Rally class regulation decision poll

[gordon]

Guys,

Our next event includes our Rally class. As we all know, the intention of this class is for cars to run without magnets. We are not unique in having a no-magnet class. One of the largest slot car rally organisations, Slot Rally GB, also races without magnets. They have evolved their rules to ensure that the intent of non-magnet racing is enforced, so their rules are a good reference for us. Here are the relevant sections:

• 6.3.2 - A full list of banned ‘after market’ motors in included in Appendix A – A1.5.4
• 6.7.1 - Neo Mag Motors (high magnetic effect motors) are banned from all classes.
• A1.5.4 - The following motors are banned from competition use
  Any Neo Mag motor with high magnet effect. For practical test – any car/motor found to stick (i.e. not allow it to roll/move) the car to a standard section of SCX, Scalextric Classic or Ninco track when the track is elevated to 45 degrees will be deemed to have failed and not be eligible for use.
  (Red highlight is from the Slot Rally rules and is not my emphasis.)

I want to stress again: The intent of the FRC Rally class is to race non-magnet cars. The 45º test is a very simple method to check cars and can be done by any competitor at his own home. I recommend that we limit the test to Scalextric Sport track for consistency since this is the track we race on. The test should be carried out on track that is reinforced so that it does not flex up towards the car. To be legal, cars must slide down the elevated track, whether or not their wheels turn.

Now, please vote in the poll which direction we should take, starting from our next rally event.

[Luke]

GG - See how hindsight has it now where we could have banned all ‘after market’ motors with high magnetic effect, back when the RC class first started... Or better yet, maybe we should/could have used a single brand type "21K RPM" motor

[arden100]

Gordon,

I agree with Luke. You should state which motors are acceptable. I believe if you say non magnetic racing all motors that says "high downforce, magnetic effect" any motor of these types MUST be banned. That is non magnetic racing any one using a magnetic type motor is trying to gain an unfair advantage!

Arden

[Luke]

GG - Looking like its a "landslide" victory with all persons choosing the first option

Also, I see Arden agreed with me but I think (mean no offense) he's kind of on a different "racing line" here because I am referring to - when the RC class first originated and you allowed me to use the MB Slot "magnetic effect" motor & I knew at that time it was just for the convenience... Little did you or any other realized (back then) it was going to open the "floodgates" for extra downforce for/or trying to gain a so called unfair advantage.

Now that we have all have gained all this knowledge setting up non-magnetic effect slotcars, this is why I am suggesting now we should/could have used a single brand type "21K RPM" motor in what ever chassis used.

Just clearing the air here on this bright Sunday morning & just in time to go look at the Abu Dhabi F1 GP

Luke

[gordon]

Well I spent part of yesterday setting up a simple 45º test mount. Here are some pics:













Its just a matter of placing the reinforced track section on the mount and we have a 45º slope. As you see, even with the wooden reinforcements on the track section to prevent the plastic from flexing up towards the magnet, my G5SC 184 gm (low) downforce Alfa 33/3 sticks to the track. This will allow us to check each car very quickly before or after each stage run.

Gordon

[gordon]

Luke and Arden,

I just saw your comments after posting the pics above. We can stipulate which motors can or cannot be used, however we have to remember that some cars have FC-130 motors and other have other types, for example my Alpine has an FK-180. For the time being, I suggest we follow Slot Rally GB's "practical test" of using the 45º test to determine eligibility.

Gordon

[arden100]

Gordon,

I agree with the 45 degree test, however if you don't decide on which motors you will end up with the same problem eventually.
You will reach to the point of how fast the car takes to slide down. I have motors with magnetic effect and doing the 45 degree test it slides down slowly. Then you will have to review the rules again. It will take less time to choose the motors than build the jig for testing. Amend your rules to no magnet motors and spend the time tuning.

As in your rules if the car slides down and directly after running the car does not slide down what will be the solution?

Arden

[steveaca]

I do not agree with stipulating the type of motor being run. There are so many rally cars out there with different brands (Scalextric, MSC, SCX, Ninco, NSR, Avant Slot to name a few) using different types of motor that to now state the type of motor(s) which will be acceptable may narrow the field down too much. I feel that the existing rpm limit is a good enough limit on the motor . I think that the 45 deg. rule also takes into consideration the benefit of any 'mag-effect' motors as the effectiveness of these will be cancelled (or at least minimized) if the cars have sufficient ground clearance. What therefore needs to be established is what the minimum ground clearance should be.

[arden100]

Steve,

I agree with the fact of the no of rally cars availiable. That is not the issue.

In racing you need to have specific rules and not ambigious. Just as i did with the DODO motor the rules where not precise. In your post you used the word "minimise" I can explore that word and the rules would change every event. The point is not to minimise but to be exact.
You spoke about ground clearance. The point is non magnet racing. I thought this was what it is all about. Am I the only one trying to go non magnet?
If club abroad banned magnetic effect motors what is this issue about. We dont allow the motors!
Do you need to have that magnet effect? There are lots and lots of motors without magnetic effect. I can sell you some if you need them.

Did Vettel break any rules?

Arden

[steveaca]

Arden,
I don't think that there could be any more a proponent of non-magnet racing than myself. You can check back many of my posts suggesting a non-mag class (or at least specialty races) at FRC, to little support. I feel however, that the rules are clear in the rally class: no magnets. This by itself shows the intent of the class. The 45 deg. rule ensures that even if no traction magnets are fitted, the magnetic effect of the heavily magnetized motors would be eliminated (or, I still say, minimized). I would agree to that certain motors should, in principle, be banned, namely anything that its manufacturers call 'high magnetic effect' or of a similar description. I would rather go the route of saying what cannot be used however, rather than what motors can be used. The problem however, lies with some motors which may not be described a 'high mag' or 'high downforce' or anything suggesting that they have stronger than usual magnets. The 45 deg. rule ensures that even if a car is fitted with such a motor, it will have to pass the test before being allowed to race. If it does not pass the test, it will still be able to race once the relevant adjustments are made.