Fairways Racing Complex Forum

FRC CLASS RULES 2020 SIMPLIFIED

Note re: magnets: I have removed all references to checking downforce in the rules below. In other words, magnets can be free for all magnet classes except Slot.It Challenge and there will be no downforce checking (USD rule). Other than Slot.It Challenge, which I reluctantly accept, I see no point in having a magnet spec if downforce will not be checked. Actual minimum weights for classes that previously had none will have to be agreed upon. Effective performance-related changes from the current 2020 rules are highlighted in blue.

Ground clearance will be checked as per our 2019 rules - upside down on a plastic block.

Kitbash (KB)
For road-going cars from 1950 onwards that are not production slot cars.

Period: 1950 onwards.
Body: Covered-wheel cars only.
Chassis: Any chassis as long as it was not designed for the particular body.
Interior: At least a full shelf with driver head, arms, steering-wheel and roll bar/cage. Ultra-light/one-piece plastic interiors are not allowed.
Motor: FC-130: H&R Racing HRMJR1 14,000 RPM Jack Rabit Motor. FF-050: M/T-SL1 Motor - Slim Can - 14,700 RPM.
Magnets: No traction magnets allowed.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under motor.
Outer Track Limit (left to right tyre edges): 64 mm.
Minimum Weight: ??


Slot.It Challenge (SC)
For Slot.It brand Group C cars only.

Period: 1982-1993.
Body: Standard.
Chassis: Standard.
Interior: Standard.
Digital Chip: Slot.It.
Motor: Standard Slot.It orange-endbell 21,500 RPM motor.
Gearing: Slot.It axle gear. Any pinion.
Motor Pod: Inline Slot.It.
Magnets: A single Slot.It "non-race" magnet (the one with the grooves). Must be positioned in one of the standard locations on the Slot.It motor pod.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: Slot.It.
Axles: Solid steel.
Tyres: Slot.It.
Minimum Weight: ??

Helpful link: Setting up an FRC Slot.It Challenge car


BTCC
For the following Scalextric slot models of BTCC cars (from 2014 onwards):

MG6 GT AMD BTCC
Honda Civic Type R BTCC
BMW 125i BTCC
VW Passat BTCC

In the interest of having individual liveries, prospective entrants must register the model and livery they are interested in with FRC. These registrations will be posted on the FRC forum. Registrations will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a car has been registered, no one else may register that model and livery and the registrant must produce the car within six weeks of registering. If the registrant fails to produce the car within this time, it will be removed from the registry and available for registration again. The original registrant may not re-register that model and livery for another six weeks.

See car reservations and reserve your car here:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1525

Period: 2014 onwards.
Body: Original.
Chassis: Original, but edges may be sanded for float (max gap 1.0mm).
Interior: Original. May be modified as long as alterations are not visible through the windows. Interior tray bearing retainers may be removed.
Digital Chip: Scalextric C8515 DPR chip and hatch.
Motor: Any FC-130 motor up to 18,000 RPM.
Gearing: Standard axle gear. Pinion may be changed.
Magnets: Magnet(s) must be in standard location. Stacking allowed.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: Standard.
Axles: Standard.
Tyres: Front: Free, but no less than 18mm on wheel. Rear: Free, but no less than 19mm on wheel; max tread width: 10mm (excluding sidewall).
Minimum Weight: BMW and Honda: 80gm. MG and VW: 85gm.


Formula 1 (F1)
For F1 cars that meet the following requirements:

Period: 2000 onwards.
Body: F1 or F1-type body.
Max Width: 63mm (left tyre edge to right tyre edge).
Interior: At least shelf and driver head required.
Motor: Any motor up to 18,000 RPM.
Magnets: Magnets must be positioned at least 5mm ahead of rear axle.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: 14mm max diameter without tyres, excluding centre ridge.
Tyres: Front: Free but must be no less than 18mm diameter. Rear: Free but must be F1 size (no less than 18mm diameter and no less than 11mm wide).
Minimum Weight: ??


Rally Car (RC)
For slot models of rally cars.

Body: Must be modelled after a rally car.
Interior: Free but if visible must have both driver and navigator figures (heads minimum).
Motor: Up to 21,500 RPM. "Magnet-effect" motors are not allowed.
Magnets: No magnets allowed.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under motor.
Minimum Weight: ??

Helpful link: No-Magnet Racing Tips


Historic Saloon (HS)
For 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.

Period: 1960-1979.
Body: Windows may not be tinted. Maximum body width of 60 mm.
Chassis: Original, but may be modified provided guide flag position and axle positions remain unaltered. No angle-winder configurations.
Interior: Full interior for the particular model. May be altered if necessary to install digital chip and/or to clear motor.
Motor: Up to 18,000 RPM.
Magnets: All magnets must be positioned ahead of centreline of the distance between guide flag pivot point and rear axle (see diagram below).
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: Standard or may be substituted, but must be as close as possible to standard diameter (excluding ridge).
Minimum Weight: ??


Vintage Sports '60-'75
This class includes both the GT and Prototype cars that competed during the period 1960 to 1975 and is divided into two sub-groups as indicated below.

Vintage Sports GT '60-'75 (VSG6075)
For slot models of racing GT cars from 1960 to 1975.

