Overview 
SidewaysData keeps you informed about your events, registrations, and opportunities to compete. Our notification system is designed to deliver timely, relevant information while giving you full control over your inbox.
What You'll Receive
Event Notifications - Updates about events you're registered for, including confirmations, waitlist changes, and important announcements from organizers.
Discovery Notifications - Alerts about new events from organizers you follow and competitions happening near you.
Awards & Recognition - End-of-season notifications celebrating your achievements and statistics.
Stay in Control
Every non-essential email includes a one-click unsubscribe option. You can also fine-tune your preferences at any time through your Subscription Settings or from your dashboard profile.
Registration Notifications
Stay informed throughout your event registration journey with automatic notifications at each step.
Registration Confirmation
When you register for an event, you'll receive a confirmation email with:
- Event name, date, and location
- Your registration details and classes
- Payment status (if applicable)
- Waitlist status (if the event or class is full)
Waitlist Notifications
Moved to Waitlist
If a class fills up after you register, or if registration limits change, you'll be notified if you're moved to the waitlist.
Promoted from Waitlist
When a spot opens up and you're promoted from the waitlist, you'll receive a "Great News!" email letting you know you're now registered. Check this email promptly—some events may require action on your part.
Registration Updates
Organizers may send updates when important changes occur:
- Schedule modifications
- Location changes
- Class adjustments
- Event announcements
Cancellation Notifications
If your registration is canceled (either by you or the organizer), you'll receive confirmation of the cancellation and any applicable refund information.
Payment Reminders
For events with pending payments, you'll receive periodic reminders every 5 days until payment is received. These help ensure you don't lose your spot due to missed payment deadlines.
Refund Notifications
When a refund is processed for your entry, you'll receive confirmation with the refund details and expected timeline.
Volunteer Notifications
Volunteering is essential to motorsport events, and SidewaysData keeps you informed about your volunteer commitments.
Volunteer Registration
When you sign up to volunteer at an event, you'll receive a confirmation email with:
- Event details and dates
- Your volunteer position (if assigned)
- Check-in information
- Contact details for the volunteer coordinator
Position Assignments
Organizers assign volunteers to specific positions and shifts. You'll be notified when:
- You're assigned to a position
- Your position or shift changes
- A position is removed from your assignment
Captain Notifications
If you're designated as a position captain, you'll receive additional notifications:
- Captain assignment confirmation
- Team member updates
- Position-specific information from the organizer
Volunteer Invitations
Organizers may invite you to volunteer based on your past participation or skills. These invitation emails include:
- Event information
- Available positions
- How to accept or decline the invitation
Cancellation Notifications
If your volunteer registration is cancelled, you'll receive confirmation so you can update your plans accordingly.
File Notifications
Organizers often share important documents with participants—course maps, supplementary regulations, schedules, and more. SidewaysData notifies you when new files are available.
How File Notifications Work
When an organizer uploads a new file to an event you're registered for, you'll receive an email notification. To avoid flooding your inbox, file notifications are sent as an hourly digest—if multiple files are uploaded within an hour, they're grouped into a single notification.
What Files Trigger Notifications
You'll be notified about files uploaded to events where you're:
- A registered competitor
- A registered volunteer
- On the waitlist
What's Included
File notification emails include:
- The event name
- File name(s) and description(s)
- Direct link to view or download the files
Staying Prepared
These notifications help ensure you don't miss critical event information like:
- Course maps and layouts
- Supplementary regulations and rule updates
- Schedule changes
- Safety briefing materials
- Results and timing data
Event Discovery
Never miss an opportunity to compete. SidewaysData helps you discover new events through targeted notifications.
New Event Announcements
When organizers you follow create new events, you'll receive an announcement email that includes:
- Event name and date
- Location and venue
- Registration opening date
- Quick link to register or learn more
Following Organizers
You can subscribe to organizers from:
- Their organizer profile page
- An event page (subscribe to the hosting organizer)
- Your Subscription Settings
Nearby Events
Get notified about events happening in your area, even from organizers you don't follow.
