Buckyball Run 9: Rolling into Obsidian Orbital, 2-9 January, 3302
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The inside-the-lore reason is explained in many of the older Buckyball Run threads.
For an outside-the-lore reason, well... think "Cannonball Run". And I'm guessing Z was looking for an identifiably close substitute for "Cannonball" that sounded sci-fi-ish. "Buckyball" works for that.
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I'll be using one of my ships that has been to the core, so either Deep Blue Yonder (Type 6) or White Lightning (Asp Explorer). However I will be slightly adding to their A*-run spec - I will definitely be running with shields, and almost certainly be taking a planetary vehicle hangar with me.
Hmm, for me... it's either a Hauler or a Courier, 'cause let me tell you, I am not racing 300+ LY in a Fer-de-Lance!
The problem I have is that even adding small things like a shield generator to either of those ships makes for a massive drop-off in jump range. The difference between a 31 LY Courier and a 26 LY Courier is a shield generator and a couple of A rank components.
And honestly, putting a shield generator on Haulin' A * would be betraying her spirit. I don't even equip one on her when I'm taxiing her around between stations. So... that's not gonna happen.
I guess I'll have to see about what range I can squeeze out of a Courier with a D-rank shield, maybe.
EDIT: Ugh. If the advanced discovery scanner was 1T instead of 2, I could justify adding one. 2T is too much - that's 1.21 LY of lost jump range on a Courier
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*DING* point for Rankaze on Buckyball trivia.
In universe, the explanation for Buckyball is thus:
The "Buckyball" Braben Star-to-Shining-Star Memorial Trophy Dash, widely known simply as The Buckyball Run, was an unofficial, unsanctioned spaceship race run from Xiaoguan Hub in Magec to the Vonarburg Co-Operative in the Wyrd system, intended both as a celebration of the Federation Interstellar Star Route System and a protest against strict traffic laws coming into effect at the time.
As it was found out, the newly imposed 9.8c relativistic limit imposed by the Federation Maximum Velocity Law (imposed as an energy conservation measure) was actually slower than the quickest average velocities of point-to-point travels of Commander Ian Buchanan "Buckyball" Braben (no relation) in the first half of the 32nd century. In 3102, Braben flew the route in a Cowell-MgRath model 57 Sidewinder, averaging greater than 12.5c, setting a 32 minute record that stood for nearly 140 years.
As it was found out, the newly imposed 9.8c relativistic limit imposed by the Federation Maximum Velocity Law (imposed as an energy conservation measure) was actually slower than the quickest average velocities of point-to-point travels of Commander Ian Buchanan "Buckyball" Braben (no relation) in the first half of the 32nd century. In 3102, Braben flew the route in a Cowell-MgRath model 57 Sidewinder, averaging greater than 12.5c, setting a 32 minute record that stood for nearly 140 years.
This description is pretty much cribbed from the Wikipedia entry on the real-world Cannonball Run, customized for the Elite Universe:
The Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, widely known simply as the Cannonball Baker or Cannonball Run, was an unofficial, unsanctioned automobile race run five times in the 1970s from New York City and Darien, Connecticut, on the U.S. Atlantic coast, to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, a Los Angeles suburb on the Pacific coast. Conceived by car magazine writer and auto racer Brock Yates and fellow Car and Driver editor Steve Smith, the first run was not a real competitive race, as there was only one team running, but intended both as a celebration of the United States Interstate Highway System and a protest against strict traffic laws coming into effect at the time.
As it was found out, the newly imposed 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit imposed by the National Maximum Speed Law (imposed as an energy conservation measure) was actually slower than the quickest average speeds of point-to-point travels of Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker in the first half of the 20th century. In 1933, Baker drove coast to coast in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, averaging greater than 50 mph (80 km/h), setting a 53-hour 30 minute record that stood for nearly 40 years.
As it was found out, the newly imposed 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit imposed by the National Maximum Speed Law (imposed as an energy conservation measure) was actually slower than the quickest average speeds of point-to-point travels of Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker in the first half of the 20th century. In 1933, Baker drove coast to coast in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, averaging greater than 50 mph (80 km/h), setting a 53-hour 30 minute record that stood for nearly 40 years.
So basically, the Buckyball is the Cannonball in space. As for why "Buckyball", that's the name of the Carbon-60 molecule, formal name Buckminsterfullerene, commonly known as a "Buckyball."
And that, dear reader, is the reason for the season...
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Good to see you back.
Question for Z/Bucky... what is going to be the regulation Hauler spec? I'm wondering if Haulin' A* will meet it so she can attempt to reclaim her lost crown of "Fastest Hunk of Junk in the Galaxy". If it requires a shield generator, though, forget it. Shields are against her religion. She's been granted a special dispensation for cargo racks... but only if they're empty.
Planning to run my Courier, Joyeuse, in the live run, since I managed to hammer out a build I'm happy with. Possibly in the main event, too, IF Haulin' A* can go in the Hauler class. Otherwise, I'll run Haulin' A* in the main.
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...Well, just so you know, the particular choice of starting point was made solely because it had large landing pads. I did it just to accommodate the big ships, DaveB, so when the complaints start coming in I'm sending them over to your landing pad.
You sold me. It wouldn't feel right to run anything other than the Radius and stripping her down for a pure race config would make her just not feel like the same ship. So she'll still be loaded for bear (or should that be Ursa Major)
I promise no sneakily shooting out other racers tires...
Planning on getting to the live run if I can, so join request to your group incoming
After long and careful deliberation (and a 5th of tequila) Bucky has come to the conclusion that the sole requirement of the Hauler class race is that the pilot fly a Hauler. Configuration as far as weapons, shields, power plants/distrubutors, fuel tanks, etc are all CMDR's discretion. The Sidey Challenge of past events dictated a "stock" Sidewinder, but given the nature of this race, Bucky's going to leave it up to the individual pilots how squeeze out every last light year out of a Hauler while flying with the gear they deem appropriate.
Bucky has spoken.
And the official race rules will be coming Soon(TM).
That works.
I figured it couldn't be bone stock, just because... that's an awfully long way to go with an E-rank FSD (says the person who ran Buckyball Run 5 with a jump range of, what, 13 LY?)
I'm thinking I'll probably run my Type-6, which is currently set up for smuggling and exploration. I don't think I'll be stripping it down, 'cause I kind of like it the way it is. If that means I finish last, I'm okay with that. I thought about running a Hauler, but I just don't find a Hauler fun to fly, and if I'm not having fun why do it at all?
I thought about running a Hauler, but I just don't find a Hauler fun to fly, and if I'm not having fun why do it at all?
Just to add the comms channels here as well:
Teamspeak server is live:
Server address: reload.servebeer.com
Port: Default (9987)
Password: None
Be warned, I do have server admin and am prone to abusing it!
Edited to include IRC details too:
url: https://client01.chat.mibbit.com/
channel: #ShotgunShine
Teamspeak server is live:
Server address: reload.servebeer.com
Port: Default (9987)
Password: None
Be warned, I do have server admin and am prone to abusing it!
Edited to include IRC details too:
url: https://client01.chat.mibbit.com/
channel: #ShotgunShine
What Drakhyr said. That thread is now the thread. Might flag down a passing mod and shut this one down...
Reload! Thanks for the teamspeak server. I'll update THE thread with THAT information.
locked as requested by OP. go on here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=220125
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