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On this page are subjects that pertain to Timing & Scoring in the Northeast Division, Sports Car Club of America. New Features of Orbits 4 SP2 Hotfix Q1 Thank you all for your feedback about the problem at Hallett. While Orbits 4 SP2 Hot Fix Q1 is available for download from the MyLaps website, and is being used at a number of tracks, I have been remiss in not giving more guidance about the new features (and problems) of the program. As with any new version of Orbits, it’s a good idea to look through all the Options (from the Tools pull down menu). The General screen is the same as before, with 8 optional fields of data. The Timing screen has 3 items: (1) “flag drivers that did not finish a race as DNF when run is stopped” Remember that the Orbits programmers are in Holland, and have very little idea of what happens in SCCA racing. This box should be UNchecked. [Charlene: this was the cause of your problem.] (2) “Start finish pit passing count for best lap time” I don’t believe there is any restriction in the GCR about which loop must be crossed to generate a best lap time, so CHECK this box (if, of course, you have a pit loop). One assumes that any fast lap is checked for believability, so shortcuts into the pits don’t give a car the pole. (3) “In case of tie on best lap time, look at” The answer is: The second best lap time. Run defaults: This screen is broken into 4 parts, but the choices are the same as in previous versions of Orbits. The correct answers will depend upon your particular track and event. The question at the bottom of the General tab about Qualification requirements text on printout should be answered “Not qualified.” In the Timing tab, DO stop the race clock during a red flag. Auto finish tab: There’s no reason not to choose auto finish for a race run; if your races are a certain number of laps or a time limit, the correct choice is “Auto finish on time or laps (the one that is reached first).” Qualification requirements: if your default run is a race, you will have different choices than if the default is qualifying. It’s OK to set 120% of the best lap time as a requirement, but remember that the GCR states that the minimum qualifying time is 120% of the fastest car IN EACH CLASS. Orbits doesn’t yet figure this out by class, at least not easily and efficiently. The Starting grid is pretty self-explanatory (and unchanged). I didn’t use it before and probably won’t now! Oval Defaults, however, has an interesting feature. If you check the Enable Oval Features box, you are able to select a Lineup method and scheme. Choosing “back to the last completed lap” under method, and “current result” (see note below) causes a second yellow flag symbol to appear amidst your flags. When a yellow or red flag is keyed during a session, a pop-up window appears and asks if you’d like to print a lineup. Saying yes generates a list of cars in result order on the last completely scored lap that is suitable for giving to the grid workers for re-gridding purposes. Don’t check the box to enable sandbagging. The last setting, endurance features, doesn’t apply to SCCA. I have recently received an e-mail from the Chairman of the S te wards, David Nokes, who mentions a change in procedures concerning restarts. In reference to GCR 6.8.A, he says, “ Lapped cars now must be moved to the back and not interspersed with the leaders.” I believe there may still be discussion among the Execs about this, so be sure to check with the Chief Steward at your event. Another area of change in Orbits 4 SP2 Hot Fix Q1 [whatever happened to short, easy to say, acronyms, like AMB??] is with the print templates. While I don’t believe those Dutch programmers actually listened to all my requests for changes and improvements, they did make some template functions a little more “customizable.” When you bring up the print screen, there is the same list of templates. Near the bottom are 2 check boxes. If you check “Use customized column names” when you preview/edit templates you are able to modify the column heads on your template. So, if your additional field is named Membership Number, and this header is far longer than the actual number, you can leave your additional field alone and simply change the column head to Mbr or MemNo or something like that. Whether that “Use customized column names” box is checked or not, you can still size the column head differently from the rest of the column (the data). An interesting glitch I just discovered: if that “Use customized column names” box is checked, when you print timecards (laps of competitor) the column heads are in Dutch. If you print Laps of competitor (reduced) there are no column heads at all. But there are also no cumulative times, so they’re not very helpful as timecards. I’m sure as we all use Orbits 4 SP2 Hot Fix Q1 during the course of the season we will discover more “unintended features.” Feel free to share them as you find them! Carla Region Abbreviations 2010 GCR Compliant Results Official Results Absolutely, Positively, Must Include: Track name, track length Date of the event Sanction number (Use only the sanction number that applies to that result; don’t put all the possible sanction numbers on all the results or Janet Farwell will ask you for clarification) Provisional Results must have the time of posting written on them; the time they are printed