FETC Take II
 

What do you say we get the competition going again?

I'm not sure if it was a lack of interest or a busy Commish, but you can't ignore that the contest fizzled-out a while back.

The overall response was to take a break -- well, here we are. Rested? Ready to go? To tackle the Winter months...

First thing -- I'll admit that I need some help. The goal is to get stats out weekly or every-other-week. The problem is that the automatic process isn't so automatic and it has taken many hours to compile and report the data. My regular job has kept me busy with long days and travel, so when I'm home, that time is devoted to home time. That leaves small bursts of time to spend here -- which honestly wasn't enough to give you guys a fair update of team progress.

If someone else wants to step-up as Commish, that's cool. If you just want to run the data and report it, that's cool too. If you look back, it's a tough job -- especially rules interpretation. I still would like to be involved in some form, maybe adviser, I dunno.

The next order of business. When to start? Do we retroactively run stats from the time of the last cycle? Do we even still have enough people interested?

Everyone -- chime-in. This competition has produced a great number of personal advances in the cause of FE -- which can then be shared with the rest. Look at the History this Forum's posts. Can we ignore them?

RH77/"Commish"

I'd like to resume in May... :p

My mileage is dropping as fast as the temps!!!

But it'll be a good push to stick with it through the winter...

Too bad I don't drive so much.

Replies
 

That's the big reason for getting started again -- to offset that Winter drop :)

If you're interested in crunching numbers or programming, that might help -- depending on your school workload.

That's the thing. Folks can get super-serious about it, or take it as a mild challenge. As I've seen, there's a fine line there between giving 110% and burning out.

The beauty of the Winter competition might be who loses the least FE percentage :o . It seems to be a near-guarantee that FE drops with the effects of temperature and fuel re-formulation. It might not be as heated of a competition as the past -- pun intended. :D

RH77

Okay, so do we start factoring in HDD (heating degree days)? :D

HDD is the difference between the average daily temperature and 65?F.

If we started back up it might just make me go out there and so something to my car to move it away from stock form. I would be up for trying another round here in the winter.

I like the part about who is going to lose the least percentage wise. I guess us Southern folk will have a bit of an advantage there ;). But then again I guess that's what the Mason Dixon line rule is for :).

Is there a thread about how the process of stats is automated? I am no programmer but might be willing to poke around it to see if we couldn't get something better worked out.

I like the idea of suspending the FE challenge in Fall/Spring since the weather is changing throughout the season. How would we know if a change in FE was due to mods, driving, or weather? How about limiting the challenge to seasons when the weather is mostly stable so the drivers have a chance to see if their mods/ driving techniques help or hurt?

I also support the idea of shorter periods, such as 4 to 6 weeks. This should give the drivers a feeling of urgency- now's the time, don't delay. If the time period is longer it lets the driver procrastinate.

These are good points...keep 'em coming...

Perhaps Winters vary too much for a fair fight. Frozen precip really takes its toll, from experience. Higher rolling resistance in the cold, etc.

So, are shorter periods preferred? Feel free to post polls or request a poll for ideas. So far, I haven't seen enough interest for 2 teams to get it started again...

As far as running the stats, Matt sets up a data download for the requested cars, and I plug them into an Excel spreadsheet. The data dump has made the process SO much easier, but still a buggah to copy the data properly and format it for posting in the thread. Still a ways from "fully automated". Any ideas???

RH77

Excel can use a "url" as a datasource, if you set up a sheet to get its data from the dump via "web address" you can build a formatted report on another sheet and have it automatically updated.

That's a great point -- I forgot about that import function. The problem is that most of my work is done offline. I suppose I could setup the links in the sheet and then "run" them when online.

The next tricky part would be gleaning data from the Gaslog as a function of a web address.

RH77

That tricky part might be figure out able on the gaslog side of things.

I think it can be a good thing to run the challenge in tough conditions - like winter. So what if it's more difficult to get good FE in bad weather. It happens to all of us. Just like maintenance issues, people needing rides, whatever.

When I first signed onto the challenge, I figured it might run year round, good weather and bad. It hits all of us, and by requiring each team to have a member north of Mason-Dixon, it hopefully hits us all more or less equally.

I'm not pushing to run it continuously, year round. I think there's already a concensus that a break was needed. But I'd be OK with Fall, Winter and Spring Challenges if it goes that way.

My two cents.

I installed a drain pan heater for $60. I plug in my car for at least an hour each morning before leaving for work. It seems to have prevented the FE dip characteristic of fall/winter...check out my gaslog. Oh, does anyone know how to overcome the bug which chops off the last several gaslog data points?

I just assumed it ran continuously all year. Working towards good FE is an all year task. The challenge group helps some of us keep the enthusiasm (or try) for that task and challenges us to do better. I'm in whenever it is decided to start back up. My fuel mileage has dropped off considerably, but I'm sure everyone else is fighting with the cold and winterblends too.

