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SARC Allocated Numbers

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Due to concerns raised by Clubs about the increasing cost of supplying door panel numbers for each State round and the workload sorting numbers for competitor packs creates, last year SARP introduced an allocated number system.

The 3 digit numbers used are modelled on the off-road system and were intended to assist spectators to understand which vehicles are competing within a class.

I am aware that the system has been met with mixed reactions.
SARP has resolved to revisit the issue for this season but we need some feedback from organising committees of events and from those of you who intend to compete in the State rounds this year.

It seems there are 3 options:

1. Retain the same 3 digit system introduced last year;
2. Revert to the original system of the events supplying numbers according to seeding;
3. Stick with an allocated number system but style it differently from the 3 digit system.

Whatever happens, there are 2 points to note:
1. Competitors must recognise that Clubs should not have to bear the cost of supplying numbers so if there is no allocated number system, entry fees will have to be increased marginally to cover this cost or, more likely, the series registration fee will have to be increased so that SARP can arrange for sets of numbers to be printed for Clubs
2. As 2 of the rounds are dual status rounds with SARC being the junior - ASP Tarmac Rally and Scouts ROSA - the SARC cars will have to use a different set of numbers from the higher level cars anyway. Also note that the two dual status events are the first 2 rounds of the SARC this year.

People have expressed the following views about the 3 digit system:

In Favour

  1. It gives recognition to high achievers in a class whereas the original sequential system based on DPI does not;
  2. It is easy for spectators to know who is competing against who;
  3. Spectators love it;
  4. Allocated numbers make it easy for headquarters to track cars as the numbers for each crew are recognised.

Against

  1. Spectators have no idea what the numbers mean and would have no interest anyway and there is a fundamental difference between rallying and circuit or off-road because in rallying the cars always appear in seeded order and there might be 10 minutes or more beween cars in the same class;
  2. The use of 3 digits, particularly in dual status event where other vehicles have 1 or 2 digit numbers makes the SARC field look second class;
  3. The system is confusing and/or cumbersome for organisers and officials;
  4. The system is demeaning to competitors who have a very high DPI and have earned the right to wear a low number;
  5. The system is unfairly skewed to class rather than outright. For example, a competitor who won P2 in which there might only have been one car and who had putted around finishing no higher than 20th in any event would be allocated 201 whereas a competitor who might have the highest DPI, who came 2nd in the championship in a P5 car and won a couple of events outright would get 502 creating the impression in the mind of spectators that they are ranked lower than the P2 crew;
  6. The system is skewed by being based on final championship standings rather than speed. For example, car 504 might not be anywhere near as quick as car 509 but car 509 missed a round of the previous year's championship and therefore got fewer points notwithstanding that they trounces car 504 in every round they did compete in;
  7. It is unfair for a SARC competitor who has paid the extra entry fee to enter a higher division in a dual status event to be forced to wear the allocated SARC number when they would be issued a lower number in the higher division;
  8. Several competitors have to get several sets of allocated numbers printed because they don't only enter SARC events and cannot use the SARC allocated numbers in other events;
  9. The SARC field looks tatty because the size and font of numbers is not uniform and several cars have damaged numbers which are not replaced.

An alternative which has been suggested (OPTION A) is the following:

  1. Allocated numbers start at 50 to leave room for numbers reserved for higher level crews in the 2 dual status events. It will be the competitors' responsibility to supply the number;
  2. Numbers sequential from 50 are allocated according to the DPI as at 1 January;
  3. If an SARC competitor enters the higher status category in a dual status event they don't have to wear the SARC allocated number if they don't want to but will be issued a sequential number by the organiser like other competitors in that division;
  4. A separate sticker, independent from and smaller than the competition number, is to be placed on each vehicle at competitor's cost designating the Class. An option is to make that sticker yellow in the case of the Class Champion.

Another option (OPTION B) is to increase the registration fee by what is required to cover the cost of SARP printing 2 sets of sequential numbers from, say, 1 to 40 for Robertstown and Kuipto which will be issued in accordance with the original system based on seeding for those events. ASP and Scouts ROSA will supply numbers for those events as they have to supply numbers to other competitors anyway (recognising that the cost of supplying the numbers will be factored into the entry fee). The separate sticker for Class will still be required.

These are 2 suggestions. There may well be better ones.

Finally, it has been proposed that the number style and position be changed from black numbers on door panels to orange numbers on rear side windows (WRC style) leaving the door panel free for sponsor promotion. For coupes with small rear windows, the original door plate could still be used or the number could run off the window onto the rear pillar.

SARP needs feedback on these issues, particularly from registered competitors. If you don't tell us what you think please don't complain later if you don't like what you get.

SARP needs to know:

  1. Do you support the continuation of the existing 3 digit system?
  2. If no, do you support OPTION A above?
  3. If no, do you support OPTION B above?
  4. If no, do you suggest a further alternative and, if so, what is it?
  5. Do you support the proposed change to WRC style number position?

Discuss this in the forums now!

Comments

Allocated Numbers

Continue with the allocated sytem as for 2009.
The comments in the proposal against were in most cases ridiculous. Spectators soon understand quicker cars are generally at the front of the field and slower further down.
1 in each class (and only 1) should be for the best performance in the previous year's series. If say a 509 has a problem with 201 then let them get out there and do it in a P2.

allocated numbers

i for one found the whole allocated number thing confusing to say the least! and most spectators i spoke to couldn’t work out car 1 from 21 once the rally was a few stages old, we need to remember joe public has no idea who is who but can generally keep up with who’s leading when car 1 is 1 and so on, when car 5 goes by and then car 3 follows everyone can see who has lost time etc.

if you must allocate a starting number then maybe only reserve it for car 1 the previous championship winner, all other cars receive their number in accordance with ranking on that particular event,
if car one is no show to any given event then the next ranking driver claims that spot, class numbers can be displayed permanently on the rear side window, as for the cost of supplying stickers this should be no Different from the past! incorporate it into the entry fee structure! if paying for a couple of stickers is going to be the straw that breaks a camels back then maybe its time to start thinking if you can really afford to be in the sport! and coming from me thats a big statement lol, im not noted for parting with money easily!!
anyway just my thoughts feel free to agree or disagree.

Allocated Numbers

I'm with KNK on this one. The have been out of the scene for a few years and come back to a number system that makes us look like a bunch of (back yarders!!). You go to an event with number 699 on your car as opposed to car 4, you look really good,NOT!!! Imagine what a sponsor would think if you put a proposal through with the number 699 on your car as opposed to someone with the same proposal with the number 2 on your car.I know which one I would consider first. As KNK said" if you can't budget a few dollars for numbers,GO and play with matchbox cars not rally cars.Teams should be allocated numbers as per their DPI as it was before.It worked then so why change it???