Community Event / Creation Planning an alternative to the Buckyball Runs

[ElectricZ]

Woah! Rally racing? Sounds awesome! Where do I sign up?

First off, right off, I got a biggo smile on my face when I saw this thread. You can't keep good CMDR's down!

Secondly, big thanks for everyone's concerns about respecting the Buckyball "brand." Even though it's not trademarked, I would like to preserve the exact phrase "The Buckyball Run" itself as the name for the specific series of races we've run. I'd really appreciate it if it were not used for any other races- especially since I'm hopeful that someday the Buckyball will roll once again throughout the spaceways.

On that note, the Buckyball Run A* is officially ending. At the deadline the official scoreboard will stop being updated. Whomever becomes the caretaker of the Sag A* scoreboard after, I'd be happy to shoot you my spreadsheet with the provision that you change the name, though if you wanted to include a notation of who flew it during the official BBRA* that'd be more than cool. And if you're looking for another name for the Buckyball Run A*, I'll throw "The Anuranium Run" into the mix. The original earthbound Cannonball Run was named after a man named Erwin "Cannonball" Baker for making the first Coast-to-Coast speedrun in the United States in 1933. Well, it was CMDR Anuranium's stunt to speedrun Sag A* that kicked off the BBRA*. Bucky just rode on his coat tails. If you're going to name the Sag A* race after anything, it should be Anuranium. Just one CMDR's opinion...

That being said, y'all are Buckyballers. You more than anyone have earned the right to call yourself that and use it in any capacity as you see fit, and I'd be honored if its legacy lived on. Buckyball Racing League, Friends of Buckyball, whatever. Call it anything but "The Buckyball Run" and you have Bucky's blessing. Otherwise, invoke the Buckyball as you see fit. It's part of your reputations, part of your personal lore. (for better or worse )
Someday if ship/station walkarounds become a thing I'd like to think in some seedy spacedock dive you'll hear someone talk about "those idiot racers" and you'll be able to walk over and buy them a drink and tell them your story.

As for what to call races going forward, make it your own. That's half the fun. Plus you don't have to listen to Bucky shoot down your ideas, keeping the BBR on a tight leash the way he did. Seriously, could that guy be any more of a wet blanket with all of his rules? Personally, I like the idea of making the name reflective that it's a league and name your events individually. "Starchaser Racing League presents FRAMESHIFT 3301..." etc. Then you have a recognizable brand and individual races can be held however the organizer wants.

Oh yeah, and for god's sake get a new leaderboard. The one I've been using is pure aucoks!

Anyway, I'm happy to see that Elite Dangerous rally racing goes on. Thanks to Steam there's a whole generation of young CMDRs who have no idea how to make a proper dent in a space station. It warms my heart to know that all of you are around to teach them. And who knows, I might have to jump back into the cockpit and try out someone else's race. Mark my words, I can come in 26th in any competition you can think of...

Good luck, CMDR's!

 

[drakhyr]

Shameless bump to get pole position... What are they gonna do, fire me?

You know, I was SOOOO tempted to put another post in between when I first saw that

Secondly, big thanks for everyone's concerns about respecting the Buckyball "brand." Even though it's not trademarked, I would like to preserve the exact phrase "The Buckyball Run" itself as the name for the specific series of races we've run. I'd really appreciate it if it were not used for any other races- especially since I'm hopeful that someday the Buckyball will roll once again throughout the spaceways.

We are all very happy to respect that, not least because we also are hopeful that one day the true Buckyball Run will return!

On that note, the Buckyball Run A* is officially ending. At the deadline the official scoreboard will stop being updated. Whomever becomes the caretaker of the Sag A* scoreboard after, I'd be happy to shoot you my spreadsheet with the provision that you do change the name, though if you wanted to include a notation of who flew it during the official BBRA* that'd be more than cool. And if you're looking for another name for the Buckyball Run A*, I'll throw "The Anuranium Run" into the mix. The original earthbound Cannonball Run was named after a man named Erwin "Cannonball" Baker for making the first Coast-to-Coast speedrun in the United States in 1933. Well, it was CMDR Anuranium's stunt to speedrun Sag A* that kicked off the BBRA*. Bucky just rode on his coat tails. If you're going to name the Sag A* race after anything, it should be Anuranium. Just one CMDR's opinion...

