Spice it up a bit, or stay the same ?

diz · 22 Jan 2005, 00:21 (Ref:1206828)

Just sitting here thinking about what lies ahead in the world of NW FF1600 in 2005 and have decided it will be much the same as 2004, 2003, ....... 1983 and 1982.
Driver turns up, signs on, gets scruted, qualifies for 15 or 20 minutes, sets a grid position based on their fastest lap time in qualifying, hangs about for a few hours, does a race and goes home.

I've come up with a few variations, what do you think? Yes I know a lot of it sounds silly, but if you have other suggestions, maybe a couple of changes could be put in place. Who knows, we could improve the show.

1. Change qualifying format
a) Make the first 10 minutes untimed and times are only set in last 5 or 10 minutes
b) Take an average of the best 3 lap times
c) Split the grid into 3 or 4 groups - all out together - and each group has a five minute slot to set their qualifying time - mixed weather would be fun
d) Take the average of their fastest and slowest lap times - reward consistency
e) The fastest six start at the back in reverse order - fastest starts last
f) Reverse the top 10 - i.e pole starts 10th
g) Limit qualifying to five laps - whatever happened to racing ahead? - to allow more track time for the races
etc.
2. Change race format
a) Leave it as one start, one race over laps or time duration
b) Split duration in two. Run part one, reform on grid and run part two straightaway. Aggregate the results
c) Run two short heats and a final
d) Forbid overtaking from laps 5 to 7 to close the field back up
e) Mandatory pit stop - mechanic has to perform a task
etc.
3. Change race day format
a) Mix qualifying and racing throughout the day. You could only need to turn up for the afternoon occasionally
b) Qualify, miss a session - for grid publication - straight into race. All over with in an hour and go home
4. Change other aspects of what has - boringly - become the norm
a) Have a Joker to get double points in two rounds - must play it before qualifying
b) Have one round where you must only score half points - again decided before qualifying
c) Have an occasional handicap race
etc.

Mackmot · 22 Jan 2005, 00:26 (Ref:1206834)

Pick drugs out of a hat and each driver must take a recommended daily allowence of that drug for a week before the race, including the day of the race.

Alcohol
Cocaine
Heroine
LSD
Mushrooms
Asprin
Viagra
Cannabis
Chocolate

diz · 22 Jan 2005, 00:29 (Ref:1206836)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackmot

Chocolate

Chocolate is a vegatable and is good for you

Mackmot · 22 Jan 2005, 01:30 (Ref:1206864)

So are Mushrooms and Cannabis

heel'n'toe-no · 22 Jan 2005, 09:27 (Ref:1206962)

Mackmot I can see a pattern imerging with your posts here........do I need to be sending the boy's round.....ha ha ha

heel'n'toe-no · 22 Jan 2005, 09:30 (Ref:1206964)

Diz,

You've got some really interesting points above, however, I am left wondering why on earth you are sitting there at that time of the morning thinking about this stuff?

You've really got to get a life mate.

Keep up your great, dedicated work. A stay alert.....you're country needs lerts.

Ian Sowman · 22 Jan 2005, 10:27 (Ref:1206983)

Quote:

Originally Posted by diz

Yes I know a lot of it sounds silly

You got that bit right at least...

Ian Sowman · 22 Jan 2005, 10:32 (Ref:1206987)

Actually, some bits do have some merit. For example, cut qualifying back to ten minutes and have two shorter races as a matter of course - 20 minutes is too long. Something Legends-esque may be interesting (this would be best in things like Formula Renault though) - grid by ballot, reversed for race two, points awarded from races one and two determine the starting order for the final with most points at the back. Races of 8-10 minutes in length.

That's a fairly easy format for people to follow. The more tinkering about you do, the more confusing it gets and the more incentive spectators have to pay a visit to Homebase instead of Oulton. Same goes for mixing qualifying and racing. People want to turn up at 1.30pm and leave by 6.00pm having seen nothing but racing.

Oh, and aggregate results are the work of the devil.

diz · 22 Jan 2005, 10:53 (Ref:1207000)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

Actually, some bits do have some merit................ The more tinkering about you do, the more confusing it gets and the more incentive spectators have to pay a visit to Homebase instead of Oulton ............Oh, and aggregate results are the work of the devil.

Ian, All suggestions were made - some tongue in cheek - to start a debate [If loads of people join in, does that constitute a mass debate - sorry

1. If it got 'more confusing' would that mean drivers would actually start reading their Final Instructions? No, probably not.
2. Not everybody has tried to fit a shower head [this will go over the heads of anybody who doesn't read Parc Ferme]
3. Aggregate results - agreed.

sprocket · 22 Jan 2005, 13:25 (Ref:1207107)

Diz, interesting thoughts, The joker idea is excellent.
Aggregate bad idea! The spectators would not want to spend there time do'in maths. They prefer straitforward races.

2 shorter races and 15 mins practice another good idea.1st race fastest time ,2nd race 2nd time like anglesey in dec. A reverse grid of top 10 could add some spice! Spectators would love 1st lap @ Fosters.

1/2 points per shorter race ??
Of course what ever format you came up with would only lend itself to Strechin the book of exscuses for some !!

Re: Mackmots idea no use to me already on 2 of them!!!

Walshy · 23 Jan 2005, 22:10 (Ref:1208212)

Evening all.

I think one idea, especially for Anglesey would be to do away with the Sunday mornign Qualifying. Get straight into the racing.

The grid could be decided by the Saturday finish and we could then possibly get 3 races over the weekend rather than 2. That way, the drivers get more racing and more chances to score points and the spectator gets more racing.....

Just a thought.

One other would be to get the top ten qualifiers to draw there grid slot from a hat. Some you win and some you don't. That would make for some great racing with the fastest guy possibly coming from 10th.

Redracer77 · 23 Jan 2005, 23:11 (Ref:1208241)

I think pulling the top 10 out of a hat works for the people watching but not for the drivers and as we don't get people watching then....

Again if its not broken why change it.....

FF1600 is one if the biggest formula in UK motorsport and yet people keep thinking we need to change it.

I think ARP F3 or T-Cars need to be thinking of these silly ideas not FF1600....

Walshy · 23 Jan 2005, 23:35 (Ref:1208257)

Nothing wrong with 3 races over an Anglesey weekend though Chris.

Redracer77 · 24 Jan 2005, 09:17 (Ref:1208406)

no that sounds fine Chris. I understand what Diz wants to do and I think it works well for some formulas but we have a formula that works so lets not change what is not broken.

Now changing the crank to steel.... that is something that is needed......

Tim Draffan · 27 Jan 2005, 12:55 (Ref:1211153)

What did happen to the "Racing Ahead" format, I thought it worked well we did get two races for the price of one?

ss_collins · 30 Jan 2005, 21:19 (Ref:1213364)

750mc still use it - it works

JustinDawkins · 31 Jan 2005, 09:48 (Ref:1213617)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprocket

Re: Mackmots idea no use to me already on 2 of them!!!

How about we have to guess which ones and whoever does gets pole?

jminsh · 31 Jan 2005, 13:11 (Ref:1213761)

If he's on Viagra he's already got the pole !!lol

JustinDawkins · 31 Jan 2005, 15:34 (Ref:1213854)

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