ARCA Online Series (no questions just thoughts please)

[kneebon5]

Ok, I’m going to try to start a little different thread. I want everyone to discuss what they would like to get out of the online series, how scheduling would work if you were doing it, how qualifying for the main race would work, or if you would rather have regions and make it like a qualifying race to the main race. What days would work best, what times? Lets just talk about it, and not ask for screens or any deep info about the series, because if they could tell us they would. I just want to see what everyone thinks and would like.

Here is my opinion of what I would like to see. I would really like to see the race be on Sundays. And maybe have a few qualifying races on Saturday in order to fill the need for the spots. I don’t think only 38 or how ever many drivers are going to enter, I think it will reach well up to 100 a race. I think that if 100 people are wanting to race, then we split it into 3 qualifying races, the top 5 in qualifying (not from the race its self) are locked in to the main. (15 cars) and then the other 15 or 21 race their way in. The 2nd race the top 10 from the main event last week are automatically in and the rest go through the same process of a qualifying events maybe this time top 3 qualifiers auto in, and the rest race in.

It just seems that splitting the series into separate series would take away the feel of a nation wide online series. Maybe the east coast would have great drivers and the west coast would have one dominate guy, keeping everyone together would be great. Those who don’t make it to the main could race on other servers just to get their moneys worth out of it.

I hope that this series is handle well, and that action will be taken against people that happen to crash someone in order to gain. A lot of people take online racing so serious that they think winning the race in turn one lap one will get them a cup ride. And now with what you guys are putting on the table as for actually providing a chance to move in a new direction that sim racing has never seen, I see this problem growing even bigger without regulations. I know racing accidents happen, I’ve been a victim of that already this season in my series I run on rfactor. And to figure out a way to keep this from happening is impossible, I just hope that there is an easy solution, maybe having the locked ins from qualifying would help some of these top drivers from worrying about getting crashed early.

But this is racing, and you see it in every level, from online to F1, the switch gets turned off when the engine turns on, and people just push way over the limits. And others suffer; there is no way around it.

But I am glad to see that we can actually have a sanctioning body, for a nation wide group, with some of the best tools to use.

Please give your opinions on what you would like out of this series.

Nick
{WOT} Neebs

[kneebon5]

Yeah i agree with you that it would be nice to have the ARCA guys running with us on the online series, but i think in order to have better exposure for drivers and people who will want to watch it on the internet (which i think is what they are planning on doing) weekends would work better. I think rather than have the ARCA guys come in and race with us in the series i would want them to have like a pro day on a monday or tuesday where you could race against them there.

I work and go to college monday through friday so you can see why i want to race on a saturday or sunday.

ARCA only runs 6 races on sunday and 1 on monday, so the real ARCA drivers could race most of the season, but i dont know what The Sim Factory is planning with the real drivers and the online series. I see the online series being for us and a pro race day for us lucky enough to get to race against all those that are part of ARCA and this sim.

[RCoulter-ACorp-]

All very good points and thank you Kneebon for starting this thread.

SCHEDULING
Obviously the days we choose to race the series on could alienate those with conflicting schedules...so we will do everything we can to schedule it with as little logistical conflicts as possible.

All in all, a little creativity and we will have a structured series that hopefully allows the masses to enter. I would imagine by the halfway point of the season we could have over 500 people wanting to qualify into the race.


HEAT RACES (determining the Main Event Field)
I completely agree 100% with Kneebons statement about splitting east to west and the possible differences in quality of competition that could result in structuring it that way...we most likely will not.

I believe that in the end heat races will determine a portion of the starting field...as will provisional points as the series progresses and points come into play. This exact formula for competition will be provided as it is determined by the officials.

ARCA RE/MAX SERIES MAIN EVENT
There will be a MAIN EVENT for the best of the best drivers and team owners and this will be the top class of the ARCA RE/MAX Series online. These drivers will be scrutinized on every aspect of their performance as well as their professionalism off the track. If we are going to promote you publically...we will only do so if you handle yourself professionally in such an atmosphere.

SECOND CHANCE RACES
We will also have point based second chance races for those that didnt make it in to the main event and these competitions would still be worth a percentage of points from the main event. In the end, winning a second chance race would be atleast as good as the last place in the main event.

REAL ARCA RE/MAX Series Drivers
For the real ARCA drivers....whom we know would like their chance to enter competition....we will most likely have pro-am exhibition races and such for them and our top online competitiors to compete in. Though they are always welcome to try to qual in if they have time avialable for a race.

PUBLICITY
We will be doing a weekly update about the Online series on the national ARCA Radio broadcast and talking about highlights from the race and who are the teams to watch for and so on. If you are asked to do an interview....as this is the real ARCA RE/MAX Series radio show...you MUST conduct your self professionaly or you will not be provided these opportunities in the future.

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A GLIMPSE OF THE RULES...a little of what to expect.

