The RACE Guide

NZ HG instructions for GAP scoring using the RACE program

Updated by Rick Hawkeswood, Jan 2006

RACE is a pretty friendly, easy to use program. But there are some tricks. Some parameters

MUST be set correctly, and yet others can be ignored. Use of the NZ Pilots List file will aid

pilot detail entry and creation of the NZ ranking ladder. Download this from the NZHGPA website under HG Comp info.

Installing RACE and the NZ Pilots List

Download Race 2000 from the FAI web site http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/race/.

Run setup.exe and install into the default directory chosen by the program. Probably a directory like C:/Program Files/Race. Window’s installer will guide you through the installation.

Once installed start the program and select: Tools / Options

Set the units for position and distances.

Latitude = S

Longitude = E

Input format = 00 00.000’

Digits for Longitude = 2

Default Map Date = WGS84

UTM unit = km

Default zone = 30

Distance unit =km

Select: File / New / Competition then click OK. This starts the Comp Wizard which guides you through the setup.

Fill out the fields for Name, Location and Date period of the comp.

Select the FAI class: HG or Rigid, and select GAP as the formula.

Select the Range: National for leagues or International for an FAI CatII comp. You can add a photo to be used for the comp and can fill out a Sponsors details. Then click Next.

Fill out the GAP scoring formula fields:

Min Distance = 5km

Nominal Distance = 25km

Nominal Goal = 25%

Nominal Time = 2hrs

Formula Version = 2000 Then click Next.

Meet Director details are optional unless it is an FAI comp. Then click Next.

Choose the “NZ Pilot List” by browsing your computer (which you have already downloaded from the NZHPA website) & press Next.

Select Pilot Input Fields required. The minimum should be Glider and Pilot ID ( pin number ) Then click Next.

User Defined Attributes are not required, click Next.

Finally enter a name for the comp and click Finish. Your Competition data base has been created.

Click the + next to Pilots in the LH menu and then on Gliders. Right click any where in the empty fields and click Add. Add manufacturers and glider models as required for all different wings being flown at the comp.

Now click on Pilots. Right click any where in the empty fields and click Add. Use the drop down menus to add the pilot names quickly from names set up in the NZ Pilots database. If a pilot’s details are not in the database they can be entered manually. Sometimes the Race program will bomb if the Next button is used in the set up pages. If it does click OK after each pilot has been entered and then right click in the empty fields and use Add for the next pilot.

Once all pilots have been entered click on Reports from the top menu bar and select Pilots. This will print a convenient report for using as a day list and the extended report can be printed to give all phone numbers etc to other pilots.

Click on the + next to Tasks on the LH menu then on Turnpoints. Right click in the empty fields and select Add. Fill in the field for Name of turnpoint, ( Nation and Region are optional unless it’s an FAI comp ).

Position type is easiest to select Circeled Distance for scoring purposes. If Geo Co-Ordinates is selected, the landing position of every pilot must be entered for each task flown. This can be very time consuming and prone to data entry mistakes.

Now click on Tasks from the LH menu. Again, right click in the empty fields and select Add. Now fill in the fields.

Name field, eg, Day One.

Now choose the Type of task from the drop down menu.

Race to Goal. This is a task with a start point and a goal that can have as many ( or none ) turnpoints as required. Uses a common start time for all and individual finish times.

Elapsed Time Speedrun. This is similar to Race to Goal but has timed launch and goal finish times. These can easily be retrieved from GPS tracklogs if being used in comps.

Free Distance. Fly anywhere, longest distance from take off wins.

Free Distance with Heading. Pilots must fly the furthest in a given direction.

Scoring = Compute.

Speed Section. Start = Window Opening Time. Close = Land by time. ( This field is theoretically used when part of the course is set as a speed section. However our tasks do not lend themselves to this format and so use the land by time for this field).

Speed Section End Close = Land by time.

Type of start: Ground or Air.

Turnpoints = Circeled Distance

Formula. Choose the scoring parameters required for the task, they can be different for each task. Usually all four are selected.

Now click ADD and a drop down list of turnpoints with appear. Select the take off as the first turnpoint and set the Time Gate as Start of Speed Section. Now click Add and choose the next turnpoint, fill in the distance to this turnpoint from take off and click OK. Enter as many turnpoints as reqd entering the distance to the previous turnpoint. ( these turnpoints are not set as start or end of speed section ).

Use Add to enter the goal turnpoint and set the Time Gate to End of Speed Section.

The Task has now been defined, use the same procedure to set up each days task.

After the Task has been flown

Click on the + next to Results on the LH menu, then highlight the Task you wish to score.

Double click on each pilot and fill out their results for the task.

ABS = Did not show = Absent = didn’t go up the hill

DNF = Did not fly = went up the hill but didn’t fly

Landed out. Enter landing positions as distance to next turnpoint or goal. From the drop down menu select turnpoints reached in the Flown Distance area.

Goal. If reached, enter start and goal times as reqd by the different types of task. Race to goal will only require a finish time. Elapsed time speedrun will require both start and finish times.

Do this for all pilots and then right click anywhere in the fields where the pilot names are, select Score task and then highlight the task to be scored, click OK. A printable page will be displayed with the scoring for all pilots for that task. Check the scores look correct and print a copy for pilots to review. Once pilots are happy with the placings, the scoring job for that task is complete. Any protests should be made before briefing the next day and the landing positions adjusted as reqd with a new copy printed.

Penalties can be entered in the fields for each pilot on the Task Results page ( where you enter the pilots success for a task . Make sure you open the correct task to enter penalties for any pilots.)

The Next Tasks, & Afterwards

Open the same competition and add a new task, enter details and score, as above.

When all tasks have been flown and all protests and penalties applied and adjusted, right click in any of the data fields and select Score Competition. Make sure all tasks are highlighted and click OK. Print out the results and declare a winner!

Post or Email the Competition database ( .mdb file found in the Race/ Data folder with the name of your competition ) to the current chairperson of the HG comp committee within one week of the comp. This way the Ranking Ladder can be updated in each Airborn.

Ranking Ladder Compilation

(This section is intended for the Comp Cmte Chairperson)

Ensure that all comps have pilot PINS entered.

File / New competition

File / Configuration Settings (set given as above)

File / Insert Comp Data / Participants (for every comp, builds up complete list)

File / Insert Comp Data / Tasks with Results (for all comps)

Scoring / Totals

CSV button, paste file into ranking spreadsheet.

For each comp Count number of non-DNS values & enter in the ‘#Pilots’ row.

Blank out all DNS values.