Author Topic: "The Course"  (Read 19109 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline desotoman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2815
Re: "The Course"
« Reply #45 on: September 11, 2007, 12:34:30 PM »
The proliferation of classes that everybody complains about and watches happen is still the largest divider of performance.
  

The real issue....


Anyone have suggestions on how to fix this ?

Tom G.
I love the USA. How much longer will we be a free nation?

Asking questions is one's only way of getting answers.

The rational person lets verified facts form or modify his opinion.  The ideologue ignores verified facts which don't fit his preconceived opinions.

Offline JackD

  • NOBODY'S FOOL
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4684
Re: "The Course"
« Reply #46 on: September 11, 2007, 01:00:45 PM »
Go back to the 3 real iron entries requirement to open a class for competition.
List all you want, but race what is really real.
Unwind some of the ridiculous rules for the MC field that were done under the cover of darkness that are not only unsafe but look really bad in the face of the evolution of real materials and bikes.
One seemingly little change caused many many bike entries with existing, long standing records to the rendered illegal for the class they were listed but remain in the book.
The rulebook should be very difficult to change if it is right to start with and unlike some that float the rules to suit their own objectives, when you shill for entries, you cheapen the result.
They seem to have been forgotten but not gone.
 
It can be done in a snap.
"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose."
"That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"

Offline JackD

  • NOBODY'S FOOL
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4684
Re: "The Course"
« Reply #47 on: September 20, 2007, 03:50:40 PM »
Ed:
 
 That's sorta like what they did at the Bub's event last September.  One physical course, with a short course start line two miles up from the long course start.  Most of the bikes ran the short course, but when there was someone waiting to use the long course they'd stop activity at the short start and run the long course vehicles.  (Unfortunately it didn't work especially efficiently, but the theory was there - maybe the bugs'll get worked out for next time.  Also, they had planned on two courses, but weather nixed one of 'em).
 
 Anyway, a big hassle was that the short staging area was a hundred yards or so away from the course itself, and either the bikes would start engines and drive up to the course, making a left turn onto the course as they got to it -- or bikes would be staged right near the course, and when there was someone ready to use the long course, all short course stuff would have to be pulled back away to make sure the long course vehicle would have room in case an untoward incident occured and the long course vehicle went off-course.
 
 In theory, workable; in practice, not perfect.  How close to the course do you want to be (at the two, for instance, where the short staging area might be) when a long course vehicle gets sideways and heads towards you at the speed already accumulated by that point?  Me?  Unh, I'll stay back a few extra feet. . .
So what have we learned here ?
"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose."
"That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"

Offline JackD

  • NOBODY'S FOOL
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4684
Re: "The Course"
« Reply #48 on: September 20, 2007, 03:53:50 PM »
The procedure to allow the various approaches to a single course if that was all that was available has been done successfully in the past and included runs in both directions with no delays.
The key is that only one starter will release the entries as they are ready.
That gives the appropriate get ready time and prevents multiple runs in the same or different directions.
 For example, if you have three starting areas running from the highway towards the mountain the single starter will release the short course vehicles first.
One of the things to do as soon as the short course vehicles begin to be released is to close off the staging lanes at the rear to limit any further entries in that lineup.
 From the number of entries and the pace you can quickly estimate  the time it would take and the available entries on the longer course  will have suitable notice.
The short course vehicles will run and those that wish to make a return run will proceed directly to the equivalent starting area in the other direction, well off the course.
This will reduce the "Joy ride" problem that slows things up.
 If you are in the pits when your segment is running and you wish to make the next available run you will take your vehicle to the appropriate staging area and assemble with those that have just completed runs and are waiting for returns.
Get in line, your competitore will help you with that.
 When you have finished all the return runs on the course the starter moves to the next longer starting area. They know the estimated time that was given to them based on the pace and number of entries from the other area plus a couple of minutes for the starter to move. You repeat this method for each length of the course and the last one to run is the longest, and presumably FIA or FIM entries that have a time limit turn around.
 When all of the vehicles have traveled down course and arrived at their respective staging areas you can begin the process for their return.
FIA with one hour and FIM with two hours can be run at any time because the staging areas are well clear of the course.
You would begin to run the short course vehicles going towards the highway first but you must be mindful of the return run schedule for the FIA/FIM entries.
You must fill the time available with running entries and additionally be able to clear the course for those with the turn around time frame. You must make the meet as efficient as possible and good communications will allow that with a good margin for safety.
 Using this method for US National records will also spread the record holders into the certification impound area throughout the day and not jam them up after one records only session.
This will direct business to the impound area all day long and make most efficient use of the time.
 An experienced starter is key to the pace, course availabilty and weather conditions that each entry is subject to and would have the final judgement before the entries are released to run.
It is impairative that he officials and the entrants be ready with no delays because you owe it to each other. :wink:
So what did I miss ?
"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose."
"That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"

Offline JackD

  • NOBODY'S FOOL
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4684
Re: "The Course"
« Reply #49 on: September 20, 2007, 03:56:43 PM »
Jack:
 
 Important words in your statement -- words that differed from the Bub's meet:
 
 "The key is...
 "...release the entries as they are ready..."
 "...release the short course vehicles first..."
 
 Etc, etc, etc
 
 "They (the starter) know..."
 "...good communications..."
 "An experienced starter is key..."
 
 My earlier post was strictly limited to the experience at Bub's, and it was their first time running an event.  I hope they read your post (as well as take to heart all of the advice they've received since that meet) and also use the experience they gained at the meet.  
 
 The way the event was run was NOT a good example (of how to run a single-course meet), but it WAS, we hope, a learning experience for them.
SSS was at the first event and made some observations that were from the eyes of a first time entrant with both hopes and suggestions.
"I would rather lose going fast enough to win than win going slow enough to lose."
"That horrible smell is dirty feet being held to the fire"