Online Registration for MOWOG Events

[MNbiker]

Online registration is now available for all remaining MOWOG events!
This is a new process for MAC, so please be patient as we work out the bugs. We're using MyAutoEvents.com for registration, which is the same website used by the SCCA for CenDiv and National Tour events. The following link will take you to a listing of MOWOG events:

http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventList.Show?pstext=minnesota

Please try out online registration for upcoming events! We need some folks to start using the system, so we can perfect the transfer of online registration data into the timing/scoring system.

To register, you'll first need to set up a profile on MyAutoEvents.com. This process only takes a minute or two, and will save you lots of time the next time you register for a MAC or other event on MyAutoEvents.com.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although you can register online for all remaining MOWOG's, the MAC Board chose not to activate online payment at this time. Therefore, those who pre-register will still need to pay at day of event. If you would use online payment and think it would be valuable for MAC to activate this feature for events and memberships, please let us know by posting your comments to this thread or by sending an email to: mnbiker@attbi.com.

Thanks!

-Steve

[washburn]

Please explain the registration procedure at the event for those who have pre-registered. Thanks!

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by washburn
Please explain the registration procedure at the event for those who have pre-registered. Thanks!

Pat & all,

That's a good question. We need to work out a revised process to account for pre-registrations. I assume we'll pre-print completed registration forms for those who pre-register. If we use the current process, those who pre-registered will:

1. sign the waiver
2. check in with Registration to get pre-printed form.
3. go get car teched.
4. return to registration with signed form & pay.

A couple thoughts/alternatives:
*We need to come up with a simple/automated way to print the pre-registrations. I'll work this out with Daryl.
*At other events I've attended, registrants pay the entry fee the first and only time they're at registration. Tech signs & collects the forms. AARRF slightly modifies this approach, by tearing off the bottom portion of the registration form and giving it to drivers to take to tech. I'm not exactly sure why MAC requires drivers to visit registration twice - this might be a way to cut down on the traffic/workload at registration.

Comments, suggestions?

-Steve

[914 Dave]

I think the reason for 2 trips is so that if your car fails tech you're not already paid up and there is a time consuming mess trying to get your car good to go, or your money back and un-register you, and your day is a little wrecked as you were planning to go fast and have fun, making for a grumpy camper for the refund/un-register process.

About the 2 trip process... could one side window of the trailer be for the waiver and pick up tech form, and the other side be to turn in tech form and pay? Maybe the back of the trailer could be to sign up to join the club. I don't know what all goes on in the trailer at the start of an event, or if there is enough room for timing to be set up with all this other stuff going on. Signs could be made up and posted on the exterior of the trailer to direct people first to #1: sign waiver, pick up tech form.
#2: turn in tech form, pay your fee.
Hopefully most of our drivers could figure out to do #1 first, then #2. Maybe MR BULLHORN would be useful every 5-10 min or so to remind those who can't count...

If not the trailer for this, maybe 3 tables in a "U" shape, each side of the "U" a different line and function?

As I'm fairly new to the club, in the last 2 seasons, was there a time when you could be teched for the season, and signed up/pre paid for the season? What worked, why did it work or not work, and with the software currently being used to keep track of every thing and every one, is this a good idea to come back to, in part or in whole?

I could see being pre paid for the season, say for 6 events at full cost, and if there was a 7 or 8, it would be "on the house" as a bonus for being pre paid. This would have to be with the understanding that a no show to an event did not equal a refund for that event. If an event was canceled, beyond the control of the club, tough luck, suck it up and be a big boy. Pay it all up front, mark your calander, and show up. Could pre paids be listed for each event in the computer, and just deleted per event if they were a no show by the close of registration? Pre paids could then just get the tech form done and turned in, and they're good to go.

Could pre-season, full season tech work? I don't know. Some folks may try to wrench a fast one mid season, or make mods to change classes mid season. Our tech isn't intended to be a fine tooth comb anyway. Perhaps a post race tech to all class winners at each event?

At the last event, I liked the print out of classes for everyone to see and offer corrections prior to the start of the event. Good idea, to get things right from the start. Makes it easier at the finish, I bet.

And, thanks to those who work timing and scoring. I'll help at the start/finish, or with tech, or just on the course, but that computer stuff is important as are those who do it.

[washburn]

O.K., so no on-site advantage for pre-registering.

One of the attractions of pre-registration perhaps could be a more streamlined process at the site? A "you go right to the front of the line" kind of thing. What's the difference otherwise?

