I have attached a demonstration spreadsheet, showing the results that my proposal would give if applied to last years competition, and compared to the eventual results (old system). It's quite interesting I think, delivering similar results with a few surprises. I realise that no system will ever be perfect... there will be winners and losers, and hand-wringing claims that "I was robbed".
WHY CHANGE NOW?
In my opinion, we now have too many MX5 models and variants to run meaningful class competitions. Even last year's bundling of all modified cars was not really successful, with a very wide spread of talent, budgets and results. The distinction between Modified and Race in particular is not clear or easy to manage, and introducing scrutinising and adherence to the rules is not on...I don't want to be getting under cars trying to figure out if that diff is standard or not.
I think I have seen people having the most fun when they are having "battles" with drivers doing similar speeds. Therefore, I think that the competition amongst drivers is much more interesting than amongst cars. Drivers in the same vehicle class who are seconds apart in laptimes are not really in competition at all!
My second reason is that our competition is very one dimensional: it's track, track, track. In my opinion, if you want to be a better driver, add variety, or at least practice more. There are many forms of motorsport, all requiring different skill sets, and MX5s are well suited to many of them. So if you're out there doing something else, I'd like that to benefit you in our competition.
Thirdly, I wanted to get something up and running before the end of my term as Compsec. I am sick of hearing myself say "I'm gunna...". Hopefully all the bugs will be ironed out before handover is required, so the next Compsec can focus on other improvements.
HOW THE SCORING WORKS
I have based the scoring on Classes A, B, C & D: you are allocated and ranked within a class AFTER the completion of the event. That is, you don't know what class you will be in, although you will have a good idea of who your competition is, based on lap times. Your class will vary according to what you are driving, how you are driving, and how others are driving. Unless you are always fastest or always slowest, you can't control what grade you will end up in. You could be top of B grade this time and bottom of A next time, so there is no point holding back.
First in each Class is awarded 40pts, second gets 38, 3rd gets 36, etc down to 11th or lower gets 20pts. If two circuits are run on one day points are halved and distributed for results on each circuit.
If a nominated event is not timed, or reliable, independent results are not available, I may allocate "appearance points".
Points are awarded only to MX5CQ members with memberships valid on the day of competition.
HOW GRADES ARE CALCULATED
The Grade divisions are based the range of published FTDs.
If you are in the top 15% of lap time, you are A grade (you are the fastest.
In the next 30%, B Grade.
Next 30%, C Grade.
Lowest 25%, D grade.
This creates a smaller, elite grade, two large middle grades, and a largish D grade. Have a look at the attached spreadsheet. You can see how the grades are calculated, and the number of competitors in each. Feel free to have a play with the percentiles, to see how it affects the grade structures, but you will have to recalculate the in-grade rankings and points manually.
POINTS GAINED OUTSIDE MX5CQ EVENTS
I will also be awarding points for results achieved outside MX5CQ events. I am doing this to encourage members to try other events and forms of motorsport, and to allow members who only compete on the weekends to participate in our competition. Basically if you are a club member and compete in your MX5 in any competitive driving event for which results are published, you can claim 10 points per event that you start. All you need to do is provide the proof to me within 7 days, being the published results showing your name, that your car is MX5, and that you started the event. Any event will be considered: dirt sprints, drags, hillclimb, drifting, motorkhana, regional street sprints, or QR's other track events.
I think it is highly probable that the 2017 MX5CQ Champion Driver will be someone who is very active in motorsport, using their other activities to boost up their points.
I welcome your comments. If you are an Excel whiz I would be happy to take advice on automating calculations. If you are a statistician, feedback regarding the validity of the method would also be appreciated (outliers in particular, which I did not attempt to compensate).
