[Gary80]

Firstly I think it was a great weekend of racing in Kota Bahru and thank you to the organisers for a great event.

My only issue and I would like to hear from other drivers is to do with the race schedule. We always seem to spend the whole Saturday sitting around in the heat with only qualifying and one race to do, then on the Sunday we are so busy with three races, if we have a major problem we can miss a race.

I dont understand why we dont run all the heats on the saturday and just the pre finals and final on sunday, that way it would spread the work for both drivers and mechanics more evenly, make saturday less boring and ensure we always finish on time. I just read about the European Rotax Series and they race 25 races in one day, and even in Malaysia in the past we have run two rounds on a single weekend. So I dont see why we cannot change the schedule.

I would love to hear from other drivers and if enough drivers support this we should approach the organisers and vote for such a change.

[Alex Ritchie]

The current schedule allows drivers to come to the track on Saturday, register, scrutineer and go out for some practice before qualifying starts. So if, for whatever reason, a driver can only make it for Sat and Sun only, he or she can still participate.

[Gary80]

I am not suggesting we run the meeting over one day, i still believe we keep the two day format but just put all the heats on the saturday, this would still give us time to register, scrutineer and practice before the heats as at the moment we spend most of the day sitting around waiting and this would also allow more time to practice and do setup changes on sunday before the pre finals and finals.

[Alex Ritchie]

Looks like a tight schedule to me:

SATURDAY, 5 April, 2008
0830 – 1030 hrs Registration of all competitors
0900 – 1100 hrs Scrutineering
1100 – 1110 hrs Official Practice Formula Cadet / Micromax
1115 – 1125 hrs Official Practice DD2
1130 – 1140 hrs Official Practice Rotax Max Junior
1145 – 1155 hrs Official Practice Rotax Max Senior
1200 – 1210 hrs Official Practice Rotax Max Masters
1210 – 1230 hrs DRIVER’S BRIEFING
1230 – 1330 hrs LUNCH BREAK
1335 – 1345 hrs Qualifying Time Trial Formula Cadet 60 / Micromax
1350 – 1400 hrs Qualifying Time Trial Rotax Max DD2
1405 – 1415 hrs Qualifying Time Trial Rotax Max Junior
1420 – 1430 hrs Qualifying Time Trial Rotax Max Senior
1435 – 1445 hrs Qualifying Time Trial Rotax Max Masters
1500 – 1515 hrs Qualifying Heat 1 Cadet 60 / Micromax (10 laps)
1520 – 1540 hrs Qualifying Heat 1 Rotax Max DD2 (15 laps)
1545 – 1605 hrs Qualifying Heat 1 Rotax Max Junior (15 laps)
1610 – 1630 hrs Qualifying Heat 1 Rotax Max Senior (15 laps)
1635 – 1655 hrs Qualifying Heat 1 Rotax Max Masters (15 laps)
1700 hrs TRACK CLOSED

To do all the Heat 2s on Saturday we need to squeeze 2 hours into the schedule. That means a combination of the following:

(i) start earlier
(ii) reduce the time for scrutineering
(iii) cut down lunch hour
(iv) end later

[Gary80]

Although the programme appears tight on many occasions in the past we have run the whole programme including finals on one day and successfully achieved it.

If we computerised registrations the time could be cut substantually. At every meeting we continually fill out the same info. If this was all on computer we would only input the licence number and pay, registration complete. Last weekend I sat for 30 minutes to get my registration done although I had notified my entry two weeks prior, the system obviously is not working

[edwynlow]

Sorry for asking, as I am still new and haven't join any official race before. What is scrutineering?

[Jules]

great idea and worthy to try...

my limited experience in events shows that we, Malaysians still suffer from the Malaysian Time Syndrome.....despite the best attempts by organisers to keep time, I still see SOME of my fellow drivers waltzing in....15mins before free practise in morning. Maybe its me but I do arrive at 730am or so, for most of my race...nervous wreck I am. LOL!

Actually, now that I think more about it - I have raced here in one day events before....Free Run/warmup, Qualifying, Heat 1 (15laps), 2 (15 laps ) and Final ( 22 laps, I think ). And we have 4 classes too....and maybe prize giving goes onto 630pm slot but no issues cos u r so dead buggered to do anything else rite?

So it's do-able but of course - it takes a toll on some unfit drivers like me-LAR....but then its good training for stamina forour younger drivers!


Anyhow, as said - a worthy suggest which Mr Leong will surely consider and comment here.

[Ryan104]

For Rotax here in Malaysia

Scrutineering is the term for the process in which all karts are checked to ensure that the kart does not exceed the boundaries of the regulations in terms of technical and safety aspects.

The scrutineers should initially check for safety aspects such as brake systems and sturdiness of chassis components including weights attached to the kart and unfastened wiring, tires, race helmet and race attire (to make sure they are not expired to the current safety regulations), and anything that may be a danger to any of the competitors during the race meeting.

6 tires are allowed to be scrutineered and individually marked for each driver and they must be used for the entire event without changing to new tires. The drivers are allowed to scruitneer 2 spare tires which can be used as long as one currently used tire is surrended for the use of one new scrutineered tire. After each race, the scrutineers hold the tires in parc ferme (secure area) so drivers cannot modify them or enhance them at their paddocks (eg. tire spray).

