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Gunrunner
USA
1164 Posts |
 Posted - 06/07/2010 : 4:05:44 PM
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Please post up suggestions or comments about what you liked or would like to see improved with any aspect of GH compititon. If you have a concern please suggest an improvement plan with the concern so we can keep the debate going in a positive direction. I will be posting up my observations as time allows.  |
President, HCHDW
Member Steens Mt. Advisory Council Co-Chair Groundhog with wife Peaches, Member DC4W |
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shawna
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 4:42:42 PM
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I think Groundhog went really well this year, especially considering there were nearly twice as many competitors as last year! I did think of a couple things that might help it run even more smoothly next year:
At registration Friday night, give out either the actual bracelets or a token of some kind to the driver and spotter for each team. Saturday morning, give out the bracelets as they register, and take trade-ins of the tokens, if that method is used, for the people who registered Friday night. (If people lose their bracelet or other token, we would have to verify with registration that they are actually a driver or spotter.) When I was helping Cacheman hand out bracelets, we had no way of knowing if the people claiming to be a driver or spotter really were, and Iceman suspects some drivers had two or more "spotters" helping them. We also had a couple people say they were "with" such-and-such competitor, just to get into the pit, and if they'd just said "yep, I'm a spotter," we wouldn't have known they weren't. Having the T-shirt sales, registration, and bracelet administration outside the caution tape would mean that NO ONE without a bracelet gets into the pit, which would be easier to enforce than "no one except people who still need to get their bracelet."
As the day went on, and more and more vehicles broke, it was hard for the judges to know who was late but might show up eventually vs. those that were broke and not coming back. It would be helpful if each driver "checked out" at registration if they were broken down for good, so cards could either be marked accordingly or not handed to the judges at all. It would make things even MORE complicated, but to take it one step further, competitors with a hope of returning could notify registration as they leave the pit to attempt repairs that they might be late, or miss one class, but that they're going to try to be back. Peaches and her team could mark the cards accordinly, and the judges could mark the driver as late if they're not present when it's their turn, but move their card to the bottom of the stack in case they DO show up before that class is done.
One more thing I'd been mulling over, but don't have a good solution for, is all the extra drivers and spotters by the end of the day (as their rigs break, but they return to watch). They paid their entry fee, so I think getting to watch from inside the pit after their rig breaks is a nice privilege, but towards the end of the day, there were SO many that it was quite a herd that had to jump aside when a rig bounced towards us, and for those of us trying to take photos and videos, that many more people we had to work around. Also, as Iceman pointed out, some of them were "helping" their favorite drivers, which isn't fair to the less popular drivers who only have the one spotter they came with. I definitely don't think they need to be kicked out of the pit once they break, but I wonder if there is some sort of middle ground solution. Maybe some designated areas inside the pit but out of the line of sight of judges and photographers that they can watch from, and reminders not to help? I don't know...
Do those suggestions make sense? Like I said, it was a great day/weekend, and I really appreciate all the work that Gunrunner, Peaches, and their cohorts put in. |
"Okay, that WAS fun!" |
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Gunrunner
USA
1164 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 5:31:22 PM
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| Bracelets, good one, that had not come up. Frankly, we forgot them at first and were playing catch up, something to address for sure. Drop outs, on my list to discuss also, good suggestions. Returning to help out, rules say they can not assist or recieve assistance while running the course. This can be addressed at drivers meeting. As to getting in the way, course marshalls have the right to move them out for safety or interference and should do so. All good points well worth discussion and resolution, thanks. |
President, HCHDW
Member Steens Mt. Advisory Council Co-Chair Groundhog with wife Peaches, Member DC4W |
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Gunrunner
USA
1164 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 5:42:05 PM
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| A couple from my list, need 8 toilets next year plus the freeby. Courses can not share real estate or cross paths. Posters need to include start time for event. Clean up rules regarding rear steer. |
President, HCHDW
Member Steens Mt. Advisory Council Co-Chair Groundhog with wife Peaches, Member DC4W |
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packrat
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 7:56:29 PM
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| To avoid arguments at the gate--website and posters should have spectator fees noted. Several people were caught unawares. |
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Gunrunner
USA
1164 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 8:03:43 PM
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| Agreed, definitely. |
President, HCHDW
Member Steens Mt. Advisory Council Co-Chair Groundhog with wife Peaches, Member DC4W |
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Peaches
75 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 8:16:53 PM
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| Posters and ads should have the start time listed as well |
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Mudslinger
1109 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 8:49:01 PM
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| Posters and ads should also have the tec times. This year was from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday evening and from 7:AM to about 9:0-0 AM Saturday morning. If some one shows up after 9:00 AM Saturday and they have a good reason we can still teck them. the part of the above about after 9:AM Saturday should not be posted or we may have alot of late comers. |
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Rockaholic
1936 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 11:07:10 PM
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We need a couple of 100 foot long cables to spread the speakers out farther. Then we could put the speakers and sound board some place else. 2 wireless mikes would be good also but not a must.  Was a great event and it just keeps getting better.
