Championship - How to score?

[nateh]

Maybe we should consider Bernie's "medals system".

Bob, finishing with your best time ever is exactly what we should all be after - so congratulations on that! We are our own most important opponents.

So, will Bruce contradict me now?

[breakaway500]

Bruce didn't say a damn thing about the results of the 2010 Formula class. I am sure he could not care any less.

I pointed it out to show how laughable the current points system is. It just happens to be very blatant in Formula class this year.

Sure,the class championship is based on an accumulation of points.The better you finish,the more points. A reward for doing well in competition.

But it really belittles the title "Class Champoin" in my opinion, when someone who has NO WINS in class (out of 8 events) is the class "champion" over another participant who has SIX WINS in 8 events in the same class. (Not two wins out of eight..I don't see how you got that result)

How in hell can you defend the results for Formula "class champion" and call it "competition" is beyond any common sense that I understand.

If it's all about having a good time,then why not eliminate ALL classes and you will have the fastest driver at the top right down to last place. Simple reality.

Sure save a lot on trophys..but I know....everyone want to be "first" in something.

[SEISAN]

I do not think the current system is laughable. It is just the way it is. It does benefit and rewards the driver who commits and attends the most events and why not. The championship is based on total points. How you get the total points is not the issue, therfore the number of finishing places should not matter.

Some classes have more drivers. Some classes have more competition. Some classes have vehicles with more horsepower over others. Some classes have more skilled drivers than others. We are all competing on some level. Maybe next year this issue will be with a different class.

If you really want to have a competition, we all drive the same cars that are prepared the same way and then the only difference is the skill of the driver. But we all know that will not happen unless we live in a communist country and we all have the same color driving suites and helmets. Then we would be bored and complain about something else.

This is FUN. Lets not forget how lucky we are.

Anyway, my 2 cents, See you at the Banquet

S & B

[breakaway500]

.."therfore the number of finishing places should not matter."

Come on...do you really think 6 wins out of 8 vs. 0 wins out of 8 in any class constitutes a "champion"?

Yes,,it is what it is.

You will pardon me while I hold my applause..

[nateh]

The reason FP frequently has odd results (review the past few years) is that it has so few participants.

One thing I'd like to see, and which I am always looking for opportunities for, is to get more cars in each class. There are several general approaches for this:

- reduce the number of classes - always worth considering, but typically unpopular, and for reasons which are usually valid
- revise the class boundaries to balance out the numbers - we did this a couple of years ago for SS and ST, and it helped a little
- get more people in the club, with a wider variety of cars - best option all around

I was disappointed that the Barrows didn't keep coming with their Formula Ford. Maybe some of our members who run SCCA and/or vintage races could recruit some of their friends?

Another way would be for more drivers to choose FP voluntarily. Mark, it might be the perfect class for you, given your philosophy of competition. Move your car there and invite in all your friends to do so as well!

If I could only get that darned Frankenspec to run properly, John and I could do FP more justice - though we would still only beat Bruce when he has a problem.

[brucesallen]

.."therfore the number of finishing places should not matter."

Come on...do you really think 6 wins out of 8 vs. 0 wins out of 8 in any class constitutes a "champion"?

Yes,,it is what it is.

You will pardon me while I hold my applause..

Nate won FP over me fair and square. I like the current points system. I intended to compete in all 8 time trials but bad luck knocked me out of two. Luck does play a role.
I suppose if I were as wise as Nate, I would have run a Miata or my truck in FP when my car was disabled. Then i would have been champ. All about playing by the rules- and the fast lap.
PS: I would disconnect the camper. Unless we start a Formula Camper class.

[breakaway500]

Do not misunderstand me..I never said Nate did not play by the rules in place!

I only used this example (the formula class results) to demonstrate how the current point system can create an indescretion in common sense.

How can any competitor feel 6 first place wins out of 8 events, should "lose" to 0 wins out of 8 events,and to be crowned a "class champion"? However,that is how it ends,due to the rules currently in place.

Better "luck" next year,Bruce. I'm sure you do not need any more trophys..

[cfossum]

Just like life, you gotta show up to win.
If you score an "A" on six exams, but miss two, then you get a lower grade than a guy who shows up and gets a "B" on all eight.
Try showing up to work 75% of the time.
Try being faithful to your wife 75% of the time. (certain Chiefs of specialty, don't answer this one)

The commitment oughta count alot. And it does.
-Carl

[breakaway500]

Yea,that's what Bruce needs to be..more committed! I don't think so...just luckier!

[nateh]

Bruce, if you'd asked, we could have found you a car to drive for those "unlucky" events of yours.

By the way, what happened to the idea of a BS Levy (pre)Memorial Ride Mooch of the Year award?

[TroyV]

Mooch of the year?

Should that not be the Swinehart Award?

[Mark Swinehart]

Let's see - third in Class and never drove my own car.

Does this make me professional driver or just a free loader?

[blindsidefive0]

- reduce the number of classes - always worth considering, but typically unpopular, and for reasons which are usually valid

This could be done with the points system. If you allow cars to "class up" you can combine the total number of classes. For instance, SSU, ST1, and SPC all run fairly similar times (depending on the track). I'm not saying we just dump these together, but a points system that could group some of these cars together would make it interesting. You could go from 17 total classes to maybe 10 combined classes. My stock 325i and some SM's are actually a good match, in my opinion - it would be fun to mix it up with a class that has stock and modified cars competing.

I would guess that some concern with going to a small number of classes is that parity gets lost, but with a "combined class" type system (via an overall points-based system) this could be mitigated.

I understand some research is being done about this in 2011 - I'll be curious to see how it goes.

[TroyV]

To be a professional, I think you need to get paid.

[nateh]

Nick, I think you're quite right about that, and it's one of the good arguments for a points-based classing system.