The NEDiv "Redbook" -- leading to cleaner racing in the division

[Gregg]

A few days ago, John Nesbitt, whom any of you know and who serves as the Stewards' representative to the DC Region's Club Racing Committee sent a document out for driver consumption on the use of a "Redbook" by the stewards at all NEDiv events. I think it's definitely an idea whose time has come and hope it will lead to better, safer and cleaner racing in the division. Here's what he sent:

Why do we need a Redbook?
Lack of continuity is a shortcoming in Club Racing. Each race – each run group – exists in isolation. An operating steward seldom has the same group twice in a season. There is very little to link an incident one week at track A with an incident three weeks later at track B, even when it is the same kind of incident, involving the same driver.

History of the NEDiv Redbook
Over the years, there have been several attempts to track incidents through the season. The objective is always to find patterns of behavior and to intervene before they get out of hand. In the past, these attempts, often called “Redbooks”, have been very labor-intensive, involving mailing typed reports back and forth, and have failed. Two years ago, Earl Hurlbut, the NEDiv Executive Steward responded to driver complaints about repetitive misbehavior on track and revived the Redbook concept. This time, it is a Word document, and information flows via email.

The Redbook tracks drivers who consistently have problems with our rules. We focus on contact, Pass under Yellow, starts, and unsportsmanlike conduct. We want to intervene early, before problems build.

How does it work?
Before every NEDiv event, Earl emails the latest Redbook to the Chief Steward. This document is confidential. The Chief Steward shares it only with the operating stewards and the Chairman of the Stewards of the Meeting (if a driver in the book comes before the court).

During the event, operating stewards will keep a slightly closer eye on drivers in the book. They will record significant infractions, if only as a non-punitive reprimand. Operating stewards will always discuss the issue before taking action.

After the event, the Chief Steward submits a report to Earl. These are objective reports. “Driver X received this penalty.” Not, “Driver Y has a bad attitude.” Earl revises the Redbook as appropriate. The next weekend, the cycle repeats.Earl notifies drivers who land in the Redbook. Over time, if the incident was a one-off, a driver will fall out of the Redbook. However, if the pattern continues, Earl will intervene with stronger corrective action. This could take the form of a Driver Review (see GCR section 2.5.).

What the Redbook is not
The Redbook is nothing more than a tool for tracking behavior over a span of time and a variety of tracks. It is not a penalty or punishment. It is not some kind of probation. It does not expose occupants to more severe treatment. It simply records who did what, where, and when.

What the Redbook means
The Redbook is an attempt to overcome the shortcomings of Club Racing event organization. It is a non-punitive record of significant infractions. It comes into play only when the infractions repeat.

The Redbook is a response to frequent - and vocal - complaints from the driver community about repeat offenders. If you have questions or comments about the Redbook, please do not hesitate to contact Earl or me.

Both John's and Earl's contact info can be found here:

http://www.nediv.com/?option=com_etr...ers&category=6

[240zdave]

We need this in the Southeast Division.

[TomL]

I also think this is something we need here in SEDiv. I have a question on how this will operate. It seems to cover only those who are penalized at an event - if there isn't a protest or stewards action then an incident effectively doesn't exist. I'm sure that this will help with repeated, major problems. However, it doesn't address the far more common problem of drivers with multiple incidents of contact, any one of which individually is not major, but in aggregate amount to a significant problem. The great majority of contacts result in no action. Probably most shouldn't - we all occasionally make mistakes. But when certain drivers make more than their fair share of "mistakes", the Redbook procedure seems to do nothing to address them.

Perhaps we could use the system that was proposed a few months back to have all drivers involved in contacts fill in a brief report on the contact. If both agree it was just a racing incident, nothing happens. If both agree it was one person's faults, it may go in the book. If both say it was the other person's fault, it definitely needs to go in the book. Those are the incidents that cause me the most annoyance. Particularly when it's the same person who hits me and multiple other people and wants to blame the offended parties. Yes, I know we could protest, but everyone knows the hassle (and sometimes ill will that that it causes) and for a single incident it often just isn't worth it. But a procedure to address multiple, individually minor incidents should cut down on their occurrence.

I know that this would make the redbook a bit more work for the person in charge of it, but I think that it would address a problem that is far more widespread than the handful of repeat, flagrant offenders. Any other ideas?

[Chip42]

I'm with Tom on incident statements being required, and very much support the redbook concept if it can be made to work in the SE. I'd go so far as to say BOTH should be GCR prescribed.

further, I'd like to see the chiefs share their books between neighboring divisions such that it is available for review if a driver crosses divisional lines and is involved in such an incident as would make it's presence useful.

Updates should be sumbitted to the sanctioning regions redbook and to the Executive Stewards of the driver's division or region of record, regardless of where the race is held and regardless of the sanctioning region's access to the Region of Record's redbook.

[JLawton]

I think it's a great idea!

[StephF]

Do we get to nominate people for it? Maybe get their very own page, and perhaps an award at the end of the year?