Online sign ups and the new MNZ website

[Dave-]

The yarns in the Red Flag thread got me wondering why clubs/MNZ use what I see as an obsolete method of signing up to events, Billy pointed out that MNZ is working on a new website, here's what I would like to see:

The technological advancements we've seen in our sport over the last 100 years have been huge, but why are we still sending a letter to attend an event? it takes like 3 days for it to get there! and I don't have a cheque book, so if NZ Post steal my letter then I'm out of cash, the online banking process is a sticky plaster, it's rigid and requires too much data entry/human error.

I was invloved with Motosoc (Canterbury University Motorsport Society), I built a website that allows members and non-members to sign up for events, then they stopped running motorcycle events so I left (it's a bit more complex than that, but here is not the place). Anyway you can check the website out at www.motosoc.co.nz it's a bit slow cause the ownership of the website is locked up in red tape so I couldn't convert to a faster host but I'm here to sumarise the features and discuss how I feel it could help MNZ/clubs.

Every single club would be given a page they could customise and run as their own page (this would provide support to smaller clubs), or link to from their exisiting page, every current MNZ license holder would have their existing log in from the MNZ page moved over, the website would allow them to select race numbers, would track their club and MNZ membership, they could renew and upgrade their license and club membership using a debit card/credit card (none of this internet banking bollocks) the process would be automated and would be more or less instant, perhaps a temporary license could be printed out until the hard copy arived in the mail, temporary lincenses could be used for 1 event say.

The website would also hold a digital copy of the license holders log book, the log book would be ammended at each meeting when the organisers scanned the QR code on the license with an android or iphone app.

Clubs and MNZ could post up meetings which could be joined by license holders, day licenses could be generated also.

The meeting could show information, and even deal with indemnity, license holders would not be able to proceed with payment until they had checked a box and scrolled to the bottom of the indenity information.

License holders could stack up events, allowing them to pay for a whole series in 1 go, refunds for not attending could be handled very easily.

License holders could insert all their next of kin, health and safety info, helmet info and their machine information into the website, for each event a QR code could be generated which can be attached to the bike and/or rider that would be specific to the event, an iphone or android app can then scan the barcode and read about the bike and who the registered rider is, view their blood type, next of kin etc in case of the worst.

So you would have 1 QR code for your real license, 1 for a temporary license, which would be flagged as temporary and could only be used once (like a movie or concert ticket) and then you'd have a sticker relevant to the event, perhaps QR code holders could be made so that QR codes could be replaced in a sleeve or something, I dunno, discuss this. (rego/WOF holders?)

notes could be attached to the online profile, invisible to the public for scruitineering, crashes, trouble making etc

It would also tie in with kiwibiker, allowing a sub forum for the racer crowd where the changes in MNZ can be discussed in a proper manner following a stricter than ususal format for discussion, and this sub forum would stay on as a place to smack talk and spread rumors and troll suspension experts into flame wars.....

I'd like to see the club website service offered to clubs for free, providing they don't go too silly with spinning motorcycle gif images, lolcats and midi files playing metallica.

I'm half way through my Computer Engineering degree so know enough to know this is achieveable, but not enough to roll it out.

[SWERVE]

Interesting......... i am a tecnophobe.... but realise how it now runs our lives....this should spark up a decent debate.

[RobGassit]

Sounds bloody brilliant. Especially after a few riders had to buy day licence's because the post was late. 2 weeks late in our case, and $30 went up in smoke. Is there any possible way we can advance these issues without the MNZ folk feeling insulted, because they are valued and I'm sure doing their very best. Let technology do the hard yards I say.

[Dave-]

it could also tie in with mylaps too, wouldn't be impossible to load the license holders at the event into the timing computer with the android/iphone app which would assign their transponder number to the specific event.

previous meetings and the results could be stored on the website too.

theoretically we could make sign ins as simple as handing over your license, all the paper work, payment etc has already been handled.

even the paper work for the organisers could be reduced, they'd have an attendee list that would update as the licenses were handed over and scanned.

heck you could even go as far as storing your license on your phone, just present the QR code, the organiser runs his phone over the top of your phone, beep beep and you're signed in.

[RobGassit]

it could also tie in with mylaps too, wouldn't be impossible to load the license holders at the event into the timing computer with the android/iphone app which would assign their transponder number to the specific event.

previous meetings and the results could be stored on the website too.

theoretically we could make sign ins as simple as handing over your license, all the paper work, payment etc has already been handled.

even the paper work for the organisers could be reduced, they'd have an attendee list that would update as the licenses were handed over and scanned.

heck you could even go as far as storing your license on your phone, just present the QR code, the organiser runs his phone over the top of your phone, beep beep and you're signed in.

