Dslot
06-02-2008, 09:49 PM
The Laps vs. Timed Heats thread made me decide to ask for comments on a system I've been working on.
In the last event, we had no lap counting/timing equipment. Planned for 8 racers but only had 7 (all inexperienced). 4 lanes, 25 foot run. I supplied all the cars (T-jets) ranging from dead stock/skinny tires to some fast modified Tuff-Ones. With no marshalling experience, we did it "Crash and Burn," with a 4-driver heat and a 3-driver heat. Top two drivers in each heat went to the class-race, which was also C&B. Since there were 5 classes (each with cars of roughly matched performance), that made a total of 15 races. Points were awarded for first, second and third in the class race (no points for heats). To make the manual lap-counting easy and to get all the races into the afternoon, each race was only 3 laps.
The system worked well, but I'd like to have longer races for next time, say 6 laps each (not much, but remember, we're all duffers) on a 35-foot track. We'll have electronic lap-counting, and hopefully timing also. Planning for 8 guys. I'm thinking of a system of four 2-man teams and six classes. No heats, but some practice time before each class race. One member of the team drives classes E and C, one drives D and B. The non-driving member goes to the far side of the table and is responsible for re-slotting the car when his teammate spins out (but not for the other drivers). After they've each driven two races, the team decides which member should drive the last T-jet race (class A).
The final event is "24 Minutes of Le Mans", with flamethrower Mag-AFXes. A timer beeps after 6 minutes, and all cars must stop at pit row on one of their next three laps for the drivers to switch out in real time (there's plenty of room behind the driver stations). 12 minutes in, the drivers switch again, and the room lights dim - the rest of the race is run in semi-darkness with track lighting and headlights. Another switch at 18 minutes, so each driver gets a daytime and a nighttime stint. At the end of 24 minutes, track power is shut off, and each team's laps are counted.
First three places in each class-race and the Le Mans event get points, and (if we have working software that can measure it), the team with the fastest single lap in each race gets bonus points. Total points are added to determine the winning team.
Thinking about 5, 3, and 2 points for first, second, third places in each race, and 2 points for fastest single lap in the race.
Any comments from the older and wiser heads :cool: would be appreciated.
-- D
In the last event, we had no lap counting/timing equipment. Planned for 8 racers but only had 7 (all inexperienced). 4 lanes, 25 foot run. I supplied all the cars (T-jets) ranging from dead stock/skinny tires to some fast modified Tuff-Ones. With no marshalling experience, we did it "Crash and Burn," with a 4-driver heat and a 3-driver heat. Top two drivers in each heat went to the class-race, which was also C&B. Since there were 5 classes (each with cars of roughly matched performance), that made a total of 15 races. Points were awarded for first, second and third in the class race (no points for heats). To make the manual lap-counting easy and to get all the races into the afternoon, each race was only 3 laps.
The system worked well, but I'd like to have longer races for next time, say 6 laps each (not much, but remember, we're all duffers) on a 35-foot track. We'll have electronic lap-counting, and hopefully timing also. Planning for 8 guys. I'm thinking of a system of four 2-man teams and six classes. No heats, but some practice time before each class race. One member of the team drives classes E and C, one drives D and B. The non-driving member goes to the far side of the table and is responsible for re-slotting the car when his teammate spins out (but not for the other drivers). After they've each driven two races, the team decides which member should drive the last T-jet race (class A).
The final event is "24 Minutes of Le Mans", with flamethrower Mag-AFXes. A timer beeps after 6 minutes, and all cars must stop at pit row on one of their next three laps for the drivers to switch out in real time (there's plenty of room behind the driver stations). 12 minutes in, the drivers switch again, and the room lights dim - the rest of the race is run in semi-darkness with track lighting and headlights. Another switch at 18 minutes, so each driver gets a daytime and a nighttime stint. At the end of 24 minutes, track power is shut off, and each team's laps are counted.
First three places in each class-race and the Le Mans event get points, and (if we have working software that can measure it), the team with the fastest single lap in each race gets bonus points. Total points are added to determine the winning team.
Thinking about 5, 3, and 2 points for first, second, third places in each race, and 2 points for fastest single lap in the race.
Any comments from the older and wiser heads :cool: would be appreciated.
-- D