2014 autocross season

[kilgojr]

Looking ahead, and not wanting to rest on the past, we are wondering what everyone involved thinks of our championship set-up.

Do you like having "drop" events as part of the season?
Would you prefer the season championship utilizing every points event, not allowing "drops"?

We have discussed this in the past, but I am one for always trying to improve and make the current participants happy.

[DelanieC]

I think it's a great idea 'cause sometimes ya gotta go visit the in-laws ...

[nicktcr]

Here are my thoughts personally, and why I feel the way I do.

I can totally understand why the idea of dropping a couple events is appealing to some. None of us do this for a living, and we all have our own personal lives outside of the cones. Life happens, and some cannot make it to each and every single event, and that's just fine. However, the "yearly championship points" is just that; a cumulative total of an entire year. If you can't show up to half the events, then just accept that where you'll have many event victories for when you do show up, but are just not a serious contender for the championship at the end of the year.

In my opinion, allowing drops all but encourages people to skip an event or two. If not encourages, it sure gives them a really good excuse and way to justify missing out. Someone who consistently shows up to each event and puts at least a few points on the board for each round is more deserving than someone who just shows up and wins a few events.

Can you imagine another league introducing points into their seasonal championships? What if NASCAR or F1 or Indy or Grand-AM did that? No one would take it serious at all, and it would totally devalue the point of tracking all the points in the first place.

My $0.02

[jeallen]

Drops preferred.

[nicktcr]

What bothers me about it is how it just totally discredits my points. I showed up to an event, drove, and put points down, and then those results get DNF'd because someone else was less committed.

[claym]

I think the 50% plus one rule is the most fair to those who work some weekends or take time off or go to church.

Example

8 events would be 4 events plus one=5 best event results count.

9 events would also be the best 5 event results

10 would be 6 best events

This has been used up in Huntsville clubs for years.

[rodhx]

I love you Nick..but I completely disagree with your "encourages people to skip an event". If someone is serious enough to pursue a class championship then very little will "encourage" them to miss an event. But, like you also said, life happens and folks have to miss from time to time. Having a couple of drops allows the serious folks to have the hope of remaining competitive for their championship even if extenuating circumstances forces them to miss an event or two.

Another reason I do not believe having drops encourages skipping an event is the realization if you miss an event then one of your championship competitors is likely going to win and pick up 10 points on you...closing or opening the gap versus you and make it even more essential that you make all the remaining events.

Another way to think about it is not having drops could encourage folks to skip even more events. Say you're intent on competing for a class championship yet "life happens" forcing you to miss two events mid-season. You could easily be mathematically eliminated at that point assuming your competitors show up for the remainder of the season. If that championship was your goal, what's the point of coming back for the rest of the year? For the record I think this illustration is just as ludicrous as the drops encouraging people to stay home

"Yearly championship points" is just that...a cumulative total of points calculated within the framework set forth at the start of the year. It might have drops or it might not...and I really don't care either way. All that really matters is that the framework is published before the competition season begins and does not change through the season.

[rodhx]

What bothers me about it is how it just totally discredits my points. I showed up to an event, drove, and put points down, and then those results get DNF'd because someone else was less committed.

whut?

I think we each have more than enough opportunity to discredit our own points with poor performances. Even if you have perfect attendance drops come in handy to "DNF" those event where you got your keister handed to you

[nicktcr]

Perhaps to certain viewpoints it doesn't encourage people to skip. I can appreciate your points.

I wholeheartedly agree that the most important thing that matters is that we adhere to whatever is agreed upon before season start, but that's why I'm lobbying for a change for next season. I don't care for the idea, and hoped there would be more that agreed with me, however it appears I'm vastly outnumbered in my opinion.

I still feel it discredits the efforts of those that are committed enough to work around the hurdles of life to make it to each event to consistently score points. I personally feel discouraged to make full efforts to attend when I could easily tell myself, "Oh it doesn't matter, that event simply won't count".

I feel downright discouraged when I look back at my results from the season and see that multiple events (including trophy finishes) may as well had not happened at all.

[nicktcr]

whut?

I think we each have more than enough opportunity to discredit our own points with poor performances. Even if you have perfect attendance drops come in handy to "DNF" those event where you got your keister handed to you

What if those poor performances were the difference in winning or losing a championship? Say two competitors battling for the lead have cat and moused the whole season, with even number of 1st and 2nd place finishes, and then you have one guy that misses and event, but the other showed up, but performed poorly. He gets 2 points, where the other guy got none. But since the other guy didn't show up, and the guy that gets points it was a low finish, so it doesn't count. Those 2 extra points could have won him the championship, but now they face some stupid tie-breaker situation.

Granted that is an extreme hypothetical situation, however it is still a valid point.

If I earned the points, no matter how few or poorly earned they were, I earned them darnit, and it bothers me that someone else is now placed on a more even playing field with me when they've done nothing but miss an event.

Seems like a bunch of wussy hand-holding if you ask me!

[rodhx]

Your hypothetical only involves one drop. What happened when both dropped their next worst finish?


I kinda understand where you're coming from...even if you are taking dramatic license with some of the portrayals. Still, given we are talking about a fun little amateur hobby I think it is not advisable to have a point structure that fails to recognize that almost no one is able to show up for all the events.

[nicktcr]

Your hypothetical only involves one drop. What happened when both dropped their next worst finish?


I kinda understand where you're coming from...even if you are taking dramatic license with some of the portrayals. Still, given we are talking about a fun little amateur hobby I think it is not advisable to have a point structure that fails to recognize that almost no one is able to show up for all the events.

Since they both had even 1st/2nd finishes, the second drop is a wash due to their "worst" finish being 2nd. The one where Driver A scores 2 points, and Driver B misses is the critical drop that would likely cause Driver A to be rather upset that his one advantageous finish over Driver B totally counted for naught.

If we're talking about "a fun little amateur hobby", then why do we have such stringent rules to follow, and why do we follow them at all? May as well not say anything to those guys breaking the classing rules, since this is a cute little thing we're doing for no reason.

If we're taking one aspect of it serious, why cut corners somewhere else?

[jbass1911]

What bothers me about it is how it just totally discredits my points. I showed up to an event, drove, and put points down, and then those results get DNF'd because someone else was less committed.

This. I also disagree with drops. I understand things come up and people are going to miss events, but that's life. It's like in professional racing when a car breaks down, it doesn't mean they get a mulligan and everyone else has to drop their worst finish.

[nicktcr]

This. I also disagree with drops. I understand things come up and people are going to miss events, but that's life. It's like in professional racing when a car breaks down, it doesn't mean they get a mulligan and everyone else has to drop their worst finish.

Exactly. It's all about consistency and reliability, so why can't we strive for that too?

[rodhx]

Oh...you're conveniently assuming there was an even number of events...gotcha

If we're taking one aspect of it serious, why cut corners somewhere else?

That's just it Nick...no corners are being cut. Rules are rules, whether amateur or pro. Historically our rules have allowed drops, and having been around for just a few years I kinda know where this poll & discussion are going to end up...still having drops for 2014. Like I said...I don't care how it ends up as long as we are consistent throughout the season.