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On Feb 10, 6:04*pm, Tim wrote:
As an aside, does anyone know how or if auto racing numerically handicaps either cars or drivers in auto racing? I believe they only handicap by weight and power output (all things to do with the car - not the driver) Tim - Allow me to chime in, as a former auto-racer (NASCAR, SCCA Solo II, SCCA Solo I, SCCA Club Racing, SCCA Club Rally, International Conference of Sports Car Clubs, brief manager of a racecar-building shop in Memphis, TN). :-) The most common/abundant use of Handicapping that I know of is in Autocrossing (SCCA Solo II). In autocrossing, cars are grouped into classes according to their performance or common characteristics. These are not set-in-stone; some are derived by finding a bunch of cars with similar HP and weight, other classes are defined by common characteristics (economy grocery-getters get lumped into a class, low-HP 2-seat convertibles tend to get lumped into one or two classes, etc). These classes are regularly reviewed and if one model of car is consistently beating all the others by a large margin, the classes may get re-shuffled or that particular car may get bumped into a class that turns in faster lap- times, on average. On top of that, a series of "advanced" classes have arisen around the PAX handicap. Each year this handicap is derived from examining an abundance of race results from the past few years. The best lap-time for a couple of top finishers in each racing class are compared to the fastest car (regardless of class) that ran the same course on the same day. Results are filtered for weather changes (wet pavement) and other anomalies. This data is assumed to be statistically significant and relatively driver-agnostic over a large sample (around 500 events with 100-200 competitors at each event, plus about 1200 competitors at the National Championships each year). The average % difference in finishing times between each class is then used to come up with an index factor to apply to each class. This - theoretically - lets any two cars compete and the vast majority of the difference in their handicapped lap-time will be due to differences in driver skill. But they have the same "issues" we have with the Sports Class: First, not all cars in a class are considered equal; so each year people "head-hunt" for the best car to buy in a particular class, to give them an advantage regardless of any handicap (the difference is that cars are generally much more-affordable and more readily- available than gliders; even though they depreciate faster). Second, you compound the issue by handicapping the class and not the individual cars - people try to find a "hot" car in a class with a "soft" index (so they maximize their handicapping advantage). Finally, autocross courses - like glider tasks - change every day. The rules behind course-layout are pretty flexible and are often constrained by the racing site. So sometimes you get a course that has long straightaways and big sweeping turns (favoring "muscle-y" cars). Other times you get tight courses with lots of slaloms and hairpins (favoring the 90's Mazda Miatas, which are among the most- maneuverable, best-balanced, and best-handling cars of all time). This is roughly analogous to those "weak weather days" that favor the 18M or Open Class ships... IMHO, some things about glider tasks and weather may forever elude a handicapping system (or, at least one that humans can comprehend) - I mean, how can you have a system that handicaps a 1-34 and a Discus-2 equally well on a day with closely-spaced thermals; yet still works when you're jumping 20+ miles between isolated sections of wave on a day with NO thermals? On the first day, the difference between your Max L/D isn't the issue - its the high-speed section of your polar. On the second day, the difference *is* your Max L/D and the 1-34 just might not be able to make the jumps! Do you declare a whole separate course/task for the 1-34 and judge him/her completely separately from the rest of the pack? The bottom line is that the current handicapping for gliders isn't perfect; but its pretty darn good. On an average day with an average course, it corrects a good portion of the imbalances. For those few days with outlying conditions, I think you just have to shrug your shoulders and sigh. Baseball has rain-delays, and we have our issues with mother nature as well! :-P --Noel |
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Growing up in a family of competitive tennis players, I always loved this zinger from my mom:
- Me: XYZ beat me because he has a new Wilson T2000 - Mom: XYZ beat you 6-2, 6-1. He'd beat you with broom handle. Go out and hit another 1,000 balls. |
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On Feb 10, 8:20*am, Rick Walters wrote:
John, I was addressing Tom Knauff's comments. My horses have been in the barn for years. The sports nationals have been won by a Nimbus 3, a 1-34, and everything in between. It is not what you fly but how you fly it. Our honorable sport seems to be under threat from pilots that reason away entering competition. Unless you are losing the 15m nationals by 3% in your LS6, your glider is not your real handicap, you are. Racing is fun and educational no matter your final placing. Rick Walters On Feb 10, 6:53*am, John Cochrane wrote: On Feb 10, 8:46*am, Rick Walters wrote: Tom, Unless I am unaware of different handicaps used at the Senior Championships, how can the Seniors be considered a level playing field, yet the Sports class is won by span and wingloading? Richard Walters Hold your horses there a moment, Rick! "Sports class is won by span and wingloading??" That's how Tim Mcalester won in a Libelle, and Dave Stephenson won in a Foka? And the poor Nimbuses never can seem to overcome their huge handicaps? Open class is won by span and wingloading and dollar-loading maybe. Sports class is won by pilots. John Cochrane Tom was referring to Elmira in 2009 and Parowan in 2010. At Parowan none of the true "Club Class" gliders got home when the task put us across nearly unlandable terrain into the wind. Those with span, l/d or wingloading could make the jump. In theory the handicaps work as long as everyone can get around. Throw in the need to make a big crossing of a gap or hole and the light ships with lower wingloading have a higher risk of not getting home. Tim |
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