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Old 01-13-2008
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WatertownNewbie WatertownNewbie is offline
Testing Mid-Corner Speed / Advanced Member (500+ Posts)
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Watertown, CT
Posts: 999
Re: Changing SBRS Groups

The old system already occurs anytime we run a memorial race, and those are always a lot of fun. It always seems that there is somebody else of comparable speed somewhere in the mix, and the drivers who are relatively equal tend to find each other eventually. As long as there is some assurance that a really fast or slow driver will not end up in a group with no one else of similar speed, then maybe the old system is a good idea. (A race that feels like a lapping day is not much fun.)

There is one practical issue, especially given the recent discussion of shorter races. A slower driver will be more likely to lose a lap or two from the prescribed race distance in a race with faster drivers than in a purely slower group (i.e., most Sportsman races). To the extent that race distance matters, and if there is a concern about doing everything possible to attract and retain new drivers, there could be some beginners who feel discouraged by being in a field with really fast drivers and by losing laps from being lapped.

That last point is of more importance to slower drivers, so here is one for the faster drivers. More than a few fast drivers have commented on how they feel safer and less likely to suffer crash damage when they are in a group of experienced faster drivers. Mixing the groups completely will increase the likelihood of a fast driver running up on a new driver who is still coming to grips with speed and the art of being passed.

Having said all of this, I would not be opposed to going back to what you outlined as the old system.
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