playing the ladder

henrys57wagon · 04-27-2016, 10:58 AM

I have seen a few comments on playing the ladder and would like to get more knowledge about it. Once you have made your 1st time trial is that not the base for your ladder position, which you can only change with a quicker ET on the next run(s). Please help me understand how you play with the ladder.

Bryan Worner · 04-27-2016, 12:11 PM

Its pretty easy actually. You set your car up to run slower than its capable of for that time run, or, you hit the brakes or lift at some point prior to the finish line.

GTOMayhem · 04-27-2016, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Worner

Its pretty easy actually. You set your car up to run slower than its capable of for that time run, or, you hit the brakes or lift at some point prior to the finish line.

Right Bryan, I think the "how" is easy enough to decipher from the posts on here. I, for one and maybe henrys57wagon, would like a little more insight to the logic. Are you trying to run against a slower car? Do you look at the entries and know someone who is not seasoned and aim for a pairing with them? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

Thanks
Rick Thomason
GTOMayhem

MR DERBY CITY · 04-27-2016, 01:17 PM

Usually, you are trying to avoid a Heads Up run......there are other reasons though....

Mike Pearson · 04-27-2016, 01:34 PM

Either trying to get or avoid a heads up run depending on if you are the faster or slower car in the class. Trying to position yourself for a bye run at some point in the competition. Trying to position your self to knock out another competitor in the points battle. There are other reasons some try to play the ladder. Its not real easy to do as there are usually a number of racers doing the same thing and it is difficult to land in the spot that you want. Personally I am not that good to be able to do that so I just run all out every run.

Dave Muller · 04-27-2016, 01:36 PM

What I don't understand is how you can have very much control over where you end up on the ladder given that others are also changing their qualifying positions in what seems to be to be unpredictable ways. I can see how I could choose to move up or not move up on the ladder, but unless I'm currently facing a heads up run against a faster car I'm not sure why I'd want to.

I guess this might clear up part of it: Do most racers stand pat with what they run in the first session most of the time, or is there normally a lot of reshuffling. If there's usually lots of changes in the ladder after Q1 it seems like the effect of me going faster would be extremely hard to predict.

Paul Precht · 04-27-2016, 01:44 PM

It seems like Russian Roulette to me with multiple people doing it.

Ed Carpenter · 04-27-2016, 01:58 PM

Stephen Bell has the ladder figured out here in D4. He just qualifies No 1 all the time and a gets a bye first rd...........lol

Ed Wright · 04-27-2016, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuces wild

Stephen Bell has the ladder figured out here in D4. He just qualifies No 1 all the time and a gets a bye first rd...........lol

I used to do that some, but I quit worrying about that, as I can't run as far under as Stephen. LOL

HR9121 · 04-27-2016, 03:52 PM

It's not always about trying to line up a heads up run. Sometimes you might be trying to get yourself on one side or the other for instance a line yourself up with a late round bye run or simply trying to stay away from a buddy or teammates. It can be difficult at times but the majority of racers are flat out on that first round so then you just need to figure out where a select few are trying to get and line yourself up appropriately. It can backfire.....

04-27-2016, 10:58 AM	#1
henrys57wagon Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Carleton Place, On. Canada Posts: 107 Likes: 5 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	playing the ladder I have seen a few comments on playing the ladder and would like to get more knowledge about it. Once you have made your 1st time trial is that not the base for your ladder position, which you can only change with a quicker ET on the next run(s). Please help me understand how you play with the ladder. __________________ old 1608 stock racer

04-27-2016, 12:11 PM	#2
Bryan Worner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Duncannon, PA Posts: 802 Likes: 117 Liked 410 Times in 66 Posts	Re: playing the ladder Its pretty easy actually. You set your car up to run slower than its capable of for that time run, or, you hit the brakes or lift at some point prior to the finish line.

04-27-2016, 01:17 PM	#4
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,329 Likes: 859 Liked 6,617 Times in 1,290 Posts	Re: playing the ladder Usually, you are trying to avoid a Heads Up run......there are other reasons though....

04-27-2016, 01:34 PM	#5
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,320 Likes: 546 Liked 1,629 Times in 502 Posts	Re: playing the ladder Either trying to get or avoid a heads up run depending on if you are the faster or slower car in the class. Trying to position yourself for a bye run at some point in the competition. Trying to position your self to knock out another competitor in the points battle. There are other reasons some try to play the ladder. Its not real easy to do as there are usually a number of racers doing the same thing and it is difficult to land in the spot that you want. Personally I am not that good to be able to do that so I just run all out every run. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

04-27-2016, 01:36 PM	#6
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 491 Likes: 158 Liked 221 Times in 71 Posts	Re: playing the ladder What I don't understand is how you can have very much control over where you end up on the ladder given that others are also changing their qualifying positions in what seems to be to be unpredictable ways. I can see how I could choose to move up or not move up on the ladder, but unless I'm currently facing a heads up run against a faster car I'm not sure why I'd want to. I guess this might clear up part of it: Do most racers stand pat with what they run in the first session most of the time, or is there normally a lot of reshuffling. If there's usually lots of changes in the ladder after Q1 it seems like the effect of me going faster would be extremely hard to predict.

04-27-2016, 01:44 PM	#7
Paul Precht Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Elysburg, Pa Posts: 690 Likes: 281 Liked 224 Times in 89 Posts	Re: playing the ladder It seems like Russian Roulette to me with multiple people doing it.

04-27-2016, 01:58 PM	#8
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,698 Likes: 185 Liked 503 Times in 126 Posts	Re: playing the ladder Stephen Bell has the ladder figured out here in D4. He just qualifies No 1 all the time and a gets a bye first rd...........lol __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

04-27-2016, 03:52 PM	#10
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,353 Likes: 112 Liked 2,869 Times in 641 Posts	Re: playing the ladder It's not always about trying to line up a heads up run. Sometimes you might be trying to get yourself on one side or the other for instance a line yourself up with a late round bye run or simply trying to stay away from a buddy or teammates. It can be difficult at times but the majority of racers are flat out on that first round so then you just need to figure out where a select few are trying to get and line yourself up appropriately. It can backfire..... __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA