The future of our F1 class

[Luke]

Gordon,

Thanks for such a broad explanation - to a point I believe worth mentioning ..!

Luke

[gordon]

Guys, as I've started to set up my new F1 prototype using the SVQ-Slot Fórmula 1 chassis, I've been giving this F1 class more thought and am now suggesting the following rules for the class:

• Period: 2000 onwards.
• Body: F1 or F1-type body (must be painted - no unpainted bodies allowed. We want this class to have cars that look like real F1 cars). Front spoiler and rear wing must be attached at all times. Wing attachments can be reinforced (no tape is allowed on the top surface of the wing).
• Car Max Width: 63mm (left tyre edge to right tyre edge).
• Chassis: Free
• Interior: At least shelf and driver head required. Must comply with General item 3.
• Digital Chip: Free.
• Motor: Any motor up to 21,500 RPM.
• Gearing: Free.
• Motor Pod: Free (if applicable).
• Magnets: USD rule. Magnets must be positioned at least 5.5mm ahead of rear axle (rear magnet position of inline Slot.It pod).
• Wheels: Max diameter of 15mm without tyres, excluding centre ridge. Wheels must include spokes or spoke inserts must be installed.
• Axles: Free.
• 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).
• Guide Flag: Free.

My thinking is that this will allow existing F1 cars to race and drivers can therefore continue to race while they acquire the parts to build their "ultimate" F1 car. It will also allow a range of different approaches and parts so that the class won't be like an IROC class.

[steveaca]

Interesting Gordon. I'll have a closer look and let you know soon. I do like the idea of leaving the door open to existing cars (even in modified form) as I feel setting up one of these composite-chassis cars could be quite costly.

[steveaca]

Hi Gordon,
re wheel size, my feeling is that maximum rim diameter should be reduced slightly. If we take a standard Slot.it 15.8 x 8 rim, the 15.8 mm measurement is at the centre rib. The actual rim diameter (excluding centre rib) of these rims is approximately 13.5 mm. At 1/32 scale, this 13.5 mm translates to just about 17". 1:1 F1 cars use 13" rims which means that the standard Slot.it rim is already too large, diameter wise. In the interest of ease of sourcing parts however, I think that they could be allowed but to make the options a little wider, I would suggest even allowing up to 14 mm but not as much as 15 mm.
Steve

[gordon]

Steve, in my original suggested rules, I stated the specific wheels we should use:

Front: Slot.It short hub aluminium wheels PA33-Als or Slot.It short hub plastic wheels WH1215-Pl. Rear: Slot.It Short hub aluminium F1 rear wheels PA20-Als.

These are Slot.It's smallest wheels (14.3mm front and 14.4mm rear) and the rears are described by them as F1 wheels. The only reason I suggested 15mm wheels is because I am so far unable to find suitable F1-type front tyres that fit 14mm wheels, however I'd prefer the 14mm size for the class, so I agree with you. I sent off an email to Paul Gage yesterday asking him whether he could recommend F1 front tyres for this size wheel and I'm waiting to hear from him.

[Luke]

Gordon,

Some nice changes and progress with the F1 racing cars but of all the Formula One details mentioned - this is the line that stood out the most for me ...

It will also allow a range of different approaches and parts so that the class won't be like an IROC class.

I get the feeling IROC racing is not such a good thing for you anymore

Not trying to cause any waves here but just thought I could mention because of the IROC racer you know me to be

Luke

[steveaca]

Hi Luke,
I know that you are a great fan and proponent of IROC-type racing. I think that this type of racing however, is only feasible if all the cars have identical components and/or are all prepared by the same person(s). I believe that setting up a car using the composite chassis that Gordon showed us recently would be quite costly and to make this chassis the spec. for the class and also to standardize all other components (ie. make it an IROC-type class of sorts) would put anyone wanting to compete in F1 at significant expense. What Gordon is proposing is to allow these composite-chassis cars but to also allow suitably modified regular F1 cars to race against them, the rules being such that all cars would be theoretically evenly matched.

[gordon]

Luke, I believe Steve explained my intentions quite precisely. I have no issues with IROC racing - there's a place for that at any track. It just happens that I and others enjoy working on our cars to try to get the most out of a set of written rules. Instead of being put off by the rules, they become a challenge to see how fast a car can be built which still conform to those rules. That for me is as much fun as driving the cars - 50% building, 50% driving, a great balance. IROC by its nature does not allow this, and therefore reduces my enjoyment of slot racing by the same 50% over other classes where I have to prepare the car.

[Luke]

Very precise thoughts and don't think you will want it any other way Gordon with a 50/50 balance ...

[gordon]

Got a reply from Paul Gage. Here are the contents of my email to him:

Hi Paul,
First of all, thanks for providing such a large range of tyres, many sizes of which seem to be available nowhere else. I've bought many of your tires over the years, including a recent batch from Slot Car Corner of which was a pair of PGT-22166FF to fit Slot.It PA20-Als F1 wheels. While they did fit the wheels perfectly I found them to be extra-wide and a bit too wide for my needs. I have two questions:

Do you make any F1 tyres that fit Slot.It PA20-Als wheels that are a bit narrower (and maybe about 20mm in diameter)?
I need to also get matching F1 front tyres, preferably to fit Slot.It PA33-Als wheels about 19mm in diameter. Do you make anything like this?

Best regards...
Gordon

Here's his response:

my PGT-21126 fits nicely with full sidewall clearance... 20.2mm OD.... PGT-22126 also fits at 21.2mm OD
on the small fronts PGT-20105 will fit at 19.2mm OD

FYI... the tire number can be used as a measurement if the tire is mounted on a true 15.0mm wheel... the F1 wheels are 14.3 mm's

Paul Gage
1602-90 Garry St.
Winnipeg, MB. R3C4J4
204-299-3795

I've already placed all three sizes he mentioned in a cart.