Entry and Grid Draw Information for Titles

[John]

I would like to start some discussion on the topic of posting the Entry and Grid Draw Information for an AIDKA Title Event on the AIDKA web site prior to the Event.

The information could be posted soon after the official AIDKA grid draw has been completed.

It would be able to be easily posted as the Result Sheet pdf files in a similar manner to the way the Title Results have been posted.

[Kart 18]

Maybe AIDKA could just post up a list of nominated drivers for each class. I like how you don't know till the day. But I wouldn't be against it, but a list of nominated drivers could work well much like they do on Sprintcarworld.

[John]

Thanks for the comments they are appreciated.

I am interested to hear why you prefer to not know the grid draws until the actual event.

In the past I have heard reasoning such as drivers would not attend the event if they believed they had bad grid draws.

Note: In my opinion the grid draws are relatively fair and so I don't see why any driver would choose to miss an event based on any grid draw they may receive.

Another possible opinion I could expect is that it is a surprise to find out on the day but I haven't heard that one yet.

I look forward to more discussion.

[tom]

I don't mind either way, but would be interested to see the entry lists for the major meetings if i'm not attending.

As far as grid draws go, i think it would be easier for the grid marshals if the draws weren't done until all the drivers were registered, then have a grid printout for each heat that doesn't have gaps for non-attending drivers.

I've never heard someone not attend a meeting because of "bad" grid draws. In my experience it's not the actual draw you get but rather the performance of the karts immediately in front of you that gives you an advantage in any case.

[John]

Good comments Tom.

As AIDKA currently use the QuickGrid computer system for their Title Events it would be quite easy to conduct the grid draws just prior to the event but that is a topic in itself

The official AIDKA grid draw is generally completed weeks ahead of any Title Event and not redrawn on the day to remove any confirmed withdrawals.

I recall that this was undertaken at the 2003 AIDKA National Titles in WA and a situation was created when a driver appeared on Day 2 to participate. They had of course paid their entry fee and there was nothing in the official Rules to indicate they had to participate in Day 1 to make them eligible for Day 2.

Another consideration is that printed program have tended to contain the grid draw information and if there is a redraw on the day it causes a lot of confusion.

It also can cause a lot of unwanted last minute anxiety for the Tower Officials rather than it being all managed some weeks before the event.

To my knowledge all AIDKA Title Event grid draws are completed weeks ahead of the Event Date and in the case of any driver not being present on the day the Grid is simply shuffled up accordingly. This is no different to starting the day without any absent drivers and in subsequent races they withdraw due to equipment failure etc and so the other drivers reallocate up the grid as required.

The Grid Sheets are automatically generated by the computer system for the Grid Marshall and so it is a simple matter of highlighting the withdrawn drivers so that they are aware that the grid will be shuffled forward. It is also a courtesy for drivers on the day to notify the Grid Marshall if they are no longer going to participate. That way the Grid Marshall and other drivers can reallocate the grid positions well ahead of the race.

[tom]

Fair enough about the club not wanting the stress on the day to print out grid draws etc.. Really the whole system should be about making it as simple as possible for the club running the event.

[Karterdude!]

Adelaide print out the grid draws on the day every meeting..... Is it that hard to do?

[John]

No I agree it is actually very easy to do (Nice to hear that the the benfits of the system are appreciated)

For standard Club events and especially in the cases where nominations are accepted on race day QuickGrid (computer system) allows grid draws to be completed in seconds and the grid sheets printed nearly as quickly.

Incidently the ease of operation that you have identified would be no different for a National Title Event with 450 plus entries. The automatic grid draw process would still take only a matter of seconds and then grid sheets printed in a few minutes.

The topic of interest is more related to Title Events where the grid draw is completed 4 or 5 weeks ahead of the event and what people think about making the information available prior to the event.

I am interested to hear if there are any valid reasons as to why the information should not be made available.

On a slightly separate topic it wasn't that long ago that the Results for a Title Event were also not made available until the trophies were presented. I'm sorry I don't know who you actually are and it isn't important but if you have been in the sport for a while then you would have experienced those events. I can recall puzzled looks and trophies needing to be recovered from people and presenting at a later date to the rightful winners.

One reason for keeping the results "secret" was that it was a "surprise" but I often stated that it was a "bad surprise" when it went wrong.

I believe that I can claim some input on changing the system to having not only the results available at the end of the event especially having them available after each race for review.

As you would appreciate this is also made extremely easy with the computer system your club is now using.

[Kart 20]

No other form of motorsport releases the grids before the main races... (Speedway) I reckon it is part of the experience not knowing where you start. I know I wouldnt like to know who I was starting against it would create too much tension and anxiety if I knew I was starting next to a certain driver.. I think they should release who is nominated and maybe the racing order but I don't know why I just wouldn't like the grids being put up... That's apart of the experience.