The method used by our District has been a "Point" based system by which once the racer hits 10, they are out of the race... calli it elimination, but the fact is it still counts "who" you race. With Timing, assuming all is well with the starting gate, etc... it does not matter "who" you race, it matters only how well you built your car and how it runs against all the others on the same track in the same number of heats in each lane...Please explain! This sounds like a comparison with "elimination method". Aren't we comparing timed vs points in this topic?
Not sure how your reading this... Maybe I need to re-read this, it may be a bit confusing how a car leaving the track effects a time based system... However, it's clear that we speak of a fair start to the race and it's clear that we are using a timer and that we award 1st->3rd at the rack level and for the FUN of the boys, we uses these top 3 racers from Tigers -> Webelos to race in the exciting Pack Grand Finals... once could say that is is a way to use the first heats to eliminate all but the top 3 fastest cars from each rank. However, we use their times and not their points to do so....The pack rules seem to be oriented more toward "points" or "elimination" racing than to "timed" racing, especially in the area of finish line judging and cars leaving lane/track. Perhaps a "Revision 6" is in order.
One option would have been to call it a race day after all the heats and we could have easily determined the top fastest 3 cars in the Pack without the Grand Finals... but were's the fun in that for the boys... more racing and bringing in the fastest 3 Tigers up to the fastest 3 Webelos brings ALL the ages groups back into a really fun Pack Grand Finals Race... it even sounds exciting and was for the boys first and the adults as well...
Yes a very important point... the gate must act like it was triggered the same each time... it should fall away from the cars in the same manner / speed as possible for each race to have a fair start. We decided not to use a solenoid based system as our Cubmaster really likes the interaction between the boys and flipping the lever to start the race. I was set to install an automated system, but felt that the spring loaded gate responded well and consistent to a human release as it did to a mechanical release.I think that it is important to note that the pack's equipment is probably sufficient for accurate timing of runs. Without the "spring open" gate, your decision to use times would be less tenable.
Yes you are correct, this is not in this revision of the document, great idea, I'll add it and suggest it be incorporated by the Pack. We do run pre race testing of the track / timer system. We insure that the track sections are square to each other and most important that the finishing line is perpendicular to the track. We then run the same test car in each lane and note the timer behavior. A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, etc etc... I believe that the parents trust in us that we check it all out and insure a fair race. But it would be a great idea to put this all down for the parents that question how it's done. Never had one ask yet, but you never know...I did not find any notes regarding how you prove the correct operation of the equipment.
This is NOT the way we typically run the races... The boys do put the cars on the track.was disappointed to read that your boys do not stage their own cars at the starting line. That's too bad.
This was a suggestion by the last Commissioner (I took my last year off to help mentor a replacement) due to the number of potential racers. However, on race day, we let the kids put the cars on. I agree, it's part of the FUN for them to place the cars and line them up for the race. That's why on race day, we naturally fell back into this as years past. Yup, Rev 6. needs to re-address this and put it back the way it was, in the boys hands...
BTW: We had about 70 boys of which about 60 were there on race day, we even held a Parent/Sibling race during the end of lunch break. Largest race in our Pack's history.
Hope this answers some questions,
Rich...