Race report #175 - Thursday 28th August, 2014 (MGT, RGT)

[gordon]

RACE REPORT #175 - August 28th 2014 (MGT, RGT)

Our popular Mixed GT (MGT) IROC class, now paired with Restricted GT, saw eleven drivers vying for honours. Amongst them were FRC newcomers Gary and Kris who took to the FRC circuit with enthusiasm, beginning their journey to future FRC success.

Ramesh took pole in MGT(A), while seventh qualifier Alex automatically got it in MGT(B). Luke B was quickest in RGT. We ran MGT(B) first and there ensued a battle for top spot between Alex and Arden. Dion and Gary fought for the next two places while Kris adjusted to the challenges of racing against four others on the same two lanes of track. Dion failed to serve a drive-through penalty, causing him to be demoted to last place, losing the third place he had achieved on the track.

In MGT(A) the racing was even more hectic, there being a full grid of six cars, four of which shared the wins. As with MGT(B), strategy in choosing the correct cars played a part in each driver's results. When the points were tallied, one driver had opened up the largest points difference at the front of the field. RGT was dominated by Luke B who won all three races. Both Arden and Steve had car problems, the latter's car never staring a race. Luke's was the only non-Bhola car to challenge near the front by taking a second place in race two.

The results





















Congratulations to the winners.

2014 Overall Class Points Update





Next event's classes: Group B: Historic Saloon - 3 races @ 25 laps, Vintage Sports - 3 races @ 25 laps, Group 5 Sports Cars - 3 races @ 25 laps. As usual, don't forget to see the updated fastest times for the FRC classes to know what the benchmarks are for your cars, the updated class average qualifying times and the updated 2014 Class Points Standings.

See you on the circuit...
Gordon

[RameshB]

Hi guys i noticed not much people commented on last week m gt and r gt , but for me that was a fun night of racing and very competitive also , Steve and i had some close racing in m gt also Luke T and i had some close racing with Arden also in rgt , so i am looking foward to those three very tight classes next wk, its going to be close racing in g5 with Gordon bringing out his new machine and Steve with his well tuned alfa also Luke T on new si tyres it looks like real racing fun see you all on thursday . oh by the way my new yellow alfa might be ready also bye Ramesh

[gordon]

Ramesh, I too am looking forward to next week's racing. I spent some time last evening working on some of my cars and hope to complete them this weekend.

Everyone, let's hear your thoughts on these two things I've been thinking about recently (my brain is always thinking of slot racing ideas when I'm not working or otherwise distracted!).

First, since we're going to be running three classes with three races each (instead of the usual five races each) next week, I thought we could try doing the first two races in each class at 25 laps and the final race at 30 laps, time allowing. No extra points, just a longer final race in each class.

Secondly (and this one has been on my mind for a while), when we look at our VS and G5SC classes, we see that they represent endurance racing in the '60s (VS) and '71-'75 (G5SC). In the real world, as the regulations changed during that period, there was some overlap where cars from the late '60s actually took part in these races in the early '70s (this happened with Ford GTs, Porsches and others). Well, maybe we can allow a driver who has a VS car but not a G5SC car to race it in G5SC, as long as it remains legal for VS with the exception that it complies with the G5SC downforce rule. For example, a Scalextric Ford GT40 that's legal for VS would have a stock Scalextric silver-can 18K motor. If this car were to run in G5SC, it must run the VS-legal 18K motor and cannot run a motor up to the allowable 26K for the class. It must also conform to the 200gm downforce limit. If we allow this, we should see some full G5SC fields.

What do you guys think?

[steveaca]

Great night of racing at FRC as usual. I really enjoyed the Mixed GT and would probably have enjoyed Restricted GT as well if the little electronic gremlins hadn't reared their ugly heads. Congrats to Luke B. on winning MGT and RGT (A) and also to Arden on winning MGT (B).
As regards Gordon's suggestion about allowing Vintage Sports cars to race with the Group 5, I would be okay with it in the form proposed. Would be interesting to see what, if any, the speed differential would be.
Steve

[Luke]

Yes GG and others, racing for me @ FRC is always an enjoyable time ... Even though (across the board) my scoring points isn't so great. The MGT-A race results looks pretty good with all drivers vying for at least 65 to 95 points but the Champion Driver points with 11 drivers in total, paints a totally different picture ...

