RE: Judging 8 sided loop
I'd say an eight sided loop regardless if it has a flat side on the bottom or if it sarts with a vertex on the center bottom starts with a declared straight line before and ends after a straight line after. I'd say a straight line around two or three seconds before and after. in theory you just need to declare a straight line after the maneuver in order to start the following, and it has to be long enough to fit the box as well as not showing too much of a hurry... one has to leave the maneuver, fly evidently straight and then you can follow for the next one.
my two cents...
Marcelo