Regarding two trips to the trailer, we are the only club I know that has this long and complex of a registration procedure. The occurance that this was intended to avoid, rarely if ever happens. Why make everyone go through all this this just because occasionally someone has to bail because of failing tech? Is it that hard to give someone their money back and take them out of the computer? Don't even get me started on the "check off your work assignment" on the registration form thing. How are you going to fill all your work assignments, or not *overfill* them, if you ask them to check off what they want to do before they even know what you need? I'm guessing that calls are still being made at the drivers meeting for specific work assignments?

Sorry I sound so negative, don't really want to offend anyone, but this is a wheel that simply did not need re-inventing, and frankly it places more burdens on our competitors than is needed.

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by washburn
One of the attractions of pre-registration perhaps could be a more streamlined process at the site? A "you go right to the front of the line" kind of thing. What's the difference otherwise?
Agreed. I think we should have a "short line" for those who are pre-registered.

Originally posted by washburn
Regarding two trips to the trailer, we are the only club I know that has this long and complex of a registration procedure. The occurance that this was intended to avoid, rarely if ever happens. Why make everyone go through all this this just because occasionally someone has to bail because of failing tech? Is it that hard to give someone their money back and take them out of the computer? Don't even get me started on the "check off your work assignment" on the registration form thing. How are you going to fill all your work assignments, or not *overfill* them, if you ask them to check off what they want to do before they even know what you need? I'm guessing that calls are still being made at the drivers meeting for specific work assignments?
Agreed. It seems to me that the benefit to everyone of only going through line once far outweighs the inconvenience caused to the rare person who fails tech. Besides, it will motivate the offender to prep his/her car better next time, won't it? ;)

If we move to online payment, the process could be further streamlined. Those who pre-paid & pre-registered could simply sign the waiver, pick up their form and head to tech.


Originally posted by washburn
Don't even get me started on the "check off your work assignment" on the registration form thing. How are you going to fill all your work assignments, or not *overfill* them, if you ask them to check off what they want to do before they even know what you need? I'm guessing that calls are still being made at the drivers meeting for specific work assignments?
I didn't include the work assignment checkoffs on the online registration form, as we don't appear to be using it at events anyway.

Pat, thanks for your input! I'm hopeful that by talking through some of these issues up front, we can make things run more smoothly & increase our time for actually driving, versus pushing paper around.

-Steve

[SaturnRaycer]

I'd like to steal a page from the NCCC event at St Cloud two weeks ago. I filled out my registration and mailed it to the designated rep with my check. The early registration cut-off was about a week before the event.

When I got to the event, I signed the waivers, got my wristband and tech sheet, then went to an open paddock space. This was all handled on the entry road. The folks who didn't pre-register/pre-pay (they went together for a discounted entry fee) filled out the form and paid on the spot.

After prepping my car, I was teched. If I had failed tech and couldn't fix the issue there, I could have requested and received a refund.

We have the opportunity to make our events work just as smoothly. The online registration is a start. At the meeting we discussed pre-payment and decided to see how it would work first. The key to making this work is stopping vehicles before they get parked and people start wandering.

My suggestion is this: Set up a table at the driveway where competiors enter the lot. (Block the other driveways). Three people work that table. One does waivers and wristbands, one does pre registered check-in and same day registration/cash collection, the third one deals with numbers and classing questions. Someone from the trailer can come out a couple times and pick up registration sheets. When registration closes, one registration person takes the last of the registration forms and the check in list to the trailer along with the money collected. Once registration closes, the waiver pad and wristbands go to the trailer.

These duties can be set in shifts to allow these folks to prep their car and get teched. They could even be asked to show up when the trailer does. They prep their car, then work the registration table. As long as the tech inspector knows who is on the table, those cars could be "teched in place".

I won't be around for the June 15 event, but I'd love to hear that this suggestion worked and registration really was painless.

Rex

[Drew]

Originally posted by washburn


Regarding two trips to the trailer, we are the only club I know that has this long and complex of a registration procedure. The occurance that this was intended to avoid, rarely if ever happens. Why make everyone go through all this this just because occasionally someone has to bail because of failing tech? Is it that hard to give someone their money back and take them out of the computer?

Pat, we instituted the current procedure a couple of seasons ago when Timing and Scoring voiced a real concern about multiple problems they were having during the registration and setting up process. We actually may have reached the point now with new software and computers that we could take a look at whether we still need to put people through a more complicated process, or if we could go back to a more straightfoward process like most clubs use.

Drew Baumbach

[Bill Owen]

Just a suggestion if MAC decides to do pre-payment with pre-online registration, please utilize a http://www.Paypal.com payment option. A lot of us "Geeks" use Paypal.

