Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 23: The Great Automation Run, Part 1 - An Overview

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 23: The Great Automation Run, Part 1 - An Overview

While the UE4 version of Automation is still being polished, the Kee version remains in use for virtually every challenge that is currently being hosted. Among these is the Great Automation Run, the closest thing there has been so far to a Cannonball Run event on the forums. The premise of the event is as follows: In 1995, a shady organizer hosts a 5600-kilometer road race from Malaga in the south of Spain to the Greek capital, Athens. Whoever wins the race will receive a whopping $5 million - quite a lot back then, and it still is today.

Now, since this is going to be an illegal unsanctioned race, held on a variety of roads, there are many differences between this and a legally sanctioned race on a closed track. First of all, there is a possibility that racers will be pulled over and fined by the local police, which obviously costs them some time and money. Second, in the event of a crash or mechanical breakdown, a contestant will be forced to undertake roadside repairs, which also cost time and money - the more severe the failure, the more costly the repair will be, and as such, cars with fewer production units and less engineering time will be easier to repair. On top of that, any entrants who run out of money will immediately be eliminated from the race. Third, drivability is a crucial factor, since drivers are less likely to make mistakes in cars which are easier to drive. Finally, a balance between fuel economy and outright speed is essential, since each fuel stop takes several minutes - a faster car can theoretically cover more distance than a slower one in the same period of time, while a more economical one will need to stop for fuel less often.

As for the cars, the trim year must be set to 1995, with the model year being any year from 1946 to 1995 (inclusive). There is no upper limit on production units or engineering time; however, as stated previously, the lower these values are, the easier the repair process will be. Moreover, the base price of the modified version of any car submitted for this challenge must not exceed $17000 before markups, and both the base and tuned trims must be included in the export file for submission. Also, no more than 15 quality points could be added to the trim and engine tabs, while exactly one wing and up to two lips could be installed. Finally, while engine and drivetrain swaps are allowed, 95 RON premium unleaded petrol is mandatory.

In keeping with my policy of adding lore to companies which did not have much of it previously, I entered a bright yellow 1995 WMD Guardsman 3.0. The modified trim was no more powerful than the base car, but was lighter thanks to the deletion of its rear seats and the fitment of lightweight front seats, plus a set of forged, rather than cast, alloy wheels. The engine was entirely stock apart from a set of straight-through mufflers. The most obvious changes were found on the exterior, with additional cooling vents up front and a larger wing at the back.

Lighter, louder and lairier - the Guardsman 3.0R is ready to conquer Europe.

At the time this post was published the deadline for submissions has not yet closed; however, the field for this challenge is not only very large, but also encompasses a wide variety of vehicles, from sleek sports cars to massive trucks. So stay tuned while the countdown to the start of the Run continues - once it commences, it will most definitely be a wild and exciting ride.