FAST Duel 2013! December 8 @ SPC
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:15 pm
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
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
