Formula 1.0 Grand Prix

[[email protected]]

Hi All,

Next season in Australia there will be a new competition, dubbed Formula 1.0 as it is a Grand Prix style contest that revolves around the current Australian Club Class handicap point of 1.0, but also includes a bracket in either direction. The following sailplanes are eligible :

Jantar Standard 3
Jantar Standard 2
Jantar Standard (SZD-41A)
LS-1 (A,B,C,D,F)
Marianne
Standard Cirrus
DG-100
Hornet
Open Libelle
ASW-15B
Standard Libelle
Cobra
Astir CS
Astir CS 77
HP-14

There are a large number of gliders in Australia of these type (over 200).

Our contest is being held at Leeton, NSW from the 28th of December 2017 to the 5th of January 2018. Both aerotow and winch will be available.

As there is a slight handicap difference (3%), handicapping will be done by applying a formula to a fixed task that varies the size of the turnpoint circles based on handicap - for example, a Standard Libelle may only have to go within 3 kilometres of a turnpoint, but a Jantar Std 3 may have to go within 500 metres. As with all GP events, pending some simple verification, first across the finish line wins. To minimise risk of pre-start & on task gaggling, we are splitting the pilots into 2 groups based on overall score, updated daily. Winning Group A will give the winning pilot 10 points - winning Group B will be a lesser amount (likely somewhere between 5 and 7).

The purpose is not to get the maximum distance possible from each day, but to set tasks that use the best part of the weather. The focus is on racing, and fun.

As it is a grand prix style event, for safety reasons numbers are strictly limited. In just over 24 hours we have had 24 entries, of a maximum 30.

A custom web application has been written that makes the contest very simple to run. If anyone is interested in finding out more, or possibly holding your own event, please contact us on the 'contact' page on the below website.

The website is available at :

http://f1gp.com.au/

Facebook :

https://www.facebook.com/formula1point0/

Cheers,
Nick.

[Sean Fidler]

Cool stuff Nick. I'll be following for sure.

Best,

Sean

[Andrew Ainslie]

Bernie Ecclestone won't be happy with that name - I hope he doesn't come after your huge fortunes with a trade name lawsuit :)

[Tony[_5_]]

Looks like fun, wish i could participate!

[sisu1a]

Not sure how many are in Australia, but you can safely add the SZD-59 to that list since it's pretty much a Jantar 3 as far as aerodynamics are concerned.

Same wing w/slightly larger ailerons and removable 1m tips (13.2m acro mode) and same fuselage but with the tailplane from the big Jantar, but in 15m it's essentially the same polar with a slight nod to the 48-3.

Discus seems strangely absent from that list.

[[email protected]]

You're right - the SZD-59 would be eligible. It's likely that it doesn't have a club class handicap in Australia because one has never attended a club class comp (I think there is only one here). If someone wanted to bring one, it would be a paperwork issue.

The Discus is way above the performance range for our competition. The Jantar Std 2/3 (and SZD-59) are the upper limit.

Cheers,
Nick.

On Friday, April 14, 2017 at 12:31:50 PM UTC+9:30, sisu1a wrote:
> Not sure how many are in Australia, but you can safely add the SZD-59 to that list since it's pretty much a Jantar 3 as far as aerodynamics are concerned.
>
> Same wing w/slightly larger ailerons and removable 1m tips (13.2m acro mode) and same fuselage but with the tailplane from the big Jantar, but in 15m it's essentially the same polar with a slight nod to the 48-3.
>
> Discus seems strangely absent from that list.

[ND]

this is very cool, and i like the concept from the point of view of participation. the turn-point thing is a little complicated for a spectator though. that's why you bring the fastest pony to the race isn't it?

I think it would be cool to have an IROC style grandprix, where you just have standard cirrus participate. of course, you have to think about wingloading, but that could really show absolute results with respect to pilot ability.

looking forward to following along!