is not sufficient. They must also include the chief’s initials or signature. Try to have a PA announcement made when provisional results are available. Things to Remember When a car is disqualified, excluded, or withdrawn, the results should list the car at the bottom of the finishing order. All other cars would appear with their adjusted overall and class positions. If a car is given a time, lap, or position penalty, move the car to the position that reflects the penalty. Place an asterisk next to his number, and state the reason for the penalty on the bottom of the results, including the GCR reference. To be considered a starter: One of the following conditions must be met for a car to be considered a race starter: A. The car receives a green flag at the start of the race. Cars that turned a wheel on track at any time during the course of the event are considered participants. If they don’t start the race, they are marked as DNSs. Drivers who entered but did not turn a wheel at the event should not appear on the final results. To be considered a finisher: The car completes half the laps of the overall winner. In the case of an uneven number of laps, divide by two and round down (in an 11 lap race, 5 laps are needed for a finish). The car may finish in the pits by being driven over the control line using only on-board power (such as the starter motor), but it may not be pushed across the line by its crew or any officials. A car has 5 minutes after the checkered flag to complete the lap. A Few Reminders and New Things The Chief of Timing and Scoring must hold a National license only at National races. For Drivers Schools and Regional races, only a Divisional license is required The GCR specifies that car numbers are at least 8 inches high, with a 1.5 inch stroke, on a contrasting background. Rear winged Formula cars must have as large a number as possible on their rear wing side plates. All numbers must meet the approval of the Chief of Timing and Scoring. Cars without readable numbers or without working transponders may not receive times. Do the best you can, but … The GCR requires the use of 2 timing systems at National races, so that the following information is produced: a set of grids, a set of time cards for each car from qualifying and race sessions, continuity tapes, independently prepared lap charts, provisional and final results. If there is insufficient staff for 2 systems, the Chief of T&S notifies the Chief Steward, who may waive this requirement. This procedure is also suggested for Regional races. While many regions find it impractical to run two different systems, these techniques meet the requirement: • Use photocells, hooked into the AMB decoder • During races, do at least 1 lap chart by hand or independent computer. • Use 2 different decoders and 2 computers, even if there is only 1 loop. Be sure the different systems are plugged into different circuits, power strips, or outlets. • Use photocells, hooked into the AMB decoder AND into an electronic timer which prints the times (such as a Chronomix). In the event of a serious problem with AMB, the tapes can be collated with the electronic timer times, and time cards created. (Yes, slow and painful, but still a choice.) Results distribution: Per GCR 3.7.2, the organizer is responsible to distribute results as follows: A. Printed, photocopied, or electronic Official Race Results sent to the National Office within 5 days of the event. B. For National races, 1 printed or photocopied or electronic copy of Official Qualifying Grids and Race Results sent to the appropriate Divisional Pointskeeper(s) within 5 days of the event. C. Printed or photocopied Official Race Results available for each entrant at the event; or mailed at the organizer’s expense or emailed (at the entrant’s option) within 7 days of the event, 7 days of the notification of any protest decision affecting Results, or 7 days of a Court of Appeals decision, whichever is applicable and whichever comes first. If e-mailing results, please send final qualifying and race results in PDF format to Janet Farwell at the SCCA National Office (jfarwell@scca.com), the National Administrator (timing@scca.com), and Jim Creighton (jcreig53@mindspring.com). GCR SECTIONS OF NOTE: Stopping and restarting a race: GCR 6.7, 6.8, and 6.9 (rain) Notes from the AMB session at the 2009 Runoffs The AMB website is a good source of general information about loop installation and testing, decoder and transponder function, and the current version of Orbits. Everyone who owns an AMB decoder or software has the right to a support site account. Because the log-in and password information is created by the first user of AMB in the region, it’s important that this information be passed on to the next T&S chief, or the region office. AMB releases firmware updates for the decoders occasionally. Each decoder is tracked according to its MAC address, which is usually shown on a metallic sticker on the bottom or back of the decoder. Go to the AMB website, to the Support section, and click on My Decoders to check if there is an update for your decoder. More than one person can register a decoder. There is a Hot Fix for Orbits SP2 available. [But now there is yet another update, called Orbits SP3.] Every region should plan now to replace the older decoders with newer ones, as no equipment lasts forever. It is also advisable to get a decoder with a