First, let me make clear that Dennis Grant was not there or involved in any
way! :-)
Second, here are my impressions after discussing this with Howard D.
repeatedly this past weekend. Please do hold any of this as absolute fact as
I'm still not 100% sure I understand the issues and facts entirely, which is
why we discussed it repeatedly.
First, we went looking for a new timing system. The old system was a one-off
design that didn't mirror any other drag type tree system. So the dilema was
to either spend a whole lot more money building a duplicate one-off system
with all the same limitations or to use the more typical drag type system
with enhanced features. The decision was to do the latter. Phase 1 is being
implemented this year as previously described by Dennis with rt, et, etc. and
each sides actual run time during Challenge rather than the faster cars run
time plus the launch differential. If all goes well Phase 2 in possibly 2002
will actually display time differentials, side winner, etc. during Challenge
runs.
Second, it is not currently planned to use rt during class competition.
Instead there will be a max and min rt preset; 0.500 seconds min and 2.000
seconds max. What does this mean? Your run time doesn't begin until your
car trips the beam on your side between the min and max rt settings; too
early or too late and your run is DNF. Your time will be et only. The
premise for this is that even though rt doesn't count for the class
competition you need to practice it for the Challenge and will do so during
class runs. I don't fully agree with this, but will not argue the point.
The bottom line is you'll never really have to red light during class runs,
just wait for green and go, unless you're practicing rt launches for the
Challenge.
During the Challenge the premise is that, unlike during class runs, they
truly want to determine which car gets back to the finish line first so the
times will be rt + et, with the clocks displaying each vehicles actual side
run time. Previously you could see the actual differential between the two
side runs via the displays, but had to listen for breakout etc., but now you
see whether you broke out (assuming you listened to your dial-in time) and
have to listen for the differential or actual run time needed to win. Seems
like 6 of one and half-dozen of another to me, but supposedly it will all gel
when Phase 2 comes online in 2002.
A decison has been made that rt is of no concern for class competitions. I
disagree, but that's my opinion. I can see how it could possibly attract and
open up class competition because cutting a light will not be critical to
winning your class.. It's funny, I always thought that was one of the most
critical aspects of what made Pro Solo the premier autox venue. I think the
argument that you have to practice rt for the Challenge is also flawed, again
my opinion. You can still cut good enough lights in the Challenge without
relying on it for class competition if you've practiced enough somewhere else
and for long enough. More often than not, the difference between winning and
losing in the Challenge is greater than thousandths. That's not to say
thousandths don't matter, because they have occasionally mattered, but IMO
the odds are in your favor that they won't.
You have to ask yourself; is it better to be relaxed and know you have time
to launch well and possibly set times good enough to win or make the
Challenge, or to try and practice for the Challenge and possibly not make it
due to red-lighting what was probably your fastest run time? Frankly, that's
RL/fast run deal has happened to me a lot, so it's more important to me
personally not to RL. My main goal is to win the class first; trying to win
the Challenge is secondary, regardless of payout. I'd rather chance
redlighting out of the Challenge, but that's me. Unfortunately, as previously
discussed, the days of class competition being supreme and the Challenge
being just a bonus round seem to be long gone. All the focus has shifted to
the Challenge and winning your class means nothing more than a t-shirt with
an iron-on decal. Somehow I feel like we've lost something important, but I
suppose that's progress.
Mark
|