Gaps or Height?

[Anika57]

My team is going for a low height and one gap. Would you guys say that height or gaps are more important??

[shrewdPanther46]

gap

[vehicleguy]

Gaps are essential for a high score. The height and time score are nothing compared to the amount of gaps, considering each centimeter is 5 points. My coaster has a height of 79 cm and only runs for around 3 seconds. It does though happen to have 53 centimeters in jumps, giving it a total of 295-300 points. This score was able to get 2nd at the Granet Valley inv.

[IvanGe]

Gaps. Go for the highest height, 80 cm and maximize the number of gaps you have. To put into perspective, 1 cm less of height is +1 points. 1 cm more of a gap is +5 points.

[JionPark]

You'll still get points if you reached the maximum height.

[saarangp]

This roller coaster with gaps did really well! Maybe you could draw inspiration from it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVCJG14YrWc

[abayarea]

This roller coaster with gaps did really well! Maybe you could draw inspiration from it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVCJG14YrWc

Is it ok to have the ball bounce ? Is that considered part of the track ? I thought in the rules, it states that bouncing is not counted as a gap and the vehicle has to pass in the air before landing on the other track.

Gaps are defined as an open span without support or guidance that the vehicle must pass to continue its run. Gaps must have a horizontal span of atleast 5.0 cm from the end of the track the vehicle leaves measured to the closest part of the track thevehicle lands on. The vehicle must travel completely unsupported in the air to earn bonus points. Afterlanding the vehicle must travel at least 5 cm on the track in the direction of the jump (e.g., a gap may notend with the vehicle hitting a wall). Up to 5 distinct, clearly labeled Gaps may be included to earn bonuspoints. Bouncing a vehicle off a surface is not allowed to count as part of a gap.

[builder83]

This roller coaster with gaps did really well! Maybe you could draw inspiration from it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVCJG14YrWc

Is it ok to have the ball bounce ? Is that considered part of the track ? I thought in the rules, it states that bouncing is not counted as a gap and the vehicle has to pass in the air before landing on the other track.

Gaps are defined as an open span without support or guidance that the vehicle must pass to continue its run. Gaps must have a horizontal span of atleast 5.0 cm from the end of the track the vehicle leaves measured to the closest part of the track thevehicle lands on. The vehicle must travel completely unsupported in the air to earn bonus points. Afterlanding the vehicle must travel at least 5 cm on the track in the direction of the jump (e.g., a gap may notend with the vehicle hitting a wall). Up to 5 distinct, clearly labeled Gaps may be included to earn bonuspoints. Bouncing a vehicle off a surface is not allowed to count as part of a gap.

This is a poor example to show gaps (Plus it was from a PREVIOUS contest that was trying to maximize vertical drops). You cannot bounce! But yes hopefully get some ideas.

And yes, gaps are how to win. 20 cm in jumps more than covers the 80 points you lose in height. Mine is currently around 55 cm gaps (safe) but adjustable up to 60 if all goes well with the first run. And around 20 seconds. Still mid 300's... don't think I can reach that 405 score!

[Escape]

Gaps, absolutely.

If your coaster is only 20cm tall you get 80 points. And no gaps. But an 80cm tall coaster gets 20 points for height and can pull off a few gaps. Even 20 cm in gaps is 100 point all by itself.