Un-Official V8 Fast List Closing

[Merc]

I'm considering ditching the Un-Official V8 Fast List. The original purpose was for those members at altitude tracks to hold a spot some where on a C5 fast list. Almost all the usual suspects at the top of the Official List's are holding spots on the Un-Official list as well. There are two ways to correct it:

1. One list only per member either Official or Un-Official.
2. Remove the Un-Official List's all together.

I prefer option 2 as I don't believe the list is being used for what it was intended for.

Comments?

[Bo White]

I feel for you guys at altitude. I think you should be allowed to convert your times to sea level for the official list.

[jbrown13]

It would suit me either way.

[Merc]

Originally Posted by Bo White

I feel for you guys at altitude. I think you should be allowed to convert your times to sea level for the official list.

Sorry, but that's not an option I'm considering.

[Trackman]

How about deleting the unofficial and adding a column in the official category with a corrected time. It would not change your position on the list but would be there for the what if factor. Keep up the good work Merc. See ya in Texas.

[Mr. Nasty]

Option 2 is good

[white ZL1]

Originally Posted by Trackman

How about deleting the unofficial and adding a column in the official category with a corrected time. It would not change your position on the list but would be there for the what if factor. Keep up the good work Merc. See ya in Texas.

That's a good idea!

[Quick]

If its unofficial then axe it.

[LS7 427]

I never peek at it so I'm good with ditching it. You're call Merc.

Bryan

[Merc]

Originally Posted by Trackman

How about deleting the unofficial and adding a column in the official category with a corrected time. It would not change your position on the list but would be there for the what if factor. Keep up the good work Merc. See ya in Texas.

At this point to switch to that format would be a nightmare to do and not on the list of options.

[Padre]

I know it's hard to change the format, but my vote would be for adding a Density altitude column. Not everyone knows or checks, and it wouldn't always be exact or verifiable, but regular racers would understand the significance.

Another option would be to add a new list entirely to the official list, and call it the "Mile High Club". There are only a few true mile-high tracks, so I would make it for people who have raced at tracks above, say, 3500 feet. This would allow people who race in the high deserts to post times (e.g. West Texas, AZ, NM, CO, NV).

As a former El Paso racer, I know the frustration of altitude.

Padre

[HRD_WRK]

Been chewing away creating a response, here you go- hold on.


MERC,

We thank you for spending the time that you do on the lists.
Thanks to those reading my novel- I wouldn’t have spend this time if I didn’t feel it was important for the group.

As we know, there is quite a bit of time / history in them and for some submissions the Corrected ETs are the only way on the 'boards'. This is due to the original no red light rule of the Official list and from those that are less fortunate to get access to great DA. I would prefer not to see those entries and people be disregarded in such a manner.
As a good example, my first outing this ’14 year just last Saturday was a dismal 2.5 times worse DA than my Official PBest, but my Corrected ETs were spot on- so still a great tool for evaluation.
We have discussed and understand that the Drag times DA isn’t always accurate and thus the Corrected times could be a little off, but they are still of good use. Not only does it provide high altitude racers a place for them, to me it's really a good place to learn what car mods are producing in order to help set goals and to see how their cars are running- comparing to zero DA.

I would suggest if the Unofficial list is not able to be maintained as a separate list, that it would just be Closed, but not deleted. It would still provide some purpose. I would also recommend that if it does, its noted in the first post in big bold that it has been closed x date and may not reflect current 'corrected' leaders.


Please consider Option #3 (like Trackmans).

First before you react, remember that you have a family here that can help. No one expects a one man show.

So with that in mind, I am suggesting the following and offering my time to complete the changes:


1- Close the Unofficial list, update the post#1 to say its closed and to see Official (with link).

2- Change the Official Fast list’s first post with a statement in bold to Mandatory include the DA of the future runs submitted. Optional to provide Corrected ET, if interested. Provide link to Drag times

3- The default 'Race DA' column of the run is prefilled as '-1000", changed only if submitted with info (person in charge of list should not have to look it up). This will assist in ensuring those too busy to spend a minute to look it up, their number will be looked at as of lesser relativity, since DA was superb.

4- The 'Corrected ET' column is prefilled as ‘20’ seconds. This will provide those not interested, to be placed together at bottom of Corrected Order sort pile.

Down the road, then everyone submits in just the Official list with DA and Corrected ET(if desired) and it would only take a couple seconds to add the info to the table.
This would allow the Corrected ET times to be number ordered simply by a Sort of the Corrected ET column, adjusting the number, then re-sort by the Official numbering order columns.


I am offering to:

1- Create the new columns for each table.
**2- Merge the Unofficial lists into the Official lists and adding any DA and Corrected ETs into the column.

To provide some relative data for comparison:
**3- Where missing, look up and add the DA of the current top 20 of each Unofficial Corrected list, from the post entries, provided that the time slips provide adequate date info.
**4- Where missing, look up and add the DA of the current top 20 of each Official list, from the post entries, provided that the time slips provide adequate date info.
**5- Look up and add the Corrected ET of the current top 20 of each Official list, from the post entries, provided that the time slips provide adequate date info.

6- I can make the Excel file column sort adjustment and re-ordering anytime for you if you need assistance.


I would also look for support from other Excel savy forum members here to assist in the file updates and or DA look ups. **Perhaps one person per list.

If no other help is offered, I would still take it on myself for the good of the group. I fully understand the task this would entail, so it would take some time with my work, race schedule, spring home cleanup, and limited internet.


Sincerely,
Tim

[Merc]

Tim

Just to clarify thing's I was not planning to delete the list just close it and not maintain it anymore. At the end of the day not many members currently use it anyways and ET records are never corrected in any sanctioning body.

There are a number of other issues as well:

DA Calculator is wonky at best, cause anytime I run Pumpkin at MRP I compare to our weather station which I know is dead on and there is always a big difference.

It's sometimes hard enough to get members to post the timeslip in a proper manner and now add DA Calculator to the mix will only complicate the process more.

I sure don't have the skills with excel to make it auto calculate.

I sure do hear what you and others are saying and I appreciate your offer to help, but like you say it's just coming up on yard work, racing, cruising and fishing season and to embark on a new way of keeping a corrected list is really not high on my list of things to do.

But certianly could be looked at in the off season.

[AngelSpeedFreak]

High DA people need to move. End of thread