GPS unit. Some used decoders will be available for sale in a couple of years. Each region or regional chief needs to take charge of fixing and maintaining the loops and coax at the track. Many track owners/employees don’t really understand what that antenna is or does, or how important it is to your success in the timing room. Inspect your loops every weekend you’re at the track, to make sure that the silicone is still firmly in place and no wires are exposed. If you spot a gap in the silicone or a bare wire, do whatever it takes to get it fixed promptly, whether that is reporting to the track or fixing it yourself. It’s not hard to put silicone in the track cut or put a new end of a piece of coax wire. One aspect of life with transponders that is often ignored is the problem with low hits and strength. It’s very important to police low hits vigorously. One solution would be to have a T&S worker walk through the paddock to check car numbers for readability, give advice about fixing bad numbers, look at transponder placement (especially cars that had shown low hits), and make suggestions about better placement. This worker can build a mental or documented database of good placements for different car types. GCR Sections Especially Applicable To Timing & Scoring 5.10. TIMING AND SCORING 5.10.1. Chief of Timing and Scoring The Chief of Timing and Scoring (Chief of T&S) is responsible for accurately timing and scoring the event, specifically: A. Recruiting, training, assigning, and supervising qualified personnel to time and score the event. B. Providing the Chief Steward and the SOM any times and results they request. C. Maintaining records of official times and lap charts for all competing cars. D. Compiling and publishing the Official Results of all competitions, submitting copies of completed Official Results to the Race Chairman, to the SOM, the organizers, and the SCCA, and submitting complete Official Results (including qualifying) within 5 days to the Divisional Pointskeeper. E. At spectator events, working closely with the Press Officers, press, and other media, as well as with circuit, radio, and/or television announcers, providing qualifying information, results, and any other data requested, as quickly as possible. F. Titles are used in this section in a functional sense. The Chief of T&S may delegate any task to any member of the Timing and Scoring staff as appropriate. 5.10.2. Approved Systems Transponder/transmitter systems used in SCCA Club Racing shall be manufactured by AMB or be compatible with AMB systems. Those other transponder/transmitter systems which are currently in use may continue to be used, but shall not be the primary systems for any National race. [AMB has changed its name to MyLaps Sports Timing.] 5.10.3. Timing and Scoring Systems A. The use of two Timing and Scoring systems is required for SCCA National races and is recommended for Regionals and Drivers’ Schools. B. Any Timing and Scoring system used for a National or Regional race should enable the T&S staff to produce the following information: a set of grids for each race group, a set of time cards for each car from qualifying and the race, continuity tapes, independently prepared lap charts, provisional results,and final results. For Drivers’ Schools, the T&S system should enable the T&S staff to produce the time on track for each session and comprehensive time for all sessions for each student, if requested by the Chief Instructor. C. Should there be insufficient staff to run two separate systems as described, the Chief of T&S should notify the Chief Steward. The Chief Steward may decide to waive the two-system requirement, allowing the Chief of T&S to use the staff in the most productive manner possible. In this case, the primary function during qualifying is to establish grid positions. During a race, the emphasis should be on scoring the race and recording any timing-related race information that is possible with the available staff. Timing of class leaders during races is recommended to provide the information described in Section 5.10.4.B.3. No protests concerning the Timing and Scoring requirements will be accepted. 5.10.4. Results A. Provisional Results A lap chart or a printout showing the order of finish and number of laps completed for each car shall be posted and titled as Provisional Results. The time of posting will be on the Provisional Results with the Chief of T&S’s initials or signature, and a public address announcement will be made. B. Final Results 1. At the expiration of the protest period (30 minutes or the time stated in the Supplemental Regulations), Provisional Results may be considered final if Tech has cleared impound and the Chief Steward and/or SOM have no pending actions. The Final Results should be titled as Final or Official Results and shall include the following types of information: description of event, timing and scoring information, and driver information. 2. The description of the event shall include: location of event, date, sanction number, name of conducting region, length of course, and scheduled duration of race (laps or miles). 