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The NASTE Forum → Posts by racin' randy
Yes I didn't forget my friends in slot car racing. Myrna and I are having a Christmas Party on December 14 at 4pm. We would love to see you all again. It is a potluck, so please bring a dish for all to partake. Address is: 15430 SW Gull Ct., Beaverton.
Hope to see you all.
Randy and Myrna
Hi all,
I am hosting an all day enduro at Marshall Field Raceway. We have a new track layout and this sounds like a good idea for racers to get used to the track. This way there should be no home track advantage???
Here are the details.
Cars: Slot.it C Class cars (these are the ones we all have been buying, if not sure let me know, plus it is on my site: www.beavertonslotcarclub.com). No magnets, no weights. Stock motors, stock gears, only lightly sanding modifications on the older chassis to improve movement allowed. Pretty simple, keep it stock all the way except for P6 tires.
Length of the Enduro: We run 3 rounds of 40 minute heats x 4 lanes. This is a total of about 5.5 hours of racing. Depending on how many show up, we usually run 4 teams only. Max on a team is 4 people, so we might end up going to more teams if more show up. This would extend the 5.5 hours to longer as it is based on 4 teams.
Process: Each racer brings a car and then the team determines which car they want to race. If a car breaks down, you can substitute it out for another car from the team's stable of cars. We use the fuel management system for driver changes. Track is set up so each driver gets about 5 minutes of racing. Then the fuel runs out and you rotate in another driver. All drivers should try and race an equal amount. Team with the most laps wins.
Cost: Free. It is a potluck and when I have a count of racers, I usually assign which group brings what dishes, so we all don't bring the same thing. If one wants to bring a dish and let's me know, no problem, we work it in. If we want to have trophies or plaques or something, then I can find out what and how much, and the group splits the cost for that.
Time: January 22, 2011. Doors open at 11am, Tech inspections are at 11:45am, racing starts at 12 noon and finishes when it finishes usually 6 to 7pm.
I think that is about it. I need a head count for planning, so if any are interested, let me know. Thanks.
Randy Stumman
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton Slot Car Club.
Hi all,
Some update on next season. Greg is trying to see if he can get a sponsor for a group of 6 cars to do an IROC style race.
I have looked at some sites and found that there is a lot of places to buy Porsche 956 or 962. The newer ones are suppose to have a better chassis. They are the 03F chassis, the C17A car and the TicTac car. These cars are called Group C cars and raced in the 1980's. But also in the group c class are Jags, Lancia, Mercedes Sauber and Mazda 787. Fantasy has a limited selection of the 956 and 962. But there is a wider selection of the other cars. You can go to other sites and ebay and amazon.com and there is an abundance of 956 and 962 cars available. The cars all seem to come with S2 silicone tires but Rico has the P6 tires which are better grip.
So my questions to you all is this:
1. Do you want to go with an IROC series if Greg's deal comes through?
2. Do you want to stick with the Porsche 956 and 962 cars only?
3. Do you want to open it up to all Class C cars as mentioned above?
4. Would you rather race a class like the NSR cars?
5. Other class of cars you would like to race?
Thoughts and concerns about the 5 choices. In order of least expensive to most expensive choices.
1. IROC: this would be the cheapest way to race for next season. There would be a fee for the cars as I don't think they will be donated. Not sure on the fee but I can almost bet you it will be cheaper than buying your own car and maintaining it. And all the cars are equal in the sense we would race them all. Downside: You don't race your own car and the deal may not come through, so it would be slightly higher in cost, probably still cheaper than owning your own car though.
2. Porsche 956/962 only: The chassis difference is suppose to make a difference in the way the cars run, so if you don't have this newer chassis, you would seem to be at a disadvantage. There are not many cars with these chassis so we all might be racing the same car. There are different body kits so we could customize our own cars with this chassis. This would cost more, but give us an unique car.
3. All class C cars: This opens up the field greatly and gives a wide variety to the type of cars we would be racing. But like most things, when one finds a certain style of car is much better than the others, most will want to buy that one too. If you have it, your set, if not and you want to be competitive, you would have to buy another car. This could get expensive. Other than that, I don't see much of a problem, but that is going to be a big issue.
