Any changes for 2016?

[gordon]

Hi Guys,

As we near the end of another great season of slot racing at FRC, its time to start thinking of what changes we can make to ensure that 2016 is an even better year. With this in mind, I'd like each of you to think about what you find good and would like to continue as is, as well as what you don't like as much that you feel can be changed for the better. I'm referring to both the format of our events as well as the current classes and class regulations.

So please lets hear your comments below so we can meet early in January to decide what - if any - changes will improve our slot racing enjoyment.

Gordon

[steveaca]

Hi all,
in terms of car specs., I would suggest as follows:
F1-adopt the 'Upside Down' rule. This should slow the cars down by reducing downforce hence reducing cornering speeds. Racing should be just as competitive
as all cars would be affected to a similar degree.
Restricted GT-free magnet position but maintain 'Upside Down' rule. This would result in a larger number of GT cars being competitive. As it is now, the Scalextric
Porsche 911 GT1, as raced by some, has a much better layout (due to magnet location)than most currently available GT cars. These 911 GT1s are no longer
available.Making magnet position free would enable other cars to adopt similar magnet positioning and hence be more competitive.
Historic Saloon-make this class a non-magnet one. We have only one non-magnet class at FRC (Rally) and cars in this class are run individually. I feel that it would
be interesting to have a non-magnet racing class (as most slot car clubs do) and think that the Historic Saloon class would be the most appropriate for this.
As far as other changes are concerned, one is that I would be happy to race more often than the current twice per month. I think it would be great if, in addition to the two Thursdays per month that we currently race, we could maybe race on one Saturday. My only other suggestion is that maybe we could try out the Track Call system IF it is possible for this to reduce power to the whole track (not cut power) in the event of any car deslotting and restore full power once the car is re-slotted. Marshalls have a difficult job to do and sometimes they may not be able to get to de-slotted cars as quickly as drivers would like them to. If Track Call system could be programmed as I have suggested, it would allow racing to not have to stop for a de-slot but the de-slotted car would not suffer as much as obtains at present.
Steve

[gordon]

As anyone who knows my approach to slot racing would be aware of, my main objectives are always:

1. To have all cars within a class be able to do almost identical lap times when driven by the same driver.
2. That these cars be from virtually any slot car manufacturer so that there can be a range of different models which are legal for the class. For example, I'd like to see a Vintage Sports grid comprising a Scalextric Ferrari P4, an SRC Porsche 907, a Fly Ferrari GTO, a Revell-Monogram Cobra Daytona, a Monogram Lola T70 and a Carrera Cheetah, with all cars capable of doing virtually identical times, as opposed to a grid of six Slot.It Ford GT-40s. If we can develop a formula which would allow virtually any legal car from any manufacturer to be competitive, we'd open the doors to many, many models that are currently excluded by virtue of their slot car hardware/design (Perhaps the USD rule with or without possible variations?).
3. Aim for a range of different fastest lap times between the different classes. While it is not possible for every class to have a different fastest time, I would like to see class times vary as much as possible across classes, from our very fast 4 sec open classes to our slowest 6 sec Historic Saloon class. I don't want every class to be a blur of powered magnets disguised as cars flying around the FRC track.

With these points as my guide, here are my suggestions for possible changes for 2016 (before 2015 refers to classes where the last rule changes were prior to 2015; 2015 refers to classes which had rule changes effective from 2015) :

• Historic Saloon (2015): USD rule; no minimum ground clearance; all magnets ahead of centreline of wheelbase. (Steve, if you can get my magnet-less Cortina to lap at the same speed as your magnet-less Mustang, I'll support your call for going totally magnet-less in this class.)
• Vintage Sports (before 2015): USD rule; no minimum ground clearance; motors up to 21.5K.
• F1 (before 2015): USD rule.
• Alternative F1: See this post.
• Restricted GT (2015): Any chassis (scratch built cars allowed); USD rule; magnets can be located anywhere on chassis.
• Group 5 Sports Cars (before 2015): Any chassis (scratch built cars allowed).

[gordon]

As far as other changes are concerned, one is that I would be happy to race more often than the current twice per month. I think it would be great if, in addition to the two Thursdays per month that we currently race, we could maybe race on one Saturday.

Steve, perhaps Rocky's track will help here.

My only other suggestion is that maybe we could try out the Track Call system IF it is possible for this to reduce power to the whole track (not cut power) in the event of any car deslotting and restore full power once the car is re-slotted. Marshalls have a difficult job to do and sometimes they may not be able to get to de-slotted cars as quickly as drivers would like them to. If Track Call system could be programmed as I have suggested, it would allow racing to not have to stop for a de-slot but the de-slotted car would not suffer as much as obtains at present.

We can look into how this (or something similar) can be accomplished.

[steveaca]

Hi Gordon,
I'm willing to take up the Cortina challenge !
Steve

[gordon]

Hi Gordon,
I'm willing to take up the Cortina challenge !
Steve

You're welcome to collect it any time to try to work your magnet-less magic on it