Handicap confusion???

goinbroke2 · 10-12-2007, 12:02 PM

Once again I had heard someone complaining about how hard it is to comprehend handicap racing. Enough is enough! I took my two boys (6 and 10) with their bikes and lined them up 20ft apart and dropped my hand. First one to me won. I then moved them different distances depending on who won. (classic Pinks)
Of course both screamed that they needed more or less distance or they couldn't win. After about 3 races they had it completely figured out. I then used my watch to time them, did the same. Then gave my youngest on average a 2 second head start for them to cross the "line" together.

15 minutes with a 6 and 10 year old and they have it figured out!!!!!!!!!
DON'T TELL ME A GROWN ADULT (fan) CAN'T FIGURE OUT HANDICAP RACING IF IT'S EXPLAINED TO THEM!!!!

Sorry for venting, just read another pro heads-up rant and heard the "it's too complicated for the casual fan"
If that was the case then the casual nascar fan wouldn't understand why the cars didn't stop after the first lap and had to go around...again...and again...

Jim Wahl · 10-12-2007, 12:46 PM

Preach on brother! You hit the nail on the head with that one! Jim

Julie Jordan · 10-12-2007, 12:55 PM

I always tell casual fans it's similar to a golf or bowling handicap. The lightbulb usually goes on then.

Ron Ortiz · 10-12-2007, 12:57 PM

I coach youth football, and during practices I record their 40 yard sprint times. They really like to compare their times with each other. I continue to do the timing thing every so often during the year. At the last week of practice I average out their times and bring out my full size practice tree and they race each other for cash that has been collected from all of the coaches. They seem to catch on very easily, and they are kids.
Now if I could just figure it out.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA blink blink blink go

Adger Smith · 10-12-2007, 01:03 PM

Way to go!! Nail on the head!!
If you have paid any attention to Nascar lately you would notice the emphasis they have put on educating the fan. Look at the Cut away cars & engines & the explanations the anouncers give when something breaks or a crash occurs. Information/explanation about asport is what holds a persons interest. NHRA has missed the boat. Just look at the popularity of the car & gearhead shows on TV. Notice how NASCAR has started advertising it's next thing to make money? Nascar Performance Centers.....Those Nascar guys are just good business men, not corp. raiders that are just interested in where they can get the next buck. They invest Time Money & people in their sport.
.02 for Free

david ring · 10-12-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julie Jordan

I always tell casual fans it's similar to a golf or bowling handicap. The lightbulb usually goes on then.

Julie,

I use golf and bowling too and am usually able to quickly explain the whole CIC and permanent hits in comp. People pick up on that quickly.

Maybe it's just me, but people are usually turned off if you say it's too complicated to explain-their response is usually something like, well if you think I'm that stupid, why should I bother listening to you? On the other hand, if they get the idea you trust their intelligence, they seem to put a bit more effort into trying to understand what it is you are saying.

Michael Beard · 10-12-2007, 01:52 PM

I've had plenty of these discussions with new fans. They usually pick up the basics in just a few pairs of cars. It's not hard. Bowling and golf are probably good analogies... I always tell them it's like the Price is Right: Get as close as you can without going under. Even the .90 classes were interesting to people once it was explained to them the how's and why's. Telling fans about the drivers also gives them a reason to care.

It's rudimentary announcing skills. Thankfully we have some announcers who really 'get it', and hopefully they will rub off on the ones that don't. But we can help by talking to the fans in the pits, too.

Try watching a couple of hands of Pinochle. If you don't know the rules, it'll bewilder you. Explain the rules, explain the object, and let them play. Now it's interesting! The same goes for any game or sport. Curling, anyone?

mike kilroy · 10-12-2007, 01:55 PM

David .Dave,Son of AL It's all the same to me,SOX IN 6

Bunkster · 10-12-2007, 02:24 PM

To complete the explanation of handicaps, one should point out that the slower of the two vehicles will always exposed to eliminating themselves with the starting system: The faster of the two cars will not always have this exposure.

You can explain it this way: It is similar to golf. Everyone knows that the person with the higher handicap is the only one that is always exposed to the sand trap. The player with the lower handicap will not be exposed to the sand trap if the higher handicapped person goes in the sand trap first.

The PGA was told once that it would be more fair if both players were equally exposed to the sand traps. They replied that they had done it this way for years and did not see why it should be changed.

JCQuinn · 10-13-2007, 02:45 PM

My experience is people don't have a hard time with the handicap starts the concept that the slower car gets to start first is easy to understand. Even those who do not race can see that a 302 should start before a 426. What they have a hard time with is the breakout. It is hard to explain how you can lose by going too fast when it is called a race. I have explained it and the reply is always something like "that's just not right".