4. NSR: These cars are the most expensive, but seem to run the best right out of the box. They are wicked fast and stick very good. Chances are you would not need another car but at $100 a car... If we find that one type of car is better than the others then you might want another car. Very expensive option to be competitive. Limited selection. Fantasy only has 2 styles of 917 cars. Ebay has the 917 and a Mosler maybe a Ford. I am not too familiar with this manufacturer so others can chime in. But from my initial search, it seems there is not much of a selection and they are expensive.
5. Got any ideas on a class to race next season? Now is the time to chime in. Make sure there are enough cars available as they work and can be maintained.
Please send me an email and let me know your thoughts. I welcome your input.
Randy
Good discussion by all. As I have always said, racing at Marshall Field is an evolutionary process. Nothing we do is set in concrete if the people coming out want to change it. I have and always will look at my track as a club track for the people who come out. So if something doesn't sit well, bring it up, we discuss it and we vote as a group. Majority wins, not me.
So we Vote this Tuesday on these issues. See you all at the races.
Randy
Yeah I know that cars can't be changed in the middle of a race and I wasn't very clear. I meant that race teams have backup cars and during the "course" of the event which lasts over the weekend, if they wreck one of there cars during trials don't they pull out the back up car use that other one? Now I know one night of racing isn't an event but I am taking some liberties on this so racers can come out and race and have fun and not get frustrated because something happens to their cars. I want people to race not sit and watch. If they have the car, I see no reason why they can't use it so they can continue racing. After all I feel we are competing more on the skill of a driver (since they are basically set up the same) not the car. Plus, their backup cars are usually not the best ones cause why would they race a crummier car over a better car? If they don't have a car, then they take the risk if their car breaks. Their choice.
As far as the car failing to start at the line due to whatever reasons, I can not recall any slot car event stop the race so the person can get it together. But I have only race here in Portland locally for about 4 years. Here their cars are tested, inspected, and we have the test strip to ensure things are ok. Plus, about an hour of practice before hand. I know for me when I get going, I don't like to stop and most have voiced the same thing whether they are in a groove or not. It usually takes me a few laps to get in a groove and sometimes by the time the person complains about their situation and someone stops the computer, it has been 3-6 laps. So yes I am in the groove by this time. But that is minor compared to the fact that I can't remember a car event has ever stopped the computer when the race starts for this reason. If it is a track issue, then yes.
All said with respect, kindness, and no offense given or taken.
Racin' Randy
Howdy all, Thanks for the support and kind words.
Guess I ought to put in my 2 cents here.
Cars that don't start at the beginning of the heat: It has happened to me too having my car not start at the beginning of the race. And in real racing there too. I think you should have your car ready to go and be hooked up. There is more than enough time setup for making this happen and we have the test track piece to make sure your cars run. All others are now racing and to have to stop the race and their rhythm because of either mechanical that was not checked or hooking up wrong, or controller problems doesn't seem fair to the other racers. I agree racing should be for the fun of it, afterall that is my motto. But when the racing is going at this point, I just feel would not be appropiate to stop again for these reasons.
Cars that stop running during a heat: I find it kinda funny that in the first section it is stressed that we are just racing for the fun of it and let's restart cause we aren't that serious but if someone's car breaks down we should now be firm and not let them put in a backup car. Does anyone else see the contradiction? If we are racing for fun, then let's have fun, and not worry if someone has a back up car. Otherwise we have to penalize them and that doesn't seem like a lot of fun to me. Plus, most real race teams have backup cars too.
Tie-Breakers: I think there has to be determined places. Real racing doesn't give out ties. I think a run off is probably not the best way to go, and found I like the fastest lap to determine the tie breakers. Plus, it would mess up the point totals for the season. Afterall how can 3 people all end up with the same amount of points for a race?
Lane Stickers: I think if you don't have a lane stick on your car you have to stop to put one on. If it comes off either during racing or handling, it has to be replaced. If it comes off because someone handling it makes it come off, that's a tough one, but all cars should have lane stickers on them at all times. I think each racing should be responsible for their own lane stickers, not the track marshalls. If we start to rely on the track marshalls for car changes and lane stickers, then we are making a volunteer the fall guy sometimes. That doesn't seem right to me. Your car, take care of it. If there is not enough time between heats we can always up it for more time.
