Low Entries for Solo School-Because?

[Randy Chase]

Thanks Lisa!

[Veronica Hirsch]

Thanks Lisa! I'm sending in a check today (for both days.) Looking forward to it!

[Mike Simanyi]

I want to add that this is not exclusively a Novice School. The first SCCA school I participated in, I was a student. And that was after three years of BMWCCA autocross experience. I had already done an Evo school (long before its current ownership) and this school was more useful for me.

Our schools are helpful for students at almost all levels. Total novice? Come on down. Have a few years under your belt, looking to shave a few more 10ths off your time? We can help.

This is not just an autocross course laid out in the lot with a few instructors standing around. The format is structured with stations that provide different challenges, while simplifying the "solution set" needed. In my experience this allows for much better communication between the students and instructors. After the students complete all the stations, the individual exercises will be joined together in a full course to further work on skills.

Thank you, everyone, for your useful feedback.

Mike Simanyi

[Kurt Rahn]

It seems that most of the feedback regarding why individuals did not sign up was due to the price. I have heard the feedback and understand that these are not the best of economic times. The price for the school was set based on a cost to the club of about $7000 for the two days and to just break even (if possible). I don't think that most of you have any idea regarding all the fees that are incurred to put on an event at Auto Club Speedway. I know that I was surprised. We really expected most people to sign up for both days, which represents a better value. At $150 for both days, if you divide that by two, the cost is not that far off the normal per diem cost for a regular practice (or a San Diego school). Additionally, if you know the price of a nationally well-known and respected autocross school and compare the cost of one of their one-day programs, I think most would agree the price set for our school is a relative bargain. We have excellent instructors and there will be no more than three students per instructor. As it stands right now, it will be more like two students per instructor. I see this as an advantage. We also have a well-written text that will be provided to students, in addition to lunch and other goodies that will be provided. I always pass out surveys to the participants - and take all the feedback to heart. I have kept all of the surveys from prior schools, and I reviewed them to refresh my memory on what went well and what didn't. Although this is not a professional school, I try to operate it on that level, and seek to make each one better than the previous. I plan to do my best to make sure that all of the participants feel that their money was well spent.

I'm sorry there wasn't as good a turnout as expected. I've been looking forward to this school ever since I started autocrossing (1.5 years ago), and I'm really excited at having access to all those instructors. Thanks for all the work you've put in (and will continue to put in between now and 11/14)!

[Andrew Bingham]

With respect to the cost compared to the respected national school and 2 days worth of our regular practices - I agree that it's probably reasonable.

However, with respect to the working - we provided workers for the Motorsports Z event and the FSAE event. It would seem to me that we could make an effort to provide workers for our own Schools given that we are providing support to other organizations for their events. Maybe this wouldn't actually work because too many people are instructing / participating in the school for there to be enough volunteers left over to work - I don't know - but it would seem to me to be worth a try.

[Jonathan Lugod]

hahaha good luck with that. This is a volunteer sport. That Z event and FSAE events both had us working the course but in return we received free entries. Also since newbs do attend the schools, they should be taught how to properly work the course (cones in box, proper cone counting...etc)

[Mako Koiwai]

Andrew ... there is nothing keeping you from paying others to do your work assignment. Some people might do it just for the price of admission. Ask and see what happens? With a lot of people being effected by less or no work, this could work.

I was kind of hoping that you JPL'ers ... I think there are five of you now ... would band together to design a remote for working course. If you can have a semi autonomous device roaming Mars ... I would think you could have one that you can at least remotely control from your chaise lounge chair. It should be able to sense, find, go to, and set-up a down cone, note it's position vis a vis it's home box and report yah/nay to the radio person, with in 15 seconds. Then there is the pop-up regulation size Red Flag. It should be able to absorb the impact of a White Whale at 25 mph or a proper light weight AX car at up to 65 mph ... without damaging the car.

[Kurt Rahn]

Andrew ... there is nothing keeping you from paying others to do your work assignment. Some people might do it just for the price of admission. Ask and see what happens? With a lot of people being effected by less or no work, this could work.

I was kind of hoping that you JPL'ers ... I think there are five of you now ... would band together to design a remote for working course. If you can have a semi autonomous device roaming Mars ... I would think you could have one that you can at least remotely control from your chaise lounge chair. It should be able to sense, find, go to, and set-up a down cone, note it's position vis a vis it's home box and report yah/nay to the radio person, with in 15 seconds. Then there is the pop-up regulation size Red Flag. It should be able to absorb the impact of a White Whale at 25 mph or a proper light weight AX car at up to 65 mph ... without damaging the car.

LOL

[Rick Brown]

The easiest way to replace workers is with holographic cones. Just a flat plate that projects the cone image and senses when it's "hit" and transmits to the timing computer. Patent pending.

[Steve Ekstrand]

The easiest way to replace workers is with holographic cones. Just a flat plate that projects the cone image and senses when it's "hit" and transmits to the timing computer. Patent pending.

An end to the Blue Tape Dorks....

[Mako Koiwai]

Is that what Jayson W. is working on?

[Lisa Severy]

Well, the school is full thanks to multiple, last-minute entries. I really appreciate the response to the school! Thank you to everyone who provided feedback in this thread.