New Class Grouping Suggestion

[gordon]

Guys,

In the interest of reducing the time it takes for classes to cycle round, what about we look at revising our class groupings to something like the following. Please make suggestions below for the actual sequence of the groupings... what I've listed is just arbitrary.

1. Mini Challenge IROC - 6 races @ 20 laps, Rally Car - 5 five-lap stages per car (1 car at a time)
2. Historic Saloon - 3 races @ 30 laps, Vintage Sports - 3 races @ 30 laps, Group 5 Sports Cars - 3 races @ 30 laps
3. Mixed GT IROC - 6 races @ 25 laps, F1 - 5 races @ 40 laps
4. Modified Production - 5 races @ 35 laps, American Muscle - 5 races @ 40 laps
5. Nissan GT-R Super Series IROC - 6 races @ 25 laps, Slot.It Challenge - 5 races @ 35 laps
6. GT - 5 races @ 40 laps, LMP - 5 races @ 40 laps

BTW, you'll notice that Restricted GT is missing. Although we do not have to do so in a hurry, I want to suggest that we drop this class altogether some time in the future since it has become very close in performance to our GT class for the same type of cars.

Gordon

[Luke]

Present day Class Groupings - effective 9th January, 2014

A. Mixed GT IROC - Slot.It Challenge
B. Modified Production - American Muscle
C. Mini Challenge IROC - Rally Car
D. -------- Tuning Event ----------
E. Historic Saloon - Vintage Sports
F. Nissan GT-R Super Series IROC - Restricted GT
G. Group 5 Sports Car - F1
H. GT - LMP
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The New 'Suggested' Class Groupings - effective date TBA ... Plus, fastest lap times/names to date (August '14) in their respective order ...

A. Mini Challenge IROC ......................... 8.179 - Nicholas E. 8/8/13
Rally Car ................................................ 8.406 - Luke B. 10/7/14

B. Historic Saloon .................................. 6.439 - Gordon 12/9/13
Vintage Sports ....................................... 5.539 - Luke B. 13/2/14
Group 5 Sport Car ................................. 5.637 - Luke B. 7/8/14

C. Mixed GT IROC .................................. 6.295 - Luke B. 27/3/14
F1 ........................................................... 4.643 - Arden 8/5/14

D. Modified Production .......................... 4.849 - Luke B. 3/7/14
American Muscle .................................... 4.261 - Arden 23/1/14

E. Nissan GT-R Super Series IROC ........ 7.613 - Gordon 31/7/14
Slot.It Challenge ..................................... 5.376 - Luke B. 28/11/13

F. GT ........................................................ 4.313 - Ramesh 20/3/14
LMP ......................................................... 3.947 - Luke B. 12/6/14

G. Scalextric GT Challenge IROC ........... 7.433 - Steve 7/6/14
RGT .......................................................... 5.038 - Luke B. 1/5/14

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Gordon,

I enjoy RGT racing from the very first day (Race Report No.51) it was introduced and still do today ~ personally I find (5.038 vs 4.313) there is a big gap compared with GT racing. The one man army job setting up those 6 SGTC cars to race, was interesting & turned out to be enjoyable for all but the one-off event (believe now) isn't too interesting anymore ... so how about the settings above?

This extra event (SGTC/RGT) isnt making much of a difference with classes to cycle round, so whats your take on this suggestion

Noticed, that the Tuning Event was dropped off ... although this could be done as a one-off event.

Luke

[Luke]

On a roll here GG,

This new suggestion had me thinking (much) because the RGT event could be now dropped after 4 years (racing @ FRC long time now ent) so much so that I forgot to mention how you have this "new" class/groupings arranged in a very neat looking cluster of events, especially with the HS, VS & G5SC classes all in one bunch. What also caught my attention with this grouping (after putting the FLTs with their respective groups) was how HS class is almost a whole second slower, not making it an issue though.

Watching the names (over time) for BLTs - it seems some of us slot car guys, are excellent at expanding on that graph called Diminishing Returns ... isnt F1 a great example

So how about (which I think you came up with too) putting a limit on magnet down force for the RGT class too?