Thank you guys: Without you all we don't have any fun and a club. I love doing it as a social thing, a friendship thing, and a fun racing thing with grown men and women playing with toy cars. I really appreciate it when all show up and help out with food and setup and tear down. It is the people that make it happen. Thanks for coming out.
Additional Note: My philosophy has been to simulate real racing in a non-anal way and based on fun, but to try and simulate real racing. (that's why I like the fuel management). You can read that philosophy in my responses. We all have experienced the problems Monte brings up but sometimes we have to just say for the sake of simulating real racing, dem the brakes. I sure don't want to start nickpicking every thing that someone has a complaint about especially and especially is the key word, if it goes against the philosophy of real racing and "just for the fun of it". To do otherwise only opens it up to mass confusion and loss of core values. With that said, I do appreciate additional problematic inputs to help clear up rule changes or race flow problems. So I appreciate what Monte has brought up and think it should be addressed but along the line of a real racing philosophy only. That way we keep the core values of the slot car club. The only other philosophy I operate on (1-simulate real racing, 2- "Just for the fun of it") and now 3- keep it simple and relatively cheap in cost for beginners so we can grow the sport. Those 3 core values are the way I make decisions. If any of the these become in conflict, then the priority is "just for the fun of it" first, simulate real racing 2nd, and cheap and simple 3rd. But to me, simulating real racing (without being anal about it) is usually how I have more fun, so I could bounce back and forth on those two.
Sorry for the long ramble.
Racin' Randy
Whew my fingers hurt.
Racin' Randy
Still no Can Am cars being allowed?
And as far as the stupid fuel BS. Let's leave that up to a vote of the racers who show up at the last 2 races.
Racin' Randy
I am ordering a car for Hugh, so I think he will be there too.
Randy
Byron and Randy will be competing in this race too.
I think George if you look up a little on the emails you will see I did acknowledge Monte's contribution, but if not then thank you thank you thank you to all. You aren't reading all these emails are you??? LOL. Great job all!!!
Randy
Great info about setting up the car. I have had others contact me about doing this. I will send them here for the info. Thanks Bill, Rico, and George.
Randy
Wow Big Smooth, great graphics. That should help out greatly.
I think it is great all the comments. I am taking notes and formulating new ways to run the summer season. Let me add some clarity and more headaches for some here.
The fuel management is basically designed as a tool to switch out drivers and add some realism (down Bill), fun, and simulation to slot car racing. In the enduros we use it but we have the same problem that has been discovered here in this thread. The slower racers are getting much more time racing than the faster racers. It happened in the Enduros but for some reason wasn't an issue. So whether we run 10, 15, or 30 minutes for the future racers there is virtually no difference because in the Enduros we run 30 minutes with 5 minute run times per driver, then a fuel switch. We could go to that and in fact it is on my list of things to do. Running 3.5 minutes and switching drivers in a 7 minute heat is what we did on Tuesday. Shorting heat times and hence shorter driver times. The problem was if you ran slow you only lost 2 units or less of fuel and if you ran the fastest you lost 5 units of fuel. Hence, faster racers got screwed on run time. I can set the fuel management to count the same amount of fuel per lap no matter what the time. So if you average 8.2 seconds in a tank of gas per lap time versus 10.2 seconds in a tank of gas per lap time and you run 20 laps in a tank of gas, the other driver is getting 40 seconds more run time than you. This is on the extreme ends I think and doesn't reflect a major hit. Remember Byron lost out of 420 seconds almost a difference of 4 minutes of run time in his heat and could have been more if I didn't step in to fix it with his team. This new way he would lose only about 30-50 seconds depending on his partner. I know my partner and I was seeded 3rd for the race, difference was about .75 seconds average difference and that would mean on 20 laps about 15 seconds more of run time for my partner. I can live with that.
If we go to 30 second gaps in driver stations, moving cars, putting stickers on, and switching out controllers, I think that would be a lot more hectic what with everyone moving around the garage versus moving around a driver's station. So I am thinking if we do timed heats there are 2 ways to do it.
1: We would have to increase the gap time (time between heats) to at least 60 seconds to do all that without pissing everyone off as they crash into each other. And I don't think expecting the track marshalls to help out will work too well.
