Everyone, please read this post from Speedweeks 2014.
Specifically, the part that is "an annoucement about driver's meetings". It very much applies here.
I do have one piece of 'constructive' criticism before I go on my multi-day reflection. Can we have the drivers meeting for constructive and engaging questions rather than a 15 - 45 minute sit fest by having rules and boundaries on the thread via photos and otherwise for each race. I feel like review the rules through a race director reciting them is a waste of time to those who have read the forum already. I believe this would also give drivers a reason to be more active on the forums. I also believe it will save everyone some time before qualifying or the green flag.
Thank you for your time.
I am consistently trying to find ways to shorten the drivers meeting. (I hate how long it is too.) I don't know what people will know about and what people don't know about, which is why I just go through everything. I applaud those who have read through the rulebook, but I doubt everyone actually has. (I don't have specific people in mind either.) Even I forget about some rules, another reason for the weekly refresher. Maybe I can figure out a way to shorten the Caution Procedure and Start/Restart explanation, but other then that I don't know what else I can do. I know you've said talk about important sections, would you care to list the sections you deem important?
I really like the photo idea and will implement it if possible. I'd do it myself but with hosting, testing, practicing, racing and scoring the series as well as life I'm pretty booked. @GTP_Bambi has kindly agreed to take the photos and he will send those photos to you for photoshopping, like we discussed after the race. I'll (like I already do) draw up the pit entry lines, pit exit lines, restart box, and track boundaries definition and when you upload the images, include them in the post. One thing about these photo's that worry me is that everyone will need to have access to their computer right before the race. I'm not sure if that is possible for some people, as many people upon joining the room have asked me what the transmission for the race is.
It is in this very thread!
i agree but people will find ways to get around it or try to lawyer their way out of a penalty
@NearCptNitro is right, if it's clear, you can't lawyer for it. Unfortunately, as clear as I try to be, there are still some grey areas that may always be grey. It has been suggested that if a person gets penalized post-race and they didn't know about it because they didn't read the rulebook, tough luck. This is how I handled NASCAR and my IndyCar Series last year and it left me with far too many post-race penalties to give out. I agree with the philosophy of "even if you didn't read it, you agreed to it." (Like every ToS agreement in which part of the agreement is "I have read and agree to these terms." You know 90%+ of people don't read those. I applaud those who have read through the rulebook, but I doubt everyone actually has. (I don't have specific people in mind either.) Even I forget about some rules, another reason for the weekly refresher. Unfortunately, if we do it the way where people may or may not have read the rulebook and they get penalized because they didn't know about a rule, it will lead to what happened last year; too many post-race penalties. I am not willing to accept that. It makes for a lot of work for myself, as well as a bad looking official results section.
Drivers should still read post though its like the nascar rulebook. The changing lane thing should be changed its puts people in bad postions and could lead to wrecks. I think it should be if driver doesn't go before the box/line you should be allowed to pass them
Please read what I typed to carl2448, above this reply, in this post. As far as the changing lanes rule is concerned, if the car in front isn't going by the time they hit that 2nd restart line (I'll have to figure something out if there is only 1 line.) the car behind will be allowed to make the pass. It's always been a grey area for NASCAR, and it's very difficult to make it clear. I'll try to reword it in the rulebook, in order to make it more clear. I'd like a rule where you can go anywhere you want as soon as the Green Flag is called, but that isn't NASCAR.
If its not specific yes, that can happen. Speaking of complaints, it would be easier not to speak if we had questions at the very end or less in the drivers meeting in general. Just the option of having questions in the middle is a headache and I am tired of pausing mid session for people going to the bathroom. It makes me just want to say 'yes' to everything just to get the meeting over with and leave for 20 minutes.
About specifics, please read what I typed to carl2448. I know we talked about the questions issue post-race, but I also want to answer you here. I feel like if we have questions held until the end people will forget somethings. "Write it down" you say? Going back and revisiting an issue that was mentioned minutes ago still requires a reintroduction to that issue that takes additional time. By asking the question when the issue comes up, that can be avoided. Having questions allowed at certain points in the middle, allows me to know who is paying attention. (Partly, I'm still worried about those very silent people.) It also breaks up the monotony of going through everything at once. Knowing people and how attention spans work, if you have one person talking and talking and talking, eventually you tune them out. It's not even a conscious thing sometimes, it just happens. It's kind of like reading a large block of text and switching from reading to skimming without realizing it.
It does feel like you can't ask questions because that adds to the total time it takes, I don't want people to feel like that. It's been "joked" about, "don't ask a question", "just shut up so it can be over with faster". That's not okay. As far as the bathroom thing is concerned.
Please go to the bathroom, even if you don't have to go, before we start qualifying. There will always be a period of time when I leave the practice room to make the qualifying/race room. Use it! That is when I go too. I feel like this is elementary school all over again. "Teacher can I go to the bathroom?" We're older then that, so plan it out. (Last night was an emergency and I understand that can't be helped. When you're sick you're sick.) I'm am tired of people leaving mid-session too.
Speaking of leaving mid-session. It is against GTP OLR to leave mid-race. Under GTP OLR, you are supposed to park your car in pit road and have it remain there until the end of the race. I will make an exception, if you drive to pit road, park your car and
type out (you should also say it, if you can) that you will be retiring. After that has been acknowledged by the race director or a race official, you may exit the lobby. Without proper notification, the Disconnection Caution Procedure is followed, as that's what it seems like has happened. If you plan on retiring, just
go to pit road and
type that you are retiring. Leaving without proper notification is downright inconsiderate and will not be tolerated.
Any drivers exiting the lobby without proper notification will be harshly penalized. You have been warned.
Speaking of the GTP OLR: It really seems like you guys haven't read the GTP OLR or the Good Racecraft Guide. Those rules apply in addition to the NJS Rulebook. On multiple occasions, when I have mentioned a rule from the GTP OLR I have had people state that they didn't know about that rule. Sometimes I feel like I should read those during the drivers meetings as well. I'm not going to do that, they are already too long as it is. In addition, Racecraft seems to be on the lacking side.
If you haven't read the GTP OLR or the Good Racecraft Guide. READ THEM NOW.
Quoted from Post #1: The
GTP Online Racing Rules & Guidelines and
The Good Racecraft Guide are expected to be followed. It is expected that you have read the entirety of those and all of these rules before signing up for this series.
In summary: Hold the complaints that won't solve anything; saying something that is helpful is fine; questions are valued; go to the bathroom before qualifying; I'm sick of all the joking around during the driver's meeting, and I'll try to shorten the driver's meeting; read the GTP OLR
and The Good Racecraft Guide.