|
Again most of this is mainly common sense. If your committee
is contemplating an open race here are some of the factors
to consider.
1. What is an 'open' race?
|
|
An open race is one where you also allow
competitors to take part who are not members of
your club.
|
|
2. What type of race should it be?
|
|
A Hill Climb will need an adjustable incline
unit. Someone has to design and make this out of
MDF or similar.
A Distance Race will require quite a long hall to
hold the race in, as will a Falling Weight
event.
A Tug-O-War will require a piece of cord or
chain!
A speed race will require stop watches.
There are others of the Robot Wars type, and still
others that foster collaboration between
competitors in place of superiority.
|
|
3. What about insurance?
|
|
Most clubs have liability insurance but you may
be getting proxy entrants, and need to check if
your insurance includes them, or only your own
members? Proxy competitors should be told whether
they are covered.or not and be given advice on
where they can get cover.
If this insurance increases your premium, ask the
proxy entrant for a fee or club membership.
|
|
4. How do we cater for Proxy entrants?
|
|
You need to canvas your membership and make a
list of members willing to act as a 'proxy
mechanic'. They are best if they have e-mailing
fascilities. They will need to re-parcel the model
after the race and take it to the Post Office for
sending it back.
|
|
5. Supposing the proxy model does not perform as well as
the owner expects?
|
|
I can only tell you what I do. I tell the 'proxy
mechanic' that I have no expectations and am very
appreciative to have their help whatever happens.
|
|
6. How much advance notice do we need to
give?
|
|
As much as you can. Members need about six
months to design and build their model. Proxy
entrants need even more time because of mailing
time. Once decided publicize it well. (especially
in the Race Calendar).
|
|
7. I suppose we will need rules?
|
|
Most certainly you will. And they need plenty of
thought from a rules committee. How the rules are
written will often determine whether the race is
deemed a success.or not. And they will head-off
complaints and objections over 'out-of-spec
infringements' .
|
|
8. Will we have to check the models?
|
|
There needs to be a Rules Judge appointed who
does this - possibly with assistance. He can
eliminate (when for example a model has an electric
motor instead of the required clockwork/wind-up
one), or put a penalty on (for example a
non-Meccano part is seen to give it a distinct
advantage), any model he finds does not comply with
the rules BEFORE the race. It is painful if
objections are made after the race.
|
|
9. What else should we do?
|
|
If the Club has a web site, see if you can
arrange for photos of the race to be added within a
day or two. Arrange for proxy entrants to be told
how their model got on in the race.
|
|
If this article still leaves any readers with
burning questions, contact me at [email protected]
by #
|