Dammit, you're throwing another naming challenge my way? Not to worry, I'll do that. Do please send me the spreadsheet - you already have my email address from when I sent you mine

 

[Chance-]

Woah! Rally racing? Sounds awesome! Where do I sign up?

That was the first thing that came to my mind as well!

 

[Alec Turner]

Right ... EZ has spoken, we have approval to refer to the "Buckyball" name (e.g. Buckyball Racing Club) should we choose, we have race ideas coming out of our kazoo and we have a metal bath full of burning toast (nothing, just a promotional idea I was working on for something, forget I ever mentioned it alright?).

Let's do this thing!

Drakhyr? this is your thread so over to you but I kinda feel like enough discussion already? Let's race.

- - - Updated - - -

Shameless bump to get pole position... What are they gonna do, fire me?

Incidentally, I show my thread posts in most recent first order so your shameless bumping attempts are wasted, mwah hah hah.

 

[Raiko]

Drakhyr? this is your thread so over to you but I kinda feel like enough discussion already? Let's race.

I should be back from the core this week sometime (too late to help at Eleu I fear).

As some runners are still heading for Sadge, and I know that Rusticolus wants to explore some places on the way home, I don't want to start my rares-race too quickly, but I just need to double check the stations and I'm ready to go.

I'll set a provisional date of Friday 14th August - Sunday 30th August for the race. I'll post a race thread when we've definitely decided a name for the group. Unless someone else has a race plan already sorted out.

The Buckyball Racing Club gets my vote.

I'll start scouting out the Galactic Rally as soon as I'm back as well for a few months later. Might need some help with that one.

 

[drakhyr]

I'll set a provisional date of Friday 14th August - Sunday 30th August for the race. I'll post a race thread when we've definitely decided a name for the group. Unless someone else has a race plan already sorted out.

The Buckyball Racing Club gets my vote.

Excellent, thanks Raiko - I was going to ask if you were ready to go first, and suggest a similar starting date!
Are you happy to run that one on your own, or would you like any help in collating leaderboards, etc?

I propose to go with "The Buckyball Racing Club presents..." unless anybody has any strong objections. And if anybody does have any strong objections, they don't have long to raise them as I will be registering an appropriate domain name at some point this afternoon . Then I just need help with logo and advertising - I have an idea for a logo that I'll try to draft up later, but I'll need helping getting it actually looking any good!

Also this afternoon, I'm going to work out what I will call the successor to the Buckyball Run A*. I'm currently thinking "Coreward Bound", though "The A* Challenge" might be a possibility as well. Aim is to get that up and running tomorrow, straight after the Buckyball Run A* finishes.

 

[mw_aurora]

Raiko, Drakhyr - this all sounds great

EDIT: I meant to say I prefer "The A* Challenge"

 

[Alec Turner]

I propose to go with "The Buckyball Racing Club presents..." unless anybody has any strong objections.

Thirded!

I have an idea for a logo that I'll try to draft up later, but I'll need helping getting it actually looking any good!

Anyone who's seen my Fuel Rat "long range rescue scans" knows I am no artist, but if you need an image of a giraffe badly photoshopped onto your logo then I'm your man!

Also this afternoon, I'm going to work out what I will call the successor to the Buckyball Run A*. I'm currently thinking "Coreward Bound", though "The A* Challenge" might be a possibility as well. Aim is to get that up and running tomorrow, straight after the Buckyball Run A* finishes.

Another vote from me for "The A* Challenge" (if you don't want to go with "The Anuranium A* Trophy Cup" or something like that).