3. The timing and scoring information shall include: total number of entries, including DNF’s and DNS’s, the overall and class finishing positions for all starters, the number of laps completed for all starters, the overall time of the race, the winner’s margin of victory, the winner’s average speed, the fastest lap time for all starters and any new course records. A DNF is defined as a car that did not complete the required number of laps to be a finisher (half the number of laps completed by the overall leader, rounded down to the nearest whole integer. A DNS is defined as any car that turned a wheel on the track during practice or qualifying, but did not start the race. See 6.10.3.A. 4. The driver information shall include: driver’s full name, hometown, state, region of record, membership number, car number, and car make and model. 5. Optional information on the Final Results might include: the overall time and average speed for each class winner, pit stop information, accident reports, and sponsorship. This information may be available on a separate document, such as an Entry List. 6. When a car is given a lap, time, or finishing position penalty, the reason should be shown on the Final Results, including the GCR reference. 7. When a car is disqualified, excluded, or withdrawn, the results should list the car at the bottom of the finishing order, showing the true finishing order as affected by the disqualification, exclusion, or withdrawal. The results should show the final overall and class positions, as adjusted, for all finishers. The reason for the disqualification or exclusion should be shown on the Final Results, including the GCRreference. 5.10.5. Media It is strongly recommended that at spectator events the Chief Timer and Scorer meet with the Course and Regional Press Officers in order to establish close cooperation with the announcer and all media, and to arrange for fast transmission of unofficial and official Timing and Scoring information to these people. It is always preferable that the Circuit announcer and any radio and television announcers receive information relating to Timing and Scoring from members of the Official Timing and Scoring personnel, via the Circuit or Regional Press Officer. 6.4. THE GRID 6.4.1 General A. 1 car in a class shall constitute a class. A car may not compete in more than one race class in the same race group. B. Number of Cars allowed on Course: A maximum of 25 cars per mile may be on the course or started simultaneously in any type of session. The Division’s Executive Steward may increase or decrease the 25 car limitation for any or all race groups. 6.4.2 Establishing the Race Grid A. A starting position is qualified by a driver/car combination. B. The Chief Timer certifies official qualifying times to determine race grid positions. Cars are positioned on the race grid in order of their official qualifying times without regard to engine displacement or class, with the fastest cars at the head of the grid. Any other method of determining starting positions must be described in the Supplemental Regulations and approved by SCCA. C. Qualifying time ties are broken by comparing the second fastest times, and then the third, if needed, and so on until a difference is found. D. The fastest qualifier may select the inside front row position (in the direction of the first turn) or the outside. If he does not choose, the pole position is presumed to be the inside. If he selects the outside position, the second qualifier is assigned the inside, the third outside, the fourth inside, and so on throughout the entire grid. E. Each driver/car combination must qualify within 120% of the qualifying time of the fastest qualifier in his class to be allowed to start his race. The Chief Steward may waive this requirement and may allow non-qualifiers to grid behind qualifiers. [Remember to set the Orbits qualification requirements to 120% and Orbits will separate these cars from the rest of the field.] F. Cars that are not in position on the grid prior to the 1 minute signal relinquish their starting positions. They will be held behind other cars, and must start from the back of the field. 6.4.3. Qualifying for Oversubscribed Classes When the number of cars entered into a single class race group exceeds the maximum number of cars per mile, the following qualifying procedures apply: A. The class is split into 2 qualifying groups. B. The grid is determined according to 6.4.2. C. Alternatively, if the Chief Steward determines that track conditions are significantly different for the 2 groups, he may recommend the parallel column procedure in which one half of the race grid is taken from each session, and gridded in columns by group, by time. The fastest car is assigned the inside position on the front row and he is followed in that column by the cars from his session in qualifying time order. The SOM must approve this alternate procedure. 