2: We have some one sitting on the computer and hits the pause key at a certain time and pause the track for say 15 seconds for driver changes. Then the computer controls the heat changes at the normal 90 seconds gap. I would need a stop watch of some sort or some way to fairly control the time and someone to do this. any volunteers???
So the time segments at this point in time has some things that have to worked out. I have not examined the computer program to see what the team function options are yet, but I will.
The seeding at the day of the event for a short 2 to 2.5 minute heat or even a 1 minute heat has some issues for me that maybe someone could help me clarify to myself. Originally, there were some who wanted more individual racing and thought it best to ease into the team approach. So I devised a compromise with the individual needs and team desires for this season. Obviously, I was a big proponent of the team concept, but even so we needed a way as fairly as possible to seed racers. So there are 2 big reasons for the individual race days. 1: To have the racers get some individual racing and thus point totals on an individual basis. And to seed racers without the sandbagging component. As I see it, these two goals are being accomplished. So what's the issue? 1: If the racer misses these individual races, where do they get seeded and why? The why is based on knowing the skill level of the racer, which most of us know. The where, so far was by me, but I am happy to have a group of 3 of the long term Marshall Track racers make that determination and leave me out of it. Volunteers???? 2: Having new teams each team race and how that works. Since no one can control who shows up to the race or not, except yourself, then we don't have a advanced knowledge of the team configuration. I don't see the issue here. If I don't show up at a race and I am seeded 3rd and Monte is 4th, then Monte moves to 3rd....... etc. If you would like the same members on the same team for each team race and one of those persons doesn't show up, then what? Now you have to figure out where to place them. What happens if it is a faster racer or a slower racer. It could screw things up pretty good. The way we do it now is that it doesn't matter who shows up. Just go back 1 or 2 races to the seeding race and set up the teams. No sandbagging. I also think to take up the limited time with a qualifying heat will chew up the race time too much. I really don't care who is on my team from week to week as it gives me a chance to work with, play with, and get to know someone deeper than I can without it now cause I have a lot to do to run the race and I don't get to know everyone as much as I would like.
Another issue is using your own car or not. Here are my thoughts: I have had some feedback off this site from racers that want to develop their own cars that they spend their money on and make something great. But if we always race only the best car on the team, then they are questioning why even buy a car. Plus, it seems more fair to race the car you qualified in, which is your own car. The opposite side of this is I want to do the best job at winning I can and therefore, we should only race the faster car. My team, with Hugh, we raced 3.75 of a round with each other car, and 1.25 rounds with my car. It helped Hugh by gaining him 2 seconds a lap and giving him the experience of racing a faster car. I liked that as it made us more competitive. We went from 6th in the first heat to 3rd in the 2nd because of the car. Resolution: 1: Race only your own car. 2: Race only the faster car 3: Race your own car in the first round and do what you want in the second round. I vote for the compromise option 3.
Jack, if your still reading this, did I answer your question about the team versus individual racing issue you brought up. I hope I have addressed all the other concerns, but if not, please let me know. I enjoy reading the comments
Oh yeah, if you are still reading this far down, then this next item will be of importance. I changed the last race to a team race to 1: keep the pattern consistent and 2: fix the flaw George brought out. Thanks George.
Good job guys.
Randy
Ahhh a good lively debate. Here's where I need some help if you desire.
I have been putting together some of the ideas in a working format for future races. Here's what I got so far:
1. Race with fuel but change it to be lap amounts. This means at "X" amount of laps pit stop time. Everyone will race the same amount of laps, just some do it faster than others. Keeping it reasonable will help keep the slower racers from manipulating the race. For example changing at 15 or 20 laps is better than changing at 30 laps. (Not the most fair but better than what we did)
2. Increase team heat times to 12 or 15 minutes. We could go up to 15 minutes with 9 teams and still make it out at 9:30pm or so.
3. Do only time segments per racer using a team approach so both members of the team race say 3.5 minutes and then the clock stops and we switch drivers. I know the program has a team function. Not sure how it works. Plus, not sure how we would handle car changes and drivers coming in. I think, and I double check it, but the program sets the time between heats but not between team members. So I will investigate how the team function works.