 

[Orange Sheets]

Another vote from me for "The A* Challenge" (if you don't want to go with "The Anuranium A* Trophy Cup" or something like that).

"The A* Challenge" would be so perfect http://theory.stanford.edu/~amitp/GameProgramming/AStarComparison.html

 

[adipose]

Woah! Rally racing? Sounds awesome! Where do I sign up?

First off, right off, I got a biggo smile on my face when I saw this thread. You can't keep good CMDR's down!

Secondly, big thanks for everyone's concerns about respecting the Buckyball "brand." Even though it's not trademarked, I would like to preserve the exact phrase "The Buckyball Run" itself as the name for the specific series of races we've run. I'd really appreciate it if it were not used for any other races- especially since I'm hopeful that someday the Buckyball will roll once again throughout the spaceways.

On that note, the Buckyball Run A* is officially ending. At the deadline the official scoreboard will stop being updated. Whomever becomes the caretaker of the Sag A* scoreboard after, I'd be happy to shoot you my spreadsheet with the provision that you change the name, though if you wanted to include a notation of who flew it during the official BBRA* that'd be more than cool. And if you're looking for another name for the Buckyball Run A*, I'll throw "The Anuranium Run" into the mix. The original earthbound Cannonball Run was named after a man named Erwin "Cannonball" Baker for making the first Coast-to-Coast speedrun in the United States in 1933. Well, it was CMDR Anuranium's stunt to speedrun Sag A* that kicked off the BBRA*. Bucky just rode on his coat tails. If you're going to name the Sag A* race after anything, it should be Anuranium. Just one CMDR's opinion...

That being said, y'all are Buckyballers. You more than anyone have earned the right to call yourself that and use it in any capacity as you see fit, and I'd be honored if its legacy lived on. Buckyball Racing League, Friends of Buckyball, whatever. Call it anything but "The Buckyball Run" and you have Bucky's blessing. Otherwise, invoke the Buckyball as you see fit. It's part of your reputations, part of your personal lore. (for better or worse )
Someday if ship/station walkarounds become a thing I'd like to think in some seedy spacedock dive you'll hear someone talk about "those idiot racers" and you'll be able to walk over and buy them a drink and tell them your story.

As for what to call races going forward, make it your own. That's half the fun. Plus you don't have to listen to Bucky shoot down your ideas, keeping the BBR on a tight leash the way he did. Seriously, could that guy be any more of a wet blanket with all of his rules? Personally, I like the idea of making the name reflective that it's a league and name your events individually. "Starchaser Racing League presents FRAMESHIFT 3301..." etc. Then you have a recognizable brand and individual races can be held however the organizer wants.

Oh yeah, and for god's sake get a new leaderboard. The one I've been using is pure aucoks!

Anyway, I'm happy to see that Elite Dangerous rally racing goes on. Thanks to Steam there's a whole generation of young CMDRs who have no idea how to make a proper dent in a space station. It warms my heart to know that all of you are around to teach them. And who knows, I might have to jump back into the cockpit and try out someone else's race. Mark my words, I can come in 26th in any competition you can think of...

Good luck, CMDR's!

Thanks for clearing that up, straight from the roo's major-domo's mouth .

I should be back from the core this week sometime (too late to help at Eleu I fear).

As some runners are still heading for Sadge, and I know that Rusticolus wants to explore some places on the way home, I don't want to start my rares-race too quickly, but I just need to double check the stations and I'm ready to go.

I'll set a provisional date of Friday 14th August - Sunday 30th August for the race. I'll post a race thread when we've definitely decided a name for the group. Unless someone else has a race plan already sorted out.

The Buckyball Racing Club gets my vote.

I'll start scouting out the Galactic Rally as soon as I'm back as well for a few months later. Might need some help with that one.

I am working on a preliminary advertisement/lore-correct news article to submit to radio sidewinder. after I myself get back from DOOM, I will get it to you guys for review.