The online series will be run with the same rule structure as our real life counterpart and our officials will be as tough as they are in life with our drivers and teams.

#1 - There will be a drivers/spotters meeting before each heat race, main event practice and before the main event race. You dont make the meeting...you get and end of the longest line penalty as you would in life. NO EXCEPTIONS even if you had the pole in Qualifying!

#2 - DRIVER PENALTIES - ZERO TOLERANCE WILL BE APPLIED! Drivers on and off track performance will be scrutinized constantly by officials at all events during practice, qualifying as well as race...even more so in the main event. You create a rivalry of bumping and banging in practice you will be watched like a hawk! Teams and Drivers are representing the sim community and all actions on the track shall uphold the highest standard of professionalism. You cause a yellow...your performance from that point on will be scrutinized by an official. You cause another depending on the reason of the incident...you will be pulled in for a lap as a penalty or possibly black flagged indefinately for that race as well as the possibility of serious penalties depending on the incidents.

All drivers and teams must learn the rulebook and adhere to the rules of racing while on the track. Both the real rulebook as well as a common understanding of the gentlemans rules of racing which arent written...they just need to be known and those with common sense should already know them.

Remember you will have live officials dishing out penalties and watching your every move.

#3 - INTENTIONAL INCENDENTS: To start..."intentional" is determined by the officials and review board prior to an incident. Involved parties will have mandatory incident reviews after each race and parties must be present. Your story will be heard...but the final SAY SO comes from the officials. So like in real life...piss off the officials...you may be judged with more scrutiny.

#4 - AGGRESSIVE DRIVNG: Again the word AGGRESSIVE is determined by the OFFICIALS...not you. So...If you try to pass seven cars on the start and are unstable in any way....you may not get a warning...but you can guarantee you are now on the watch list for that event. As in life you will be constantly reminded that we know there are faster and slower cars....it's your job to come to terms with which group you happen to be in that day. Know your equipment and your abilities...know that of those around you in the race and use COMMON SENSE to determine what your reaction will be in that situation. Dont make us step in or you wont be happy with the outcome!

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Some things sim drivers seem to want to do diffferently...not sure why....but you can guarantee that they will NOT HAPPEN IN THIS SERIES. Regardless of your reasons for why you think it should be. A few common rules that are not followed by simmers is below.

- Slow Drivers and Lapped Cars - YOU ALWAYS, I REPEAT AGAIN ALWAYS - STAY LOW ON THE TRACK and give the faster cars the high side. If you break this rule...or try to guide cars low (depending on competative situation)....you will be penalized for doing so. This is mainly done for safety and is PREACHED time and time again at Driver/Spotters Meetings to all teams. The fast car always gets the middle line up to push as he is going faster. If a slow car stays in the middle and the fast car pushes a bit from the inside - the fast car has no where to go...this rule is of MAJOR IMPORTANCE for keeping yellows at a minimum and drivers performing as they do in real life. Slower cars are those that are unable to compete with cars that are around them. Lead lap cars may have vehicles that are slower...use COMMON SENSE to determine your actions as we will be doing the same. Doesnt mean you cannot compete...just know your abilities and know that too much BLOCKING from a slow car and you may not like the result.

If you TAPE UP too much and begin to smoke for one WHOLE LAP...you will be ordered into the pits for causing unsafe race conditions and you will be not allowed to leave until we are certain that you will not obstruct the fields view.

VIRTUAL TECH - If your car bottoms out (which slows you way down) all the way around the track....you will be pulled out of competition for unsafe setup as your vehicle ride height is setup in a manner that would not pass a technical inspection. So you need to get that right because we will not allow you to change this if your pulled from a race. Though I highly doubt that you would make it in running that set as this isnt like the other GAMES...it more accurately simulates setups in the garage.

The same could be said for a rear end that is too low at a SuperSpeedway. Basically officials are watching and they are not stupid when it comes to what these cars do and dont do...so have your ducks in a row or we will send you packing! Granted this doesnt work either as you need to have adequate rake in the car for it to handle properly...or you will not be as competative.

These are some samples of our outlook on rules and how to deal with them. In conclusion we simply have very little tolerance for ignorance as well as stupid excuses....we dont care about your time if you dont care about ours and the other teams and drivers around you.

If you don't like being held accountable for your actions....this sanctioned series is not for you! Learn it or leave...our motto for the problem causers.

Kinda strict...try racing in real life...it's even more so!

[kneebon5]

that all sounds great. Thanks for the info.

[Sharter]

So anyone can join this series if they have the game? Sorry if that question has already been answered.

[RCoulter-ACorp-]

The series is open to all...it is a subscription based league and we will most likely run this year at a discounted price as to work out all the kinks. We will also run the first so many races as free test races as well.

ALl info will be coming out soon.

[dozer]

sweet....glad to here thats its a pay to play league.....keeps the rift raft out :roxs: