General

Basically, the goal of Dynamic scheduling is to maximize the number of racers to win at least one heat. Dynamic schedules are built over the course of the race, based on how each vehicle performs during each "phase" of racing. This does produce some very tight heats, since vehicles are matched based on their performance in the previous phases.

• Phase 1 - Each racer will be randomly assigned to a heat and lane.
• Phase 2, 3, etc. - Seeding for all other phases will be based on:
  1. Each racer's heat win count (the number of times they received 1st Place in a heat)
  2. Lowest total number of points (based on their finish order for each heat). 1st Place = 1 Point, 2nd Place = 2 Points, etc.
• Racers are matched up based on the above two performance measures. Racers will be scheduled to race in each lane of the track, as much as possible, however it cannot be guaranteed that each vehicle will run in each lane.
• At the end of each phase you will be asked if you wish to start a new phase.
• You can run as many phases as you wish, up to a maximum of 8 phases. It all depends on how much time you have dedicated to racing. You should run at least the same number of phases as you have track lanes. That will ensure that the majority of all racers will have run in each lane of the track.

Advantages / Disadvantages

Dynamic scheduling has its advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of, so you should examine them before deciding on this type of scheduling for your race.

• Advantages:
  1. Maximum Number of Heat Winners - You will have more racers walk away with at least one heat win, compared to all other race scheduling methods. It is usually not possible for all racers to walk away with a heat win, unless you deliberately introduce some slow "turtle" vehicles.
  2. More Competitive Heats - Since racers are seeded for each phase based on their vehicle's performance during the previous phases, you will have a higher number of close heats (at all levels of vehicle performance), compared to most other scheduling methods.
  3. Equal Number of Heats - The race is made more fair by allowing the racers an equal chance to compete by racing an equal number of times.
  4. Use Points or Times Scoring - Even though seedings are based on win count and total points, you can base the final standings on either total points or on times.
  5. No Timer Required - Since you can score by points (based on finish order) and enter results manually, you do not need a timer with this scheduling method.

• Disadvantages:
  1. Makes Strong Vehicles Look Less Strong - Maximizing heat winners does have a cost. A vehicle that may have won all of its heats using another scheduling method likely will not fare as well with Dynamic scheduling. However, strong performing vehicles will still end up at the top of the final standings.
  2. Lane Equity is Not Assured - The scheduler will do its best to schedule each racer to run in each lane and do so an equal number of times, but this is not always possible in order to maximize heat winners.
  3. Lower Number of Opponents - Compared to other race methods (like Perfect-N Type charts), racers will not have as many opponents, since seedings are performance based.
  4. Finish Order Doesn't Reflect Final Standings - You can have a situation where a weaker performing vehicle wins all or most of its heats but does not win an award. You can also have a stronger car that comes in with less wins but ends up with an award.

This page last updated: October 23, 2007
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