Miramichi Dragway to implement an SMS (text) system for 2019

[Todd Chase]

Management and staff at Miramichi Dragway are always looking for ways to enhance the experience for racers and spectators. In an effort to keep things moving as quickly and efficiently as possible on race day, they will be making use of a new system that will allow racers to receive updates via text message.

One area that has been identified as an opportunity to streamline the program is the posting of ladders. With this system, competitors will be able to receive the round pairings for their class on their phone. The system will also be used to provide any other pertinent information to the racer.

To opt in to receive the information, you simply have to text the correct keyword (list below) to 555888. This short code can be added as a contact named Miramichi Dragway (or whatever you prefer).

Please only opt in for information pertaining to your class.

Once you opt in, you should receive a message confirming you have signed up to receive alerts, a compliance message advising you how to opt out if you wish, and a message and asking you to reply with your car#.

That's it. On race day, you will automatically receive the info to your phone as soon as it's available.

Here are the keywords, and again, please use only the one for your class:

superpro
pro
sportsman
bikesled
junior

Text the appropriate keyword for the class you wish to sign up for to 555888.

The system will also be used throughout the season for other things, for example a copy of the 2019 Miramichi Dragway schedule can be sent to you by texting

schedule

We have tested the system and believe it should help keep things moving on race day, however you the racer also play a part. Getting the pairings is only one piece of the equation. Getting paired up and to the lanes is the other. Please use the information to find your pairing and be ready to come to the lanes when called.

It's a new system, so any constructive feedback is welcomed.

Thanks to all, and enjoy a safe a fun filled season in 2019!

[Chris O'Neill]

Love it, great addition to our race program!!

Chris

[Indynut]

Nice to see this style of advancements in our sport. You know in this world there's a real shortage common sense yet this style of innovations continue to push the evolution of our sport. Seriously the technology is now in everyones pocket, and why not link the ladders to the racers. Everyone being informed can really help with the flow of the program. There will also be the "what if's" but if it helps 98% of the racers, the program will just humm right along.

In my opinion, great idea.

Gerard

[Jeff Kempton]

Good move Miramichi!!

We started doing this with the ACSSA races in Miramichi last year and it proved to be a real time saver for us. We had very few teething problems and overall it was a huge success! Another advantage was that our racers who weren't at that race could follow along at home, which was very popular. We tried doing the same thing in Greenfield but unfortunately the cell signal is usually too poor there at present to consistently have the same great results. Hopefully that will change soon.

In addition to posting the ladders, you might also want to consider texting out the calls to the lanes as well as any updates to the schedule. We found that doing so helped speed up the show by serving as an extra way to reach any racers that might have missed the PA announcements.

[Todd Chase]

We have added tdts as a keyword for anyone running the Top Dragster/Top Sportsman series. Same as before, text the keyword exactly as shown to 555888. Also, we will NEVER text anything that is not track related.

[Todd Chase]

**IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT**

Due to AT&T's announcement that it will no longer support shared short code services, and anticipation that other carriers will follow, we have migrated over to our own dedicated toll free number. Basically, the 555888 was a "short code" number that was shared by many users on the system (which sometimes caused connectivity issues). It has already caused a bit of confusion...

The new number is our own dedicated number, no one else has it. What that means is when you add this number as a contact, you can be sure that you will only receive the texts we send, not from another user on the system with the same short code..Also, even if you somehow mispell our keywords, as long as you have the number right, it will still come to us, whereas before, it would not have, you had to have the keyword exactly right.
So, if you have already subscribed using the 555888 number, you're already set up and there's nothing else to do. The only thing is when we reply with ladders or race info, it will come from our dedicated number.

For anyone that has not opted in prior to this, you will now opt in using the new dedicated number, same keywords.

The only exception to this is anyone that may have texted in yesterday for "tdts" keyword. The system was having issues (related to the shortcode, which led to this switch). Please resend tdts to the new number. You will receive the auto reply saying you are signed up.

Sorry for the long post, but it's a learning process. I think this will ultimately be better with our own dedicated number.
If anyone has any problems or questions, please feel free to message me.

The new number is 8446040157

Please add it as a contact you'll recognize. I used "Race Ladders". We will only send texts with racing info, or respond to your texts.
Thanks All