Fat Tyre Flyers Downhill MTB

VIC DH SERIES, ROUND 3 - MOUNT BEAUTY SHORT COURSE - RESULTS!!!

Its all done and dusted...another sensational weekend at what is surely the most spectacular venue on the calender.

Results are up!

RACE REPORT

Shuttles were a little slow, for which we apologise. Just so that you know - Team Mount Beauty organised the coaches (their normal choice), which were unable to pass each other on the unsealed section of the road, which caused the delays.

We have addressed this issue with the organiser, and can report that we will be using "Commuter" type vehicles for BIG HILL to avoid similar delays at that event.

Dont let a few delays put you off what was a fantastic effort by everyone - as someone said at presentation the VIC series is probably better run than most of the nationals.

It's all by volunteers too (except for First Aid, bus rivers and food of course), and every race we hold, we learn something else.

TIMING

On a personal note, I want to thank Bec for her fantastic performance in timing. All I do is set up the system, she does the data entry and watches the screen as you all come flying past! Its a simple task in theory, but there are so many things that can go wrong and she handles all of them with grace and a cool head.

For FTF DH members information, the system we use is a combination of ALGE and TAG HEUER hardware and software. We have invested a reasonable amount of money in this system to be independant of the need to find cash to pay other timing companies - the investment has already paid for itself. If anyone out there wants to learn how to run timing for downhill events - please come and see us. We need someone else who can do this when the usual people are unavailable.

We are now looking at purchasing a TAG wireless pulse transmission system that will eliminate the need for cable "Spooling" (Arnie accent required when you say that, please). This hardware (like everything we use) has been developed for downhill ski racing in Europe, and has the ability to transmit radio signals by relays - if it works we will never have to worry about broken cables again. However, radio does bring a few other issues that we will have to cope with, so we will probably run a cable anyway until we are 100% happy.

Mt Baw Baw (Champs) is at the end of the month, and I dont think we will have the radio system by then (which is a pity because Baw Baw is the sternest test of such a system), but what we are going to try to do is locate our nice new dot matrix display system at the TOP of the hill, near the cafe. Hopefully, the Optus GSM coverage will allow us to do this. If the signal is inadequate, we will put it down at the finish line as usual.

As for approaching the timing tent - PLEASE DONT DO IT. It takes 100% concentration to do timing (one missed rider can screw up a whole category) and if your time got fouled because we were talking to someone about what time they got, you wouldnt be happy. Talk to the race director, or the commentator instead.

MC JUZZIE

We have bought some software and a laptop to enable MC Juzzie to view ALL results remotely from the timing tent. Please always ask him (nicely) and he will let you know how you went.

Great work again by Juzzie - without doubt the best DH caller in Australia - I asked him to do an imitation DJ voice (think Adelaide for those who were there), and he cant do it. Its not in him, and he is who he is. Knowleagable, accurate and funny. Oh, and his lovely wife is expecting their first baby around the end of the month, so dont expect him to be at Baw Baw!

ELECTRONIC TAG TIMING SYSTEMS

Many, many people ask me why we dont use the electronic tags, instead of "old fashioned" cable, gate and beam. I shall try and answer that as simply as I can:

For all its drawbacks, once set up and running cable is VERY reliable

Cable is reasonably cost effective
Electronic tags that are both capable of being read at a reasonable distance (mounted on the fork tube normally) and of providing times to one hundredth of a second (UCI requirements) tend to be of teh powered type. These have internal batteries that are charged inductively.
Powered tags are quite expensive - around $30-$40 each. The start gate would need a tag reader, and of course the finish line also would need a reader.
If you want to have instanataneous results (on the large dot matrix display) - these two devices must be connected by a cable...ah, another cable. (Wireless systems are being developed, but as yet do not have the high level of reliability required by mountainous locations).

The total cost of a tag based system (including around 300 tags) is about $45,000 - the good news is that it is made by TAG HEUER and works with our existing VOLA software package. The bad news is that as successful as the FTF DH club is, we dont have that kind of cash, and we are reluctant to force riders to spend more money on tags. Yes, we could rent them out, but that woudl put enormous strain on already stretched volunteers in regards to accounting for them. Sigh...

The final argument for me is that most timing is still done by the old methods - all the professionals who provide such services swear by cable and gates. It works.

Yes, Formula 1 and V8 use tags...so do other motor sports, but they generally have bigger budgets that MTB!

