THSCC Forums

The Laurinburg event thread has been highjacked...

Long course, vs short course.

My thoughts:

Long are fun, and challenging in different ways than short.

<RANT>
We had a nice compact course, and still had problems with workers getting out on time. You want me (an autocross VP) to make longer courses? Then get your butt out to your worker station ON TIME. It is twice as hard with a 1/2 to 3/4 mile walk to get it done right vs the 1/4 mile walk we had this weekend!

Almost every event with really long courses, we end up stopping it due to lack of workers.

</RANT>

Scott

I happen to like long courses also. You generally get more seat time with a long course, but... a short course can provide the ability to get more than 4 runs runs which is even more fun.

I agree that the worker exchange is an issue with long courses, but only if you choose to do worker changes on the fly. Short courses allow you to have more workers per position and greater flexibilty with how you use the workers (extra assignments, etc). Scott is right that many clubs with long courses stop to change workers, but that comes at the expense of time.

Long courses can provide for some interesting elements that are the ususal course items if they are designed well, but sometimes you see designers use the same element over and over just to fill the space.

I guess I like them both and don't see the need for a course to be long to be challenging or fun.

What's wrong with having both?

It's like asking what kind of ice cream you like best. Chocolate? Vanilla? Strawberry?

It's a relief that they came out with Neapolitan... all three great flavors together! In one box! Imagine!

Extolling the virtues, or debating the differences, of different course types is an argument waiting to happen.

Variety is the spice of life.

So far in my very limited experience with the club (1st year) I have enjoyed all the courses that were setup with the exception of maybe 1 or 2. And that wasn't an issue about course length and more about some painful gate setups. I'm not ragging on the autox vp(s) either. I really do appreciate the effort that goes into it.

The book I read on Secrets of Solo Racing states it pretty well. Don't look at a course and say I don't like it. You've just ruined your attituded and approach to the course. Do the best you can with the layout because everyone else is in the same boat with you.

I prefer longer and more open/fun courses but that is a personal thing and suits the car I drive. As long as the courses are not setup to favor the popular brands of cars in the club then I think we should mix it up and have both during the year. The whole idea is to make it fair for all people competing regardless of the car they drive.

As far as Scott's comments on the worker thing. If people reported to the bus to swap workers on time and didn't require paging on the intercom then I don't see that the changeover should be that painful. You got to play now get your butt to the bus and get to your post...

Graham

Man, all you vette guys who don't like tight courses and all you MR2 and Miata guys who don't like open courses need to get a real car - like a BMW. It's good for everything!

Just having fun Graham. I'd love to be driving a Vette

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Mike Whitney
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