[phile]

Originally posted by Bill Owen


Just a suggestion if MAC decides to do pre-payment with pre-online registration, please utilize a http://www.Paypal.com payment option. A lot of us "Geeks" use Paypal.

And a lot of geeks on the mailing lists I frequent have complained about how they have been cheated by Paypal.

No personal experience at same, but heard lots of stories.

Phil Ethier

[MNbiker]

If/when MAC implements online payments, it will be using Paypal, as it's the payment processing service used by MyAutoEvents.com.

The "geeks" who complain about being cheated aren't being cheated by Paypal - they're being cheated in person-to-person transactions where the seller takes their money, then doesn't send the goods. That's always a risk when doing business with individuals you don't know. As for online registrations, being cheated is a total non-issue for MAC, as we're the ones receiving the money.

-Steve

Originally posted by phile


Originally posted by Bill Owen


Just a suggestion if MAC decides to do pre-payment with pre-online registration, please utilize a http://www.Paypal.com payment option. A lot of us "Geeks" use Paypal.

And a lot of geeks on the mailing lists I frequent have complained about how they have been cheated by Paypal.

No personal experience at same, but heard lots of stories.

Phil Ethier

[Tim Engel]

Originally posted by phile
No personal experience at same, but heard lots of stories.
Phil Ethier


Phil,

I use PayPal "all the time" and have never been cheated or had a transaction go bad. It's my preferred method of payment for eBay transactions. Most of the complaints I've heard were from people who hadn't taken the time to understand the system or how to use it. When their ignorance got them into trouble, or when their own dreamed-up expectations weren't met, they screamed that they had been cheated. Know the system and use it correctly and it works well.

Tim

[Rex Jr]

PayPal takes a percentage of each transaction for themselves, I believe it's 2.5%. Many people don't realize this and thus feel "cheated". For a $20-$30 transaction it's usually not too big of a deal, but still something that should be considered. The 2.5% fee is taken from the receiver's side of things. I think it'd be great idea to accept pre-registration payment through PayPal, but perhaps add a convenience fee to the cost of registration so that our revenue-per-entrant is not reduced.

[StevenMosley]

Amen

[MNbiker]

UPDATE:

We had 14 cars pre-register for MOWOG III.

MyAutoEvents.com has a download format for our timing & scoring software.

I created a MailMerge form that prints out completed registration forms for all online registrants. We'll have the printed forms available at Registration.

The only glitch I've run into so far is working with the "unique" Met Council permanent number system. If someone doesn't have a number, and doesn't bother to look at the list of assigned numbers for something unused, chances are pretty good the system will let them pick a number that's assigned to someone. I'm not sure there's presently an automated way to fix this problem. However, I was easily able to spot the one registration that had a problem, and eliminate the erroneous number assignment, when I printed the forms. I added verbiage to the form, stating the driver needs to talk to Registration, if no car number is shown on their form.

I'm ready to add online payment, once the Board gives me the go-ahead.

-Steve

[phile]

>We had 14 cars pre-register for MOWOG III.

I was one of the pre-registered. Didn't help me any. The gate-keeper handed me a blank entry form. Didn't ask if I was preregistered. Since I didn't know the drill, I filled out the blank form and had it signed at Tech.

Later, when I asked Paul what was the advantage of pre-registration, I found out that I was supposed to have been given a preprinted form. Since the form I had was the one approved by Tech, Paul put a note on it that I was preregistered so that Timing did not have to waste time on the entry.

Next time I will know to inform the gatekeeper that I am preregistered. I imagine that pre-registration is a good deal for Timing and I would like more people to use it

BTW, can folks type their real names in these posts? I don't have a enough spare brain cells to figure out and remember everyone's on-line handles. Reminds me of the old CB radio days...

Phil Ethier
White Lotus Europa

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by phile
I was one of the pre-registered. Didn't help me any. The gate-keeper handed me a blank entry form. Didn't ask if I was preregistered. Since I didn't know the drill, I filled out the blank form and had it signed at Tech.

Later, when I asked Paul what was the advantage of pre-registration, I found out that I was supposed to have been given a preprinted form. Since the form I had was the one approved by Tech, Paul put a note on it that I was preregistered so that Timing did not have to waste time on the entry.

Next time I will know to inform the gatekeeper that I am preregistered. I imagine that pre-registration is a good deal for Timing and I would like more people to use it


Phil,

Sorry the gatekeeper didn't give you the pre-printed form. We got in kind of a rush for a while, and had to enlist some volunteers that weren't 100% well-versed on the procedures. We were all kind of learning on the job as well, since we implemented a number of new procedures at MMOWOG III. I think we managed to hand most of the pre-registrants a pre-printed form, which everyone seemed to think was pretty cool.

