Clock starts

[paul jillings]

All,

nevermind running to the clock for the start - I have seen all the commotion - perhaps adopting the start technique used in Japan would sort it out!!!

http://221.254.103.168/200602GI01/in...otikusen46.wmv

(Clip from UK Yamato agent - http://www.yamato.ndo.co.uk )

[jeff55v]

I wasn't able to veiw the movie. My computer seems to lock up every time I try.
However, I clicked the link you posted below the movie link, Then clicked "staduim racing" . That page is here:
http://www.yamato.ndo.co.uk/Stadium%20Racing.html

That page lists the following discription of the racing starts:

"The races use a flying start. These full bore takeoffs are one of the features that make motorboat racing in Japan so exciting. A big clock marks the start of the race. The competitors make three 600 meter laps for a total of 1,800 meters in all racing arenas. Under the running start system, boats must have crossed into but not left the start zone in the second before the clock reaches zero. Boats that exit the start zone early are classified as 'flying', and boats that enter it late are classified as 'late'. In both cases all bets related to the disqualified boats are refunded.

Two minutes before the start the trumpets sound and the big clock lights up. The six racers rush out of the pits and vie for starting positions in the waiting zone. As the big clock clicks down the seconds to the start of the race, the racers watch it to time their running approach to the start zone - where they must be positioned exactly one second before the start time. As the race proceeds, the clock's three meter hands show the elapse time.

A giant TV screen also shows each decisive maneuver as they occur during the heat."

That sounds a lot like how we do it here in the U.S. except for the wagering and the big screen T.V.'s

[Bill Huson]

DQed - all of `em!

Failure to keep one knee on the floorboard at all times. Note everyone of the drivers standing at one point or another.

[CSR4C]

I attended the races in Japan 10 years ago. When the boats are released from the pits (hook on the loop in the steering bar) They race out to this point, about where our 500' buoy would be. They let go to the throttle (the butterfly is set so it will idle) reach back and retard the spark advance. Then it is "bumper boats" trying to get the position they want for the start. It looked like lane 2 was the best. Also when the clock reaches the 15 sec. mark it makes a fast loop and quarter so the drivers can better gage there starts. While we were there no one jumped the gun, no one was more than a second late. In one race a boat flipped in the 1st turn, the rescue boat posisitioned it self between the boat and driver in the water and the oncomming raffic and the race continued.
To win in the betting you must pick #1 and #2 in the correct order.

Darrell