Has it officially stopped? Do we need new teams? Who is in and who isn't?...:confused:

Let's just set a date for restart. 12/1/07?...01/01/08? Anyone?

11/5?
11/15?

My numbers are already off by something like 5% and it hasn't even gotten super-cold here yet. Probably a combination of cooler temperatures, Winter gas, and a lot of before-light/after-dark driving.

I guess the Commish has it right: It'll be a contest to see which team gets dinged the least. :p

I'm a total newbie to the challenge but the Leftover Bananas honored me by taking me in, so I'm good to go any time. My schedule and routes will change a lot starting in December, but I have no idea if that will help or hurt... I guess we'll find out!

Rick

A winter FE challenge should motivate us to do some other FE mods, like block heaters and LED running lights.

WHAT??? I Beg to Differ!!! :eek: Look at your percent over EPA numbers...just because you slid back a little on numbers doesn't mean you aren't going to be part of the team -or- leaving the competition! I have become a little relaxed on my driving habits too. I drive ALOT for work and it is hard to keep FE on the front of my thoughts when it is late and I have been driving for hours and just want to get home. It gets even more frustrating when you hit a wall and can't seem to squeak out anymore MPG....then the cold weather...then the winter blend gas...etc etc. YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB...You have been on this site for well over a year and have contributed to many forums and to Team OPEC Busters...Keep up the good work. Will see you at FETC Take II! ;)

You need not improve... but rather who loses the least wins. It would be awesome to see a running average improve in the cold, though.

RH77

That's the spirit! Now, we just need a second team...

Right Lane Rollers, check in!

Or, anyone!

Commish

Depending on the date, I'm game. I still need to get the VX in good shape though... plan on doing that this weekend.

Good deal! We can't start until the Monday after 2 teams are formed, so you should have some time to get it running right. I think XFi is looking for another member for a full team...

RH77

I have a lot of work to do the VX this weekend... hopefully I can get it all done.

Oh yeah... do you want to buy a Fit? lol

Hey, what are we, leftover bananas?

Oh, wait... :p

Seriously though: Since you made the "second team" comment to theclencher, I assume that means Team OPEC Busters is in. I thought our team was already in too, but maybe not. Do you need team captains to say "Aye" or anything?

Rick

According to rules:

Team Captains must wear an eyepatch while posting with any FETC content, and yell "Arrrh!", similar to a Pirate. Failure to do so is an infraction, and may impose penalties upon your team. The 'honor system' is employed...:p

Seriously though, XFi has posted for Opec Busters (needing one more member), no reponse from the RLR's and I haven't kept up with the Bananas... are you guys in?

Matt is forming "Team VX" so they may need a 4-door and/or automatic, and/or someone above the Mason-Dixon line if a partial team is still looking to merge.

To answer your question, TC's are responsible for communicating within the team (morale boosting, etc.) and to coordinate formation of the team and management after things get rolling. If an old team is with several, non-active members, I say to feel free to start your own team if you can get enough people. First, I would check with other teams for vacancies.

Right now, we just need the TCs to say, "We have a full team, ready to go" and list the members...

Commish

Dang, I missed the whole eyepatch thing. I hope OdieTurbo's paying attention. :D

I haven't heard anything to the contrary, and thought we were signed up (which is why I made my last post). But maybe we lost someone and I don't know about it.

Rick

Good to Go?
 

OK. I didn't see that the team was ready -- well good then!

Do we have 3 teams ready to go Monday???

Commish

Right now I'm feeling a bit embarrassed.:o I'm the TC for Team Slow Burn but I don't remember who is on the team. If there is anyone on Slow Burn, respond and let me know. Oh, AHRRRR!:D

We have a full team, ready to go! :D

Presenting Team Opec Busters...

s2man (Captain)
'Porthos', the Cavalier
96 Chevy Cavalier
519

Brock
'Jetta Wagon'
03 VW Jetta Wagon
211

theclencher
'The Lambo'
92 Ford Tempo
204

ajohnmeyer
'Harold'
94 Honda Civic CX
#?

XFi (Secretary)
'Now'
07 Hyundai Accent
772

Monday 11/12/07 Start?

I was on Slow Burn for a while. I'm ready for another round of competition if you still need another member.

Arrrr mateys! The Leftover Bananas never surrender! Tally ho you scurvey dogs, let's get this thing going! ;)

Did we start? Did we set a date? Teams READY? rh77?

Seems like enough interest is here to set a start date and go with it.

I hope we've started. I finally got a couple of mod's done last weekend, and I'm rarin' to go. :-D

Man, challenge this is the biggest lump of confusion ever...
Sorry for the grump attitude but???

I would be interested in joining a team, if my car wasn't so 'un hyper-mileable' :(

If I could offset the miles I will soon be putting onto my electric bike though, then that would be something else :D

Don't think there is a FETC II without the 'Commish'.

Whoa! I missed something. What happened to Commish?