points calculation. In the past, several novices have been excited when their points counted for their teams ... it made them feel good.

[RanGVR-4]

The problem with that Jamie is some teams have been around for a while, and might require kicking some people off a team to get more novices.

[Yarko]

Really think we should keep top 5 pos in score. Its a team thing.

Reality of having 5 team members make it is always a tough one with circumstances etc.

Why dont we keep the existing rooster as it is (12 regular members).
At reg assign the speed train novices to teams. First to any teams that are under 5, then to other teams. This will require a sheet with team roostera to be balanced with the prereg, so we know what teams are short.

The speed train drivers would be like free agents. For example: team oddball is short one driver and speed train new-guy-sam is assigned to the team for event5. Then at event6 teams oddball and team torque are both short drivers. Reg asks new-guy-sam which team he would like to be on.

Once all the teams have 5 drivers then the speed train srivers can choose any team.

This would keep the 5 pos active for each team and increase participation with rookies.

Also maybe some of the teams would like to announce or even post at reg times for their course walks.

[RThorne]

how do i get on a team? :o

[SubySal]

We'll take ya buddy! ;)

[hderr]

how do i get on a team? :o

As it turns out, Danica Patrick is not gonna play on Team Y! this year,
wanna fillin for her? :)

What Sal said.

[hderr]

Alright, lets do this...

Secondly- We're still having issues with most teams having enough active drivers to have a decent score for the event. I've been trying to think of ways to fix this. If you have any ideas, feel free to share. So far, I'm either thinking top 4 scores, or upping the team sizes to maybe 14 or 15 people max per team.


To score for an event requires having active drivers and/or
a full roster with a few active drivers.

To have a "decent" score with the handicap system requires a plan.
Get experienced drivers willing to share and help recruit novice drivers.
Team members help each other with their cars, give encouragement,
correspond between events, give rides and make it fun = Decent score.

The original team autox rules required x number of novices per team. I think going back to that would ensure we encorporated novices -- I remember actively recruiting them on the forums. It was really a great way to engage them.

How about upping the number of team members per team to 15, with a minimum of 4 novices per team? That leaves 11 slots to be filled by non-novices. Then use the top 5 drivers to calculate team points. Keeping this number at 5 (or higher) would allow novices more of a chance to participate in the team points calculation. In the past, several novices have been excited when their points counted for their teams ... it made them feel good.

I fully agree with Jamie on this.
Team Autocross provides a way that a driver can be a winner being
last in their class. I know this feeling. ;)

[SuperWhiteGT4]

Thanks for all the tips so far guys.

At this point, I'm getting an idea of how the rules are going to look this year for Team Autocross.

If anyone has any other ideas or recommendations, please chime it, I'm going to keep observing this thread through friday, and then finish up the rules.

Thanks again!

[Yarko]

Thanks for taking the time to sort this out.

[SubySal]

^+1

[RThorne]

where are teams listed?
what teams are there?
who what when where and how?

[llombardo]

Yeah... how do you get on one/start one of these teams?

[PEZi303]

where are teams listed?
what teams are there?
who what when where and how?

I have no idea where the team listings are. BUT, to get on one, you find one with an open spot, contact the captain, and say, "I can help your team win, pick me!"

As of right now, Team CONOC needs some more Nissans! Lots of no shows last season, so we're dropping a few!

[mitrebox]

I think Team Oddball can use some people as well. Please join!

[hderr]

where are teams listed?
what teams are there?
who what when where and how?

how do i get on a team? :o

Robert, you were on TEAM White Miatas last year. :D

Here's a link to last season results and rosters.

http://www.rmsolo.org/TeamAutox/Rosters_Results_10.htm

A link about forming and/or joining a team.

http://www.rmsolo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5994

[SuperWhiteGT4]

I created a new rules posting. Feel free to comment on the rules and whatever in this thread.

I decided to up the roster maximum instead of dropping the minimum number. My logic is that it allows more people to be able to contribute to the team score, which for some people means more than their individual achievement. It's great to know that you're improving a lot by helping your team win.

As far as the novice rule goes- I like it, but I feel that novice retention is the most difficult part of team autocross. They are the most beneficial people to have on the team, as they tend to improve the most between events. I feel it should be up to the team captain and the rest of the team to keep the novices involved and to help them improve. If we just mandate a certain novice quantity per team, there's a tendency to stuff the teams with novices without necessarily encouraging participation and comradery. If you look at the past few years' participation issue, it's the novices that tend not to come back. Therefore, I'm hesitant to stuff the teams with potential no-shows and perpetuate the attendance issue of years past. Captains, grab a novice who wants to run a whole season, and help them to improve! They'll do wonders for your team score.

teamautocross@gmail.com

[Randy Hickman]

Novice encouragement and retention is HUGE focus for us this year, for all of RMSolo - not just Team AX. I'd be interested in hearing any and all ideas about ways to keep our new-comers coming back again and again!

I'd suggest some closer communication between Team Autocross and SpeedTrain going forward. Just thinking out loud, maybe a "floating" open slot on each team's roster that would be filled by a first-timer who avails themselves of the SpeedTrain program? Dunno.

[DTI Eric]

I don't know the current rules/handicapping....but how bout instead of making novices a manditory minimum, instead reward or advantage the novices on a team. Team of all non-novice drivers get no additional reward/handicap. But a team of many novice drivers are an advantage to the team. I know this leaves open the "ringer" thing, but it may promote regulars to bring along new drivers to the sport, if it would help their team.

[mitrebox]

Team Oddball can use some members. Please post your name here and join us for the 2011 Summer Series. You may even get a magnetic sticker telling the world that you're an Oddball. :cool:

[Randy Hickman]

I guess Oddballs should have warning labels. With some of us, it's pretty obvious...

"Open package. Enjoy nuts."

[tommyd123]

Team Oddball can use some members. Please post your name here and join us for the 2011 Summer Series. You may even get a magnetic sticker telling the world that you're an Oddball. :cool:

I would like to join team oddball!

--Thomas

[mitrebox]

I would like to join team oddball!

--Thomas

You just have, Thomas. :cool: Thank you. Will you be at the next event at Front Range Airport?

[tommyd123]

You just have, Thomas. :cool: Thank you. Will you be at the next event at Front Range Airport?

I will, I will.

--Thomas

[mitrebox]

Alright, lets do this...

Firstly- Hank is devoting more of his time to other car-related hobbies. As such, I've agreed to take over team autocross. If anyone else is interested in assisting, I would also welcome a co-captain!

Secondly- We're still having issues with most teams having enough active drivers to have a decent score for the event. I've been trying to think of ways to fix this. If you have any ideas, feel free to share. So far, I'm either thinking top 4 scores, or upping the team sizes to maybe 14 or 15 people max per team.

Here's the existing rules:
http://rmsolo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2621

Is there anything that anyone would like to change? Should we keep the handicap scoring system?

Who's the keeper of the Team Rosters?

[SuperWhiteGT4]

Who's the keeper of the Team Rosters?

Send rosters to me!

teamautocross@gmail.com

[PEZi303]

Submitted the CONOC roster. Curious though, what did we decide on for the cap?

[SuperWhiteGT4]

http://rmsolo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9518

Decided to cap at 15