[JS]

Yet another handicapped GP was run at Lake Keepit last (4-day) weekend. 18 contestants had a great time.
The dinner menu for each night looked great too.

The winner was Justin Smith flying an LS6C/17.5 that used to be in Minden, NV.
Third place overall, race organiser Jacques Graells in an LS6B.
Second: Does it matter what Brad Edwards was flying even if he missed day 1?
Andy: Fourth place was Attila Bertok flying Standard Cirrus Zulu Romeo.

From the LKSC newsgroup:
"The last day was won in style by Jason in his speed Astir, so that proves that there is no need for gliders worth more than a country house to come on top."

I don't think they ran this event on Livetrack24.
Jim

[[email protected]]

I hear what you're saying with regard to the turnpoint handicapping system - it is vaguely complicated. Having said that, spectators will see the gliders leave, and they'll know that whoever crosses the finish line first has won the race.

I think most people would agree that explaining that the first person to cross the line wins is a lot simpler to explain than the conventional system.

We also have very big plans with regard to broadcasting the contest to the masses. Watch this space.

Cheers,
Nick

On Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 11:05:33 PM UTC+9:30, ND wrote:
> this is very cool, and i like the concept from the point of view of participation. the turn-point thing is a little complicated for a spectator though. that's why you bring the fastest pony to the race isn't it?
>
> I think it would be cool to have an IROC style grandprix, where you just have standard cirrus participate. of course, you have to think about wingloading, but that could really show absolute results with respect to pilot ability.
>
> looking forward to following along!

[JS[_5_]]

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 1:34:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I hear what you're saying with regard to the turnpoint handicapping system - it is vaguely complicated. Having said that, spectators will see the gliders leave, and they'll know that whoever crosses the finish line first has won the race.
>
> I think most people would agree that explaining that the first person to cross the line wins is a lot simpler to explain than the conventional system.
>
> We also have very big plans with regard to broadcasting the contest to the masses. Watch this space.
>
> Cheers,
> Nick
>
> On Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 11:05:33 PM UTC+9:30, ND wrote:
> > this is very cool, and i like the concept from the point of view of participation. the turn-point thing is a little complicated for a spectator though. that's why you bring the fastest pony to the race isn't it?
> >
> > I think it would be cool to have an IROC style grandprix, where you just have standard cirrus participate. of course, you have to think about wingloading, but that could really show absolute results with respect to pilot ability.
> >
> > looking forward to following along!

The Formula 1.0 Grand Prix can be followed on Gtrack, link below.
Jim

http://gtracklive.com/event.php?eventID=13

[Justin Couch]

On Friday, 29 December 2017 14:53:36 UTC+11, JS wrote:

> The Formula 1.0 Grand Prix can be followed on Gtrack, link below.
> Jim
>
> http://gtracklive.com/event.php?eventID=13

We should finally get our first comp day today - if we can get our gliders out of the mud! Fine orange dust has absorbed about 20mm of rain overnight.. Forecast for the rest of the comp looks good - 7000ft+ days until the end.. Should make for some good flying.

[Bruce Hoult]

On Friday, December 29, 2017 at 6:53:36 AM UTC+3, JS wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 1:34:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > I hear what you're saying with regard to the turnpoint handicapping system - it is vaguely complicated. Having said that, spectators will see the gliders leave, and they'll know that whoever crosses the finish line first has won the race.
> >
> > I think most people would agree that explaining that the first person to cross the line wins is a lot simpler to explain than the conventional system.
> >
> > We also have very big plans with regard to broadcasting the contest to the masses. Watch this space.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Nick
> >
> > On Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 11:05:33 PM UTC+9:30, ND wrote:
> > > this is very cool, and i like the concept from the point of view of participation. the turn-point thing is a little complicated for a spectator though. that's why you bring the fastest pony to the race isn't it?
> > >
> > > I think it would be cool to have an IROC style grandprix, where you just have standard cirrus participate. of course, you have to think about wingloading, but that could really show absolute results with respect to pilot ability.
> > >
> > > looking forward to following along!
>
> The Formula 1.0 Grand Prix can be followed on Gtrack, link below.
> Jim
>
> http://gtracklive.com/event.php?eventID=13

That didn't make much sense. They didn't go anywhere *near* the turnpoints.