Period: 1960-1975.
Body: Windows may not be tinted.
Chassis: Free, however no angle-winder configurations.
Interior: May be modified to allow fitting of electronic components/motor. May be substituted by at least a full shelf with driver head, arms, steering-wheel and roll bar/cage. Ultra-light/one-piece plastic interiors are not allowed.
Motor: Up to 18,000 RPM.
Magnets: Magnets must be positioned at least 40mm ahead of rear axle.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: Standard or may be substituted, but must be as close as possible to standard diameter (excluding ridge).
Minimum Weight: 90gm.

Vintage Sports Prototype '60-'75 (VSP6075)
For slot models of racing prototype cars from 1960 to 1975.

Period: 1960-1975.
Body: Windows may not be tinted.
Chassis: Free, however no angle-winder configurations.
Interior: May be modified to allow fitting of electronic components/motor. May be substituted by at least a full shelf with driver head, arms, steering-wheel and roll bar/cage. Ultra-light/one-piece plastic interiors are not allowed.
Motor: Up to 22,500 RPM.
Magnets: Magnets must be positioned at least 40mm ahead of rear axle.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: Standard or may be substituted, but must be as close as possible to standard diameter (excluding ridge).
Minimum Weight: 77gm.


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

Period: 1966-1972.
Body: External fender modifications not allowed. Wheels and tyres must not be visible when viewing body from above. Windows may not be tinted.
Chassis: Original, but may be modified provided guide flag position and axle positions remain unaltered. No angle-winder configurations.
Interior: Full interior for the particular model. May be altered if necessary to install digital chip and/or to clear motor.
Motor: Up to 21,500 RPM.
Motor Pod (where applicable): Standard for the particular model.
Magnets: 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).
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Wheels: Either 12mm or 13mm in diameter (excluding the ridge).
Tyres: Front: Free but must be no less than 17mm on wheel. Rear: Free but must be no less than 19mm on wheel. Rear tyre maximum tread width: 8mm (excluding sidewall).
Minimum Weight: ??

Helpful link: Preparing a car for FRC's American Pony Car class


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

Body: Windows may be tinted.
Motor: Up to 20,000 RPM and torque must be under 200 gm/cm.
Magnets: All magnets must be positioned at least 5mm ahead of rear axle.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Minimum Weight: ??

Eligible cars:
To qualify, body must be based on a non-GT car that is constructed principally for retail sale to consumers for their personal use and to transport people on public roads (no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible), but may be modified by the addition of fender flares/extensions, wings and spoilers. Examples of non-eligible GT cars are Porsche 911/997, any Ferrari or Lamborghini and most cars with "GT" in their names. If in doubt about a particular car's eligibility, please email Gordon at quicklapper@gmail.com.


Restricted GT (RGT)
For slot models of two-door cars which compete in GT racing.

Period: 1976 onwards.
Body: Windows may be tinted.
Motor: Up to 23,500 RPM.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Minimum Weight: ??


Restricted LMP (RLMP)
For slot models of prototype (non-production) cars from 1976 onwards which compete in LMP racing.

Period: 1976 onwards.
Body: Windows may be tinted.
Motor: Up to 26,000 RPM.
Ground Clearance: 1.0 mm minimum under magnet.
Minimum Weight: ??

The items in red are Ramesh's suggested four principles upon which classes should be based. As you can see, I have removed his suggestion for a magnet spec. The only logical magnet spec would have to be based on magnet strength since two otherwise identical magnets often have different strengths. We will have to decide on the minimum weights for the classes that currently have no such requirement. Also, I propose that for Slot.It Challenge we open the cars during tech inspection to confirm that there is no magnet stacking taking place.

As Steve asked in my racing questionnaire post, will simplifying the rules encourage more participation? Maybe, if those who have held off did so because the rules were too complex. Then again, maybe not.

For ease of interpretation, can the areas which differ from the current rules be highlighted in a different colour ?

Steve, I've reduced the wording in almost all areas, so this is why I didn't highlight anything. What I'll do is highlight just the actual effective changes from how the rules currently stand. Give me a little while.

Performance-related changes have been highlighted in blue.

Another point inferred by Ramesh is that with the four principles he proposed, any chassis may be used. The above proposed rules do not take this into account, but it's another consideration.

Do you all think that doing away with the USD rule will make things better competition wise???
I for one do not think so and as far as attracting/bringing back some guys, I do not doubt that complicated rules are a deterrent but a bigger deterrent is just not being able to compete!!! That is why the stock or near stock classes are better attended and are definitely more fun! The only way to do away with USD is to build a wooden track. My $.02

Gordon,

For all one knows, these grand reg adjustments is a shot that’s worth trying.

Plus, taking into consideration it’s a format of rules that may be suited for each of the other 1:32 racing clubs ~ be it Digital or Analog circuits.

Also, could probably now be user friendly rules for all slot-car persons to race at FRC.

After all, being user friendly is one of the main reasons for having an enjoyable (racing) time.

That said - I think you (& Ramesh) are just going about/trying simple solutions.

Something I know was always a style of yours

Luke

Without going into discussion about any other proposed changes, I would like to address just one, the Upside Down Rule (USD). Without this, or some version of it, there would effectively be no limit on magnetic downforce and we would be back to the days of full magnet racing. This is a prospect which I do not at all relish.