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Post by Joel on Jan 7, 2005 19:21:49 GMT
Hi all I know this is the wrong part of the forum, but only Administrators can post in the Race Announcements, and it hasn't been put up yet. So.. As the title says Round 1 of the SSSprint Championships is on Sunday 14th Feb. Who's going? For those of you visiting this forum and havn't tried Luge yet, Ding runs Taster Days. These are great value and great fun. All equipment (Luge, leathers, boots, gloves and helmet) is provided, you get tuition and about 8-10 runs down the hill with a lift back up and you are also entered into the championships. Cost is £50 for the day, or £40 for students. For details e-mail Ding: ding@oxfordstuntfactory.com. See you on the hill Joel P.S. Not this year Ben, not this year...
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Post by Ian r on Jan 8, 2005 9:56:39 GMT
Hi,
I'm going! ;D Must get round to sending Ding an e-mail. Hey, I'll do it now.....
See you there.....
Ian.
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Post by tristn on Jan 8, 2005 17:10:14 GMT
i think i am going to go might not be on a luge still in 2 pieces might have a crack at some standup this year !!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Joel on Jan 8, 2005 17:44:59 GMT
So this time next year you'll be in 4 pieces yes? Good luck See ya there Joel P.S. Is anyone thinking of camping?
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Post by sccbazil on Jan 8, 2005 17:47:05 GMT
P.S. Is anyone thinking of camping? Nah, but can I bring my ramp along and set it up so I can clear the second corner? That shit is just asking to be done! Imagine the photos, me in mid air over the corner and the SSSprint banner just under me on the outside of the corner... Front page bizniss
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Post by tristn on Jan 8, 2005 17:57:23 GMT
now that i really would like to see nice one brazil ;D
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Post by Joel on Jan 8, 2005 18:19:29 GMT
A ramp would be sweet, as long as Ding agrees of course. Why not e-mail him?
I don't think the second corner woud be the best spot for it to be honest, that part is really tight, and way too slow. I's suggest putting it after the finish line pointing back up the course. That way you could use the up-hill runout area to accelerate towards it and not get in the way of the course. In addition it is the only straight part and there are huge grassy run-offs.
See ya there
Joel
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Post by sccbazil on Jan 8, 2005 20:57:58 GMT
It's all very well talking about Gursten on the 13th, but... How does one get there? Anyone got any clear and concise directions? Also, what's it used for other than luge? I've heard some other people use it for hill climbing... But then I've also seen it titled as 'Gursten Farm'. It's baffling stuff, I assume it's owned by someone and I'm guessing they're of the farming type?
Answers on a postcard please... Well, except for the directions, you can just post a link/explain here.
Thanks
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Post by BOS on Jan 9, 2005 12:34:32 GMT
This year again Joel! Oh yes! Tris it'll be good to see you do standup, hope youll fit some luging in too, we want all the numbers we can. Do you know if the old drunkard Len is going?
BOS
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Post by sccbazil on Jan 9, 2005 14:21:59 GMT
What's the fastest time ever recorded there, and where where were the two "start-stop" points? Also, how do you time it? Just with people on the end of a radio, or what?
EDIT: Oh, I meant to say "what's the fastest time for 'Classic Luge' and 'Street Luge'?"
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Post by Joel on Jan 9, 2005 16:38:17 GMT
Hia Bazil
Fastest Streetluge: 54.45 seconds I believe, set by Pete Elliot a good few years ago (before I started), though it is somewhat debated. Fastest I have seen is 55.summit set by Len I think.
Not sure about Buttboard, prob set by Ian at about the 57/58 second mark.
Coz of the nature of the hill Stand-Up is actually a little faster than luge and G-Bikes blow everyone off the track.
Times are done by Radios and stopwatch, not hugely accurate, but accurate enough. For UKGSA races we either use a similar method or laser timing, depending on avalibility.
See ya there I hope, reckon you could get pretty good times,
Joel
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Post by tristn on Jan 9, 2005 22:48:47 GMT
yeah 55 something by Len whats that all about? i dont know you introduce people to the sport and then they go and kick your a55 thanks for nothing Len ;D
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Post by Muzzo on Jan 11, 2005 15:42:06 GMT
I will be doing the standup thing @ Gurston. There has been naegative postings about this place , & I would like to set the record straight, from a stand up point of view , Gurston has enabled me to be a much better sk8er. Fastish straights into technical corners. Foot braking over & over for the first part of 2003 @ Gurston helped me take about 30 seconds of my previous years time @ HotHeels Austria . That should say it all. Muzzo
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Post by Wookie on Jan 11, 2005 18:23:52 GMT
Amen!
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Post by sccbazil on Jan 11, 2005 23:31:29 GMT
Uhh, I'm interested about the timing system at Gurston. I've been watching that video (newvid1.wmv) of the onboard footage at Gurston. Now, I can see two lines, one at the very start where they push off and the other at the point where the guy is standing on the side of the road on the right and the van on the left.