6 drivers = 5 to 65 pts. which looks fine, then 3 drivers = 80 to 85 pts. it couldn't be any closer but ... 2 drivers = 95 to 120 pts. like a Mercedes F1 front row lock-up

Note how its divided into 3 parts as well, with 15 & 10 point gaps. Example: 65 to 80 & then 85 to 95 points.

This reminds me of what my mother used to tell me, when I used to say in my cricketing/school days - how I was known as the fastest pace bowler in the school. She would say, "Son, remember this - there's always someone a little faster than you from the next school/town."

The question here now - Who will be the next fastest slotcar racer and from which town ..?

BTW, I cant forget to mention what was done in RGT qualifying. Could anyone have believed the times are now sub 4 seconds (when 5.6 used to be the fastest about 12 months ago) and how that fastest lap (Pole) was done in such interesting style ... A One Lap FLYER and back in the pit/garage..!

Mind you'll, I'm not implying anything is wrong with all of this but just find those speeds & points differences are so extraordinary :/

In keeping it strong and moving along - those 2 plans for next the event sounds like its helping to keep racing interesting.

Here's my thoughts/questions for the 2 proposed plans & to help mix it up a bit again.

A. How about 20 - 25 & 30 lap races or vice versa ... surely time will be permitting but a bit more intense.

B. Have a question for each of the 1 2 3 requirements - if a VS car were to run in G5SC race.

Requirements:
Scalextric Ford GT40 / VINTAGE SPORTS - legal 18K motor.
Cannot run a motor up to the allowable 26K for the class.
It must also conform to the 200gm downforce limit.

Questions:
Isnt there (stock) 21K rpm motors in the VS class too?
The RPM Restriction ... wouldn't this sound strange to understand for new persons?
What sort of downforce the VS cars carry?

Yet, I still understand perfectly the story with the 60s and 70s overlap racing history.

Luke

[gordon]

A. How about 20 - 25 & 30 lap races or vice versa ... surely time will be permitting but a bit more intense.

Luke I have no problem with the 20, 25, 30 laps, however the reason I proposed the lap increase for the last race is because that's the final race for the class and often when there are "heats" prior to a final, the final is run over a larger number of laps. Of course the first two races aren't actually heats, they're regular races.

Questions:
Isnt there (stock) 21K rpm motors in the VS class too?

Yes... the motor rule says "Standard for the particular model." So, depending on the model, the RPM may differ. In the example of the Scalextric GT40, the legal motor is a standard Scalextric 18K. However, a Slot.It Ford GT has to run the Slot.It 21.5K motor if it goes up to G5SC.

The RPM Restriction ... wouldn't this sound strange to understand for new persons?

Its one class specification being allowed to run in a different class (but must comply to the downforce requirement of that other class). I don't think that's hard to understand.

What sort of downforce the VS cars carry?

The VS magnet rule says "Standard for the particular model. In the case of MRRC "Sebring" chassis cars, up to two standard magnets in the standard magnet locations may be used." This means that the downforce varies depending on chassis, magnet set-up and the strength of the magnets themselves. Tests on my cars show some under 200Gm and some over by significant amounts.

[Luke]

How thoroughgoing of you GG ...

You have made this so clear now - that anyone can just register/enter their VS car to race in the G5SC class.

Providing you meet 1 adjustment (if needed) with your car - the magnet down (200gm) force requirement.

I am also G2G for this event ~ the three (25-25-30 laps) races in each class.

The only thing though - you have to be careful when looking at the lap times (6.439 - 5.593 & 5.637) you don't go and make this event (HS - VS & G5SC) just like the MGT class

Luke

[RameshB]

Hi guys it all sounds good and workable to me , it will be interesting to see a slot it gt 40 with 200 g m down force perform with those alfas , i am thrilled with these changes , sounds like more fun, it looks like i would have to get about 9 cars ready ,lots to do since Luke is racing karts tomorrow . bye Ramesh