Week 192 - To Punch Or Not

[Andy]

Here

[19tentwenty10]

Another great subject and one I

[chewy]

As rider & observer and COC etc. I still favour observers holding the information. Punch cards would be better in my experience if there was a limitless supply of obsevers, the system works well if you have an observer and a card puncher (a written record also would be usefull) but it seems to me to be easier to find sections than observers to "man" them, even with all the competing pressures on land use. Put another way punch cards in an ideal world would get my vote BUT we don't operate in that situation. I know it is an exeption really but for the SSDT we have books where you write down the riders number before calling him into the section and put his score next to it before repeating the operation; can you imagine 270 odd riders all coming to the observer and having a quick friendly word as the observer punches his card? , I'm all for being pleasant but you would nave to either have half the number of sections or riders or twice the number of officials, Even if you achieved this "efficiency" of throughput of riders I would put money on lost damaged even defaced punchcards being an issue to contend with wether it be the SSDT or a club event.

Hopefully you might run a topic debating the neccesity of officials needing to renew thier "licence" to COC etc every three years, its bad enough having to do it once let alone every 3 years. Keep up the good work.

[emmo1]

As a rider I have never had an issue with the observers boards, the main advantage being they do not contribute to delays. If we are honest who amongst us can say that they have not had their fare share of 'benefit of the doubt' when we see the published results.

As an occasional observer, including a world round (what an experience!) the punch cards do make for a more involving enjoyable day. However they do give the riders an opportunity to overstep the mark when discussing decisions, if that puts even one volunteer off observing then I would favour the observers board everytime.

[gizza5]

RIDER

Well I try! observers boards especially in Nationals, as there is more chance of NOT making it to the end of the section, then you have to dump the bike and walk the section again to reach the observer and say...................GIZZA5

[mickwren]

At Lakes 2 Day we have 180 riders with 4 punch cards each making 720 punch cards in all over the weekend. There is usually only 2 of us doing the results and we have them done 2 minutes after the last rider hands in his card. Speaks for itself

[pete_scorpa3]

For the Colmore Cup (1 lap of 40 sections)we use punch cards and try to man every sections with both an observer and a puncher. This makes things flow much better as many of the sections do not lend themselves to the observer doing the punching.

This requires almost 80 helpers and they are becoming more difficult to find each year. We are approaching the point where we will have to drop the punch card system due to lack of help.

It's marvelous to collect the punch cards at the end of the trial and announce the result on the day, but I don't know if we can continue for many more years.

Pete

[charlie prescott]

Hi Guys,

Isn't it about time we updated to the electronic age, and used small computers/phones. for observing. I'm sure some one should look into this area, as I think the technology is in place to try this?

Regards Charlie.

[jimmyl]

We have a debate in club for 3 weeks just to buy new punches let alone some fancy electronics but it would be a good system. Maybe BTC could trial it. Direct link back to a score board at the start!! (although the time clocks took a bit of getting used to)

Seen a good idea down in Cornwall/Devon - the observers have what looks like a stick which they right the score on (25mm wide and 300mm long). Back at the start the sticks are laid next to each other hence creating a score board instantly. Works on 1 lap national when observers are coming back before the finish.