Excellent, thanks Raiko - I was going to ask if you were ready to go first, and suggest a similar starting date!
Are you happy to run that one on your own, or would you like any help in collating leaderboards, etc?

I propose to go with "The Buckyball Racing Club presents..." unless anybody has any strong objections. And if anybody does have any strong objections, they don't have long to raise them as I will be registering an appropriate domain name at some point this afternoon . Then I just need help with logo and advertising - I have an idea for a logo that I'll try to draft up later, but I'll need helping getting it actually looking any good!

Also this afternoon, I'm going to work out what I will call the successor to the Buckyball Run A*. I'm currently thinking "Coreward Bound", though "The A* Challenge" might be a possibility as well. Aim is to get that up and running tomorrow, straight after the Buckyball Run A* finishes.

I like "The Buckyball Racing Club presents..." as well as the A* Challenge (I remember when the math one was running).

 

[Orange Sheets]

The Galactic Rally

Definately in!

(Is there a populated system 'Dakar'...)

 

[drakhyr]

Right, Buckyball Racing Club it is.
buckyballracing.org.uk has been registered - website coming soon(TM).

The A* Challenge should be up and running at some point tomorrow, after the Buckyball Run A* has closed.

 

[mw_aurora]

Right, Buckyball Racing Club it is.
buckyballracing.org.uk has been registered - website coming soon(TM).

The A* Challenge should be up and running at some point tomorrow, after the Buckyball Run A* has closed.

Yay! \o/

(I can't rep you again)

 

[Macros Black]

Right, Buckyball Racing Club it is.
buckyballracing.org.uk has been registered - website coming soon(TM).

The A* Challenge should be up and running at some point tomorrow, after the Buckyball Run A* has closed.

This is fantastic news, drakhyr!
As one of the veteran Sag A* BuckyBallers (ahem), I'm glad that the torch is being passed on and that the classic Sagittarius A* race can continue under the new banner along with other new exciting races. Jolly good! (always wanted to write that).

 

[Stern Winter]

Right, Buckyball Racing Club it is.
buckyballracing.org.uk has been registered - website coming soon(TM).

The A* Challenge should be up and running at some point tomorrow, after the Buckyball Run A* has closed.

This is great news. Repped. Can't wait to see the website in action.

Also thanks to ElectricZ for allowing us to use the Buckyball name. I'm sorry he had to stop. Best of wishes, ElectricZ, and thanks for all the fish, err.. fun.

 

[Raiko]

I've been thinking about both my rares-run and galactic rally ideas over the last couple of days:

The Buckyball Racing Club Presents: The 'Ice-cool Trucker' Bootlegger Challenge - sponsored by Evil Juice.

As I've already mentioned this is more or less ready to go when I get back, so I should be easily able prepare it in time the planned date.

The one potential hitch is that since I've more or less decided to make the start/finish line Jaques Station, it might well move when 1.4 drops.

The station is currently in the Gliese 1269 system - approx 250LY from Sol and conveniently more than 150LY from every rare good on my list, so all should be profitable.

But the station sometimes moves when the game is updated. I don't want the start/finish line to move mid-race!

I'll make sure the race dates avoid the release of 1.4, but if anyone else can suggest a nice tourist world with a station that's quite remote, then please let me know.

Also the name above is the name that I'd planned to use for the race ages ago (other than the Buckyball Racing Club part), so I'll stick with that unless you all think it's really dumb and can suggest a better name!


The Galactic Rally (real name pending).

I've been giving this a lot more thought and given the minor concerns over jump-range I was wondering how extreme the race should be? After all extreme races like the Paris-Dakar rally and the Tour de France are pretty inspirational and I never imagined that so many people would be crazy enough to enter EZ's BBRA!

To make the race a bigger test, but also to allow most ships to enter (provide they have a class A FSD) I thought I could use three routes, all with the same first and last stages, and sharing some intermediate stages, but branching off for stretches that require longer range or visit more dangerous regions.