How It Works
Nearby event notifications use the location listed in your profile to find events within your preferred distance. The system considers:
- Your home location (set in your profile)
- Your notification radius preference
- Events with open registration
Setting Your Location
- Go to your dashboard's profile settings
- Enter your location
- Set your preferred notification distance
Notification Frequency
Nearby event notifications are sent periodically when matching events are found, not in real-time. This prevents notification overload while still keeping you informed.
Managing Discovery Notifications
You can adjust these notifications from your Subscription Settings:
- Turn off nearby event notifications entirely
- Unsubscribe from specific organizers
- Opt out of all new event announcements
Awards & Stats
Celebrate your achievements with end-of-season award notifications from SidewaysData.
End-of-Season Awards
On January 1st each year, SidewaysData sends out award notification emails to competitors who earned recognition during the previous season. These emails highlight:
- Championship standings
- Series points totals
- Class rankings
- Season statistics and participation records
What's Included
Your award notification summarizes your competitive achievements:
- Events attended
- Podium finishes
- Best results by class
- Year-over-year comparisons (if applicable)
Why January 1st?
Awards are sent at the start of the new year to:
- Ensure all final season results are tabulated
- Provide a complete picture of your season
- Celebrate your achievements as you plan for the upcoming year
Viewing Your Stats
Beyond the annual notification, you can view your complete competition history and statistics anytime from your competitor profile on SidewaysData.
Managing Preferences
You have full control over which notifications you receive from SidewaysData. Customize your preferences to get the information you want without the noise you don't.
Ways to Manage Preferences
One-Click Unsubscribe
Every non-transactional email includes an unsubscribe link. Click it to immediately opt out of that type of notification. This follows RFC 8058 standards, so many email clients show an unsubscribe button directly in your inbox.
Subscription Settings Page
Visit Manage Subscriptions to control all your notification preferences in one place. You can set preferences:
- Globally - Apply to all organizers and events
- Per Organizer - Customize notifications from specific organizers
- Per Event - Fine-tune notifications for individual events
Dashboard Profile
Access notification settings from your profile in the SidewaysData dashboard for quick adjustments.
Opt-Out Levels
SidewaysData offers granular control over your notifications:
| Level | What It Does |
|---|---|
| All non-transactional | Stop all marketing and notification emails |
| Nearby Events | No location-based event discoveries |
| Organizer - New Events | No new event announcements from a specific organizer |
| Organizer - Updates | No event updates from a specific organizer |
| All Organizer Emails | No emails from any organizer |
What You Can't Opt Out Of
Certain emails are essential for account security and functionality. See Required Emails for details on emails that are always delivered.
Tips for Managing Your Inbox
- Don't opt out of everything - Registration confirmations and waitlist promotions contain time-sensitive information
- Use per-organizer settings - If you compete with some organizers more than others, customize accordingly
- Keep nearby events on - Great way to discover new opportunities without following every organizer
Required Emails
Some emails are essential for your account security and functionality. These transactional emails are always delivered regardless of your notification preferences.
Required Emails
| Email Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Account Activation | Verify your email when creating an account |
| Email Change Confirmation | Confirm when you update your email address |
| Password Reset | Secure link to reset your password |
Why These Can't Be Opted Out
These emails protect your account:
- Account Activation ensures you own the email address and can receive important communications
- Email Change Confirmation prevents unauthorized changes to your account
- Password Reset provides secure account recovery
What About Registration Confirmations?
Registration confirmations are considered transactional because they confirm an action you took. However, follow-up emails about that registration (updates, reminders) can be controlled through your notification preferences.
Security Best Practices
- Only request password resets from the official SidewaysData website
- Never share password reset links with others
- Contact support if you receive unexpected account emails you didn't initiate