6.5. RACE STARTS 6.5.1. SCCA Standard Rolling Start The SCCA standard rolling start will be used at all SCCA races unless an alternate procedure has been approved by the Division’s Executive Steward and is included in the event Supplemental Regulations. A. The Chief Steward will instruct when the 5 minute and 1 minute warnings should be given to the cars on the grid, indicating the time remaining before the start of the race. These signals must be plainly audible or visible. B. Engines should be started at or before the 1 minute signal. C. At or before the expiration of the 1 minute warning, the cars will be released to begin the pace lap. D. One pace lap precedes all races, unless the Chief Steward, at his discretion, authorizes an additional unscored pace lap. E. If a pace car is used, it will be positioned at the head of the pack, with emergency lights flashing. When the field is released, the pace car may begin at a brisk pace, but will be sufficiently slowed before it pulls off the track to allow orderly grouping of the field. Drivers may not pass the pace car until it pulls off the track and the pole car will maintain the speed of the pace car before it pulled off track until the green flag. If the race is not started, another pace lap will be run [see 6.5.1.I below]. Depending on conditions, the pace car may overtake the field and resume its function. The front row drivers must be advised not to pass the pace car and that the pace car may return to its position for the additional pace lap if there is no start. If a pace car is not used, the pole car will serve that function from its position in the front row, complying with the instructions of the Chief Steward or his designee. F. The Starter shall be safely located where the majority of the drivers in the field can clearly see him as they approach his position. He shall remain motionless, with the green flag hidden, and no other flags visible. G. The Starter will start the race by suddenly and continuously waving the green flag until all cars have passed the start line if the field is: 1. at a constant slow speed; 2. well bunched and in line; and 3. close enough to the Starter that the majority of the drivers can see the flag. Racing begins and passing may occur throughout the field when the green flag is displayed. H. The Starter will abort the start by displaying no flag and shaking his head in the negative if the field is not in good order, or if some drivers have improved their positions by moving out of line or by passing prior to the waving of the green flag. This advises the drivers to proceed on another pace lap. Drivers raise one hand to confirm that the start is aborted. (Except as provided in 6.5.2.D.) I. Any additional pace lap(s) following an aborted start are under double standing yellow flags at all stations, and they are scored as race laps. Timing starts when the pole car crosses the timing control line, unless otherwise specified by the event Supplemental Regulations. J. A car may not improve its position in the field after the cars are released from the grid for the pace lap. 1. A car that fails to start with the pack or falls out of position during a pace lap relinquishes its grid position and may rejoin only at the back of the field. 2. A car that is disabled and cannot keep the pace should not hold up the field. The driver must signal that his car is disabled by raising an arm, pulling to the side of the course, and staying well off the racing line. Other cars may safely pass the signaling vehicle. The driver of a disabled car should seek assistance at the nearest corner station or pit at the first opportunity. 3. A car that improves its position relative to the field during the pace lap by moving forward, moving out of line, or passing before the green flag is displayed may be penalized for a false start. However, if a car drops out of the pace lap(s), everyone in the column behind that car must close up behind the car in front; moving up under this circumstance is not considered improving position or passing under yellow. 4. If a false start has occurred, and the race has been started, the driver(s) may be black-flagged and held in the pits or at the start line for up to 1 minute, and other penalties may also be imposed, as specified in Section 7. K. The SCCA Standard Rolling Start is not a flying start. The pace lap may begin at a brisk pace, but must be sufficiently slowed before the start line to allow orderly grouping of the field. The actual speed immediately prior to the start is dictated by the types of cars, size of the field, and course layout. The same official should brief the front row drivers before each race, preferably the Starter, under the direction of the Chief Steward. 6.5.2 Split Starts A. Split starts are recommended when there is a large differential in speed or cornering ability between the classes or categories in a single race group. The procedures for a split start must be explained in the Supplemental Regulations or at a Drivers’ Meeting. B. The Chief Steward will determine the class(es) in each segment. Segments will contain entire classes of cars, including those cars with no qualifying time. The class containing the car with the fastest qualifying time will be a part of the first segment. The cars assigned to each segment will be gridded by qualifying time, regardless of class. C. Each segment should be led by a pace car, if possible. A following segment should have the previous segment in sight on the longest straight. D. Each segment will receive a separate green flag. If the first segment gets a green flag, then the remaining segment(s)’ race(s) will have started no matter what flag the starter displays. This allows the Starter to display appropriate flags if warranted by an incident. Anyone jumping the start in the remaining segments may be penalized. E. A starting judge should be appointed for a split start. 6.5.3. Late Starters After the field has left the grid, the Chief Steward may release cars that were not in position at the 1 minute warning to join the back of the pack either from the grid at the beginning of the pace lap or from the pit exit after the race has been started. 