4 Lanes - 4 Boys

[Go Bubba Go]

Our Pack uses a 4 lane track with GPRM software, MicroWizard Fast Track K3 timer, and "traditionally" runs a Lane Rotation schedule with winner determined by best average time (typically with slowest time dropped). We'll probably run the same setup this year (my first year as Chairman), but switch to Perfect N to mix up the lineup a little bit.

My concern is that we have one age group this year that has only 4 boys. Once down each lane and they're done in no time. Since this is their last derby (Web IIs) as part of the pack and they are such a small group, I was looking to run a different method for them to give them some more runs down the track.

I was thinking of having them run head to head, best 2 out of 3, rotating through 3 lanes. Winner of first pairing and Winner of second pairing compete for 1st place, then start over with the remaining 3 boys and go head to head, best 2 out of 3, for 2nd place. Then a run off with the remaining 2 boys for 3rd place.

Any comments? Or thoughts on a "more fun, more runs" race for this little group?

Bubba

[Stan Pope]

Well, you could do two rounds of Perfect-N to give 'em each 8 runs. The second round is a kind of mirror image of the first round ... every match up in the first happens in the second but with the lanes reversed!

On the elimination style ... if there is a difference between the three lanes, and if the cars are more closely matched than the lanes, then the "rotation" will advantage one or the other. At least two of the runs will have been superfluous. The result may have been determined by who started in which lanes, making the third run superfluous! If you used it, you must identify the direction of rotation before racing and you must determine the starting lanes for each by lot.

Downside is that the winner is known too early! and he only has 4 to 6 heats.

You can throw in some spice by making this elimination result the "seeding" for a ladder. Start with #4 against #3. #4 must win 2 heats before #3 wins 1 heat to advance. Out gets the 4th place trophy. Then race the advancing boy against #2. Again the advancing boy (3rd or 4th seed) must win 2 heats before #2 wins one heat. Out gets 3rd place. Then race the advancing survivor against #1 seed. Again the advancing boy (2nd, 3rd, or 4th seed) must win 2 heats before #1 wins 1 heat. Out gets 2nd place. Last survivor gets 1st place. Advantage is that 1st place trophy is in doubt until the ladder is completed, and if a car has "staying power", then even the 4th seed can win the 1st place trophy! Each run must include a draw for lanes!