SimRacing.org.uk

Now Season 32 has come to a close it is time to think about what went well and what could be improved. The moderating team would like some feedback from you, the drivers, so that we can make Season 33 even better.  Below are a set of questions for you to consider but this is not an exhaustive list, please feel free to raise any issues you like.  The moderating team cannot commit to addressing every query but we will try our best.  The moderating team are drivers too, the happier the drivers the more chance we have of racing with full grids. Something I'm sure we are all in favour of.

The 55Mod

• Has it been a success?
• Should we run it again next season?

Tokens for 55, Historics and GTs. 

• Has it worked OK?
• Did we get a good variety of cars?
• Is using a spreadsheet and posting the available tokens in the race announcement working?
• Was it a good idea to give the Ams extra tokens?
• Should we have more variety of initial tokens? i.e. more than just 10 or 20.  What about 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 90 depending on ability?

   

The 55Mod

• Has it been a success?

Yes.

• Should we run it again next season?

Yes, but not at the expense of 65s.

Tokens for 55s. 

• Has it worked OK?

Only did 55s and yes, no complaints.

Tokens for 55s.

• Did we get a good variety of cars?

I think so. I used several myself and raced against the whole field I think.

Tokens for 55s.

• Is using a spreadsheet and posting the available tokens in the race announcement working?

Yes, though I keep track on my own spreadsheet too.

Tokens for 55s.

• Was it a good idea to give the Ams extra tokens?

Yes.

Tokens for 55s.

• Should we have more variety of initial tokens? i.e. more than just 10 or 20.  What about 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 90 depending on ability?

I don't see the need.

After my long absence what I noticed was how fast UKGPL has become!  Privateers would be very forbidding for new drivers, and without new drivers the grids will get smaller.  GPL is still available to buy and because of the efforts of the mod teams is reasonably easy to install, after twenty years the potential to attract newcomers might still be there- if there was less of a skill barrier?

The other side of the lack of new drivers is the availability of race data on the existing grids, which allows for better handicapping.  I have always preferred a chassis allocation system, I believe that it can be made to produce quality racing and that it is more satisfying in having the same drivers in the same cars on every track.  So rather than split drivers into two categories of a token system I would negotiate chassis before the season began.

The 55Mod

    Has it been a success?  YES

    Should we run it again next season?  YES   Preferably starting in three weeks time!    ;D

Tokens for 55

    Has it worked OK?  YES

    Did we get a good variety of cars?  YES

    Is using a spreadsheet and posting the available tokens in the race announcement working? YES

    Was it a good idea to give the Ams extra tokens?  NO  
You cannot equalise the driver ability.  Better to let everyone have the same but still have separate award for AMS.  Close racing in the 55s is tricky and the last thing that you want to encounter is someone all over the place in a faster car.

    Should we have more variety of initial tokens? i.e. more than just 10 or 20.  What about 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 90 depending on ability?  NO See previous answer  ;-)

The 55Mod
Has it been a success?
> Oh, I would think so.  Quite a few race starts by the crew.

Should we run it again next season?
> Most definitely.  I believe it to be quite popular.

Tokens for 55, Historics and GTs. 
Has it worked OK?
> Hmmm...  See below.

Did we get a good variety of cars?
> Yes.

Is using a spreadsheet and posting the available tokens in the race announcement working?
> Yes.  Most useful and many thanks for providing the values for each round.  It provides essential data on knowing what chassis are within reach.

Was it a good idea to give the Ams extra tokens?
> Not sure on this.  Most likely not.  Just having separate awards for performance for Pros and Ams should be adequate.

Should we have more variety of initial tokens? i.e. more than just 10 or 20.  What about 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 90 depending on ability?
> Trying to level the playing field between different abilities is always the slippery slope.  It may result in closer competition ref a mediocre chassis + wanker vs a top-notch item + ace but is that the goal?  I wouldn't have thought so.

Thanks to all admins and moderators for your efforts on S32 and in planning S33.  :)

Doni

I see two advantages to the token system :

1/  We all understand how it allows a choice of cars for every race, and prevents the fastest cars filling the track.  

2/  It also allows a handicap - simple, or complicated.  Each Mod will produce a different result, from the exact same tokens.

A realistic handicap would help keep more cars closer together. Although, when you have 18 cars - a handicap is not needed, because a crowded track stays busy.  But a grid of nine can easily get spread out by midrace, after which the Ai produce more excitement!  Seasons and Series have ended with 6 dedicated Pro's, and no Am's remaining.  Survival of the fastest -  Darwin was right!  :euro:

Giving each driver a unique handicap, goes back to much earlier times, when each was given a car for the Season.  That needed good judgement from Moderators.  I've no interest in a Championship, if rules and restrictions become variable, and have stopped racing where that happens.  Hoping for good sense and simplicity.

I think you guys do a good job. I appreciate you letting me race with you.

I don't care much for the 55s. I think braking is my weak point in racing and these cars only make it worse.

In the GT series I thought the Ams should have been given more tokens. To make things closer, they should have been given 15 tokens per race compared to 10 per race for myself. There was no way they were going to challenge me with such a little difference in tokens.

Me too, as well as accelerating and cornering.

Bring back 65s

Thanks for the feedback. We are starting to plan season 33 and we will take into account the comments on this thread. First race should be 13th May.

Would like to see a 69x Cup and the 66er.
Cheers