2015 SoloPro Schools

[E6Cueman]

I had a great time.

Not sure the run group bit needs work... some of us were just distracted by other things.

[Canuck]

I thought it was fantastic.  Run groups and work groups were crystal in my view.  A well run school all around.  Thanks for bringing this school to southern Alberta.  I really got a lot out of it and I have a lot of learning to do - love the challenge.

[Tuna]

Run groups and work groups were crystal in my view.

On Sunday I found some of the work groups were sluggish getting into the field. I was first car in two sessions and we gave up waiting and started with only one marshall on the runway both times. As a marshall I ended up working the runway most times and several times it was just Cam and myself doing the entire runway with Jo at the tree/finish gate and Shawn at the side road slalom. We had no radios and no way to ask the work group joining us to come and help on the runway. This happened every work session and at the end of a long day it became other tiresome. Luckily for us group 6 was pretty good at leaving the cones standing.

[NickST]

Huge thanks to Tim, Reijo and Jeff. What a great school and phenomenal experience to be able to learn from the Pro's. Overall a great group of guys at the school too, I really enjoyed meeting some new faces and catching up with old ones.

As for quick turnaround between shifts.... I think we all need to get skateboards and umbrellas next time:

[Tuna]

^ I'm definitely investing in a skateboard after seeing that

[James@SpecR]

^ I'm definitely investing in a skateboard after seeing that

I thought I saw something in the latest fast track regarding not allowing people to have wheeled things on course regardless of time to move around.

[NickST]

I thought I saw something in the latest fast track regarding not allowing people to have wheeled things on course regardless of time to move around.

Interesting, I went hunting and found this. It doesn't sound like a firm ban though, more of a recommendation.

#16867 Wheeled Personal Conveyances
The Solo Safety Committee strongly encourages all Regions to include in their supplementals a ban on the use of scooters, skate boards, roller skates and any similar type wheeled personal conveyances in any grid area.

personally I am in favor of anything that speeds up shift changes

[majormojo]

Good point. SCCA has a rule that competitors may not be on the course with wheeled thingies. ASN/WCMA doesn't have a specific regulation about that, but some clubs might have it in their supp regs. Usually, the idea is to prevent people from doing a "course walk" at speed. Most clubs are accepting of people using some wheeled means (even cars) of getting to/from far away marshal points on airstrips as long as they are not running the course itself (In fact at Namao we'd ask people to drive to the far stations, or run a shuttle van for marshals).

[Tuna]

On a positive note, I came away from this school with a pretty decent understanding of the car's handling and some new tools to help me go faster. I'm looking forward to driving competitively.

[majormojo]

I think the fastrack item is a clarification about grid. The regulation about wheeled thingies on course is in the main Solo Rules:

4.9 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

No person may compete who has pre-run through all or any part of the
course, in or on any wheeled vehicle, except a competitor with a physi-
cal disability that impairs his/her ability to walk may, with the approval
of the Chief Steward, use a wheelchair or similar aid traveling at normal
walking speed to accomplish the requirements of Section 6.3. All event of-
ficials, whether competing in the event or not, must use caution to avoid
individual conflict of interest situations during the event.

Section 6.3 just says that everyone gets a course walk opportunity.

[NickST]

On a positive note, I came away from this school with a pretty decent understanding of the car's handling and some new tools to help me go faster. I'm looking forward to driving competitively.

I cannot believe how fast you were able to get that car around the course by the end of the day

Not just blowing smoke up your skirt either, look at how spot on you were in the pics:

Instructor:


You:

[Sprockett]

FYI The rule about wheeled things you cite is an issue for grid...not transportation around the site.

Also, in general, you can't be on wheels when 'walking' the course but it's also not seen as an issue if you are travelling at normal walking speeds. Even at SCCA Nationals there are many (ok a couple) golf carts on course 'walks' for people with disabilities or injury.

[NickST]

I've uploaded some pictures for you guys. I have more of each car, but I just cherry picked the best ones

Link:
http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/SportPhreak/slideshow/Fiesta/SASC/Solo%20Pro%20School

A few of my favorites:

[majormojo]

Great photos, Nick. Loving the new avatar! 

[Tuna]

Great photos Nick. I've grabbed the photos of my car and linked them in my build thread on WSC.