SHELBY FEST 07 - Let's talk Classes
Being an event organiser with the cobra car club over the last decade, I have noticed a trend involving the major events and people and cars competing in them.
As technologies advance we find the performance gap widening between the newer Cobras and the pre 90’s normally aspirated small blocks. We also have many competitors running road/race tyres and another group spending thousands on stroking or supercharging their older vehicles. Last year at the Shelby Fest we had to run 5 different Cobra classes to ensure we weren’t disadvantaging a competitor with a lesser machine running out of his class. This keeps most happy (although we always get a few wingers). Problems with this scenario: Trophy cost, in-balance of numbers within the classes, some classes may only have 1 or 2 competitors entered, people try to get there car in to a less competitive class. How do you group the cars fairly: On power, engine size, performance, tyres, handling or driver skill. Last years classes: Cobra class1 Cobra class2 Cobra class3 Race class Ladies Mustang GT40 Times the number of classes by the number of events and you have a lot of trophies. Let’s think outside the box on his one. No more adding to the number of classes or modifying the criteria for the specific classes. Let’s re-think the whole event, simplify and maybe add a new twist that allows everyone to compete on a level playing field. |
This is my proposal that I’m putting forward for all to view and comment on.
If it passes scrutiny here, we will be running with it at this years Shelby Fest. I have utilized the results from the last two years Shelby Fest to ensure the formulae works well and covers all contingencies. Saturday’s event will be split in two. In the morning competitors will be on the track trying to record their fastest lap time. Laps completed after lunch can also count towards the fastest lap, but these laps also have another use. (I’ll cover that in a moment).Trophies will be awarded to the top 10 fastest performers regardless of car type or spec. If you have a fast car and you’re a good driver, you will be rewarded. Now for the afternoon’s competition: Trophies will be awarded to the 10 competitors that have the lowest regulatory factor. The regulatory factor is calculated by: Subtracting the fastest lap time from the average (total number of laps completed minus the 3 slowest laps or safety car laps). To qualify the driver must have completed 80% of the average number of laps completed by all competitors (Rounded up to the nearest whole number). Sounds complicated, but it really works and works well. To add one last twist: If you placed in the speed event, you will be exempt from the regularity event. Unless you have scored a higher ranking on the reg event, in witch case you become exempted from the speed event, thus freeing up spots for more trophy winners. So regardless of weather you have a stock 302 doing 2 minute laps or a supercharged chev doing 1.30’s, there’s something in the event for everyone. |
These are the reularity times from ShelbyFest 06
First number is the number of laps minus slowest 3, warm up and cool down laps. 2nd number is the reg. factor (fastest lap - average lap speed) Garry Shipton 13 00:00.902 Leigh Reaby 17 00:01.565 John White 18 00:01.756 Lindsay Ratnik 13 00:01.934 Phil Neall 18 00:02.249 Garrett Hebden 18 00:02.383 Peter Maloney 18 00:02.387 Warwick Harrison 17 00:02.401 Chris Liokos 13 00:02.404 Colin Turner 18 00:02.614 Richard Ferguson 17 00:02.749 Cameron Parsons 19 00:02.755 Jason Millington 19 00:02.841 Don Stafford 14 00:02.859 Robert Ginneken 13 00:03.033 Tony Cram 13 00:03.108 Trevor Hill 17 00:03.837 Shelly Wyatt 11 00:04.094 Warren Boylan 17 00:04.280 Phil Mizzi 18 00:04.316 David Draper 13 00:04.384 Karen Mizzi 13 00:04.741 Ross Kaigg 17 00:04.753 Mark Pividor 14 00:05.066 Bruce Rigby 11 00:05.109 DNQ Not enough laps completed Darryl Carr 2 00:00.183 Richard Gilham 10 00:01.007 Alan Davies 5 00:01.423 Bill Davies 4 00:01.584 Peter Duncan 9 00:01.919 Terry Ridley 8 00:02.371 Danny Higginson 8 00:03.544 Kaylene Turner 9 00:03.695 Garry Higginson 7 00:03.928 Jason Nichols 9 00:05.529 |
These were the times from Shelby Fest 06