The scrutineers will also check to make sure your fitted engine is correct and is uniquely sealed. Engines are sealed after they have been scrutineered at the factory. Once a seal is broken it must be re scrutineered to ensure the technical regulations are not exceeded.

Scrutineering always takes place before the race meeting gets under way and some regulations will be checked by scrutineers throughout the meeting such as rear track limits, tires and weight limits.

After a final, the scrutineers will check the top 5 karts' carburettors to make sure they hold the correct jetting and float combination according to the regulations, as well as the fuel mixture to ensure no illegal substance was used to enhance engine performace.

Under certian circumstance such as protests or certain events, there may be further scrutineering detail in order to check the karts for technical regulations.

[James Leong]

I agree with Jules that Malaysians being who they are, always would do things in the last minute. I have to threathen that double entry fees will be imposed if you register late. If everyone can sign up early and confirmtheir entry with the required fees it would make life very much easier for the Organiser.

I will look into getting things done early but to squeeze all heats into saturday is a bit difficult on time unless we cancell out the lunch but when will the marshals and officials have their meals?

I will think about this and let you all know.

James Leong

[drewcrombie]

On another aspect of the weekend's management, I found it difficult to get much value out of the Friday practice sessions when we were only allowed controlled track time.

We arrived at KB Thursday evening having never before seen the track and believing that we would be able to enjoy a full day testing on track Friday, change something do a few laps, change something do a few laps etc to hone our karts but found the limited access due to scheduled practice meant we only got about half the way to a set up before Saturday.

This was probably detailed in the pre-race schedule notes but I seem to remember that in Rnd 1 the Friday was free.

Given that many of us have day jobs and can only spend a limited (read 3 day weekend at most) time at the track, can we keep Friday practice free?

Drew

[Alex Ritchie]

my limited experience in events shows that we, Malaysians still suffer from the Malaysian Time Syndrome.....

Actually, now that I think more about it - I have raced here in one day events before..

My 2 sen: the way to deal with Malaysian Time Syndrome is to do what the organisers are already doing - stick to the published schedule. Therefore, anyone who arrives late and is unable to register and scrutineer in time misses free practice. Too bad..

For RMC Malaysia a one day event is not possible unless the format is changed drastically. There are currently 5 classes, so two days are required to run the whole programme.

The 2005-2006 KKS club races were one day events with one heat, one pre-final and one final in each class and they were good fun.

For RMC Malaysia the question is whether to run Heat 2s on Saturday or Sunday. There are pros and cons:

(i) if you have a major problem on Saturday then "Heat 2 on Sunday" would give you all night to fix your chassis or engine, present it for scrutineering again and have a chance to salvage something from the weekend.

(ii) if you are running two classes then I guess you would want to run all heats on Saturday to reduce the workload on Sunday.

My personal preference is to stick to the current race schedule. However, two free practice sessions could be held on Saturday morning by starting the sessions earlier. Anyone who has not scrutineered will not get to practice.

To squeeze more time have two sessions of registration and scrutineering - Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. This would reduce the mad rush and long queues on Saturday....yes, James I do understand there is a cost factor to this suggestion.

[Alex Ritchie]

On another aspect of the weekend's management, I found it difficult to get much value out of the Friday practice sessions when we were only allowed controlled track time.


This was probably detailed in the pre-race schedule notes but I seem to remember that in Rnd 1 the Friday was free.

Given that many of us have day jobs and can only spend a limited (read 3 day weekend at most) time at the track, can we keep Friday practice free?

Drew

There was a discussion in this forum before Round 1 about this. The Cadets are running 60 cc engines and Deli tyres this year while the Rotax classes use Mojo D2s - the difference in lap times has gone up to about 10 sec. Allowing a free-for-all would result in dangerous track conditions and it would be unfair to the Cadets.

I was not there on Friday so I do not know exactly what happened but may I suggest that free practice sessions be separated into three groups for Round 3: Cadets, Junior/DD2 and Senior/Master. This would give each driver 20 minutes of track time followed by 40 minutes of set-up time. It would also allow the Supermen (those running two classes) to jump from DD2 to Senior/Master. The Extra-Superman who runs Senior and Master would be all right too, as long as he runs the same kart...

[All this is provided each session does not exceed 36 karts.]

[drewcrombie]

Alex, I gather the Friday ran pretty much as you have suggested. However, I don't think it was 20mins on track per hour though perhaps that is what we need.

I understand (and expected) the points about speed differentials. Safety most come first.

I would like to get a more flexible way of tweaking my set up (at least until I have a proper database) without being limited to just a few sessions.

[gp8]

IMHO more shorter sessions is a better schedule on the Friday. If we could stick strictly to 20 min sessions that would be fine. 15 minute sessions may even be better - providing roughly 10 sessions for each class throughout the day. I'm not sure if there would be many drivers who'd want to do more than 10 sessions of around 15 laps each in a day....

[Ryan104]

To clear all heats on saturday would be nice, and allow drivers/mechs to prepare for the final day which would count for points. Your better off having the time to fix your kart before a race that counts for points rather than a heat, so by clearing the heats and having the break over night, karts will be fresh and ready for the point scoring races. One of the seniors did not make it to the pre final grid at kota bharu simply because he had no time to fix his kart before the pre final. This is where it shows to balance the races is important for the drivers.

More races saturday means more excitement for spectators on both days.

Definately feasable as complete rotax rounds have been completed on single days previously.

registration and computers go well.