Um, is this correct as I've timed the video and the times seem to work out (checking the times on the sssprint.co.uk website). Now I know the video is made up of at least 3 seperate runs, but it's a rough indication. I'm only wondering because it seems a better idea to start the timer at a point just after the push off and end just before it does already (if I'm right about the position of the finish line). Only that way the people who are better out of the last corner get the advantage before the difference in board specs takes over and someone who sthingyed up the last corner gets ahead/better time because their board is slightly faster?!?!
Bazil
P.S. I know my descriptions are painfully long, but just wanted to be clear.
P.P.S. Am I right about the current position of the timing points? Because I'm not 100% about the finish line/stop point (it's not clear in the video).
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Post by Joel on Jan 11, 2005 23:54:35 GMT
Hia Bazil, not entirely sure about some of what you have said, but I'll do my best to answer your questions/points.
First off, you could be forgiven for thinking that three runs were done for that video, but in fact it was just two. The "run" was filmed from both Nigel and Ben's luges at the same time. This was then cut with a backward facing camera on Nigel's luge, but so that the timing was still accurate.
Yes, the timing is done between the two lines that you saw.
As you rightly percieve, if you are slow out of the last corner you are pretty much guaranteed a poor time due to the almost flat nature of the last section. This is where skill on this course is really important. If your braking and cornering isn't up to much then you are not going to do very well.
As to your point about better equipment making the difference, I'm affraid that it really is negligable (sp?). Due to the low speed (20ish mph) along that last section and it's relativly short length, most equipment will peform to the same level. It is only really at high speeds and loads that aerodynamics, high quality bearings, etc. will really show.
This is why, despite it's low speeds and number of corners, we all rave about the course. To do well there it requires SKILL, those corners are difficult when you wanna go fast, and one slip-up costs you the run.
Hope this helps
Joel
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Post by Tom W on Jan 12, 2005 8:30:04 GMT
Bazil,
Gurston Start line is marked by a painted line across the road at the top of the hill.
Gurston finish line is marked across the road at the bottom of the hill (Where the guy is standing in the video).
Start / finish sequence as follows:
1. The rider will sit with his toes on the line, waiting for the start marshall's call.
2. The start marshall will count down 3-2-1- GO! (Starting the clock on Go). At which point the rider pushes off and starts the run.
3. At the bottom of the hill, the finish line marshal (The guy standing by the van in the video - Ding), will radio back to the start his count of 3-2-1- STOP! as the same rider crosses the finish.
The time is recorded, the riders all get a lift back up in the van - and we do it all again.
The timing system is accurate to +/- 100th of a second. We've been using it for the past 14 years, and it works just fine. Similar systems are used at many world-cup events across the world. We've used fancy lazer timers before, but they are a nightmare to set up and they always break down. The good old stopwatch system never lets us down.
I think you were trying to suggest a rolling start? Well, that is pointless - Making a good start (pushing off) is as much a part of racing as bombing the corners at 50mph. After all, we are racing here. If you get out to a world-cup race, you will be racing from a standing start against up to six other riders. If you don't have a strong start, you are never going to win.
Can you imaging the 100m sprint at the Olympics with a running start? Sure, the times would be faster - but it would be a crap race.
Joel is right about the equipment though - you can have the most expensive bearings on the planet, but if you can't ride the corners - you still lose. The best riders win becasue they are exactly that - the best riders.
The seven times former world streetluge champion Dave Rogers always rode with Bones Redz bearings (Abec1)... Money can't buy you speed, in this game you have to win - and earn your respect.
Ride hard, stay safe.
Tom W.
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Post by BOS on Jan 12, 2005 12:11:20 GMT
'The stopwatch method never fails' Only if the walkies talkies are remembered! Joel there is no footage from my video on that video. I took a camera down with me (in me bird box) but nigel (think thats his name) never had the footage! I think it is one run!
BOS
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Post by sccbazil on Jan 12, 2005 13:42:53 GMT
Making a good start (pushing off) is as much a part of racing as bombing the corners at 50mph. After all, we are racing here. Uhhh... Those corners are 50mph? They look like they're 30mph tops from the videos I've seen. I know video isn't a good way to judge speed, but it sure does look slow (in the video in question and also in that one called 'Nick.avi' on the sssprint yahoogroups files section)! I wait in eager anticipation to ride this track. Bazil
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Post by Joel on Jan 12, 2005 13:57:22 GMT
Your right, the corners are not 50mph, not by a long shot. However you do have to brake VERY hard from about 45mph into the first corner, which you probably take at more like 15-20mph. Again, we are talking about skill as well as balls here, brake too early and you get a pants time, too late, you're eating hay for lunch.
The second corner is also taken fairly slowly, but only requires a quick dab on the brakes. Being really tight, steep and double apexed makes it a killer, as often as not luges see dirt here.
Joel
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