FAST Duel 2013! December 8 @ SPC

[Loren]

Yeah, it's not even November yet, but, it's time to start talking up this event! December 8th will be here before we know it!

For those who haven't done a 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!

We've done this before, we used to call it Battle-X. The last time we did we called it the FAST Duel, it was in February 2012 at SPC. We'll be running pretty much the same event this time, except for the course. 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!)

Here's the 2012 Pre-Event discussion and 2012 Post-Event discussion
(includes videos... but we're using a new course this time)

And 2012 Results

But, what you really need to read are the 2013 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 new Duel 2013 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.

With those restrictions in mind, we will first open registration to actual FAST Members. (members are defined as those who competed in a minimum of 5 events in the previous competition season) We have over 60 drivers who qualify as members right now, and most of them have been very active as of late! So, it is very possible and even likely that the event will reach its limit with just members. However, if the holidays keep enough of those people away, we will open registration to specific groups of non-members. But, in no case will we allow any driver who has not competed in a minimum of 3 autocrosses. Sorry, it's just not safe for this event. And with 60+ members being initially invited, and a second group of about 20 "non-members" who have competed in 4 or more of the last 5 events... we will surely fill this event with FAST "regulars" of some sort... which is as it should be.

Due to the limited entry, the entry fee for this event will be $50. 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!

Limited edition FAST Duel 2013 shirts will be available to order when you register. If you register/order before about November 20, your shirts will be ready at the event!

So there ya go. Registration will open quite possibly today or tomorrow, and will start with "members only" by invitation.
Here is the official FAST Duel 2013 Invitation List

[Loren]

Okay, I think I've finally got all of the event info updated, clarified, verified and cross-checked. For those who are on the Invitation List, registration is now open!
http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frm ... t_id=13526

[jesup16]

I'm in. This looks like a blast! S2 is filling up nicely...

[Jamie]

So if I'm reading the map correctly, start in the middle, bend left, turn back to the right, make a big loop to reverse direction, then do a lap-and-a-half around the perimeter?

[Loren]

Yeah, something like that.

Sent from my phone with Tapatalk. Expect even more errors than usual!

[nc4me]

In!

[Loren]

What's that on your back, Chris?

[nc4me]

Not my back. There's no way to win (overall win) if Howard shows up and he is registered last time I checked.

[Loren]

Not my back. There's no way to win (overall win) if Howard shows up and he is registered last time I checked.

Pfffth. You've forgotten how Duel works. Howard is notorious for coning out. All it takes is for him to hit 3 cones... or spin. He's been known to do that, as well.

You just gotta get in his head, man! Tell him how fast your car is now that it's turbocharged and all that.

But, I know your game... you're trying to lull everyone else into thinking you're not a threat like you did last time...

[AScoda]

But, I know your game... you're trying to lull everyone else into thinking you're not a threat like you did last time...

All that junk in his signature kinda' ruins that plan.
Chris, your new sig:
"Grey beater Miata on snow tires. Nothing to see here, move along"

[Loren]

But, I know your game... you're trying to lull everyone else into thinking you're not a threat like you did last time...

All that junk in his signature kinda' ruins that plan.
Chris, your new sig:
"Grey beater Miata on snow tires. Nothing to see here, move along"

[garage west]

But, I know your game... you're trying to lull everyone else into thinking you're not a threat like you did last time...

All that junk in his signature kinda' ruins that plan.
Chris, your new sig:
"Grey beater Miata on snow tires. Nothing to see here, move along"

Yep, good stuff.

[nc4me]

But, I know your game... you're trying to lull everyone else into thinking you're not a threat like you did last time...

All that junk in his signature kinda' ruins that plan.
Chris, your new sig:
"Grey beater Miata on snow tires. Nothing to see here, move along"

Good catch. My signature had my old exhaust and tires listed on there. Fixed!

[Loren]

Just a reminder to anyone who's looking at the entry list and thinking, "there's nobody in my class!"

Classes will be "bumped" and combined (or split) as necessary to make 8-car brackets. Those 8 cars will be your "class" for this event. If you happen to be the "underdog" forced to run with a bunch of higher-classed cars, you will be handicapped by 25 feet. In extreme cases (either a 2-class bump, or a single bump, but extreme disparity in drivers based on the seed list), maybe even 50 feet. Likewise, if you're the overdog forced to run with lower-classed cars, your lower-classed competitors will have that handicap.

What does that equate to? Well, if your speed in the finish straight is 45 mph, that's 66 feet per second. So, 25 feet could be equivalent to about .4 seconds.

[Ben]

Just a reminder to anyone who's looking at the entry list and thinking, "there's nobody in my class!"

Classes will be "bumped" and combined (or split) as necessary to make 8-car brackets. Those 8 cars will be your "class" for this event. If you happen to be the "underdog" forced to run with a bunch of higher-classed cars, you will be handicapped by 25 feet. In extreme cases (either a 2-class bump, or a single bump, but extreme disparity in drivers based on the seed list), maybe even 50 feet. Likewise, if you're the overdog forced to run with lower-classed cars, your lower-classed competitors will have that handicap.

What does that equate to? Well, if your speed in the finish straight is 45 mph, that's 66 feet per second. So, 25 feet could be equivalent to about .4 seconds.

Makes me think I should get some new tires, otherwise I'll get my ass handed to me by all those badass drivers in S2.

[Loren]

S2 is shaping up to be a nice class. Don't know where all the S1 guys are. There are plenty of them out there. I expect that class to round out before all is said and done.

[tdinfl]

Rats! I just got the second or third round of invites, and I'm booked that weekend. Will look forward to hearing about the event, looks like a lot of fun!

TD

[Loren]

We need to place the shirt order in about 5 days, so if you want to be sure to get your limited edition Duel 2014 shirt, get registered by Wednesday!

[aliciamarie]

Do you have a picture of the shirt design?

[Loren]

Still in the design phase, but will be very similar to the previous Duel shirt that you've probably seen around. Eric does good work.