Joe_Knesek
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2003
- Messages
- 2,115
Mike, one thing I learned this season from running the D2 Rookie of the Year series what that the kids wanted to be treated the same as the rest of the racers. At each race I asked them for feedback and the biggest request they had was to have the CD count bouy cuts and to only give awards to the top performers. I gave awards to everyone who raced and they didn't like the fact that nobody knew who won the race. If the CD didn't read off the points, they made sure they did before the presentation was over.At the past few nats races they have run for five minutes it has worked out well. They can start and throw in and at the expiration of time completed laps count. I like this way as it gives the younger ones some water time without so much pressure......MikeMike, judging from your post, it sounds like you are going to run an enduro instead of regular heat racing. Why not let them run the same format as the rest of the classes?
My point is that I think they just want to race with other Novice racers but they want to be accepted as a true racer. I'm not saying that your format doesn't accomplish this because I think it does but it's different than every other class and you may have a bunch of youngsters giving you the business about it.
The one thing that didn't go over well with them was during the last race of the year, the club allowed GAS hydros to run in the Novice class made up of mostly 20 boats. The speed differential was well over 20 MPH with some boats and getting lapped on the second lap didn't set well the some of the racers. As a dad, I found it incredibly difficult to pay much attention to improving Emily's driving when I'm having to pay more attention to what's going on behind her then what she is doing.