Aug 12 - FAST Duel 2017

Postby **Loren** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 12:10 pm

It's time to start talking up Duel 2017!

Registration is now open to all who have competed in at least 5 autocross events:
Register!

If you've not done or heard about the FAST Duel, here's the deal in a nutshell:
A standard autocross course = a complete circuit. For the Duel, there are two starting lines, a half-course apart. Two drivers, no clocks. First one to reach their finish wins! Each run is just you and your opponent. Nothing else matters, you just have to finish before he does on THAT run... or just finish cleanly if he cones his run or goes off course!

We've been doing this event for years under a few different names. Most recently, it's been called the FAST Duel, a name we're rather fond of. This year's Duel will be run just like the last one, even the course is the same! The event is run as a double-elimination tournament with groups of 8 drivers based loosely on their FAST classing. (some classes may be grouped together with the slower-classed cars being handicapped, and if there are large classes, they may be split)

Why do we call it a Duel? Well, historically, we always seeded the tournament grids with drivers based on their prior performance. That works well, but I had another fun idea. Why do WE need to create the grid at all? Why not just produce a seeded list for each bracket and then give the bottom-seeded driver his choice of opponents? And thus the "FAST Duel" was born! The lower-seeded drivers get to "challenge" their opponent to a duel! (and you can be as dramatic about that as you wish!)

You can dig around on the forum and find prior Duel event discussions, even some videos. But, what you really need to read are the 2017 FAST DUEL Rules
(this will just give you a good idea of how the whole thing works, and includes a FAQ)

And, of course, here's the Duel 2017 Course

Now, much like the Endurocross, a good Duel tournament takes a lot of extra time and is a pretty inefficient way to do an autocross event. For that reason, it has to be a limited entry event. In this case, the entry limit will be 48 drivers. This event also requires a certain degree of autocross experience, since you'll be sharing the course with another car. So, novices are not permitted. For this event, "novice" means less than 3 prior autocrosses.

Due to the limited entry, the driver entry fee for this event will be $54. You'll get a minimum of 3 practice runs, and 3 competition runs... and a bunch more if you're WINNING! And you'll get the unique experience of head-to-head no-clocks autocross, there's nothing else like it. And, of course, the World Famous FAST Lunch!

We have a group order set up for the FAST Duel 2017 limited edition t-shirt. They must be ordered by August 4th. It's a really cool design and they're dirt cheap, get one!

CaptainSquirts · Postby **CaptainSquirts** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 2:36 pm

Oh, this looks like fun. Wanna co drive my car again Loren?

Postby **Loren** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:20 pm

You want me to drive a car that can win... at the Duel? Oh, hell yes!

I'll even cough up some tire money!

Postby **Native** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:16 pm

^^^ OH, good gracious.
Everyone can just stay home...

j/k lol winky-face...

RedBRZ80 · Postby **RedBRZ80** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:29 pm

This is a great event! Can't miss... unless your committed elsewhere, good luck to all! #cantmakeit

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CaptainSquirts · Postby **CaptainSquirts** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 10:05 pm

Loren wrote:You want me to drive a car that can win... at the Duel? Oh, hell yes!

Got ya. That's just guaranteeing me to lose. Can people even share a vehicle? What happens if both made it to the end?

Postby **Loren** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 10:12 pm

CaptainSquirts wrote: Got ya. That's just guaranteeing me to lose.

That's the beauty of the Duel. I can't win it with "just one good run". I have to be faster than whoever I'm up against at any given time. And if I try too hard, maybe I'll cone out or go off course? You never know what's going to happen in a Duel match!

Can people even share a vehicle? What happens if both made it to the end?

Read the rules!

For co-drivers, we try to keep them separated in the early rounds so that they don't have to go head to head unless they both make the finals. Then, when they have to go against each other, we use stopwatches. You'll run from one start line, we'll take your time (and keep it secret), and then I'll take my run from the opposite start as if we were running against each other. Best time wins. It's the only time clocks are used at the Duel.

Of course, we have the option of running in a different car, which is what I'd try to do. A legit Duel match is always the best way to go. So, I'd try to find another car to drive so we could do it right.

ImpostorDan · Postby **ImpostorDan** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 11:01 pm

Always impressed how completely thought out events are...

Postby **Loren** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 11:37 pm

dan wrote:Always impressed how completely thought out events are...

Can't take full credit for this one, it was stolen from another club that I used to run with. In 30 years of doing it as an annual event, they experienced pretty much everything and had it figured out! We've only changed what we had to.

I will tell you that of all the events we do, this one is the biggest pain in the butt to organize and execute! Always worth it, though.

Carracer · Postby **Carracer** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 9:11 am

Mandatory 140ft start penalty for all 2006 Mitsubishi.

CaptainSquirts · Postby **CaptainSquirts** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 9:41 am

Carracer wrote:Mandatory 140ft start penalty for all 2006 Mitsubishi.

Oh yea, well all Mazda's required to run positive camber on all 4's.

Carracer · Postby **Carracer** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:24 am

CaptainSquirts wrote:
Carracer wrote:Mandatory 140ft start penalty for all 2006 Mitsubishi.
Oh yea, well all Mazda's required to run positive camber on all 4's.

Fine by me

I'm not that far off as it sits.*
*In the front.

CaptainSquirts · Postby **CaptainSquirts** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:46 am

Alright, I'll start 5 3/4th blocks back from the start and all mazda's crank that camber bolt towards the positive side

. I don't want to only see your tires being rolled over, but also your wheels getting rolled onto as well.

This amount should be sufficient.

Postby **Loren** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:09 pm

Postby **Native** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:38 pm

Ahh...I loves me some Duel-trash!

twistedwankel · Postby **twistedwankel** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:54 pm

Very few of you know that Joe B. and I ran my Vette with shit tires last year and still managed to finish 2nd in 2 different classes. I don't care who you are that is nearly impossible.

I don't know if I can deal with the "brain fade of heat again" at the end of this event shit happens quickly? Car was ready but not me. A Dan won the class. BFD. I will offer Joe a killer ride in my Vette with some stupid good tires/his alignment to kick Loren's AWD wet dream along with all of the triple Dans.

I'll pay for lunch just to watch. Put a tenner in our hand. Lose it. I invest wisely. Joe is a gentleman but also a bad ass driver.

The Mayor

Postby **Loren** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:08 pm

Trash talk is all well and good, but what we need here is more people to step up and enter the Duel!

twistedwankel · Postby **twistedwankel** » Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:51 pm

Joe B can enter my Vette. #119 or 191. Either will win. I'm still in therapy.

CaptainSquirts · Postby **CaptainSquirts** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 8:52 am

twistedwankel wrote: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:51 pm Joe B can enter my Vette. #119 or 191. Either will win. I'm still in therapy.

If I drive against Joe B, he has to start 50 ft back. If you drive, I'll drive with 4 in the car.

twistedwankel · Postby **twistedwankel** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:49 pm

Sounds fair to me

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