Fairways Racing Complex Forum

Guys,

For quite some time now I've been thinking of what changes to our class regulations I would like to see from 2017. To this end I've been doing research, noting down thoughts and passing ideas by fellow FRC racers. At some point after I first came up with many of these, I thought about the American Pony Car class and strangely enough, that's the first one I published on the forum. Well, here are the rest of my ideas for everyone's consideration and for upcoming discussion. Please think about each proposal and read my explanation for it. Once you've done so, you can post your comments below.

Gordon


Proposed class changes for 2017 (with explanations)

Proposed changes are shown in blue. Explanations below each change in green.

General:

Upside-down Rule ("USD rule") Definition:

Where a class stipulates the USD rule, the car must not be able to magnetically adhere to a standard Scalextric Sport track piece in an upside-down position. Magnet stacking is allowed. Any weight added to the car must be positioned within 2.5" and ahead of the rear axle.

Explanation: To reduce the potential leverage effect of weight added to cars in the proposed new American Pony Car class and the proposed amendments to the Historic Saloon class.

Scratch-Built (home-built) cars:

Scratch-built cars are only eligible to compete in Restricted GT, Modified Production, Rally, GT and LMP classes (American Muscle has been removed).

Explanation: The American Muscle class will be replaced by American Pony Car where scratch- built cars are ineligible.


Stock Classes:

Slot.It Challenge and Formula 1 are the only remaining classes classified as "stock".

Slot.It Challenge

Eligible cars:

Previously allowed non-Group C cars are no longer eligible. Specifically, the Nissan R390 GT1 and McLaren F1 GTR will no longer be permitted. These cars are legal for FRC's GT and Restricted GT classes.

Explanation: Like the modern Mini in Historic Saloon, these cars were allowed to race in Slot.It Challenge for quite some time despite not being Group C cars, so like the Modern Mini, their eligibility has now been withdrawn.

Restricted-Modification Classes:

Historic Saloon
For (the words "basically-unmodified" have been removed) slot models of cars based on production saloon/sedan and road going sports cars from the 1960s and 1970s, but excluding cars eligible for the American Pony Car class - see Eligible Cars below.

Explanation: Based on the changes below these cars cannot continue to be classified as unmodified and therefore this class is now a restricted-modification class. American Pony Car cars are excluded since they now have their own class.

• Chassis: Original for the particular model, but may be modified provided guide flag position and axle positions remain unaltered. Cars with angle-winder chassis or angle-winder pods are prohibited.

Explanation: The magnet rule below may require chassis modifications on some cars.

• Minimum Ground Clearance: No longer applicable.

Explanation: Ground clearance is no longer pertinent because of the magnet rule below.

• Digital Chip: Free.

Explanation: To allow the chip best suited to the particular design of the car.

• Motor: Any non-high-downforce motor not exceeding 18,000 RPM, based on manufacturer's specifications.

Explanation: To keep the speeds of these historic cars at a reasonable level whilst allowing a range of motor options from different motor manufacturers. High-downforce motors are excluded to allow the magnet location rule to work as intended.

• Magnets: USD rule. All magnets must be positioned ahead of centreline of the distance between guide flag pivot point and rear axle (see diagram below).

Explanation: To reduce the cornering speeds and make these historic cars more realistic relative to our modern car classes. This should also allow these cars to slide more realistically for their period rather than driving around on rails. This change will also allow for more cars to be equally matched than before.

• Guide Flag: Free.

Explanation: To allow the guide flag best suited to the particular design of the car.




Vintage Sports '60-'75

• Chassis: May be substituted by a chassis which uses a Slot.It motor pod that is designed specifically for that model. Substituted chassis that are adjustable are not allowed.

Explanation: With the growing availability of 3D printed chassis and Slot.It chassis designed for PCR Scalextric cars, this will allow a wide range of car bodies from other manufacturers to compete on an even playing field with Slot.It and NSR models like the Ford GT40 and others. They will still be restricted to all the other regulations required by the class.

• Minimum Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm / 0.040".

Explanation: I would like to slow these cars down a bit and this is the only thing I can currently think of doing to help achieve this without radically changing the class rules. Other suggestions for slowing them down are welcome.

• Motor Pod (where applicable): Inline or sidewinder only.

Explanation: With the allowance of non-standard chassis that require Slot.It motor pods, "Standard for the particular chassis" can no longer apply.

