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A new addition to the 2013 USTS Season will be COURSE RECORDS at all races. Starting at the Winter Haven season opener, all courses will be set up with a GPS so each class will have a course record holder similar to NASCAR with track records. These courses will not be surveyed unless stated in the sanction. Lake Alfred will be 3/4 mile surveyed course. This new idea will make more exciting for the spectators hoping to see a new course record set in each heat. When the USTS returns the following year the same course will be set up and new course records can be broken. A different size and style course will be used at each venue. With our great announcer RAY RODDA doing the play by play, this new idea should keep the crowd on its feet.
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This is a good idea! If the guy out front starts to run away from the pack it will add to the excitement of the heat to see if He/She can set a record. Also setting the same course with GPS year after year is an advantage to us racers.
Joe Franck -
That sounds like a good idea.
While you're at it, ditch the green/white flags before the race - that is confusing! Use the blue/white flag for the first two (three) minutes and use the yellow flag for the one minute. Then when the real green flag goes up, then everyone on the beach knows the race has really started.Comment
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No separate flag for one minute gun??
At the risk of hearing the comment, "Well nobody looks at the flags anyway", the flag for this time period should be unique and only used for that purpose, just like other single purpose flags. To change something unless an safety reason exists for this period runs the risk of confusing folks who have operated under the older system for years.
With all the other associated noise on the course and in the pits, drowning out the PA system, (if one is present) there needs to be a visible signal that can be seen from everywhere, judges stand, turn boats, etc., that is different and distinctive from the other flags used and is visible for that entire time period, unlike the one minute gun or flare that only happens once at the start of the time period.
Also, except for the newbies, you run the risk of spreading more confusion than already exists at a boat race to change something that has been in use for so many years, unless an overriding safety reason exists for the change. The one minute before the start and after all boats have left the pits that are legal to compete, and prior to the start, is one of the most dangerous times during the race process. Many accidents have happened during this period while everyone is getting headed in the same direction, and to further confuse that time period, unless a very good reason exists, is just asking for problems, IMHO.
Have there been accidents that the change of flag color would eliminate?? I would have to see some really overriding reasons for this change other than just change for change sake.Comment
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What flag system does NASCAR and/or INDY use?Untethered from reality!Comment
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Great idea Tim and USTS. You guys are producing a very 'sellable' product, to both prospect racers and sponsers. Good work! GregFuture J dad!Comment
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Get fancy shoot a flare up at the start.Destiny is a matter of chance,it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.Comment
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George the USTS already shoots a flare at the start!Comment
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Ray Rocks
You are correct about Ray Rodda. He knows every racer personally. Knows every family member and friend. He makes the spectators aware of anything that might be of interest. The course record is a cool new idea. Ray can just add that to his bag of info making USTS even more exciting for the spectators and racers. Hard to imagine "more" being possible.Last edited by Team 12R; 03-21-2013, 07:55 AM.Bill Dingman "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."Comment
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Tim and The USTS
Tim,
The USTS is doing all the right things... Cool.
Keep up the good work.sigpic
Dean F. Hobart
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