How does the Indexing work?

[ianacole]

I think I've confused myself. How is the index determined? Is it by class or by car? Are series points assessed by index time or by raw time?

[kirstein]

Lots of answers can be found on the supplimental rules page:


Event Points
The fastest single run for each competitor will determine the finishing position. The points awarded for each event will be based on the following formula:1000 * (fastest indexed time) / (your indexed time)For 2006, the RMSS is using the PAX/RTP index. Ladies classes will use the same index as open classes. A list of official indexes for all classes will be available at the events or by mail if necessary.

What that means is that every year the performance of all the classes are compared at regional events throughout the country and an index is created that tries to equalize the times of all the classes. Here's a link to the 2006 indexes:
http://www.scca-chicago.com/solo/indexes/rtp2006.html

[ianacole]

And this is where I'm confusing myself, I think. When I look at the points report, the points for the SM class (among others) were assessed using the raw times (I realize this is the winter series, therefor no real points), whereas the X-Class and a couple of others were assessed using the index time. Am I just not reading the points report correctly, or am I missing something else here?

[MrViggy]

No, you're not missing anything. Individual classes are compared using raw time.

It's a wash, anyhow. Everyone in SM is going to have the same PAX, therefore the same adjustment at the end of the day anyhow.

X class (like AT, L, etc.) is made up of drivers from many other classes (SP, SM, etc.), so PAX adjustments are going to be different for each vehicle.

Viggy

[ianacole]

Sure enough. I worked through the math using indices and it computes just fine. It just looks odd on the points report because for some classes it shows the indexed times, whereas for others it doesn't.

Thanks!

[MrViggy]

Yeah, that threw me at first. Then I realized that the index classes are made up of cars from multiple "regular" classes, so indexing is needed to "level" the playing field. ;)

Viggy

[MrPickles]

>How is the index determined?

There are many factors but it starts in Chicago on the "Chicago mean PAX index". On this day, the planet alignment is recorded, then the average of the daily times of high-tide on lake michigan are figured out. Take these two numbers and add them together call it the "planetary" number.

Next you go down to the local tarot reader, and have them pick a number between 1 and 100. This is a G number. Next you get a bunch of old chicken bones and throw them up in the air so they land in a circle that is (3.14 x 10) cm wide in diameter. Of the bones that fall in the circle, the amount of bones that are pointing to "true north" is your next number called "The bones number".

The 2 final formulas are:

((last year's pax) / (Chicago mean PAX number)) - (planetary number * (bones number/G number)) = Stage 1 pax

((Stage 1 pax) * (the number of cones called in corner 1 on the south course at nationals(previous year))) / 100 = final pax for next season

Its rather complicated but REALLY fair.

[ianacole]

So, are the chicken bones a random assortment, or say all rib bones? Are these bones from special voodoo chickens, or henways (What's a henway? About 10lbs!)? I could see significant statistical anomolies if the chicken weight varies from year to year because of the additional mass of the bones.


:D

[russjnco]

Its rather complicated but REALLY fair.

Not always! :D

[Donnie]

There are many factors but it starts in Chicago


Thats funny that you say that, but it Actually shaumburg IL where R. Ruth (mr.100%er) lives and looks at all the data in his basement (i've seen it with my own eyes)

and you also need 4 fried chickens and dried white toast

Donnie

[ianacole]

And a coke!

[craftymatt]

What I don't understand is why DS is so "out of place"?
BS 0.822
CS 0.813
DS 0.798
ES 0.806
FS 0.805
GS 0.794

Why does DS have more of a handicap than ES and FS? It almost has the same PAX as GS.
Wouldn't it make more sense to change DS to FS and shift the others up?

[Donnie]

the class letters mean nothing other than indication look at prepared class index

at one time im sure they where in line but with changes throughout the years eh

and i think DS index is fine:D

Donnie