[ausgeflippt951]

Last night was a lot of fun. And very bumpy, I might say -- I'm going to have the driver's meeting start ten minutes earlier next week so we can discuss technique, line, passing, racing, etc.

I'm also looking for feedback on how to handle qualifying. Currently, your best lap from the week prior dictates the starting order for qualifying. I'm leaning towards changing it to a random format.

The issue is with that first heat of karts -- it's so damn cold out that no matter who goes out in that first heat, they'll be at a disadvantage compared to the next heat. This week, we tried having the fast guys go first (much to their chagrin) and I actually liked it: it didn't seem to impact their qualifying for Race 1 much and it gave the rest of the field a better opportunity to improve for Race 1.


Thoughts?

[Baywatch]

Agree. It does not impact Race 1 and gives the slower drivers a chance. Maybe we can have you drive blindfolded to really make this more fun.

[Robert in Potomac]

Indoor karting is for wimps!!

Not if you have the proper kart.

[vranko]

Originally Posted by GaryGanoo

Agree. It does not impact Race 1 and gives the slower drivers a chance. Maybe we can have you drive blindfolded to really make this more fun.

Agree. Fast first for qualifying. Random is worst since it only give an advantage or disadvantage to a few who are typically in the fastest group (as long as I get cart #2!).

[N0tt0N]

I might suggest doing anything but the middle group first but maybe slow first is better. It seems to me:

1. Fast First compresses the time deltas across all drivers as the cars warm up and will therefore mix up the middle group more with fast drivers in slower, cold cars and slow drivers in faster, hot cars.
2. Slow First accentuates the time deltas across all drivers as the slow will tend to be slow except those that are clearly ready to move up and the fast will tend to be fast except those on the bubble that will be dropped by mids ready to move up as well.

At least that's my rationale.

[ausgeflippt951]

Martin, I'm not sure I am following your logic -- though perhaps I am misreading it.


The impetus on Monday behind having the fastest guys first is that if there exists a group capable of making the most out of their cold karts, it's the fast group. Having slow first would augment the delta between the fast and slow group, further reducing their potential for improvement.


One could also argue that it's really the middle group with the most potential for improvement. Consequently, perhaps the order should be Fast, Slow, Middle so as to give the middle group with the warmest karts.



Fast, Slow, Middle may be the order we wind up with, for another reason: should you miss the week prior's event, you are automatically placed with the slow group. And if you actually happen to be with the fast group, you would receive the warmest kart and therefore a disproportionately unfair advantage.

This happened to me last night, in fact. Since I missed Week 2, I got to qualify with the slow group. Wahoo!!

[N0tt0N]

You read it correctly. It was just a thought. Just thinking keeping the fastest guys clear of the middle would lead to cleaner racing at the top if who wins really matters. Though looking at the times it really looks like we have 1ish fastest, 11ish faster and 9ish slower with not a lot in the middle so part of each group will be mixed up in the middle anyway. Looks like it all sorts itself out anyway

[ausgeflippt951]

Good feedback, thanks. I'm thinking that next week we'll try it again like we did this week -- Fast first. Just to get more data on the subject.

[Kahlil]

I disagree with fast karts first. I vote keep it the way it is with Random as a compromise. Look at the difference in times. The differences for the fast group qualifying on a cold track are razor thin - sit in a slow kart and you are done. Slow kart on a warm track seems more competitive (fast group).

Of course I don't like the fact I was pushed down a group - i recall tenths of a second separating the whole group.

I believe the slower groups have much larger time differential and small changes in driving can lead improved qualifying. Cold track seems less a factor in those groups.

Give someone a red pen... they'll use it!

[MatP]

glad to see this league is still going.