4. Qualify at each race and set the drivers onto teams for the night. This would increase the time for the night at the track at a sacrifice of actual race time. Plus, it opens up to a sandbagging situation that has no negative consequences for the sandbaggers. Whereas, having a whole race for seeding does have a negative consequence. They lose the points in the point totals for the season.
I am not sure that changing the point totals allocations would have much benefit at this point. With my little understanding of it, it seems to just another way to do the same thing.
So that is what I can think of at this time. Please add other well thought out scenarios to the mix. As I mentioned earlier in one of long winded responses, I think it would be great to try these out so we can experience things differently and have some good information at the end of the summer.
Keep em coming guys. Great job on input.
Racin' Randy
I think putting the unseeded racers in the middle would not be the most fair thing. We all know how good almost all the racers that come out are so they should be given some allowance being new to the track and cars, but I have not seen a long period of time go by where they have slow lap times. They usually pick it up very good. And if one is breaking the 8 second mark in practice, that surely is a good indication they are a pretty good racer. Putting them in the middle would tilt the fairness of the race, of course it does depend on who it is. Slower racers in the middle would also cause unfairness as they would get killed in the standings.
Our software has a qualifying capability but I am concerned with the time factor. If all don't mind sticking around to 10pm or maybe 10:30pm then I can see this working out.
I also agree a timed raced would solve the problem of fairness for each racer. How would we handle the in between times? If it was at 30 seconds then new teams coming in would be hard pressed and racers having to switch their cars to new lanes would definitely be hard pressed to make it in the time allocated. 90 seconds would put it too long. Maybe 60? If I understand this right, then we race say 3.5 minutes per heat, change drivers, and then do this twice to finish up a team heat?
George, the formula for awarding points is interesting. I don't think sand bagging will be an issue because you have to race 8 races to qualify for winning the summer season. There are 5 individual races and 6 team races. Sandbaggers will not have enough wins to win anything.
I disagree with Bill. Technically an Enduro is a type of race that lasts all day or at least a long period of time. So literally he is right cause our races are not all day. This is Enduro like. So if the word don't fit because of literal translations, then call it something else but it has Enduro qualities in it and that is what one of our goals is. If you change drivers at 5 minutes in a 15 minute heat or 5 minutes in a 30 minute heat, the only difference is you do it a few more times. But in our enduros we never race for more than 5 minutes per driver as I can remember.
I agree with Bill that we have all learned a lot. Heck, I know I have too. But I think a closer working relationship helps to bring in some racers who typically sit on the side lines. At least some feedback I have received from these racers indicate that.
Again Bill you make a good point on the point addition. But remember you might get 11 points as a low on a team race and then on a individual race with 18 people you get 2. What I think will happen and time will tell, is that overall the point spread will be closer and give a chance for slower racers to move up when they wouldn't otherwise. For example: say 18 racers come out for 10 races. You always come in last. That is 10 x 2 = 20 points total. Remember the faster racers will average say 17 points x 10 = 170 points. But adding in half team races now you have this: 5 races x 2 points = 10 points and 5 races x 11 points equals 55 points. Thus one then would have 65 points instead of 20 points. They may still come in last and in this case they would but I doubt they would always come in last in a team race anyway. So people who are more middle of the road will have a higher amount of points per season and top racers will have a lower amount thus bringing the totals closer. And remember it allows the slower racers to move up in the standings. Sure it might make the faster racers go lower in the standings. But team players always have that situation when compared to individual players. It the team concept.
Good points all. We need to get the other members joining in. I'll send an email out to all about this. I like some of the ideas and can see doing them.
Some clarification thoughts on the comments and greater understanding of why things are as they are:
True, the only fair method is to do timed races but I agree with Rico that then it is like just running short heat races and I think that really kills the team approach to a great degree. In the enduros we run approximately 5 minutes before refueling on 30 minute heats, so the driver changes are about the same. Slower drivers race longer though and faster racers race shorter. Never heard a complaint from any that have attended the enduros. So to lessen the time a slower driver races, having the fuel management work on a lap basis will help this problem. Won't solve it, but will help.
