Friedrich Peters Ring is the home of Arthur Friedrich Peters, a retired engineer who spent his formative years mining and trading metals; thanks to a few well-hidden asteroid belts and the various rushes for precious metals over the decades, he made enough to afford his own starport. Of course if you ask him, he'll also claim that he designed the station himself; most patrons are wise enough not to point out its striking similarity to all the other Orbis starports across the bubble.
One thing that Art does enjoy is a good race, and he's decided it's long past due that he took the time to host one. So pull up a seat, sit back and watch the fastest and craziest pilots around give it their best shot. But don't sit on the sidelines for too long - everyone's expected to cause at least a bit of pandemonium...
Race Classes and Rules
- The Short Circuit (Open Unlimited / Open Sidewinder)
- The Black Sheep (Open Unlimited)
- The Token Ring (Open Unlimited)
Horizons is not required for this race, which means no use of FSD Boost.
In-flight repairs are allowed, although Delia Grind may be very disappointed in you if you choose to do so.
The race runs until 2359 GMT on Saturday 23 January 3302; entries must have a start time before midnight on the 24th to count.
The Short Circuit
A few of the more eccentric station administrators not far from Pandemonium have started some malicious rumours that Friedrich Peters Ring is in disrepair; blades missing off fans, exterior lights blinking, that sort of thing. Art thinks they're insecure about how silly the names of their starports are. Either way, he's having none of it - pay them a visit, and remind the locals that Art's no pushover. Rude gestures while passing docking towers are optional but encouraged.
Route (visit in the specified order, in either direction):
- Pandemonium - Friedrich Peters Ring
- Kutjalangai - Chretien Oudemans City
- Jotunheim - Big Harry's Monkey Hangout
- Futhorc - Acquired Taste Orbital
- Epsilon Hydri - Radian V
- Cardea - Tygerlily-Merlyn Pleasuredome
- Flesk - Glen's house of Lambada
- Pandemonium - Friedrich Peters Ring
There's extra kudos for the fastest pilot to run the route in a Sidewinder of Art's outfitting. We explained to him about how using D-rated components made the ship lighter for better jumping and an A-rated FSD would help it go faster; we think he might have got a few wires crossed given the result, but hey - it's his race!
The Regulation Sidewinder looks like this - take a stock Sidewinder, remove the guns and empty out the internal compartments (no shields, cargo or scanners). Then upgrade the thrusters and power distributor to A rating, and the FSD to D rating.
Note: The hop between Epsilon Hydri and Cardea appears to confuse the in-game route planner terribly. It is possible to do this hop in two jumps via Vistaenis with a full fuel tank, not the 5 jumps (requiring a fuel stop) the in-game planner tries to send you round the houses with. Curse you ship computer! Normally I'd let racers figure this out, but this is a pretty massive difference caused by (basically) a game bug, so just this once you get a free pass. Don't get used to it!
Q: Haven't we had a few of these circuit races recently? Running around just to end up where you started?
A: Alright, no need to rub it in! Fortunately, Art has you covered. In case you hadn't noticed yet, it turns out he's not the most mature of folks...
The Black Sheep
Art's got some good-for-nothing distant relative of his who hangs out over in the VESPER-M4 system; in his own words, "Rose Angler, or something like that." Anyway, he wants you to head over there (via some other sensibly-named starports, of course) and leave her a taunting message about her trading prowess. Fastest one there gets free drinks for life back at Friedrich Peters Ring. Everyone else at least gets a round...
Route (visit in the order specified):
- Pandemonium - Friedrich Peters Ring
- Gliese 105.2 - Fokker Dock
- Eurybia - Awyra Flirble
- Eurybia - Chris & Silvia's Paradise Hideout
- Decima - Gustypants Outback Emporium
- Ursitoare - Lucy Young's Orbital Happy Home
- Forculus - Irrational Exuberance
- VESPER-M4 - Slough Orbital
The Token Ring
Now the more crazy among you might be thinking this all sounds far too easy; you remember Mrs Lonnegan's Ultimate Spa Weekend Trophy, that was a real challenge! Well, Art hears you. He's hand-picked a few of the most far-flung rings he can find to keep you busy; visit them in any order you like, and return to Pandemonium to complete the race. Best of luck!
Start/Finish:
- Pandemonium - Friedrich Peters Ring
- Chac Cimih - Busch Ring
- Evejitaka - Love Ring
- HIP 296 - the only "Ring" in this system (apparently the name is too risque for the forums!)
- Isitani - Creamer Ring
- Katosus - Shatner Ring
- Na Zha - Rose Ring
- Pictavul - Airy Ring
How to Enter
- First up: state your intent to race in this thread! It should include your CMDR name, the ship's name and type, which race class you're planning to enter, and your favourite system name in the game.
If you aren't signed up on the forums, you can also email this information to the address further down. - Next, haul yourself over to Friedrich Peters Ring in Pandemonium and head into the hangar.
- Get your outfitting how you want it, and take a screenshot showing your internal compartments and jump range. Then, use the Return To Surface button to get ready to race!
- Once you're ready to go, take a screenshot (by pressing F10, or F12 to use Steam screenshots) showing the current date/time, and the station.
- Go buzz some towers! Take screenshots at every checkpoint along the way (showing the date/time and station, just like the start line) and at the finish line.
- Upload your screenshots to a free hosting service such as imgur (feel free to convert them to JPEG first for faster uploading).
- Send the following information to me, either by email to alot <at> buckyballracing <dot> org <dot> uk or alternatively by forum PM to Esvandiary:
- Commander name and forum username
- Ship name and type
- Race class you've entered
- Links to your screenshots/video: must show outfitting, start, every checkpoint and finish
Please don't post your times in the thread before the last day; when dealing with racers it's not a good idea to give them a target!
If you're unsure of what screenshots to take, have a look at this guide on the BRC website.
Note that a full run video is fine for evidence, but grabbing screenshots from the video would be appreciated to help me keep track of everything.
FAQ
Q: What's the prize for winning?
A: A warm, fuzzy feeling of pride. Otherwise known as nothing whatsoever.
Q: What's all this about no FSD boosting? Do you hate speed or something?!
A: Since materials are currently only attainable on planets, this would effectively be handing a free advantage to Horizons owners - and this ain't that kind of race.
Q: Pandemonium? Don't you mean 'Pandamonium'?
A: The system was renamed after the great Winged Panda invasion of March 3301. Never forget.
Now, get out there and get racing!
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