I think that winches should be tested at tech so they can winch themselves out and some winch anchors should be installed around the pit. Anchors could be straps around rocks or rebar embedded in rocks.
Closer eyes need to be kept on spotters rocking rigs. Big D was all over this on his course but I don't know if it was a problem on other courses.
We might need some bigger fire rings for next year also.  |
Hey, I bet I can fix that! |
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Peaches
75 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 07:45:19 AM
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| Posters have spectator cost but not times on them. This is an easy fix. Speaker cables yes, another easy fix, second mike depending on cost, a good idea. opps,, Gunrunner on peaches log in. |
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cruiserfj40
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 10:17:47 AM
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I was in the super mod and felt bad for the two toyotas that were in our group. I dont know if you can find a better way of breaking up the classes. The courses we had setup was probably next to impossible for them to finish. Maybe changing the frame rail, steering, and stock axle rules around so they could enter more of a stock class.
Otherwise for the size it was figuring out what was going on was not too hard. |
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flexy
USA
215 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 9:45:28 PM
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| i think more vendors would be great... as in maybe more food vendors? offroad parts vendors... anything would help. |
~1991 Ford Explorer~
~4.0L Engine/A4LD Transmission/BW-1354 T-Case (Now Manual with thoughts on doubler build)~
~33" Wildcat EXT's on Ultra 50/51 Wheels~
~5.5" Superlift w/F150 Coil seats and shackles in rear~
ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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papacasey
50 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 10:57:34 AM
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First off I had a great time.
I liked having a judge right there with each rig to stop time ask questions etc.
I agree with Dan that the crossing of courses was a problem, and caused too many delays.
I think that spectator access on the east side of the pit is difficult. Maybe if part of the main road into the pit was opened for foot traffic would help. Still away from the courses, but much easier than way around the food and large rock ledge where people were sitting.
Thanks for a great weekend. |
Got Snow? |
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Gunrunner
USA
1164 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2010 : 9:57:46 PM
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| Keep the suggestions coming, however I will be absent from the forum until the 21st. One suggestion I had, pay Aaron in the exo 4 runner to attend, best of show 4 years running. |
President, HCHDW
Member Steens Mt. Advisory Council Co-Chair Groundhog with wife Peaches, Member DC4W |
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Rockaholic
1936 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2010 : 10:57:21 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Gunrunner
Keep the suggestions coming, however I will be absent from the forum until the 21st. One suggestion I had, pay Aaron in the exo 4 runner to attend, best of show 4 years running.
He definitely could get the crowd whipped up with his full throttle assaults and take no prisoners driving style. |
Hey, I bet I can fix that! |
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Cacheman
USA
85 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2010 : 05:54:29 AM
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Thanks Dan & Ann for leading a great Groundhog Rock Crawl Competition this year again! I thoroughly enjoyed working up close and personal in the pit. There is nothing like the sound of metal crunching and engines roaring in the morning! You two have great organizational skills and we appreciate your hard work!
Thanks! |
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Suggestions Welcome