From: "Pete Ansbro", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<<Not as defined in our law - they need to see the flash so you have
to have an open-ended barrel (or cylinder) which is a firearm and needs an
FAC>>
I'm no athlete but I find this contradicted by any recent televised track
event where the athletes are focussed on their own lane ahead - I don't
remember them all looking left to the starter (- except possibly some
long-distance races?).
What's the situation @ swimming galas (do they still call them that?) where
races on TV are started by a sound signal?
Yachting races are often started by cannons or shotguns firing blanks - the
sound signal thus created is to "draw attention" of competitors to a visual
signal and that the latter is the starting signal, though in reality on a
crowded start line, the chance of seeing the committee boat is zero and
everyone goes on the sound. (Why blanks? Well sails cost money and a sail
full of shot holes won't be much good!)
<<I remember
the ad saying he had a patent on the barrel design. Possibly an off set
hole
or something like that.>>
Yes and I remember as a youth attending track races being started by
blank-firing pistol where the muzzle hole was in the side rather than the
end of the barrel
--
The purpose of the flash is not for the competitors, it is for the guy standing
further down the track with a stop watch so that he can start it at the same
time.
Generally you have at least two (or more) people timing races when you get to the
higher level events, this is why the guidance states that authority should
generally only be given to BAF starters as your average school meet doesn't
need that sort of precision.
Some tracks have electronic systems and can completely do away with starters
but most don't, akin to some ranges have electronic target marking but most
don't.
Steve.
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