The only advantage that tags offer right now for DH is intermediate (split) times. How I would love to have that!

Running and normal cycling tend to be fine with the cheaper remote charging tags (about $5 each), but these have a response time far too slow for downhill MTB - 0,1 second is the best they will do... 0.3 is more typical. And we get lots of placings decided by less than that...

If anyone out there has a better idea, or a cheaper solution, we are OF COURSE happy to hear from you. But ALGE and TAG HEUER have spent many years building timing systems and software to match - anything we use will have to provide all the sexy features of that software (competitor management, run lists, reports, exports etc) before we would have a good case for change. The great thing about standard (supported) software is that it is repeatable for new volunteers, whereas custom solutions can become quickly orphaned.

CCTV COVERAGE

If anyone has any experience with CCTV, and communications let me know. I'd love to be able to give spectators the kind of visibility of the riders that they had at the Adelaide National Championships. In a slightly downgraded format of course!

This could be ran by someone external who would then have the opportunity of selling DVDs to the riding community post-race - complete with commentary by MC Juz, and stills from MTBPICSONLINE perhaps!

3 or 4 camera fixed locations, with a single large screen at the main spectator point. Perhaps in a marquee to avoid the high cost, high contrast outdoor screens normally used.

Ideas?

PROTESTS

There were a few riders who got held up by slower or crashed competitors, and wanted re-runs. Some of those guys qualified anyway, so it didnt matter, but others were in classes that only get one run so we absolutely understand their beef.

If you feel hard done by, you MUST get a witness (preferably a marshal) and report it to the Race Director AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THE FINISH. PLease, do NOT wait an hour or even 5 minutes. Get to the Race Director AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THE FINISH!!

We want everyone to have a great weekend, and get the best result they can - without being impeded in any way. MTBA try to enforce a written protest, which simply puts everybody's back up. We simply listen, verify and decide (usually in your favour).

Having said all that - sometimes shit happens and sometimes we simply cannot do much about it. And I know that some of you feel hard done by. As I have learned - "That's racing". I have had personal experience of this (three times!) where results were clearly incorrect, or in one case simply lost in teh system - in noneof those cases was anything done about it (these were all at non-FTF events of course). Annoying (especially in a National), but "That's Racing".

As Trevwah Burke says, "Dont think of it as racing, it's a great weekends riding with your mates, with a timed run at the end" (Pretty damn cheap too).

Oh, by the way...results are up!

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Please clink here for online registration. (EntryZone.Com.Au)

Make sure that you click all the right buttons or you will have issues when you get to the registration tent on the day! The prices shown above are the prices that you will be charged - if the checkout shows anything else, check your entry form and adjust!!!

Online registration will close the Wednesday before the event. At this stage we are not charging any extra for "normal" registration (at the event), but this is an option we need to consider in an effort to streamline the running of events. We would prefer online rego, but don't want to put off anyone by charging ridiculous penalty fees (Nationals, anyone?!).

Feedback please...

LONG GULLY RIDE DAY - 14th February 2010

Finally...we have a ride day organised at Long Gully. Sunday 14th February, 2010

Shuttles from 9AM to 12PM midday
Free lunch a from 12PM until 1PM
Shuttles from 1PM to 4PM

"New" Downhill Track

Big cheer for Benny Reynolds for working so hard to re-build and re-design the downhill track. This will be the first time it gets ridden heavily, so fingers crossed.

New Dual Slalom Track

The brand new dual slalom track will also be opend for periods during the day. We need to see how it holds up, and if it starts to deteriorate we may have to restrict its use. Bring your hard tail and test this track ready for the first DS event coming soon.

New Pump Track

Ben Reynolds has been VERY busy, and managed to build a complete pump track for training and fun. Even if you dont want to ride the dual slalom track, bring your hardtail and give the pump track a try.

Costs

To cover fuel and food etc, we need to charge $30 per head (lunch included), and if you do not have a valid MTBA license, you will need to pay a further $10 for a day license.

Safety

Due to last year's Black Saturday bushfires, there are stilol some areas of the property that we need everyone to keep clear of. There will be bunting and signs alerting riders and visitors to the location of teh unsafe areas, and we will be keeping an eye on these to make sure no one intrudes. ANYONE found in those areas will be asked to leave the property. No second chances. Please help us keep Long Gully safe and open as a riding venue.