How to better use the transponders?

[motomadness]

Often, many of use write about what CCS should/could do to make us happier.  To actually make many of our ideas come to fruition, there is a cost (time or money) associated with it.

Then you have the small staff ... blah, blah, blah.

How about this?
Assign everyone a transponder, one that they'll hopefully use the entire season without damaging it.  Now, the rider won't keep the transponder after the weekend is done, but every time they come to the track they'll use the same transponder.

What does this do?
Well it organizes all of the lap time records for every race for the entire season under one transponder number.

How does this help?
Well starting at the next round, a rider gets a number, it's entered in the computer once, then the person operating the computer never has to enter the number again, unless the person loses the transponder or it becomes damaged.  

What else can you do with this information?
CCS can chart the progress of its riders, and better evaluate who should become an expert.  Obviously the data won't tell you everything that happened, but it is sure a whole lot easier to come up with interesting statistics, such as, who's always showing up to race, what's the average number of races a rider participates in per weekend throughout the season.

I think many of CCS's solution will be getting the friction out of the process, which should be an everyday job duty, or something a few diligent volunteers would more than be willing to help out with.

[Thingy]

Sean, that is a well thought out, and stated suggestion.  I like it a lot.  The only problem they would have is ensureing they get the transponders back at the end of the year.  Maybe they could have a credit card number for each racer just in case.  The only other problem is that they might not have enough transponders for the entire rider base, just enough per weekend.  You should email your idea to KE and see what he thinks.

PS - I have a nice picture of you right behind me coming on to the front straight at BHF (BFR).

[Jeff]

BTW, Sean, how's the noggin?  Are you coming out this weekend?  The bike didn't look too bad, so it's all you man...

[SliderPhoto]

who's always showing up to race, what's the average number of races a rider participates in per weekend throughout the season.

I would think that info is available with their race entry software.

I thought the points and results update were better this year. They aren't?

I agree Sean, there are a lot of cool things you can do with the info, charts, graphs, and just plain stats. To some extent a lot of it is fluf, fun for bench racing. But I agree knowing the total point standings is important for people working towards a championship.

I'd be willing to help put the points and other stats online again if it's something that is needed and isn't currently available.

[motomadness]

Bill,

I think you miss read the proposal.  The racers won't keep the transponders, they just use the same one every race weekend.  Having the same number just helps organize things.

Jeff,

I am felling better.  I've been riding my bicycle for exercise.  I've also been back to work for about a week.  I do plan on coming this weekend, but the wife won't let me race just yet.  I do plan on racing at VIR in June.

Jack,

I did like the way you published the results.  I actually preferred it our the way CCS did it.  I too agree that the stats are mostly fluff with respect to having useful info to help you go fast.  I think it is a better indicator of how you progress, what tracks your better at over the season.  Stuff a sponsor or marketing person may go crazy trying to figure out how best to use the data.  I bet if we had the data and it look interesting, we could make some "schnazzy" race reports.

[motobenco]

Well put !  So I guess using them as kneesliders is out of the question?

[cuda]

See WERA.  You buy them and they are yours.  Look at Mylaps.com for everybody all year and so on.  VERY cool.  Also you can sell them and CCS could charge less for race entries as they wouldn't have to front  the cost anymore.

[Eric Kelcher]

Couple problems with that idea Moto 1 you would have to go search for that transmitter for each rider at registration 2. you would have to have a set of transmitters for each region (as set up transmitters are shared and sent based on where races are and how many are needed for the event)

[motomadness]

Eric,

You are speaking of the current friction in the process.  I think increasing the organization of the transmitter would alleviate most of the problem.  Basically when you collect the transmitters, don't just putting them back on the charger in any random order, put them back in sequential order.  Obviously there will be some initial confusion, but I think once people had a number, then at registration they could put their own trans number of the reg form, then walk over to the charger and pick it up (saving the volunteers some morning frustration).  This may actually speed up registration.

[cstem]

Moto. allow me to clear up what Eric was trying to say.  
1) The transponders are not "thrown back on to the charger", they have individually numbered slots.  This is solely to speed up the process of which ones are still missing at the end of the day.
2) There are a limited number of transponder 'kits' that are owned by CCS.  This is to keep the cost down from buying 5000 transponders, the chargers and the gear to use them etc. etc. etc. (Buying 5000 and selling them to the riders will not drive down entry costs asone rider suggested).  The kits are then shipped to the regions who need them for a particular region.  Kit #1 could be in BHF this weekend then in the mail to Buttonwillow, then off to Phoenix on the same weekend of another BHF.  BHF would then get kit #2.  Kit #2 is different so naturally the idea of tracking is pretty much gone .  Your idea would be great for a small region if they could afford the initial cost.  Heck CCS has not even bounght me a keyboard that spells right! :o

Really though here is a suggestion.  We have a rider who takes his digital camera to the track, takes photos of the results etc., goes home to a excel spreadsheet he created (or had made) enters his and those he is competing with results and has point and that talllied up.  It was very accurate and pretty cool.  If youare interested in saving lap times you could do something there and make a little spreaed sheet with graphs and that.  Or you could go and write them down and break out the crayons and have art class with your pit neighbors.  Technololgy is great, but is not cheap and is not the end all.  Sometimes good old fashioned ingenuity and hard work are to greater benefit.  Although I still need a good speeling keyboard!

[motomadness]

More friction.

I don't see how what you suggested is more than logistical.  

The same transmitter cannot be in the two different regions at the same time - I agree

Why can't whom ever is in charge of shipping the transmitters send region X the same box every time - extra work, but in the end most of the logistical problems of using the same transmitters are alleviated.  Simple I know, difficult in practice.  I suspect the bugs could be worked out within a few rounds.

I also bet that this process would improve the overall efficiency of the system.

Possible issue:  the wrong transmitters get mailed, not a big deal since this should not be a regular occurrence.  If it happens more than 10 times still not an issue, because the data is still very orderly.  This is organizationally intensive, but only to get it started, any number of high school kids could get paid nothing as an intern to do this job for you.

[Thingy]

Bill,

I think you miss read the proposal.  The racers won't keep the transponders, they just use the same one every race weekend.  Having the same number just helps organize things.

Oops.  Sorry dude.   :)