The seeding is just like what the 1/24 Paser group does. At those races you qualify and then get put into classes, Busch and Nextel. So our system does the same thing but over 3 races. In other words, 1st race is the qualifying for the 2nd and 3rd race. To determine who will be on what team is based on who shows up. Not everyone always shows up to each race. But if they did, and we had the exact same people show up at the next race, then we would have the same team players. But that is unlikely to have the exact same people show up each race. The advantage of this is that you get to work and get to know better another racer. And I see that as a good thing. If the same teams were always paired together then 2 problems come up. 1)What happens if one of the team members doesn't show up for the next race and 2) I like the idea of giving the slower racers help and ideas on how to be better racers and then having them learn from different perspectives of different faster racers. Many heads are better than one kinda approach. The down side is you have to change teams every race and if you really like someone better than another you won't get your way. So if we want to maximize the "get to know" factor in the racing experience, then mixing the teams each team race is the best way to accomplish this.
As far as having the goal of having slower racers get a greater chance to win. Yeah it seems to be working quite well. Just look at the scores. Now not everyone can win of course, and maybe guys like Art or others won't, but, they will score higher than if they raced by themselves, which is a good thing for them and guys that are the fast racers might score lower than normal like Byron. So Byron has to be less selfish about winning and more selfless about helping others be better racers which will benefit the club overall because better racers make for a more competitive experience for all. I rather see guys/gals like Hugh, Art, Victoria and others get better and enjoy being more competitive than just accepting the role of being near the bottom. Not everyone will get better, but some will and even if one does then that helps all.
Other thing is that with the team racing, the last place team still got 11 race points. If we went to a straight race then guys/gals like Art and Victoria would have gotten 2 or 3 points. That has to be demoralizing for them. Think of it from their perspectives. So obviously, Art and Victoria benefited from the team race approach and Byron didn't get penalized too badly but knows he helped out his team member in the process.
New racers were quickly seeded based on their skill levels that are known and how they handled the practice sessions on the day of the race. There is a getting used to the cars and track for new racers trial but under careful observation this was done as best as possible. Maybe open it up to a group vote would be better than just having me do it. Takes the heat off of me but open it up to everyone's opinions and have fun trying to get a consensus and not pissing off someone who doesn't like the decision. Maybe a committee of 3 make the decision then? But really, I don't see it as such a big deal as I or whoever will be as fair as anyone. Plus, if we had 5 racers racing by themselves, we would have had more teams and less racing time per rounds. Not good with 18 racers.
The odd racer situation is one that bears some questions. It seems we either have that person race on a team with 2 others, not race, or race by themselves. Any other choices I am missing? I probably favor have them race by themselves. And if that has to happen, then which racer gets to do it? The best racer? The Slowest racer? or someone in the middle?
As I opened this discussion up, I am not looking to scrap the format. So let's not go there, but look for ways to improve on something new to slot car racing. Things that are in the format are: fuel management, seeding, team racing with a mix of individual racing and longer run times per heat. Probably a few more that I can't think of. Some are internal like helping out slower racers, having slower racers have a chance at scoring higher, being more selfless for the benefit of the club and other racers, getting to know other racers better, duplicate an enduro feel, etc.
I am already seeing some great ideas on this and the next race and future races will incorporate some of your ideas. This is the summer of learning and growing and when it is all over and done, I am confident we will have some great data on expanding the slot car racing experience and just might have a concluding formula that offers a fun new approach to slot car racing that draws in a bigger and new crowd of racers. And that ain't half bad.
Racin' Randy
Bill or Monte?
Don't know who I should talk to about the listing of the race at Marshall Field on June 30. It says it is a slot.it class race?
Racin' Randy
Besides when Bill is turning under 8 seconds, I think he would qualify for a top seed spot and Hugh is turning 10.5 second laps he wouldn't.
I have to check the program to see if can do what Monte suggests. That would be great if it does. I know I too would like more race time and not have a slower driver take it all. Poor Byron, his driver was taking the whole 420 second run time in his heat. Probably why he came in last. This has to be changed.
Racin' Randy
Good Points all so far.
Depending on who comes to the race will determine who is on your team using the seeding system. We had 5 racers that hadn't seed last night so I took upon myself to seed them instead of having them race in the middle or run as a single. I think I thought running them as a single would be best but it dawned on me that wouldn't fit in with the style of racing (teams) we were doing at that race. So if new racers show up on team race nights, we will just seed them. I think it went fairly and Bill and Art now have a good bond. Now just imagine that bonding process expanding to 6 other racers, you would then have so many more bonding relationships. Actually, that is one of the benefits, I think, of having a team race. At least it works great in the enduros.