6.7. STOPPING A SESSION 6.7.1. Methods When it is necessary to stop a session, the Chief Steward may do any of the following: A. Order a black flag with an “ALL” sign at Start (this sign may also be shown at additional stations elsewhere on the course) and a black flag at all other flag stations around the course. B. Order a red flag at Start and all other flag stations. Further instructions will be conveyed by officials. C. Order the checkered flag to be displayed to the lead car if at least 50 percent of its scheduled time or distance has been completed. 6.7.2. Assistance During Race Session Stoppage No replenishing or assisting cars is allowed after a race is stopped and before it is restarted. 6.8. RESTARTING A RACE If a race is stopped, the Chief Steward may: A. Restart in the original starting order. (See 6.7.2.) B. Restart the cars single file in the overall order of the cars on the last completely scored lap. When a race is restarted, each pace lap counts as a race lap. In a timed race, the clock is restarted when the field is dispatched. Any method of restarting the engine is permitted. [In other words, if you have races that are 10 laps or 20 minutes, the clock stops when the red flag or black flag all is displayed. The clock restarts when the field leaves the pit lane to resume racing. Because all pace laps after a stoppage count as race laps, the field begins the next race lap upon exiting the pits. That lap is completed as the field takes the green or starts an additional pace lap. How this is actually achieved will vary depending upon the position of the control line relative to the pit lane.] 6.9. RAIN RACING If a race is started in the dry, and it starts to rain on all or part of the course, the Chief Steward may use one of the following procedures: A. If the race has covered half or more of the scheduled distance or time, it may be finished with the checkered flag. B. If the race has not reached half distance or time, the black flag “ALL” procedure shall be used to bring all cars into the pits, and 15 minutes will be allowed to install rain tires, at the driver’s discretion. The cars will restart single file in the overall order of the cars on the last completely scored lap. 6.10. TIMING LINE; STARTERS, FINISHERS, AND WINNERS 6.10.1. Starting Line for Timing and Scoring Unless otherwise defined in the Supplemental Regulations, the start line is the control line where timing begins when crossed by a car. 6.10.2. Race Starter One of the following conditions must be met for a car to be considered a race starter: A. The car receives a green flag at the start of the race. B. If the start is aborted, the car crosses the control line. C. The car is anywhere on the course when the green is displayed, but not in the pits. D. The car completes the pace lap for the first start. E. The car enters the race any time after the start before the checkered flag is displayed. NOTE: Only 1 of these conditions is necessary for a car to be considered a starter. Keep in mind that any car that has retired to the pits while the field is taking the green flag is considered a DNS, but a car that has retired on the side of the track is a starter. The CRB has this under re-consideration. 6.10.3. Race Finisher A. A race finisher is a car that completes half the distance of the overall winner of the race. If the race is an uneven number of laps, divide the winner’s laps in half and round down to the nearest whole integer. A car has 5 minutes after the checkered flag to complete its current lap. B. A car may complete a lap by being driven across the control line in the pit lane only using on-board power (such as the starter motor), but it may not be pushed across the line by its crew or any officials. 6.10.4. Race Winner The race winner is the car that completes the race distance in the least time, or the greatest distance in the timed length of the competition. If the race is shortened, the leader of the last completely scored lap is the winner, provided the race is completed [see 6.10.5]. A. Checkered Flag The checkered flag is displayed at the finish line first to the winner as he completes the race distance or after he completes the prescribed time, and then to the other finishers as they cross the finish line. B. Checker to Wrong Car If the checkered flag is displayed first to the wrong car, it shall be continuously waved until seen by the entire field. The race finishing order will be determined by the last completely scored lap. C. Late Checker If the checkered flag is not displayed at the scheduled end of the race and the race is one or more laps longer than scheduled, the race is scored as if it had ended at the scheduled length. As soon as the Starter is aware that the checkered flag has not been displayed at the scheduled end of the race, he may show the checkered flag immediately, if both Timing and Scoring and the Operating Steward concur. D. Winning Car Not Running in Timed Race If the winning car is not running at the expiration of the timed length, the checkered flag will be displayed to the highest placing car still running. The winner in a timed race is not required to take the checkered flag. E. Dead Heats Competitors in a dead heat share the prizes allotted to their finishing positions. 