10-12-2007, 12:02 PM	#1
goinbroke2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NS CANADA Posts: 869 Likes: 1,462 Liked 355 Times in 140 Posts	Handicap confusion??? Once again I had heard someone complaining about how hard it is to comprehend handicap racing. Enough is enough! I took my two boys (6 and 10) with their bikes and lined them up 20ft apart and dropped my hand. First one to me won. I then moved them different distances depending on who won. (classic Pinks) Of course both screamed that they needed more or less distance or they couldn't win. After about 3 races they had it completely figured out. I then used my watch to time them, did the same. Then gave my youngest on average a 2 second head start for them to cross the "line" together. 15 minutes with a 6 and 10 year old and they have it figured out!!!!!!!!! DON'T TELL ME A GROWN ADULT (fan) CAN'T FIGURE OUT HANDICAP RACING IF IT'S EXPLAINED TO THEM!!!! Sorry for venting, just read another pro heads-up rant and heard the "it's too complicated for the casual fan" If that was the case then the casual nascar fan wouldn't understand why the cars didn't stop after the first lap and had to go around...again...and again...

10-12-2007, 12:46 PM	#2
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,843 Likes: 665 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? Preach on brother! You hit the nail on the head with that one! Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

10-12-2007, 12:55 PM	#3
Julie Jordan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 636 Likes: 90 Liked 500 Times in 91 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? I always tell casual fans it's similar to a golf or bowling handicap. The lightbulb usually goes on then. __________________ Julie Jordan 7549 STK

10-12-2007, 12:57 PM	#4
Ron Ortiz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Englewood, Florida Posts: 987 Likes: 33 Liked 315 Times in 102 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? I coach youth football, and during practices I record their 40 yard sprint times. They really like to compare their times with each other. I continue to do the timing thing every so often during the year. At the last week of practice I average out their times and bring out my full size practice tree and they race each other for cash that has been collected from all of the coaches. They seem to catch on very easily, and they are kids. Now if I could just figure it out. Ron Ortiz U/SA blink blink blink go __________________ Ron Ortiz 2102 STK

10-12-2007, 01:03 PM	#5
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? Way to go!! Nail on the head!! If you have paid any attention to Nascar lately you would notice the emphasis they have put on educating the fan. Look at the Cut away cars & engines & the explanations the anouncers give when something breaks or a crash occurs. Information/explanation about asport is what holds a persons interest. NHRA has missed the boat. Just look at the popularity of the car & gearhead shows on TV. Notice how NASCAR has started advertising it's next thing to make money? Nascar Performance Centers.....Those Nascar guys are just good business men, not corp. raiders that are just interested in where they can get the next buck. They invest Time Money & people in their sport. .02 for Free __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

10-12-2007, 01:52 PM	#7
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? I've had plenty of these discussions with new fans. They usually pick up the basics in just a few pairs of cars. It's not hard. Bowling and golf are probably good analogies... I always tell them it's like the Price is Right: Get as close as you can without going under. Even the .90 classes were interesting to people once it was explained to them the how's and why's. Telling fans about the drivers also gives them a reason to care. It's rudimentary announcing skills. Thankfully we have some announcers who really 'get it', and hopefully they will rub off on the ones that don't. But we can help by talking to the fans in the pits, too. Try watching a couple of hands of Pinochle. If you don't know the rules, it'll bewilder you. Explain the rules, explain the object, and let them play. Now it's interesting! The same goes for any game or sport. Curling, anyone? __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

10-12-2007, 01:55 PM	#8
mike kilroy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: us Posts: 4 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? David .Dave,Son of AL It's all the same to me,SOX IN 6

10-12-2007, 02:24 PM	#9
Bunkster Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 307 Likes: 0 Liked 43 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Handicap confusion??? To complete the explanation of handicaps, one should point out that the slower of the two vehicles will always exposed to eliminating themselves with the starting system: The faster of the two cars will not always have this exposure. You can explain it this way: It is similar to golf. Everyone knows that the person with the higher handicap is the only one that is always exposed to the sand trap. The player with the lower handicap will not be exposed to the sand trap if the higher handicapped person goes in the sand trap first. The PGA was told once that it would be more fair if both players were equally exposed to the sand traps. They replied that they had done it this way for years and did not see why it should be changed.

10-13-2007, 02:45 PM	#10
JCQuinn Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Handicap confusion??? My experience is people don't have a hard time with the handicap starts the concept that the slower car gets to start first is easy to understand. Even those who do not race can see that a 302 should start before a 426. What they have a hard time with is the breakout. It is hard to explain how you can lose by going too fast when it is called a race. I have explained it and the reply is always something like "that's just not right".