Confused about the short course

[Dean Los Angeles]

The short course consists of an approach of two miles from the starting line and two timing traps placed as follows: the first trap timing the first quarter-mile of the third mile and a second trap timing the full third mile.

Have I got that right?

Looking at the short course results there is a quarter mile, mile 1 and mile 2 speed.

The odd thing is the large number of mile 1 speeds slower than the quarter mile. Many with 0 in the quarter and some speed in mile 1.

[trimmers]

The first light is at the end of mile #1, and the timing starts there for mile 1 to 2.

The second light is at the end of mile two.  It ends the time for mile 1 to 2, and starts the timing for the "quarter" and mile 2 to 3.

The third light is at 2.25 miles from the start.  The time from mile #2 to this point is the "quarter"

The fourth light is 132 feet short of mile #3.  This starts timing for the "exit speed".

The fifth and final light is at mile #3.  It ends the timing for mile 2 to mile 3, and also exit speed.

For the long/combo course, insert two more lights (sixth and seventh) for the extra two miles - in the middle at the end of mile 3.

[dw230]

The courses are laid out as combo, both short and long, in case we lose one course due to some unforeseen situation. Saves time in that the course does not have to be down to set up lights. The rulebook will tell you which set of lights to use when figuring record speeds. The 1/4 and exit times are not used for record computations.

DW

[jimmy six]

Dean speaking of the short course only, your thinking is correct. Years ago there was no clock from the 1 to the 2 on the short course. It was the way you described. When the added the 1 to the 2 for vehicles wide open at the 1 it was felt that some didn't need to go any farther than the 2 so the short short course came to be. Now there are 4 courses if all goes well and from what I understand every one starts from the 1.

It was really confusing when it started and I was doing the timing tags by hand. I had to black out a lot of numbers to find those fastest speed for the non record setters.

Don't know what comes out on all the run sheets today except what I read on the internet. . . JD

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I'm not positive, but I don't think there's a timed quarter from the 1 to 1 1/4 on any of the short courses.  The only quarter mile that's timed is from the 2 to the 2 1/4.  Correct me if I'm wrong, okay?

[Glen]

There is no 132 ft trap on the short courses 3 mile.

[Stan Back]

No exit speed on the short courses?

[Freud]

It seems to me that the only place for a quarter mile light is between the 2 and the 2 1/4.

I think a quarter mile time anywhere qualifies you or the long course.

That give you a 2 mile approach, whichever course you are on, and they ae all the same.

There is no place that a time from the one to a quarter mile light would make sense.

Right or wrong?

FREUD

[saltracer1]

In the past we had a car that would qualify for a record by running only from the one to two and taking the average speed. We would turn off before the 2 1/4 to avoid getting the car hot so the time slip would look pretty funny to someone who didn't know what we were up to. Phil

[Dean Los Angeles]

First three runs on the short/combo course. I think this was done so that Mile1 and Mile2 are next to each other, since the 1/4 doesn't count.

Veh    Engine    Body    Entry Name    Quarter    Mile1            Mile2            Fastest    Comment
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    199.164    185.970    174.902    185.970    chute out before 3
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    151.098    161.766    0.000    161.766    chute out at 2.5
7    V4        FRMR       Aardema,       168.769    149.955    178.441    178.441    

How hard would it be to call it 1 1/4 mile and swap the columns?
Answer: 33 seconds on my spreadsheet. Now it makes sense.

Mile1 and Mile2 are used for qualifying. Mile 1 1/4 for reference only.
Veh    Engine    Body    Entry Name    Mile1            Mile 1 1/4    Mile2      Fastest    Comment
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    185.970    199.164    174.902    185.970    chute out before 3
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    161.766    151.098    0.000    161.766    chute out at 2.5
7    V4        FRMR       Aardema,       149.955    168.769    178.441    178.441    

[jdincau]

except that the trap is from the 2 to the 2 1/4

[trimmers]

First three runs on the short/combo course. I think this was done so that Mile1 and Mile2 are next to each other, since the 1/4 doesn't count.

Veh    Engine    Body    Entry Name    Quarter    Mile1            Mile2            Fastest    Comment
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    199.164    185.970    174.902    185.970    chute out before 3
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    151.098    161.766    0.000    161.766    chute out at 2.5
7    V4        FRMR       Aardema,       168.769    149.955    178.441    178.441    

How hard would it be to call it 1 1/4 mile and swap the columns?
Answer: 33 seconds on my spreadsheet. Now it makes sense.

Mile1 and Mile2 are used for qualifying. Mile 1 1/4 for reference only.
Veh    Engine    Body    Entry Name    Mile1            Mile 1 1/4    Mile2      Fastest    Comment
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    185.970    199.164    174.902    185.970    chute out before 3
1    H         BFMS       Team McLeish    161.766    151.098    0.000    161.766    chute out at 2.5
7    V4        FRMR       Aardema,       149.955    168.769    178.441    178.441    

The "Mile 1" that you're showing is the first timed mile, i.e. from the Mile 1 marker to the Mile 2 marker.  Then the "quarter" - from the Mile 2 marker to 2.25, or 1-1/4 miles from the first light at the Mile 1 marker.  Then, "Mile 2" as shown is the second timed full mile - from Mile 2.00 to Mile 3. 

Speaking of the #1, I was the course steward at the 5 mile on Course 2 at SW this year when it did a very slow roll onto its top as soon as the chute deployed.  No sooner than I announced "Thru 5, chute's out" on the radio, I had to add "he's going over".   Fortunately, it turned out to be about as minor as rolling at the 5 mile could possibly be!

[Nortonist 592]

Odd that there has been no mention of the little hut just past the three where you can buy open records.

[Dean Los Angeles]

You don't stop at the hut to buy open records. You find Noonan's dropped cell phone and text it while going by the three mile.

[Stan Back]

Who's he that went over?