New qualifying trial at FRC this week
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:00 pm
Hi Guys,
Having updated the FRC power base software, I had a closer look at the software qualifying options and would like to try out their method this week. As you all know, we normally qualify one driver/car at a time per class over three laps. Turn-around time for each driver is never less than a minute, often much more. Even at one minute, ten drivers will take around ten minutes.
Using the power base/SSDC system, we line up as many as six cars per qualifying session then run for a timed period, at the end of which each driver's fastest time is logged. Drivers can do as many or as few laps as they like for the session and de-slotted cars can be re-slotted without penalty. I've set each qualifying session to five minutes, so instead of having three flying laps (approximately 15-20 seconds), each driver gets up to five minutes or approximately 50 laps to qualify. This will still only take five minutes. The main difference is that you have to look out for traffic but you can use strategy here too (eg: maybe drop back from nearby cars before going for a flyer).
Cars will still be qualified by class. If there are more than six entries in any class, we will have multiple sessions till everyone has had a chance (Q1, Q2, Q3 etc.). Each driver may only take part in one session (and use only one car) per class however.
Let me know what you think about this idea.
Gordon
Having updated the FRC power base software, I had a closer look at the software qualifying options and would like to try out their method this week. As you all know, we normally qualify one driver/car at a time per class over three laps. Turn-around time for each driver is never less than a minute, often much more. Even at one minute, ten drivers will take around ten minutes.
Using the power base/SSDC system, we line up as many as six cars per qualifying session then run for a timed period, at the end of which each driver's fastest time is logged. Drivers can do as many or as few laps as they like for the session and de-slotted cars can be re-slotted without penalty. I've set each qualifying session to five minutes, so instead of having three flying laps (approximately 15-20 seconds), each driver gets up to five minutes or approximately 50 laps to qualify. This will still only take five minutes. The main difference is that you have to look out for traffic but you can use strategy here too (eg: maybe drop back from nearby cars before going for a flyer).
Cars will still be qualified by class. If there are more than six entries in any class, we will have multiple sessions till everyone has had a chance (Q1, Q2, Q3 etc.). Each driver may only take part in one session (and use only one car) per class however.
Let me know what you think about this idea.
Gordon