-Steve Garnjobst

[DCM]

As phil Either said at the last monthly meeting; 'there is still no incentive for the participant to advance register'

Sorry Phil, a paraprased quote.

But he is right. It's to get our events started earlier.

Perhaps we need to give a say, $5 discount to advance register's?
Dwight McCullough

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by DCM


As phil Either said at the last monthly meeting; 'there is still no incentive for the participant to advance register'

Sorry Phil, a paraprased quote.

But he is right. It's to get our events started earlier.

Perhaps we need to give a say, $5 discount to advance register's?
Dwight McCullough



Dwight,

I would be simpler & cheaper just to start taking online payments. That costs the club just over $2, and offers significant benefits for those registering online. I can make it real easy for those working registration by adding fields to the pre-printed forms, indicating whether someone has pre-paid or not (and how much they paid).

-Steve

[MNbiker]

FYI - I just registered online for a Chicago Region SCCA event this morning. They have developed an online system that would be PERFECT for MAC. It must have cost them a pretty penny in time & money to develop. It's the only system I've seen that works cleanly with permanent number like we use. I was able to select an available number during registration (my Chicago region number is now 751). Two interesting sidenotes: 1) Chicago doesn't charge for the numbers. 2) the numbers must be renewed on an annual basis.

They also support signing up for the annual series, online payment, etc. All in all, a VERY impressive effort!
http://www.scca-chicago.com/solo/index.html

Just for the heck of it, I'm going to find out if they're interested in sharing/selling what they have developed. In the mean time, MyAutoEvents is a very low maintenance, painless solution.

-Steve

[Jon Kotek]

I did some digging, and it looks like it was all custom done. Very slick system and if we could get the source code I could deffinitly make it work for us. It doesn't look like it uses a database which is too bad, but still very nice and would work wonderfully for us.

Jon

[Dave Kral]

Steve -

I just completed the on-line registration for MOWOG IV and I noticed that even though the Car Number field is now titled "Permanent Met Council Number (or leave blank)", the field is marked as a Required Field by the program - no blanks allowed.

Dave

BTW - I was certainly impressed when I was handed a beautifully printed form when I drove in on Sunday. Strong work!!

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by Dave Kral
I just completed the on-line registration for MOWOG IV and I noticed that even though the Car Number field is now titled "Permanent Met Council Number (or leave blank)", the field is marked as a Required Field by the program - no blanks allowed.
Ooops, my bad! I had it set right for the other events, but somehow missed it for MOWOG IV. It's fixed now.

Originally posted by Dave Kral
BTW - I was certainly impressed when I was handed a beautifully printed form when I drove in on Sunday. Strong work!!
Glad you liked the pre-printed forms. It was a pain to get them set up to print the first time, but will require very little effort for future events.

-Steve

[chuck b]

steve (biker),
help me out- i read through the thread, but I'm still missing the reason i should bother with the pre-registration. it looks like it saves me the time of filling out a registration sheet at every event. so for the rest of the season's events (4?) I'll save myself about 8 minutes. hardly worth it IMHO. Am i missing something?

At the same time, the event participants also benefit in that participant computer entry is quicker, which may lead to increased runs per event or a shorter event.

If we want to encourage people to use this service, I recommend a reduced entry fee for pre-registration or an increase (yikes!) for those that don't.

thanks- you've done a great job keeping us up to date on this thread.

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by chuck b


steve (biker),
help me out- i read through the thread, but I'm still missing the reason i should bother with the pre-registration. it looks like it saves me the time of filling out a registration sheet at every event. so for the rest of the season's events (4?) I'll save myself about 8 minutes. hardly worth it IMHO. Am i missing something?

At the same time, the event participants also benefit in that participant computer entry is quicker, which may lead to increased runs per event or a shorter event.

If we want to encourage people to use this service, I recommend a reduced entry fee for pre-registration or an increase (yikes!) for those that don't.

thanks- you've done a great job keeping us up to date on this thread.

I'd agree the benefits of online registration are somewhat limited at this point - a small bit of time savings for drivers at day of event, and somewhat more day of event time savings for the Timing & Scoring crew. The real time/hassle saver will be combining online payment with online registration. I've signed up online for approx. 6 divisional/national events this year, and have taken advantage of online payment in all cases.

The Board initially authorized online registration only, to give us a chance to work the process kinks out. We'll likely add online payment in the not-to-distant future.

-Steve