• Magnets: USD rule. Magnets must be positioned in one of the standard magnet locations for the particular model (in the case of standard chassis) or motor pod (in the case of substituted chassis).

Explanation: To accommodate cars with substituted chassis that utilize Slot.It motor pods.

• Wheels: Standard size for the particular model but may be substituted by aluminum or plastic wheels. Wheel inserts that match or are close to original wheel design are required.

Explanation: All cars in this class must have wheel designs that are the same as or similar to the original.

• Axles: May be substituted but must be solid steel.

Explanation: To simplify installation in non-standard chassis.


American Pony Car (APC)
For slot models of American "Pony Cars” that took place in the Trans-Am series between 1966 and 1972 - see Eligible Cars below.

• Body: Must be modeled after American "Pony Cars” that took place in the Trans-Am series 1966-1972 (see eligible cars below). Fender modifications not allowed.
• Wheels and tyres must not be visible when viewing body from above. Must comply with General item 2. Windows may not be tinted - interior must be visible.
• Chassis: Original for the particular model, but may be modified provided guide flag position and axle positions remain unaltered.
• Interior: Full interior as standard for the particular model, however this may be altered if necessary, but only to the extent required to install digital chip. Must comply with General item 3.
• Digital Chip: Free.
• Motor: Any non-high-downforce motor not exceeding 21,500 RPM, based on manufacturer's specifications.
• Gearing: Standard axle gear for the particular model. Pinion gear may be changed.
• Motor Pod (where applicable): Standard for the particular model.
• Magnets: USD rule. All magnets must be positioned ahead of centreline of the distance between guide flag pivot point and rear axle (see diagram under Historic Saloon above).
• Wheels: Standard for the particular model.
• Axles: Standard for the particular model.
• Tyres: Type of tyre is free. Front tyre minimum diameter: 17mm on wheel. Rear tyre minimum diameter: 19mm on wheel.
• Guide Flag: Free.

Eligible cars:

Commercially available slot car models of the following Trans Am cars (1966 to 1972 models only):

• Ford Mustang
• Chevorlet Camaro
• AMC Javelin
• Mercury Cougar
• Plymouth Barracuda
• Pontiac Firebird
• Dodge Challenger
• Dodge Dart
• Chevrolet Nova

Explanation: This class replaces American Muscle. Like the proposed changes to Historic Saloon above, the specs keep it more in line with the relative performance of the cars of the Trans Am 1966-1972 period it represents.


Restricted GT

• Minimum Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm / 0.040".

Explanation: I would like to slow these cars down a bit and this is the only thing I can currently think of doing to help achieve this without radically changing the class rules. Other suggestions for slowing them down are welcome.


Modified Production
For slot models of cars based on non-GT production cars, but excluding cars eligible for the American Pony Car class.

Explanation: American Pony Car cars are excluded since they now have their own class.

• Minimum Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm / 0.040".

Explanation: I would like to slow these cars down a bit and this is the only thing I can currently think of doing to help achieve this without radically changing the class rules. Other suggestions for slowing them down are welcome.

Proposed changes look good.
If these changes make the cars as much fun to drive as the American Pony Cars (as tested last night by Gordon, O'Brie, Ramesh and myself) then we'll be in for some good times !

Made a change to the motor specs in HS and APC to prevent use of high-downforce motors.

It's a very well worded motor restriction Gordon, this will squash any major advantage. You are doing a good job looking over all details, tidying up any loose ends ...

In view of the very fast lap times being put down by our Vintage Sports '60-'75 cars of late, I'd like to suggest that in addition to having a minimum ground clearance, we restrict motors to 22,500 RPM (1,000 less than is currently allowed). I'd also like to see the ground clearance minimum set to 0.60" (1.5 mm) for this class.

Hi Gordon,
while I agree with the objective of slowing the VS cars down, I think that we already made sweeping changes to this class for this year and guys may have optimized the spec. of their cars based on these regs. A change in motor spec. now might mean that some cars need to be re-motored at significant cost. This proposed change in spec. will not affect some cars (those already fitted with motors under the current limit, eg. my Alfa 33/3) but some cars may be fitted with higher revving motors. I think this change would be fine if owners of cars so motored are willing to accept the change.
Steve

Hi guys i do agree with the changes suggested , just because we will like to see the classes seperate as much as possible , so by lowering the motor rpm and increasing the ride height it should slow down the cars a bit . I like the way we can suggest and come up with regs that are workable so we are on our way to some fine dev. for 2017.