Luke

[gordon]

Luke et al,

One of my main objectives in re-doing the class groupings is to reduce time cycle for each group by reducing the number of groupings from the current seven. My suggestion above comprises six groups, bringing the cycle down by one. If we could reduce it even further in a practical manner, that would be better. Ways that I can think of doing this are:

1. Reduce the number of classes we race.
2. Increase the number of classes run at some (or all) events.
3. Combination of both of the above.

Your imaginative and practical suggestions are welcome. Please contribute below.

Gordon

[steveaca]

Hi Gordon,
I agree totally with the idea of reducing cycle time as we then get to race each class more often. In my view however, if a class should be dropped in order to accomplish this, my vote would be for GT to be dropped. At present we have three open classes, in all of which the best cars are running sub 4.4 second laps. I think dropping one of these super fast classes wouldn't hurt the overall racing. Personally, I like the RGT class very much and would prefer to see us keep this. My suggestion therefore would be to amend your proposal as follows:
Group D: Modified Production/ Restricted GT
Group F: American Muscle/LMP.
Steve

[gordon]

Oh, by the way Luke, adding the times for the classes is very helpful in this exercise.

[gordon]

OK, how about this:

1. Mini Challenge IROC - 6 races @ 20 laps, Rally Car - 5 five-lap stages per car (1 car at a time)
2. Historic Saloon - 3 races @ 30 laps, Vintage Sports - 3 races @ 30 laps, Group 5 Sports Cars - 3 races @ 30 laps
3. Mixed GT IROC / Scalextric GT Challenge IROC (alternating) - 6 races @ 25 laps, F1 - 5 races @ 40 laps
4. Restricted GT - 5 races @ 35 laps, Modified Production - 5 races @ 35 laps
5. Nissan GT-R Super Series IROC - 6 races @ 25 laps, Slot.It Challenge - 5 races @ 35 laps
6. American Muscle - 3 races @ 40 laps, GT - 3 races @ 40 laps, LMP - 3 races @ 40 laps

This way we don't drop Restricted GT and we include Scalextric GT Challenge as a regular class (alternating with Mixed GT).

[Luke]

Great Minds GG ... although I feel yours is greater

Just saw what you suggested/posted and what a cool idea with MGT & SGTC classes

Here's my input again - to mix & match but must have the Mixed GT to start off events ~ something like an opening pace bowler

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Mixed GT (I think) being the most exciting, should be the class to start off the cycle of events. Somewhat like how MC & RC classes goes hand in hand.

A. Mixed GT IROC .................................. 6.295
RGT ........................................................ 5.038 - Restriction on magnet down force if need be.

B. Historic Saloon .................................. 6.439
Vintage Sports ....................................... 5.539
Group 5 Sport Car ................................. 5.637

C. Mini Challenge IROC.......................... 8.179
Rally Car ................................................ 8.406

D. Modified Production .......................... 4.849
F1 ........................................................... 4.643

E. Nissan GT-R Super Series IROC ....... 7.613
Slot.It Challenge .................................... 5.376

F. American Muscle ................................ 4.261
GT ........................................................... 4.313
LMP ......................................................... 3.947


Scalextric GT Challenge IROC ............... 7.433 - A one off event ...

Group B looks really cool and F looking like the good days of all out speed

Kept the lap times just for reference points putting classes together.

Luke

[Luke]

GG et al

I thought of this (new race groupings) during the heavy rains today and now putting it in writing words ...

Its known that a full cycle of the regular racing A-H groupings was just completed ~ so why not start back off with this new suggested A-F groupings ... for next event rather than in 2015 ..

After all, no major changes was made (as yet) with any class plus no new ones - so its same points one will continue getting for any of the event/classes.

BTW - On a separate note, how this sounds?

Big Men Amendment instead of Clause

Luke

[gordon]

Luke, I seen no problem with introducing the new class groupings from the next event. Its a whole new cycle and should not affect anyone. Everyone else OK with this and with Luke's sequence and grouping suggestion?