rec.autos.simulators

Question for League Operators - Lucky Dog Rule

Timmy Ferrel

Question for League Operators - Lucky Dog Rule

by Timmy Ferrel » Tue, 31 Aug 2004 17:24:03

     It's been almost a year since NASCAR instituted the "lucky dog" rule
for it's races. In the aftermath virtually all sim leagues likewise
instituted a similar policy, ostensibly to keep pace, visa a visa, the
realism of NASCAR.
    Enough is enough- get rid of the rule and let's get back to racing.
    Let me first say that I am not a "hot shoe"- I am one of those drivers
in a given league that is most likely to benefit from a free-pass rule: I'm
not the quickest in qualifying and usually end up in the back. I run a clean
race and am courteous ( move out of the groove for faster cars, etc)
    My reason for seeing it go away are two-fold-
    1.) NASCAR introduced the rule solely for safety reasons. It subtracts
from rather then adds to competition within the race.
It was no more dangerous, or wreck-prone before the Lucky Dog rule when we,
as sim drivers, used to race back to the caution.
    2.) It's too confusing. Every league has a different method of
establishing the Lucky Dog. Some require the free passer to continually
driver through pit road until directed by the race host or someone else.
Some leagues use a non-racing league member to watch and act as a race
director to sort out the running order.
    This is a waste of time- the sim will tell the drivers what to do.
    As a driver I don't want to worry about if I have slowed quickly enough
when a caution comes out. Am I avoiding the wreck that caused the caution?
Did the driver who passed me avoid a wreck, or did he see an opportunity to
pick up a few spots? What exactly is "maintaining your position"? Nascar has
30 officals watching each race and they can't often decide.
    As a driver I unnnamed leagues, I would like nothing better that to see
the Lucky Dog rule go away. Just let the sim sort things out.

Let me know,
Timmy

John Simmon

Question for League Operators - Lucky Dog Rule

by John Simmon » Tue, 31 Aug 2004 18:44:18



I agree.  The problem with cautions (in online racing) is not the act of
racing back to the line, it's the re-start afterwards.

In RRATS (RacingRoadHouse Aero Touring Series), we race back to the
caution.  

http://www.racingroadhouse.us

Paul

Question for League Operators - Lucky Dog Rule

by Paul » Tue, 31 Aug 2004 08:56:33

The Western States Racing League  www.wsrlracing.com has never used the
Lucky Dog rule, and we've been racing back to yellow flags for years. It's
much less confusing and time consuming that way. :)

-Paul Eigsti
-League & Server admin
Western States Racing League
www.wsrlracing.com


Mitch_

Question for League Operators - Lucky Dog Rule

by Mitch_ » Wed, 01 Sep 2004 01:14:24

Racing back to the line is a recipe for disaster and is much worse in the
sim world than RL.  If you can't pass a guy when racing then why the hell
should you get to take advantage of a cautious person as he tip toes through
a on track mess trying to avoid others incidents.  Its plain and simple over
aggressive driving and the dumbest drivers usually get the benefit instead
of the other way around.  Without the real world danger involved it makes it
too easy for the kamikaze's of the sim world to make an even bigger mess.
(Then *** and moan after)

RASCAR has been using this rule since before Nascar implemented it and its
worked very well.  In our version the leader slows to a reasonable pace up
in the high line and all the lappers get to make a safe pass below to get
their laps back.  Sometimes the caution comes out to close to the flag stand
and nobody gets a lap back, such is life.  Not only does everyone enjoy
themselves more but it gets the slower guys out of the way in a much safer
manner than front row inside lane.

Mitch



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