[[email protected]]

How close to the turnpoint you go is relative to your glider handicap. Today Libelles turned 3.1km short, and Jantar STD 2/3 turned at 500m.

[Bruce Hoult]

When I said nowhere near, I meant twenty km in the wrong direction.

[[email protected]]

There's some great coverage coming out of this event. In addition to the live tracking mentioned earlier, there are interviews, superb aerial photography and even live interview inflight. https://www.facebook.com/formula1point0/ If this is soaring being dragged into the 20th century (sic), I like it a lot.

CJ, 'B3'

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 6:12:11 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> There's some great coverage coming out of this event. In addition to the live tracking mentioned earlier, there are interviews, superb aerial photography and even live interview inflight. https://www.facebook.com/formula1point0/ If this is soaring being dragged into the 20th century (sic), I like it a lot.
>
> CJ, 'B3'

The coverage of Formula 1.0 on Facebook has been incredible! I can't wait to hear form their tech people as to how they managed to obtain LIVE in-flight interviews of the pilots. Tracking for spectators and this type of contest coverage may help sell the sport to Millennials up to about late GenX. We need stories (with visuals) and we need heroes. Every sport has its heroes.

- Chris Schrader

[Tony[_5_]]

Stayed up too late watching. Too bad Andy couldn't have caught up and given the leader a run for his money but it was fun watching him try!!

[Justin Couch]

On Friday, 5 January 2018 16:28:50 UTC+11, wrote:

> The coverage of Formula 1.0 on Facebook has been incredible! I can't wait to hear form their tech people as to how they managed to obtain LIVE in-flight interviews of the pilots. Tracking for spectators and this type of contest coverage may help sell the sport to Millennials up to about late GenX. We need stories (with visuals) and we need heroes. Every sport has its heroes.

Around Leeton the 4G coverage is really good. Then it is just simple hardware with a webcam and a decent antenna and using off the shelf IP video call software. Whole rig cost around AUD$100 to set up.

[[email protected]]

This has been great watching all the live updates on facebook. I sure hope this style of racing catches on here in the states. What handicaping sceme are the using?

[[email protected]]

Never mind. I went back to the initial post and see how they are doing it. Great concept. Sure hope someone can put together the same here in the states, but please don't try to include asw20's, discus's etc. its nice to see it exclusively older club class ships although the jantar 3 in my opinion, is pretty high up on the performance scale say compared to a libelle 201. I would hope the handicapping truthfully accounts for that. I know the Carl Herold system we use here, while a pretty good starting place, leaves very much to be desired when it's actually applied.

[[email protected]]

The difference between the Jantar Std 2/3 & Std Libelle is 3%, which may be a little narrow - although the Jantars didn't dominate the comp. This may have more to do with the pilots that flew them - it's hard to say.

When you say "Sure hope someone can put together the same here in the states", why don't you do it?

Cheers,
Nick.

On Friday, January 5, 2018 at 11:04:12 PM UTC+10:30, wrote:
> Never mind. I went back to the initial post and see how they are doing it. Great concept. Sure hope someone can put together the same here in the states, but please don't try to include asw20's, discus's etc. its nice to see it exclusively older club class ships although the jantar 3 in my opinion, is pretty high up on the performance scale say compared to a libelle 201.. I would hope the handicapping truthfully accounts for that. I know the Carl Herold system we use here, while a pretty good starting place, leaves very much to be desired when it's actually applied.

[[email protected]]

Sure Golfsee if you will come down to help. Seriously my job aces me out of putting on any contest. I crop dust up in ND from may thru oct. so if you want to come down to AL in january we can host it then. Max task will be around 8 miles.