I haven't got a smart phone yet, so can I have a chip put in my neck, just like the dog?

[Dave-]

I haven't got a smart phone yet, so can I have a chip put in my neck, just like the dog?

yeah but sooner or later everyone will have a smartphone, until then I guess we can keep using paper....if we have to

[scracha]

I'm half way through my Computer Engineering degree so know enough to know this is achieveable, but not enough to roll it out.

It's the programmer's 80-20 rule. Get a good idea, knock something up and normally it turns to shit.

Similar websites and technology have been around for years and off the top of my head I know 3 guys on this site who could knock up a working prototype in a short matter. However the idea and basic use-case scenarios is only about 10% of the effort. Hell, the coding is about 10% of the effort. Figuring out all the more obscure scenarios (the "what ifs") and testing out is a bigger job. It only needs to fail once for folks to not trust it and ditch it in disgust. Marketing the idea is the biggest job...you're dealing with a lot of peeps that think faxes are the height of high tech. The "we've always done it this way" mentality is a huge barrier too. Did I mention costs and on-going maintenance and future development?

[scott411]

catch up boys, i have entered the last couple of major Meetings i rode my off road bike in online, one a MNZ meeting and one a non MNZ event,

do not think its MNZ 's job to do the entries, they are only the insurance company that sets the rules, the clubs run the meetings,

[Grumph]

yeah but sooner or later everyone will have a smartphone, until then I guess we can keep using paper....if we have to

Like hell everyone will have a smartphone....I see you're of the generation which does not just want to embrace technology - they want to shag it senseless and make it's use compulsory.

What you haven't yet realised young'un is that with the possible exception of yachting, this sport has the widest age range I know of in NZ. And the oldies who race classics etc pay just as much money, frequently more, for entries and services and expect the system to be easily understood.

Smartphones....fuck off....

[Kickaha]

Like hell everyone will have a smartphone....

Everyone who has a cellphone will as at some stage I reckon that will all you will be able to buy, personally I'm unlikey to have one until that day comes as I don't need to be able to do anything more than make a call or send a txt

If technology can speed up sign in and entry I'm all for it but it needs to be simple and easy to use and other options still avalable for the technophobes

[Fast Eddie]

I do my entry online already at Motorcycling Canterbury website..

there is an online form to fill out with very basic details (you already have a club membership and profile online so they know who you are) ur bike make model and number and if you need a transponder or not and thats it and which event u want to sign up for.

they have a calendar which shows all upcoming events and you can enter online for all of them if you like. payment is by direct debit and very easy, u type in their acc number and use the reference number they provide you. And thats it.

When it comes race day u simply turn up, put ur signature next to your name, grab your transponder and your away.

They also seem to have it all organized well and easy to rearrange because if u miss an event or something I saw them offer transfer of entry fee to the next event etc.. or credit for the next entry you wish to do in the future (could be wrong on this thought I saw them post it up somewhere those that missed KOL1 can transfer entry fee already paid to KOL2)

very quick, easy and painless I like how they do it.. I wouldn't want to be scanning stuff or doing anything much more complicated than that myself.

I was with motosoc (still am somehow, or at least I get their news letters n shit all the time) meh, I did a wild food with them and a couple of piss ups.. never saw any real ridering efforts there and never went out on a bike ride or track day with that club - they were up to F.A. lol...

and then they have car track days and there is a fuckn jacked up hilux or something out there and some other shitters...

meh

[Fast Eddie]

too much to read..

also you mentioned keeping track of you license online and paying by credit card?

you can already do that... thats how I do my license, log in online and pay by visa.. instant.. license arrived like 3 days later.

I have no problems with internet banking, takes about 30 seconds to punch in an account number and an amount and your away..

[McWild]

I think the biggest problem, as stated is that racing in NZ is an old man's sport. It needs a changing of the guard, but it won't get that because:

Old men decide the system. The system is too outdated for the incoming generation.

Incoming generation don't bother. System stays the same.

Racing dies out (further aided by another whole legion of problems that afflict the sport).

[RobGassit]

I think the biggest problem, as stated is that racing in NZ is an old man's sport. It needs a changing of the guard, but it won't get that because:

Old men decide the system. The system is too outdated for the incoming generation.

Incoming generation don't bother. System stays the same.

Racing dies out (further aided by another whole legion of problems that afflict the sport).

Please don't take this personally, but you have no phuckin idea what you're talking about.

[Kickaha]

but you have no phuckin idea what you're talking about.

Was it really that obvious?

I notice he didn't put forward why he thinks that or what his solutions are or who he approached to rectify this