Having Noticed some 'Inconsistencies' in the 'Method' used to 'Allocate' Qualifying Order, Sit-Outs and stuff, over the last few rounds, I thought perhaps it worth discussion, just so we can 'Operate' under the same situation each time.
Interestingly, I had a check of the Rules for the Nationals and strangely, it does NOT actually Describe the 'Order' of Placement either!!
I was always under the belief, (since the Introduction of the Two SEMI concept), that ;
Qualifying is in the Reverse Order of Entry, Followed by the Allocation of Sit-Outs, by choosing the 1st,3rd, 5th and 7th fastest into Semi A, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th into Semi B and so on,...
After the Last Two Heats, the Same Allocation of the Sit-Outs into the Semi's is applied.
Then Lane Choices for the Final are Requested from the 1st & 1st, then 2nd & 2nd, from Each Semi and so forth,..
Least That was How I thought it was/Used to be, Should Still be being Done.
So far this Season, I think we have done it differently Each Time!,..
OK,...I guess the Complete lack of replies means No One Else Knows either!,...lol
BUT,..after chatting with Gary ands discussing the various methodologies used, it came up in conversation that some Years ago the USRA actually Adopted, what was/Is known as the Australian Method, which is I believe what they Still run under.
So even though none of the Current Aussie Rules, or Nats Rules etc that I can find actually delineate the exact Process, Especially as to who and what the Order is I found This; (see below), which I 'clipped' from the 2009 USRA rules.
XI. AUSTRALIAN RACE FORMAT
A. All entrants will contest a series of Consis, Heats, Quarterfinals, Semifinals,
and Finals depending on the number of entries.
B. All races designated as Consis will be contested over 4 lanes only, running on
either the red set (red, green, blue, purple) or the black set (black,
yellow, orange, white).
C. All other races will be contested over 8 lanes.
D. All races will be on a “move up” basis. The following schedule has been adopted
to ensure that a minimum of four drivers move up from each race.
The following has been created with the intention of racing with no
“Round- Robin” races.
1-8: Main only.
9-10: top 2 qualifiers go to Main, run Semi, and top 6 move up.
11-16: 2 Semis and a Main.
17-23: top eight qualifiers move to Semis, all others divide into 2 heats mov ing up 4 most lap totals from each. Then run 2 Semis and a Main
24-32: 4 Quarterfinals, 2 Semis, and a Main
33-34: top 26 from qualifying into Quarters. Remaining racers into one 4 lane 2x3 race using red set, black set rotation with the top 6 moving into Quarters. 2 Semis and a Main.
35-36: top 28 qualifiers into Quarters. Remaining racers run one 4 lane 2x3 race using red set, black set rotation with top 4 moving to Quarters. Then 2 Semis and a Main.
37-38: top 22 qualifiers into Quarters. Remaining run two 4 lane 2x3 races using the red set black set rotation. Top 5 from each move into Quarters. Then 2 Semis and a Main.
39-48: Top 16 qualifiers into Quarters. Remaining racers into four 4 lane 2x3 races using red set, black set rotation. Top 4 from each race moving into Quarters. Then 2 Semis and a Main.
49-54: Top 22 qualifiers into Quarters. Remaining racers into four 4 lane 2x3 races using red set, black set rotation. Top two from each moving into Quarters plus two top lap totals not finishing 1or 2. Then 2 Semis and a Main.
55-64: Top 16 into Quarters. 17-32 into consis. Remaining into four sub-consis using 4 lane 2x3 red set, black set rotation. Four move up each race. Then two Semis and Main.
65-80: Top 16 qualifiers into Quarters. Qualifiers 17-32 into consis. Qualifiers 32-48 into sub consis. Qualifiers 49-80 into sub-sub consis.
All consis using red set black set rotation with 4 lanes 2x3 races. Top 4 from each moving up.
81-unlimited: using same as sub-sub-sub-sub.
E. Lane choice will be determined first by qualifying position then by lap total
and position from previous heat.
22
F. In moving racers up from Consis, Quarterfinals, or Semis, the same logic ap-
plies. Lane choice selection order is determined by the total laps turned by
the winners of the qualifying race.
1. For Main event move-ups first pick goes to the racer with the most laps
out of the two Semis, second pick goes to the racer with the most laps
out of the other Semi.
2. Choices are then alternated between Semis. Third pick goes to the second-
place finisher in the Semi that had first pick, and fourth goes to the
second-place finisher in the Semi with second pick, etc.
G. Racers are seeded into the appropriate Semis, Quarterfinals, or Consis ac-
cording to the following pattern (example given for Semis and
Quarterfinals; Consis same pattern as Quarterfinals).
24 or fewer entries Semi-A Semi-B
Qualifier # 1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 or winner Heat-A 10 or winner Heat-B
11 or second Heat-A 12 or second Heat-B
13 or third Heat-A 14 or third Heat-B
15 or fourth Heat-A 16 or fourth Heat-B
25 or more entries Semi-A Semi-B
Quarter A or B winner w/most laps Quarter C or D winner w/most laps
Other winner of Quarter A or B Other winner of Quarter C or D
Second place from Quarter with first pick
Second place from Quarter with second pick
Continue alternating for remaining picks
Quarterfinal-A Quarterfinal-B Quarterfinal-C Quarterfinal-D
Qualifier # 1 2 3 4
8 7 6 5
9 10 11 12
16 15 14 13
17 18 19 20
24 23 22 21
25 26 27 28
32 31 30 29
H. Heats, Consis, and Quarterfinals are run: D, C, B, A.
I. Semis are run: B, A.
Sorry about How some of the Formatting has Turned Out, it Looks OK at My end before I post it, then it shifts stuff around,..anyway, I guess you Get the Idea/intent.