I like what Monte says about running 12 minute heats but I think we could expand it to 15 minute heats with the 9 teams or longer with fewer teams as we should get done by 9:30pm with 15 minute heats and then the fuel could be like we do at the enduro with approximately 5 minute run times before changing out the drivers at the fuel pit stop. Now, I too, saw how the slower drivers were taking all the time racing and thought this isn't going to work. My intention wasn't to give them more time, necessarily. Actually, I didn't think it through to that. But after about 3 heats I saw the problem.
I can make the fuel management work on lap amounts. Basically, it will take out the same amount of fuel per lap no matter what the time it takes to make a lap. So at least this way all the drivers will get the same amount of laps per tank of gas. I understand that the slower drivers still will get more run time, but not near as much as doing it the way we did it. Other than that there really isn't a way with the fuel to manage the race.
If we went to a time thing with the lap counting/fuel program, I don't think there is a way to control the race based on time unless we were to just have each team member race by themselves for the round and have no fuel. This would put us back to 3.5 minute heats with 2 rounds. I am not sure it would feel as "teamy" as having the fuel and changing out the drivers at the pit stops. Wouldn't really know until we did it. It would solve the crowding problems of drivers coming in and out during the race. I know with Hugh and I we solved this problem ourselves by managing a procedure of taking on and off the controllers. No big deal for us. I think there were too many people standing in the area that weren't racers because we have done this with all the enduros we have had and no one seemed to think it was a problem.
My general thinking is to try all the possibilities to see how it plays out. Then after the season we will have some data and experience to know.
My 3 cents
Racin' Randy
Hi all,
We have now completed two races at the summer season at Marshall Field Raceway. I am soliciting thoughts of how things are going for you. I am especially looking for improvements on the format that we are running for the summer. So if you have any ideas on how to "improve" what is going on for this summer, let's get a chat going. I am not looking to scrap the format just work on improving it. With a turnout of 18 racers, it seems to be well liked. Kinda like a mini enduro as it is run at Marshall Field.
One thing I think is needed is to set the fuel management so that it takes the same amount of fuel away no matter the lap time. If you noticed, the faster racers had more fuel taken away than the slower racers. This, I thought, penalized run time for the faster racers and awarded the slower racers with more run time. We all pay the same and should have the same amount of run time.
Your turn!
Racin' Randy
Hi all racers,
It is time again for the Spring Enduro race. Tim is heading up the event so it is called Timba Classic Enduro (appropiately named after the main sponsor, or course). This year it looks to be exciting and fun.
Please go to the website for the details: www.beavertonslotcarclub.com
We would like to get a count of people who are planning to attend if possible for food, trophies and such. Cost is $10. If you could pre-pay that would help. These things do have a considerable expense for the hosts.
Check it out and hope to see you all there.
Tim and Randy
The Winter Season continues after the big snow storm of 2008.
The track was snowed in for a few weeks and there was some maintenance issues that had to be cleaned up. But Marshall Field is ready to continue with the Winter Season, this Tuesday, Jan. 13. Doors open at 5:45pm with racing set to start at 7:00pm.
After hours racing till 11pm, so bring your own to play with and we will be discussing the upcoming Timba Classic Enduro race coming in March.
See you then.
Randy and Byron
Hi all racers.
Good news, the news story is set to be released today, Thursday at your local news stands. It is also on their web site at: http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/features/index.php
And the Winter Season's 2nd race results are now posted on the website: www.beavertonslotcarclub.com
Check them out.
Next race at Marshall Field is Saturday with Doors opening at 5pm. Dinner at 7pm and racing all night long.
Take care,
Randy
Hi all,
The new Marshall Field Winter Season is now posted on the web site at: www.beavertonslotcarclub.com
And some cool new pictures of the track. Check it out and see you at the races.
Now 12 races instead of 11 for the season.
Racin' Randy
Man that is a pretty car. Sure you want to run it as it might get banged up?
RR
Don't know at the fees at this time. Have to see what Frank comes up with first. Then poll the members. If we had to pay like you said say $20 that is a lot cheaper than buying a car for a season.
Racin' Randy
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