New Pole Position WR -- Fastest Qualifying Time Ever: 54.79

MikeHartman

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I decided to brush up on my Pole Position skills a few weeks back and today I was able to snag the fastest qualifying lap time ever - 54.79.


This one actually comes with a bit of a twist as Pole Position has counting anomalies whereby the clock counts the hundredths incorrectly. The previous world record for a qualifying lap was set by @Nondrowsy with a 54.70. You would expect 54.70 to be faster than 54.79, but 54.79 is actually one tick faster in Atari math. Pole Position counts as follows (verified in Mame and with a slowmo video on the actual machine):

1747271697535.png

I doubt that Twin Galaxies will be able to process it as a new World Record because their system won't know what to do with it, but, for the moment, I've got the fastest quali ever. Knowing Dan, though, he'll come back and beat it -- he always does!
 
This one actually comes with a bit of a twist as Pole Position has counting anomalies whereby the clock counts the hundredths incorrectly. The previous world record for a qualifying lap was set by @Nondrowsy with a 54.70. You would expect 54.70 to be faster than 54.79, but 54.79 is actually one tick faster in Atari math. Pole Position counts as follows (verified in Mame and with a slowmo video on the actual machine):

View attachment 819500
That's hilarious! All the ones digits are increasing correctly, but then they just went back and updated the tens digit to match the row number, not even realizing it would change the numerical ordering.

It also means the high score board is displaying speed scores in the wrong order.

Surprised I haven't seen a patch for this yet.
 
That's hilarious! All the ones digits are increasing correctly, but then they just went back and updated the tens digit to match the row number, not even realizing it would change the numerical ordering.

It also means the high score board is displaying speed scores in the wrong order.

Surprised I haven't seen a patch for this yet.
Agreed - interesting programming. After 43 years, I wouldn't hold your breath on a patch!
 
Nice job! Send it with the objective evidence. All they can do is say yes….or no.
 
Love it! If you submit I'll chime in and help get it through on TG, although they might have to change their code for it lol. Either way you've got the Q lap record in my book!.. for now.. :) Saw a little 66,960 up at the top...! 1 more car! You should get 40/30 anytime. I'll give it another go this summer but .79 is a beast time! Congrats!
 
Love it! If you submit I'll chime in and help get it through on TG, although they might have to change their code for it lol. Either way you've got the Q lap record in my book!.. for now.. :) Saw a little 66,960 up at the top...! 1 more car! You should get 40/30 anytime. I'll give it another go this summer but .79 is a beast time! Congrats!
Thanks Dan. I appreciate it. I didn't think your 54.70 was beatable. Crazy how little room there is at these times.

Yeah, I snagged the 30 with 39 cars the other day, but figured that I'd wait for the 67,010 to submit. I'm close. Crazy thing is that I got a 29 with 40, but not 30 with 40 yet.

I figured that this one would give you a fun springtime project. ;)
 
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