Hi Ankit,
Thanks once again for a great event.
The organization was great, people were friendly and the whole experience was a pleasure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ankitpp ....Please do put in your comments on things that you think we need to improve upon.... |
A few suggestions: (continuing from where we left off)
1) Registration
- This seemed like a place where a lot of candidates "dropped out" - simply by never getting around to signing up!
The requirements for the signup are : Registration form, declaration, 3 photos, xerox of RC, xerox of tax paid, xerox of liscence, note from car owner, payment.
Boiling it down to what was
truly necessary pre-briefing :
- Registration form (name, tel no, DOB, liscence number, liscence exp, no of passengers)
- Payment
Thats it!
I know there are official reasons you need all of the above, however, those things can be handed over / checked on the day of the breifing itself. Sure, it will need more man-power from NAB/RTI, but i think the increase in signups due to an easier first step will make it worth it!
Lock the prospective drivers in early with a simple online form + online (credit card / paypal) payment. (Atleast you're guaranteed the $ contribution if they dont show up).
The online submission also reduces your back-end work, since noone will have to transcribe the written forms - since you were using computers for pairing etc anyway.
2) Navigators
- Though my navigator didn't seem like he was entirely comfortable conversing in english, he could read braille quite well, and really got into the groove of things as the rally progressed!
However, a
few others got navigators who could not read braille, and eventually had to switch them.
Personally, i think a 3 line reading test is good enough. They should be able to read 3 lines of braille, within X seconds and be able to get the point across. Thats it!
However, its not entirely feasible to get the navigators to come to NAB especially to take this "test" -- and especially when some people *cough*cough* are too lazy to even go to dadar to submit a form (see point 1)
My suggestion - have this three-line reading test on the day of the breifing itself. If they pass, they can be a navigator. If they do not, no need for their fun to end there -- they can be a
CO-Navigator!
This means they too get a braille sheet, but they sit at the back of the car as a secondary navigator. They read (to themselves) as the main navigator reads and ofcourse can chime in with corrections, suggestions or questions along the way. It will be a practise and fun experience for them as well.
3) Checkpoints
- Some checkpoints were on very wide streets just after turns, and some drivers saw them too late and had to pull some dangerous maneuvers cutting across traffic to get to them... The checkpoints in smaller deserted streets worked much better and were tricky too!
4) Jackasses behind us
- Could we also have a REAR sticker next time please? No need for the number, but maybe something that clearly says "BLIND MAN RALLY" so that cars/cabs don't keep honking behind us when we are driving at 25km/h or lining up for a checkpoint.
5) The rally procedure/notes
- It was confusing at times. Initially that was scary, but it worked out well for us - maybe because our (Team-BHPians) lifeline was always to follow another car with a TBHP sticker, or "call a friend", so getting lost did end up being fun for us on occasion. Not sure how it would have turned out if i didnt know anyone participating. Maybe if there was some way to just "give up" on a segment and get directed to the next checkpoint if youre thoroughly lost?
- A description of CUMULATIVE and SPLIT would be useful for the first timers.
(Also other "official" terms - tulip, etc - Or maybe make it more "normal" language and less WRC -- but i guess this part is in MAI/FMSCI's control ?)
6) Entertainment
- There was a fairly large guy in red shirt, i forget his name.. Zava... something. I think if you make him wear a dress and dance around or something like that it might be a crowd puller. They say even bad publicity is good publicity ?
For me, #1 is the most important and will help all parties to benefit in the long run.
If an easy on-line registration happens, i will personally sign up some of my friends next year, and im sure there will be others too.
Ooh, another point - if doing an online regn, allow sign-ups to contribute over and above the suggested entry fee IF they feel like it. Maybe also allow just plain DONATIONS...no need to participate. On-line is a good unintrusive way to ask for donations!
And another - use new-age social media. Make a facebook group/event, orkut, etc etc - you'd be amazed at how many people will come in through these channels, or atleast learn about the rally or donate.
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Please dont let my fairly long post above let it seem like this rally was badly organized in any way!
It was the best organized automotive (or other?) event i have been to in Bombay.
- These guys had laptops at every counter with all the driver, navi details for the check-in and pairing.
- They had name/number tags for every participant and navi
- Every official was in a recognizable Tshirt + tag
- Every checkpoint marshal was in a bright red poncho + bright red umbrella
- They gave us snacks (juices, water, sandwiches, samosa, chocolates) at the flag-off, to eat during the journey
- They managed to flag off 60+ cars IN ORDER (not an easy feat when people are allowed to park almost wherever they want on arrival)
- They even had designated parking spaces for different number ranges!!! (Though, as mentioned above, they werent really used)
Cheers, and see you in December.
Rehaan.
PS - Question for you : Given the logistical constraints, what is the
maximum number of cars you would allow to participate in the rally...?