Class C: Suitable for anyone with 15+LY range, route visits local nebulae, never gets more than 5000LY from Sol, and doesn't include more than 'medium' exploration hazards (from the Galactic Mapping Project). This race will also keep you well within reach of the Fuel Rats in case of emergency, and the whole route would be short enough to finish in a couple of big sessions with a longer ranged if you wished (about 10K in total).

Class B: Suitable for explorers who already seen a couple of nearby Nebulae, with ships that have at least 25LY range, will visit more distant/inaccessible tourist spots like the Eta Carinae Nebula, NGC 7822 Nebula and Crab Pulsar/Nebula, may include 'high' exploration hazards. Will stay within 8000LY of Sol (maybe as for and the Heart and Soul). You might need to wait a while for a fuel rat, unless another racer can help you out.

Class A: Extreme challenge for experienced explorers, and crazy Buckyball Runners; will probably require ships with 30+LY Range, and will travel beyond the local nebulae to visit the Perseus Arm (to the 'south') and the New Outer Arm (to the 'west') including two crossings of the formidable Formidine Rift (one extreme, one 'easy'). Will include 'extreme' exploration hazards, and will take racers to the fringes of the galaxy. A special award/mention would go to the shortest range ship to finish the Class A race. If you run of fuel in the extreme parts of this race, you'll be lucky to survive; even other racers might struggle to get limpets to you safely, and the fuel rats would need to mount a huge and dangerous operation to reach you!

Each race would use individual stages of up to 3-5000LY, but soemtimes shorter (the first stage will only be to The Coalsack, and the class C stages will generally be shorter), so each stage should be something that a 12hr BBRA ship could do in 1-2 hours. However one or two of the class A stages, while still 'only about 5K' would require great care (eg the The Formidine Rift is approx 5000LY across).

I'd be planning to make the Class A race about 25 stages long, run over a calendar month or possibly 5-6 weeks. Total length would be 60-100K I'd think.

In the case of the Class A and Class B races I was thinking that in the Tour De France (which is the most extreme race that I actually watch semi-regularly), most of the race is a bit of a procession, but some of the mountain stages and time-trials are where the top runners win the race. Some of the tougher legs (eg to the Crab Nebula for Class A/B or The Formidine Rift for Class A), would provide these race winning opportunities to gain a big advantage over your rivals.

What do you all think? If you think it sounds good them I'll be entering the Class A race in my Asp, and although I'd imagine that a 'Conda will win, it should be possible to complete in any long range Hauler, Diamondback or Type-6 as well.

I'm just not sure if anyone else is as crazy as me though, other than the obvious few nutters who also made multiple runs to Sadge, or that guy who kept going until he ran out of galaxy!

Is an extreme race too much? Would I be better sticking to a single race that follows the 'class B' route, or are there other who want to race right out to the galactic fringe?

 

[Alec Turner]

I've been thinking about both my rares-run and galactic rally ideas over the last couple of days:

The Buckyball Racing Club Presents: The 'Ice-cool Trucker' Bootlegger Challenge - sponsored by Evil Juice.

As I've already mentioned this is more or less ready to go when I get back, so I should be easily able prepare it in time the planned date.

The one potential hitch is that since I've more or less decided to make the start/finish line Jaques Station, it might well move when 1.4 drops.

The station is currently in the Gliese 1269 system - approx 250LY from Sol and conveniently more than 150LY from every rare good on my list, so all should be profitable.

But the station sometimes moves when the game is updated. I don't want the start/finish line to move mid-race!

I'll make sure the race dates avoid the release of 1.4, but if anyone else can suggest a nice tourist world with a station that's quite remote, then please let me know.

As soon as my laptop has finished "preparing to configure windows" I'll have a quick look and see if I can find something. When you say "remote station" I assume you mean the system should be remote (i.e. >150ly from the main "rare" systems) and not that the station should be far from the main star (indeed, I assume that's something you DON'T want).

The Galactic Rally (real name pending).

