Post by Keith Tanaka on Apr 24, 2014 20:29:19 GMT -8
Ever since we started using a racer handicap system to "level" the playing field (somewhat) its always been on my mind to someday improve it. Of course no matter what you come up with, there is no perfect system for everyone.
The current racer handicap system is based on the 7 best lap totals for each racer. Each racer's best lap total (or 2nd best if they have at least 5 races) is used to determine their handicap.
The racer handicap is calculated by subtracting each racer's best lap total from the overall best lap total of all racers (currently 243 laps). This result is then multiplied by .90 (90%).
The basis for this handicap system is similar to how golf and bowling handicaps are determined except these sports tend to use a moving average of the most recent performances.
Our system puts a lot of emphasis on each racer's "best efforts" which may or may not work in their favor. I wanted to try and minimize "sandbagging" by using only the best efforts by each racer.
This system does favor anyone who consistently improves over time, thus it does tend to favor newbies.
We've had the racer handicap system for quite awhile now and perhaps its time to introduce an improved version which puts more emphasis on current performance rather than one's all time best effort.
The proposed changes are:
1. Use a moving average of the last 6 races for each racer (minimum of 2 races required to establish a handicap, rather than the current 3 races).
2. The adjusted handicap will be: Highest lap total (of all racers) shown on current chart, minus the average lap total for a racer multiplied by 90% (.90)
3. The adjusted handicap will be recalculated after each month's race results.
4. The adjusted handicap can change each month whenever the highest lap total (of all racers) increases.
5. Only 2 races are required to establish a handicap (instead of the current 3 races). Both races must be within 10% of one another to be valid.
Below is the proposed handicap chart similar to our existing chart except for some changes.
Notice the difference in handicap between the existing system and the proposed new system. Some racers will benefit, some won't.
As an example to explain how the handicap is determined, let's use Tim Ballmer's race results to explain how his adjusted handicap is determined.
Tim has 4 races, but 2 of them are not within 10% of his best lap total. Therefore, we only use his races for 191 and 190 laps. Average of these rounded off to the nearest lap would be 191 (190.5 rounded off).
Subtract 191 from 243 (best lap total of all racers is Duran's 243 laps) equals 52. Multiply 52 times 90% (.90) equals 47, therefore Tim Ballmer's adjusted handicap is 47. this happens to be the same handicap
as Tim had with our existing system, so in this case Tim's handicap has not changed however you'll notice that most racers' handicaps have changed with this new proposed system.
In looking at the difference between the existing handicap and the proposed new handicap, it appears that Craig Gilbert and Paul Sterrett get 10 laps more handicap, Jim Watterson and myself get 9 more laps of handicap.
I guess this new system appears to favor these 4 racers although its not designed to favor anyone in particular except to emphasis one's most recent race performances rather their all time best efforts.
In my opinion, the most recent performances of each racer is a better method to determine handicap rather than one's all time best efforts, but that's just my opinion, what's your opinion?
This is only a proposed change to the handicap system, so post your comments and let us know what your opinion is.
Keith
The current racer handicap system is based on the 7 best lap totals for each racer. Each racer's best lap total (or 2nd best if they have at least 5 races) is used to determine their handicap.
The racer handicap is calculated by subtracting each racer's best lap total from the overall best lap total of all racers (currently 243 laps). This result is then multiplied by .90 (90%).
The basis for this handicap system is similar to how golf and bowling handicaps are determined except these sports tend to use a moving average of the most recent performances.
Our system puts a lot of emphasis on each racer's "best efforts" which may or may not work in their favor. I wanted to try and minimize "sandbagging" by using only the best efforts by each racer.
This system does favor anyone who consistently improves over time, thus it does tend to favor newbies.
We've had the racer handicap system for quite awhile now and perhaps its time to introduce an improved version which puts more emphasis on current performance rather than one's all time best effort.
The proposed changes are:
1. Use a moving average of the last 6 races for each racer (minimum of 2 races required to establish a handicap, rather than the current 3 races).
2. The adjusted handicap will be: Highest lap total (of all racers) shown on current chart, minus the average lap total for a racer multiplied by 90% (.90)
3. The adjusted handicap will be recalculated after each month's race results.
4. The adjusted handicap can change each month whenever the highest lap total (of all racers) increases.
5. Only 2 races are required to establish a handicap (instead of the current 3 races). Both races must be within 10% of one another to be valid.
Below is the proposed handicap chart similar to our existing chart except for some changes.
Notice the difference in handicap between the existing system and the proposed new system. Some racers will benefit, some won't.
As an example to explain how the handicap is determined, let's use Tim Ballmer's race results to explain how his adjusted handicap is determined.
Tim has 4 races, but 2 of them are not within 10% of his best lap total. Therefore, we only use his races for 191 and 190 laps. Average of these rounded off to the nearest lap would be 191 (190.5 rounded off).
Subtract 191 from 243 (best lap total of all racers is Duran's 243 laps) equals 52. Multiply 52 times 90% (.90) equals 47, therefore Tim Ballmer's adjusted handicap is 47. this happens to be the same handicap
as Tim had with our existing system, so in this case Tim's handicap has not changed however you'll notice that most racers' handicaps have changed with this new proposed system.
In looking at the difference between the existing handicap and the proposed new handicap, it appears that Craig Gilbert and Paul Sterrett get 10 laps more handicap, Jim Watterson and myself get 9 more laps of handicap.
I guess this new system appears to favor these 4 racers although its not designed to favor anyone in particular except to emphasis one's most recent race performances rather their all time best efforts.
In my opinion, the most recent performances of each racer is a better method to determine handicap rather than one's all time best efforts, but that's just my opinion, what's your opinion?
This is only a proposed change to the handicap system, so post your comments and let us know what your opinion is.
Keith