John White 01:37.563 Garrett Hebden 01:38.245 Warwick Harrison 01:39.087 Trevor Hill 01:39.154 Warren Boylan 01:39.854 Ross Kaigg 01:40.869 Garry Shipton 01:41.409 Cameron Parsons 01:41.837 Colin Turner 01:41.842 Peter Duncan 01:43.053 Phil Neall 01:43.689 Don Stafford 01:45.898 Chris Liokos 01:45.990 Lindsay Ratnik 01:46.689 Jason Millington 01:46.791 Peter Maloney 01:48.441 Darryl Carr 01:48.545 Kaylene Turner 01:48.765 Leigh Reaby 01:50.059 Phil Mizzi 01:50.790 Richard Gilham 01:50.843 Bruce Rigby 01:52.115 Robert Ginneken 01:52.910 Danny Higginson 01:53.156 Richard Ferguson 01:54.470 Bill Davies 01:54.600 Shelly Wyatt 01:54.913 Tony Cram 01:55.051 Mark Pividor 01:56.612 Karen Mizzi 01:56.720 Garry Higginson 01:56.863 David Draper 01:57.397 Terry Ridley 01:59.321 Alan Davies 02:01.136 Jason Nichols 02:09.514 |
Format
HI Jason,
Sounds complicated but I am getting my head arround it. Is this correct, The morning session will be setting the fastest lap, the number of laps or average has nothing to do with the afternoon event other than the Fastest lap time? The afternoon event will be a "One run" format where you would go out complete a determined or minimum number of laps. I have one concern with the afternoon event. With my limited experience driving at these events, the one thing that I always enjoy is the courtesy that all drivers show when competing. If you buggered a lap that was ok, it didn't matter, with this event you may not want to slow down, pass when safe etc etc... However I do like your proposal. My 2 cents. Phil |
When and where is this event held?
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The time spent on the track will be same as always. It's only the afternoon times that will be calculated differently. The 80% rule is added to stop drivers only doing a coulpe of laps and having an advantage when averaging out the times. As for slowing down to let cars past. We always group the cars according to lap speed, so lapping other cars is rare. If you do slow down a couple of times, no worries, your 3 slowest laps are deleted from the equation for this exact reason. |
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Stay tuned for further updates. |
Reptyl
looks like a very fair system. As I see it it rewards the person doing the very best with what they have got on the day, which is to drive to your personal best limit and driving your car to its potential best limit. Leeroy ps/ did i make sense!!!!:JEKYLHYDE |
Sounds good to me. As long as we get a few more laps than were on offer at Goulburn.
Any ideas on how many cars will be allowed to enter? Oversubscription seriously reduces the enjoyment factor. Richard |
So how do you decide who misses out on the fun Richard?
Brett |
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I did 28 including warmup laps last year thats about 3/4 of a hour on the track. |
Practice
Jason,
Are you planning to have the practice day on the Friday? Phil |
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$100 and the track is yours for the day. |
My point was that too many people are allowed to register for the Nationals. The Shelbyfest last year was fine (even though I did not make the practice session). With such a well-run event it's only going to become more popular. What do you do if entries are up 50%? I'd suggest working out a number of cars which guarantees a fair amount of track time, excluding non-Shelby cars (unless the event is under-subscribed) and keep doing what you're doing. As far as who misses out: first in, best dressed.
Richard |
Jason,
How are we going to go with un registered cars? Mine should be ready by then but may not have finished going through engineering. Cheers |
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If your car is in roadworthy condition and passes scrutineering your right to go. Richard, We have it all under control, we can take 30% over last year without changing the format. Over that we have a plan 'b' format up to 90 cars. This event is all about getting out on the track and having fun. Not to have 100 cars sitting in the pits. |
Well done Jason. Sounds like it's going to run like clockwork!
Richard |
i like it
Hi Jason yea i like your thinking i am never about trophys i got enough of them racing speedway for 10 years , I still have not found a way to recycle them yet.
I think its a good idea lets hope people think more about track time and enjoying their cars than dam trophys. Hope to be there this year i am due for a tip to Victoria. Regards oz |
Jason,
looks like you have a consensus. Knowing personalities however, you may want to pre-prepare a concise example for people to look at. It will at least limit some of the questions/challenges. What's the Sunday plan? I'm looking forward to it... Cameron |
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