6.10.5 Shortened Races A. If a race is stopped at less than 50 percent of its scheduled time or distance and is not restarted, it is incomplete; championship points shall not be awarded, and organizers will not be required to distribute trophies or other awards. B. A race that is stopped at 50 percent or more of its scheduled time or distance, and not restarted, is complete, and results will reflect the order of the end of the last completely scored lap (even if that lap is less than 50 percent of the scheduled distance). 6.10.6. Lap Record Official lap records are set during races; not practice or qualifying. A driver whose car is disqualified for non-compliance may not set a lap record at that event. [It may be hard to (a) tell when a car is disqualified for non-compliance instead of another reason and (b) remember to disallow any lap record set by the driver in another class. Get your Stewards to help. The CRB is also revisiting this rule.] APPENDIX C. OFFICIAL’S LICENSING AND TYPES 1.1. Official 1. Regional 1.2. Steward 1. Steward-in-training 1.3. Licensing Requirements A. Only SCCA members may be licensed. B. License applications are available from Divisional Specialty Administrators, Regional Licensing Chairmen, online at the SCCA official web site, and by mail from the SCCA National Office. C. Except for the Senior License level, all Licenses are for one year, concurrent with the membership term. D. Following the initial year, the renewal minimums are as follows: 1. Divisional Renewal : Six (6) days at SCCA Sanctioned events in the preceding 12 months. [The first release of the GCR says Regional Renewal, but regional licenses have no renewal requirements so this paragraph actually refers to divisional licenses.] 2. National Renewal: Eight (8) days at SCCA Sanctioned events in the preceding 12 months. 3. Senior Renewal: Must be approved by Divisional Administrator and Executive Steward every three (3) years. E. Anyone not meeting the participation requirements for his license (upgrade or renewal) is advised to contact his Divisional Specialty Administrator, who may waive requirements. F. Upgrading to the next level of license is dependent upon the specialty. G. License Renewal/Upgrade Forms are mailed automatically to license holders in advance of the expiration of the current License. FORMS Qualifying & Race Results Samples Lapcharts with Car Number and Class from Orbits This is courtesy of Marie Sheehe of Glen Region. The phone number and email in the document are “very old”. If you want to contact her, the current email is mariesheehe@gmail.com. Orbits 4 SP1 Outline & Documentation Orbits 4 SP1: Tips And Tricks Event Set-up: Be sure you select the appropriate time lines for your track. In most cases, you will want to select “2 timelines” and choose “Start/Finish, Start/Finish Pits”. As you build the footer, you can include the region name and sanction number as the first line of the footer. This places it in the highlighted strip at the bottom of the results. You may want to also scan the T&S chief’s signature and embed it as a graphic in the footer area so the results are always signed – even electronic copies. Even if you are connecting through a device that can dynamically assign IP addresses, you should hard-code a static IP address in the primary Orbits computer. In this way, there will always be a consistent and known address for Rmonitors, I-Card generators, Orbits Remote consoles, etc. to use for connections. For double events, you have a couple of choices – you can set it up as two completely separate events, or as a single event and include the sanction number either in the name of the run or as an announcement that you embed ahead of time on each run. (See a caution under track records if you do separate events.) During your event set-up, if you choose a set-up that was used for a previous event (rather than create everything again), make sure you use the most recent event to carry the latest track records. Competitor Database Because so many things change, I do NOT recommend trying to maintain a permanent database. Instead, as you set up each event, clear out all of the old entries in the competitor database and start clean. (You should create a back-up folder and save all the data there before deleting the entries in the database.) If you are using DLB Registration, Donovan typically sets up the last field in the ‘Orbits’ download to be the group number. If you assign one of the additional data fields in Orbits to include this value, it makes population of the event very easy: Just import the DLB Orbits file into the Competitor Database, sort the database on the ‘group’ field and then highlight and drag each group into their respective registration group. In this way, there is no need to sort through all of the different class designations. Downloading and populating Orbits in this way usually takes a total of about five minutes or less. Transponder numbers There is no need to include leading zeros on the transponder number. When a driver gives you a transponder change during an event, do NOT delete his original number – just add the new number as a second transponder (you can enter up to three different transponders). There have been times when a driver changed and then reverted back to their original transponder. If you leave both numbers on his entry, you are covered regardless of which transponder shows up on the track. CAUTION: You may need to be careful of this approach when you are in a transponder rental environment and