Queue theory (the study of lines) has been well documented. There is no need to wait in a line. EVER.
The El Mirage method where you run based on points lets you sit until your number group is called................Seems like the BUB organizers need to visit Speed Week.
Personally I feel EM is way different. The pits are just feet away from the starting line. On the salt the pits are miles from the starting line and communications there are slim to non and not many options to make that better.
The proven way is you get in line, stay in line, and run when it is your turn.
Now to also be fair to BUB what they are doing is completly different. Since the measured mile is in the middle of their course and they run both ways on records and not one way that really complicates things, especially for the FIM runs that have to return in 2 hours.
They can't run a short/long course in the same manner as speed week since the measured mile is in the middle for record purposes. That means the short course bikes leave from what is basically the return road, ride over a few hundred yards and make a left turn on the course and run 2 miles to the timed mile. So they are starting up course a couple miles from the starting line for the long course bikes not at the same place as at speed week.
So the timing tower is trying to coordinate starting runs from two different locations for the north bound runs.
Things even get more complicated when someone runs on a FIM record and qualifies as now they have to return from the north towards the south within 2 hours and they could be starting 5 miles north of the measured mile or 2 or 3 miles north of the measured mile and they are returning in the direction of the people that or waiting to start at the other end of the course on their down runs. I don't know if AMA records have to follow the same procedure or not. I use to know, but lost that over a beer during the winter.
This whole setup revolves around FIM record requirements and the fact that those are the records the promoter is going after along with other entrants. Their is no way they can run on an FIM record at speed week, so BUB does fulfill a void other than having to lease the salt on private time.
I think if someone is interested in an FIM record they should look at BUB, but if not maybe they should look at another meet like SW, WOS or WF if they are interested in getting in more runs.
Personally I think BUB ought to drop the pre-stage antics they have now and you would go get in line at the long course starting point or short course starting point and they would alternate between them. Then they would have to fit in the return runs as necessary so that if you qualified on a record you would be assured (weather permitting) a return run that day.
I can't remember if they got the "run what you brung" course up or not, but surely that would help a lot but there again they had no say about the weather and course conditions that were dealt them.
c ya,
Sum