I've been giving this a lot more thought and given the minor concerns over jump-range I was wondering how extreme the race should be? After all extreme races like the Paris-Dakar rally and the Tour de France are pretty inspirational and I never imagined that so many people would be crazy enough to enter EZ's BBRA!

To make the race a bigger test, but also to allow most ships to enter (provide they have a class A FSD) I thought I could use three routes, all with the same first and last stages, and sharing some intermediate stages, but branching off for stretches that require longer range or visit more dangerous regions.

Class C:

Spoiler

Suitable for anyone with 15+LY range, route visits local nebulae, never gets more than 5000LY from Sol, and doesn't include more than 'medium' exploration hazards (from the Galactic Mapping Project). This race will also keep you well within reach of the Fuel Rats in case of emergency, and the whole route would be short enough to finish in a couple of big sessions with a longer ranged if you wished (about 10K in total).

Class B:

Spoiler

Suitable for explorers who already seen a couple of nearby Nebulae, with ships that have at least 25LY range, will visit more distant/inaccessible tourist spots like the Eta Carinae Nebula, NGC 7822 Nebula and Crab Pulsar/Nebula, may include 'high' exploration hazards. Will stay within 8000LY of Sol (maybe as for and the Heart and Soul). You might need to wait a while for a fuel rat, unless another racer can help you out.

Class A:

Spoiler

Extreme challenge for experienced explorers, and crazy Buckyball Runners; will probably require ships with 30+LY Range, and will travel beyond the local nebulae to visit the Perseus Arm (to the 'south') and the New Outer Arm (to the 'west') including two crossings of the formidable Formidine Rift (one extreme, one 'easy'). Will include 'extreme' exploration hazards, and will take racers to the fringes of the galaxy. A special award/mention would go to the shortest range ship to finish the Class A race. If you run of fuel in the extreme parts of this race, you'll be lucky to survive; even other racers might struggle to get limpets to you safely, and the fuel rats would need to mount a huge and dangerous operation to reach you!

Each race would use individual stages of up to 3-5000LY, but soemtimes shorter (the first stage will only be to The Coalsack, and the class C stages will generally be shorter), so each stage should be something that a 12hr BBRA ship could do in 1-2 hours. However one or two of the class A stages, while still 'only about 5K' would require great care (eg the The Formidine Rift is approx 5000LY across).

I'd be planning to make the Class A race about 25 stages long, run over a calendar month or possibly 5-6 weeks. Total length would be 60-100K I'd think.

In the case of the Class A and Class B races I was thinking that in the Tour De France (which is the most extreme race that I actually watch semi-regularly), most of the race is a bit of a procession, but some of the mountain stages and time-trials are where the top runners win the race. Some of the tougher legs (eg to the Crab Nebula for Class A/B or The Formidine Rift for Class A), would provide these race winning opportunities to gain a big advantage over your rivals.

What do you all think? If you think it sounds good them I'll be entering the Class A race in my Asp, and although I'd imagine that a 'Conda will win, it should be possible to complete in any long range Hauler, Diamondback or Type-6 as well.

I'm just not sure if anyone else is as crazy as me though, other than the obvious few nutters who also made multiple runs to Sadge, or that guy who kept going until he ran out of galaxy!

Is an extreme race too much? Would I be better sticking to a single race that follows the 'class B' route, or are there other who want to race right out to the galactic fringe?

Personally, I'm OK with multi-stages but what I can't normally do (my Buckyball A* race was a rare, once in a lifetime opportunity when I had the house to myself for an entire day) is a single session of more than an hour or two. So, as long as any one stage is not much over 3kly then I probably can and would take part, other than that, no can do :-(

 

[mw_aurora]

if anyone else can suggest a nice tourist world with a station that's quite remote, then please let me know.

The one that sprang to mind was HIP 74290 - Pratchett's Disc (1,448LS) - a must visit station for any Terry Pratchett fans but it may be a bit too remote both in terms of location and station from star

The Galactic Rally (real name pending).

