No, this isn't a thread where we discuss the checkpoints... those have already been settled with the route in this thread:
http://fastermustache.org/node/2100
This is about the specifics of the 'tokens'. Somewhere I believe that it was decided that they would be best if they were one of the six basic colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) with a picture of something simple to increase variety (cat, dog, sheep, cow, bicycle, car?) giving a total of 36 possible combinations (or more).
I am volunteering my services to design and print the cards, but I need an estimate on how many we'll need (500, 1000, 10000?) considering that each team doing close to 48 laps is not out of the question. I figured having them business card sized, 12 to a sheet, and made of card stock material, with six numbered boxes for the hole punches, just like a redemption voucher. I'll make a mock-up later tonight (or if someone else who is artisticly inclined wants to do it... mine may look like I made it in MS paint, because I probably will).
I also have discovered a spool of chain in my possession that can be used to secure the hole punches to the checkpoint locations, I'd be willing to donate that as well.
seth
your tokens look sweet (I am assuming the tokens work the same as lap cards). However, we can't show anyone what the lap cards look like before the race. That would give them a chance to print them out and make their own, enabling cheating, etc.
So perhaps you and I can communicate off the boards and come up with something.
Yes.
Ah yes, that was a mockup, they were too small and I don't much care for animals (unless they've been grilled and put on a plate). I have new ones made that are bigger and have images that fit the theme of the race (sort of). E-mail me at sjkingry@gmail.com to get a copy of the new sheet.
Also, I have no idea what to call them, someone said token, some say lap card, I think Donald refers to them as batons. We need to settle on a term to avoid confusion.
Also also, on the security end, there will be a UID put on each card before it's given to the rider, and the cards will be made from colored card stock... so those are two factors that prevent counterfeiting.
baton refers to an item that
baton refers to an item that is passed between team members to signify which member is currently 'on the course'. (the lockrings from last year) token was a generic term that ckdake used to describe any number of various artifacts that may be carried, be it a baton, a punchcard, a rag, or a lead burrito. lap cards were decided to be a better solution to tracking racers over last year's 'grab a ticket' system.
in one system, a rider would have to present their team's baton in order to get a lap card from the race booth. but since we appear to have forgone that in favor of the 'anyone can ride, but only the last man out gets the point' system, it would seem that a baton is a thoroughly useless tool. we've just introduced the possibility of having every racer out on the course at the same time.
i am still in favor of a baton, for obvious reasons (teammate drafting, on the spot SAGing, and other non-relayesque behaviour.) but the 'i don't want to lose extra time if something bad happens' contingent seems to be opposed to having to carry such a staple of this sort of event in this event. whatever, either system stands to affect me very little, so i will leave the decision to those who stand to complain the most.
a token could also be an
a token could also be an idea that doesnt exist as a physical entity. It could just be the "one person on the course that is counting for laps at a time"
Token? I love that guy.
Token?
I love that guy.
Lap Cards
Call them what you will, but the official system will be the "last man out gets the point". Its been discussed before, but i'll try to be simple.
Typically in this race, a rider will finish a lap and turn in his fully punched lap card in return for a new, fresh lap card. The next rider on that team (or the same rider if doing consecutive laps) will take the fresh card out with him. The fully filled out one will be entered (by me) into the system and filed away.
In the event that a rider cannot finish a lap, another teammate can get a new lap card from me, take it out and get the holes punched, and turn it in. The lap card given to the rider who could not finished is void and lost forever.
The thing is, you can't cheat this system! The only way to cheat is to infiltrate the computer system during the race and change your lap times. Not only do I already have ideas for avoiding this, but I will maintain the punched lap cards in a hard file with times on each card, so no, you can't cheat.