What are the chances our yearly dues would then go down, because the SCCA is saving so much money by not sending us hard copies? I'm going to go with "about zero".
What are the chances our yearly dues would then go down, because the SCCA is saving so much money by not sending us hard copies? I'm going to go with "about zero".
Kevin
2010 FP Runoffs & Super Sweep Champion
2010 ITB ARRC Champion
2008 & 2009 ITA ARRC Champion
'90 FP Acura Integra RS
'92 ITA Acura Integra RS
'92 ITB Honda Civic DX
Yes, but the cost of a license will not go up until 2011!
Seriously, what are the implications of the 'on-line version' being the official version? Will the club provide on-line access at events so that members will have access to that version (especially if you are the 10% that are not on-line. I know competition members that do not even own a computer, much less internet access!) If you opt for the CD version, will the club send you a new CD with FastTrack changes monthly?
I can see pros and cons here, but recognise the club's efforts to keep costs down.
Bill Stevens - Mbr # 103106
BnS Racing www.bnsracing.net
92 ITA Saturn
83 ITB Shelby Dodge Charger
Sponsors - Race-Keeper Data/Video Aquisition Systems www.race-keeper.com
Simpson Performance Products - simpsonraceproducts.com
Ever since the GCR was available for download I have used that format. By using the search function in Reader the amount of time saved looking up any information has been reduced by an order of magnitude if not more.
The GCR has got to be one of the most unorganized reference books I have ever had the misfortune of having to read.
Tom Sprecher
I would like it in the form of stone tablets, or microfiche....
______________
Waterhaus Racing is Back!
NRSCCA Competition Chair
BOG Member
"Nebraska organizing committees
to race in Iowa & Ne board thing "
Still working on a name...
X-MVRG Member...
ITB Rabbit/ITA Miata
Does this mean that we can bring micro film or online versions of our factory shop manuals too? Or do those still have to be on paper because what is good for goose isn't so good for the gander?
Or could we at least recognize that as long as you can produce a copy of the FSM you don't actually have to have it? Cripe for the cost of all the inspection tools that tech owns you'd think they could come up w/ a half dozen of the more common FSM's as a reference manual. Yeah, the weirdo stuff like Suzuki's the tech guys are going to lean on the owner for that manual, but for RX7's, Miatas, BMW's, 240Z's you'd think that there is one available.
It isn't rock paper sissors, nothing beats paper when you are trying to reference something.
Actually, most of the categories/classes where FSMs are required now state that non-print versions are acceptable. (If we've missed some, let us know - after the 2010 GCR becomes available.)
I strongly disagree with that statement. Stewards (of which I am one) probably make more use of the GCR than anyone. Many of us stopped bringing the printed version to the track a long time ago because it is much easier to search the PDF than it is to hunt through the printed book when trying to locate something that isn't referenced frequently.It isn't rock paper sissors, nothing beats paper when you are trying to reference something.
Dave
News Flash
Archaeologists In Rome Discover Ancient Artifact. While Digging, They Discovered Stone Tablets Which Turned Out To Be The 10BC SCCA GCR For Chariot Racing. Protest Was Made By Many Members Because Knives Were Banned From Use On Wooden Rims For The 010 Season......lol
It takes almost a 3" three ring binder to hold my visually challenged version of he GCR scaled to print a page on a full 8.5X11 sheet single sided (to allow space for notes on the blank facing page). Been doing it since the Book was available for download. It is in tech with me when I'm working. Many drivers have been saved from walking back to their pit to get their reading glasses by it being available. Printed copies of the Fastracks are available in another binder.
I also have a thumb drive that has the GCR and each months Fastrack.
With all the data collectors, digital vid, programmable ECU units in cars these days that need data stored and wifi becoming available at more and more tracks, who doesn't have a computer available somewhere close in the pits?
Last edited by jhooten; 12-02-2009 at 10:31 AM.
Jerry
Lone Star Regional Executive
Lone Star Tech Chief.
Bill Stevens - Mbr # 103106
BnS Racing www.bnsracing.net
92 ITA Saturn
83 ITB Shelby Dodge Charger
Sponsors - Race-Keeper Data/Video Aquisition Systems www.race-keeper.com
Simpson Performance Products - simpsonraceproducts.com
Christian in FL | Something white with Honda on the valve cover...
FASTtech Limited- DL1, Schroth, & Recaro Goodness
LTB Motorsports- The Cheapest Place for Momo
TrackSpeed Motorsports- OMP, Racetech, & Driver Gear
Depends on how many copies are printed. Even if they do rise per copy, there's still a considerable cost savings considering the number of them being printed, cost to ship them from the printer to distributor, then to the member. Storage costs for those copies saved for new members. Costs associated with the time it takes to ship them out. It all adds up and pretty quickly.Lastly, how will the volume of printing impact per copy pricing?
So few people these days (especially racers) either don't have a computer or don't have access to one where they could view this at work. Absolute worst case, have someone print the sections that you want a hard copy of...which leads to:
Seriously! And talk about intimidating for anyone looking at it for the first few times. When it boils down to it, there really isn't a huge portion that a racer needs to have at the track. Portions of the various appendixes and in our case the IT rules sub section which is only 12 pages not including each cars specs.The GCR has got to be one of the most unorganized reference books I have ever had the misfortune of having to read.
I've always felt there are much better ways to spend these resources than on printed copies of the GCR.
Dave Gran
Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing
My first thought on this is what if I'm in impound after a race and want to protest someone? Some how you'll have to look up the appropriate sections to reference in your protest.
I know the chances of that happening are rare but if it does, you don't want to spend that 30 minutes trying to find your CD and a computer, write it up then find the steward to submit it.....
Jeff L
ITA Miata
2010 NARRC Champion
2007 NERRC Championship, 2nd place
2008 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
2009 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
When I read that I was laughing while picturing Jeff frantically looking for his hardcopy, fumbling in his truck through half a dozen plastic parts tubs, all buried under tires (old and new), toolboxes, other "spare parts", ice coolers, half-eaten Whoppers, and poorly-ventilated driving driver's suit parts...
'Course, we can all go back to "the way it used to be" where they weren't sent to us, we had to buy all of these books. Yes, as I recall we even had to pay for a copy of the required GCR -before- they were available electronically, as well as individually buying each of the specs book (e.g., ITCS, GTCS, PCS, etc). Later in the process there was an 8x11-ish hardcopy of it all in one place, but that was only available to tech inspectors. It's only been relatively-recent that: uno, we've had everything under one cover; and dos, it's been auto-shipped to licensed drivers.
The answer is easy: put your GCR on a $3 USB flash drive in the top of your toolbox (or some other convenient location in your "stuff"). If you can't find a PC or a handheld device at a race track these days within 32 microseconds, you're just not trying...and, if you really want one, you can call and buy a hardcopy at any time. - GA
IMHO, I don't need to cart another item(laptop) to the track. Also, another item to break when it falls off the truck or trailer. I'll take the book even if I have to pay for it.
Those of us in our 60's are so used to hard copies that I think we revolt at having online magazine subscriptions, as well. Plus, the hard copies also improve our hoarding....LOL.
Oh, so you want the big print version Bruce?
Dave Gran
Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing
Bookmarks