<lots of exciting race description>

Is an extreme race too much?

Bring. It. On.



Although I think I fall into the 'nutters' category above...

 

[Anuranium]

...of course keep Sag A*, and introduce the "Double Dutch Sag A*", a Sol-Sag A*-Sol race for the totally insane racers.

Hmm.... interesting.

Let me think...

Challenge accepted!

 

[Orange Sheets]

The Galactic Rally (real name pending).

Spoiler

I've been giving this a lot more thought and given the minor concerns over jump-range I was wondering how extreme the race should be? After all extreme races like the Paris-Dakar rally and the Tour de France are pretty inspirational and I never imagined that so many people would be crazy enough to enter EZ's BBRA!

To make the race a bigger test, but also to allow most ships to enter (provide they have a class A FSD) I thought I could use three routes, all with the same first and last stages, and sharing some intermediate stages, but branching off for stretches that require longer range or visit more dangerous regions.

Class C: Suitable for anyone with 15+LY range, route visits local nebulae, never gets more than 5000LY from Sol, and doesn't include more than 'medium' exploration hazards (from the Galactic Mapping Project). This race will also keep you well within reach of the Fuel Rats in case of emergency, and the whole route would be short enough to finish in a couple of big sessions with a longer ranged if you wished (about 10K in total).

Class B: Suitable for explorers who already seen a couple of nearby Nebulae, with ships that have at least 25LY range, will visit more distant/inaccessible tourist spots like the Eta Carinae Nebula, NGC 7822 Nebula and Crab Pulsar/Nebula, may include 'high' exploration hazards. Will stay within 8000LY of Sol (maybe as for and the Heart and Soul). You might need to wait a while for a fuel rat, unless another racer can help you out.

Class A: Extreme challenge for experienced explorers, and crazy Buckyball Runners; will probably require ships with 30+LY Range, and will travel beyond the local nebulae to visit the Perseus Arm (to the 'south') and the New Outer Arm (to the 'west') including two crossings of the formidable Formidine Rift (one extreme, one 'easy'). Will include 'extreme' exploration hazards, and will take racers to the fringes of the galaxy. A special award/mention would go to the shortest range ship to finish the Class A race. If you run of fuel in the extreme parts of this race, you'll be lucky to survive; even other racers might struggle to get limpets to you safely, and the fuel rats would need to mount a huge and dangerous operation to reach you!

Each race would use individual stages of up to 3-5000LY, but soemtimes shorter (the first stage will only be to The Coalsack, and the class C stages will generally be shorter), so each stage should be something that a 12hr BBRA ship could do in 1-2 hours. However one or two of the class A stages, while still 'only about 5K' would require great care (eg the The Formidine Rift is approx 5000LY across).

I'd be planning to make the Class A race about 25 stages long, run over a calendar month or possibly 5-6 weeks. Total length would be 60-100K I'd think.

In the case of the Class A and Class B races I was thinking that in the Tour De France (which is the most extreme race that I actually watch semi-regularly), most of the race is a bit of a procession, but some of the mountain stages and time-trials are where the top runners win the race. Some of the tougher legs (eg to the Crab Nebula for Class A/B or The Formidine Rift for Class A), would provide these race winning opportunities to gain a big advantage over your rivals.

What do you all think? If you think it sounds good them I'll be entering the Class A race in my Asp, and although I'd imagine that a 'Conda will win, it should be possible to complete in any long range Hauler, Diamondback or Type-6 as well.

I'm just not sure if anyone else is as crazy as me though, other than the obvious few nutters who also made multiple runs to Sadge, or that guy who kept going until he ran out of galaxy!

Is an extreme race too much? Would I be better sticking to a single race that follows the 'class B' route, or are there other who want to race right out to the galactic fringe?

Jaw: dropped So want to do this. Naturally with full classic eighties Tour de France cycling gear. (Maybe not on bike though..)