h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A10357175

As per this thread: F3901890?thread=3809722

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Please change to 'Maximum lap times'.

Changed

Thanks Danny!

Are you sure it was wrong before? A minimum lap time would imply a faster speed tham a maximum lap time, and if the intent is to prevent excessive speed than setting a minimum time allowed would work far better than a maximum time.

Otherwise is the rest of the sentence correct?

Sorry, hadn't finished; I must be tired.

Would it be possible to write an explanation of how maximum lap times can reduce speed, because it really doesn't seem to make sense as it stands, or is that just me being slow? (it's 3am so I probably am being slow)

Thanks Bernadette. To be honest, I was quite upset at the tone and content of the original post and I was concentrating more upon diffusing the situation and appeasing the OP rather than thinking straight about the matter in hand. *You* are in fact correct.

Looking at my MSA 'blue book' (the bible), these are in fact the regulations.

H.9.2. The average speed should not exceed 40mph unless run in accordance with minimum safety requirements of a Special Stage, and in such circumstances, the average speed should not exceed 50mph.

H.9.2.1 No competitor exceeding the average speed shall gain an advantage nor be penalised. Competitors shall not be offered any award for equalling or improving upon the target time or any award for the fastest time or least penalties for such sections.

H.28.6.2 Competitors will be advised of the maximum and minimum time allowed for the course, before the start.

So, yes, a minimum time is set to prevent competitors gaining advantage by speeding, ie you cannot gain any more advantage by beating the minimum lap time.

A maximum time is also set for completing a lap of the course. Exceeding the maximum time usually makes that lap void.

So, can I suggest that section of the text be changed to this?

Minimum lap times are set in order to prevent speeds becoming too excessiveNo advantage can be gained by breaking the minimum course time by use of excessive speed. and to prevent the course speed exceeding 40 - 50mph. This rule does not penalise drivers making up lost time, however, and course speeds can exceed 90mph.

Does that sound OK?

Looking at your 'regulations', should your reworded sentence say "...to prevent the *average* course speed exceeding 40 - 50mph."?

Yes, it should. Well spotted, Danny!

Are you happy for me to make the correction now, or would you rather wait for Bernadette, as she flagged it in the first place?

I'd rather wait for Bernadette, just to be polite. Obviously, I don't want this falling down a hole though.

For now, can you change 'maximum' back to 'minimum' (so it's factually correct) and we'll wait for Bernadette.

If she doesn't come back after, say, a week, shall I bump it back up again and then you can pick it up from there, Danny?

Done that for now

I've done it, I think.

I'm afraid if I've left any typos I may not get to fix them for a while: we're moving in two weeks so I may not get much computer time for a while.