transponders may sometimes be swapped between cars. Position-in-class When SP1 was first released, it did not include DNFs, DNSs and DQs in the position column – only in the differential column that we normally do not print. AMB did a really quick fix for us and included these designations in the overall position column. (If you happen to have one of the first releases, you may want to go to AMB’s website and download their latest version). Unfortunately, they still show position values in the PIC column, which can be confusing to points-keepers since this is the column they typically check. I suggest that when you publish official results (assuming that you print to the PDF writer to produce an electronic copy), that you pull the results into Acrobat and delete those PIC values for the DNFs, etc. Split Starts Orbits does not inherently produce split start grids, but there are a couple of ways to accomplish this. If you have a single qualifying session, you can just use the “Corrections and Penalties” function for the competitors that you want to put in the front pack and invoke the “Correct the Position” box to place the cars in the appropriate split start position. Unfortunately, if you have multiple qualifying sessions and you must merge the sessions together to produce the grid; the “Corrections and Penalties” function is not available on a merged file. In this case, you can make use of the “Points” field of the competitors (available for the first time in SP1) that you want in the front pack on just one of the qualifying sessions to force a split. For instance, if there are 8 cars to be in the front pack, assign a points value of 8 to the first car, 7 to the next, etc. Then when you merge, select the “Most Points Sort” to put these cars up front. The remaining cars where you have not assigned points will follow in their appropriate position. Numeric Grids: Many grid people like to have a numeric listing of the grid so they can quickly find where a car belongs on the grid as it approaches. You can accomplish this in Orbits by going to the Processing tab and selecting “Starting Grid”. Choose the race that you are using, then select the qualifying session or merged file to use for the grid, and click on ‘Finish’. On the resulting pane, select “Print list” under Publish tasks and you get the numeric order in very large font. This can be photocopied on the back of a normal grid and the grid workers now have the best of both worlds (and they seem to like that large font as well). Note that when you do this you have pre-populated the race run – some people prefer this anyway. Announcements: Even with a very small field, there can only be 4 announcements on the first page of results. A fifth announcement will force a second page. For this reason, you may choose to edit and combine multiple announcements into one. For instance, if you had 3 or 4 track records (along with other announcements such as penalties), you could simply create an announcement that reads: “New track records: #65 in SRF, #6 in SM, and #82 in SSB” You could also include the lap time if you choose, although both it and driver’s name is available immediately above in the results themselves. This will keep the results on a single page. There may be cases where you need to print in landscape mode – such as an endurance race that must also include multiple drivers plus a logbook number. This creates a problem since announcements do NOT print in this mode. You can manually add the announcements by creating a text box in the footer area, and use a relatively small font to type in the announcements. Overall Race Time: The GCR requires that this be shown, and it is not inherent in the usual Orbits result print-out. You could include a column for “Total Time” – but this takes up a lot of space and is actually only needed for the leader. Probably the easiest way to include this information is to create an announcement ahead of time for each race that says: “Overall Race Time: “ which can be completed as soon as the checkered falls. This will be sure that this is the first announcement on the page. (Note that you could also include the sanction number as part of this same announcement if you are combining a double event in a single set-up.) Track Records: You would expect that the records would stay with the track, but they do not -- they stay with the event! Because of this, if you have a double event, and you set it up as two separate events, then any records that are established on Saturday do NOT automatically populate into Sunday’s races, even though it is the same track. At the end of the day on Saturday, you must export the track records and then import them into Sunday’s event to maintain any Saturday records. Back-Ups It is a good idea to make occasional back-ups of the Orbits system – preferably to a jump drive – at least at the end of each day. Be aware that when you use the ‘File/Create a backup’ you are backing up everything that is in that system – all events. There is no need to do a separate back-up for each day of a double event. SP1 makes back-ups a little easier. When you back up to a jump drive, you now have it readily available to load the setup to another computer, either to run an extra system or in case your primary computer crashes. For more T&S Info, contact Denise Patten, T&S DA. Last updated 4/20/10 |
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