The Current State of Improved Touring

[dickita15]

And if there is, I let folks know that $25 and a simple form and you can get it resolved. And unless you're just being an a*****e you'll probably get the $25 back, regardless of the answer.

Dick, I think that time you were just having a bad day...or you allowed "that guy" get under your saddle (which you're very good at avoiding...)

GA

on the first point my advice is when you are told something is wrong you do not think is correct try, "i did not know that can you show me in the book where it explains that".

on the second point it is more than a bad day, working tech I often find competitors nervous, defensive and needy. there is a structural problem with the interaction that I wish I had a solution for.

[Andy Bettencourt]

I especially like Dick, Chip and Greg's opinions here because they are both current tech guys as well as current racers.

I laughed when Greg mentioned 'that' racer. There are dinks on BOTH sides of the isle. We are more lucky than not up here in New England. Great group of tech guys from my experience.

[lateapex911]

I especially like Dick, Chip and Greg's opinions here because they are both current tech guys as well as current racers.

I laughed when Greg mentioned 'that' racer. There are dinks on BOTH sides of the isle. We are more lucky than not up here in New England. Great group of tech guys from my experience.

Yes, having Dick, and now Greg in tech, and having them both be active racers, is awesome.
Those who know me know I'm pretty hard to REALLy get pissed off. The thing with my cage happened when i was really new to SCCA. I modeled my cage after the one that the tech guy did in his OWN RX-7, so i was aghast when I was "Non compliant" and sent home to rip out members and place them differently by a guy who literally threw my logbook into the back of my car. Honestly, if I hadn't invested so much into the car at the time, and if the then current CRB chair wasn't a close friend, I think I would have fixed the car and bailed.

If that was my ONLY WTF experience with tech, I'd be fine, writing it off as a one time thing. But I've missed sessions due to things being judged 'inadequate' that were perfectly fine the previous year. ???? And those same solutions were better than other solutions that were signed off by other tech inspectors in the SAME tech session! (When challenged, Mr Tech Inspector says, "I don't have to show you the rule, it's your godamn life I'm saving, now go fix it!". Of course by then it's written in pen in the book, and going 'up the ladder' means finding a Steward, (not knowing who or how to find that guy adds to the fear factor) hoping HE will have time, that be in a good mood, will NOT the best friend of the Tech guy, means probably missing ANOTHER session before it's all resolved, so, the path of least resistance was to source ANOTHER solution ($$$) to the issue, go BACK to tech, (this time getting ANOTHER tech guy who was really confused as to why I was dinked to start with) and ended up missing most of the next session.

Now, that guy I've later found, was deemed by his region to be a 'bad guy', after many many similar complaints, and was asked/told to leave.

So, thats the good news. And the new people are great. I certainly understand us racers are a mix of nice guys and assholes, geniuses who 'know better' and forgetful morons, and dealing with us all day can really sap ones will to smile...but forcign us to miss races and sessions and waste time and money isn't great for our will to continue in a sport where most outside influences (a draining bank account, a semi tolerant wife/family, etc) are pulling us away..

NER has taken a great step forward in having Stewards there just for "contact impound', and they've also been aggressive about staffing the tech area with not just the right people, but enough of them.

I think THATS key. Instead of one guy arguing with a racer over something, bringing a second calmer voice in with a 'fresh take' can help.

[jwasilko]

I'm new to SCCA, and have only raced at NHMS and NJMP. Both regions run great tech operations and were very kind to me the first time thru.

I've worked with and been on the boards of a bunch of car clubs, so I know what it takes to pull off something like a race weekend. Without exception, everyone I've interacted with in the SCCA from registration to getting my novice permit signed off were helpful.

[lateapex911]

^
Good! In general, the registration folk have historically been great and helpful, and friendly. Like go out of their way friendly.
Of course, the "other club", NASA, has issues too, like the rule where you can drive another car off the track, as long as you leave 3/4 car width, and you're within your rights. (!!??)
And if you want to track your car with the PCA, you have to get it to a shop thats PCA approved, pay them to go through the car and give it their seal of approval. And it aint chump change either.

So, there are warts everywhere.