Hey all,
I'm the new Rookie Orientation Director and I wanted to get some basic info posted up for all of our new participants. I am part of a new Driver Education Committee that consists of Head Car Inspector "Kiwi" Steve Davies, Car Committee Chair Lee Kennedy, Head Motorcycle Inspector Tom Evans, Motorcycle Committee Chair Van Butler, SCTA Secretary Miriam MacMillian, and myself. Our goal is to make sure that all drivers and riders, new or otherwise, are supplied with the information necessary to go out and compete safely while having fun. Unfortunately over the past few El Mirage seasons, there has been a bit of an influx in driving infractions occurring. As a result, this new committee was formed with the goal of reducing the number of infractions by increasing new driver education.
To do this, we've made a couple of changes to the Rookie Orientation procedure. First, all new drivers and riders will maintain their rookie status for the entire event whereas before you were only a rookie for your first run. The purpose here is to keep our new drivers and riders in a controlled environment and work on making good clean runs and getting lots of seat time with no pressure to go for broke and attack any records too soon. Yes, there will be exceptions but they will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Just be prepared to run out of the rookie line for the entire event. You will graduate out of rookie status when you have successfully proven to the Driver Education Committee that you're ready to do so.
The next big change is that the Rookie Orientation is now a two part event. We will start the first part of the orientation the day before the event and finish the orientation on the morning of the event. So, on a normal one day event, orientation is started on Saturday at 4:00 pm and the second part starts at the driver's meeting on Sunday morning at about 7:00 am. Two day events will have two orientations: the first starting Friday afternoon and ending Saturday morning and the second starting Saturday afternoon and then ending Sunday morning. Because of the time change in the fall, afternoon orientations in November will start an hour earlier (3:00 pm). All new drivers, riders, and crew members must attend both parts of the orientation.
Rookie Orientation will begin promptly at the Registration Trailer. DO NOT be late. From there we may go over to the SCTA property to hold the classroom section of the orientation. Once the classroom stuff is taken care off we will drive over to the starting line and then proceed down on a tour of the race course. In order to do this you will need a support vehicle with working CB radio. Please bring any new crew members with you. We will be covering very importation information that all drivers, riders, and crew members must know.
The morning of the event we will all meet up for the second half of the orientation at the driver's meeting. From the starting line we will watch the first ten or so race vehicles start their runs. Importance here is seeing how starting procedures are conducted. Then we will move down to the finish line and watch the next ten or so race vehicles complete their runs. Importance here is seeing how to correctly end the run and move off the course while staying within the race course boundaries. Rookie stickers WILL NOT be issued until the end of the second half of the orientation. You MUST attend both parts in order to complete the orientation.
Rookies will be allowed to make one run per round once the first 25 vehicles have ran. First rookie runs are limited to 150 mph. There are NO exceptions to this rule. Once you have completed your first rookie run, you will continue to run out of the rookie line where you will be making licensing passes. As stated before, any rookie status exceptions will be dealt with on a case by case basis and are subject to approval by the Race Director. You CAN NOT set a record from out of the rookie line.
Well guys and gals, I think that about covers it. Our first event is coming up in a week and I'm looking forward to starting the 2010 season off on the right foot. If you have any questions regarding Rookie Orientation please feel free to post up here or message me. If you are a new driver or rider and will be debuting a new race vehicle, please be sure to consult with the appropriate technical personnel BEFORE arriving to an event for the first time (contact info is in the rule book).
Show up early and be prepared to be orientated. It's going to be fun.
Nate
