Some thoughts on our Vintage Sports '60-'75 class for 2018

[gordon]

We currently include both our Prototype and GT cars into the VS6075 class. Because both categories are running with the same regulations, sometimes a Prototype car wins and other times a GT car wins. In the real world this almost never occurs because these are really two classes running simultaneously, with the Prototypes running to higher-performance specs. Here are the winning Le Mans class results for the period covered by our class:



As you'll notice, a GT car has never won Le Mans during this period, the highest place being 2nd overall on two occasions.

Being a stickler for having our racing as realistic as possible, I have some regulation change proposals for 2018 to differentiate the performance of the two sub-classes and therefore make the them more realistic. Here are my thoughts (non-performance changes shown in green; performance-related changes shown in blue):

Vintage Sports Prototype '60-'75 (VSP6075)
For slightly modified slot models of racing prototype cars from 1960 to 1975 - see Eligible Cars below.

• Period: 1960-1975.
• Body: See Eligible Cars below. Body must comply with General item 2. Windows may not be tinted - interior must be visible.
• Chassis: Free, however angle-winder chassis or angle-winder pods are prohibited.
• Interior: May be modified to allow fitting of electronic components. It can be substituted by at least a full shelf with driver head, arms, steering-wheel and roll bar/cage. These items must be painted to appear like the original. Ultra-light/one-piece plastic interiors are not allowed. Must comply with General item 3.
• Digital Chip: Free.
• Motor: 22,500 RPM or lower, based on manufacturer's specifications.
• Gearing: Motor and axle gears may be changed.
• Motor Pod (where applicable): Angle-winder pods are prohibited.
• Magnets: USD rule. Magnets must be positioned at least 40mm ahead of rear axle. (This corresponds to the front magnet location on Slot.It motor pods.)
• Wheels: As close as possible to standard diameter for the particular model but may be substituted. Wheel inserts that match or are close to original wheel design are required.
• Axles: Free.
• Tyres: Free.
• Guide Flag: Free.
• Minimum Weight: 77gm.

Vintage Sports GT '60-'75 (VSG6075)
For slightly modified slot models of racing GT cars from 1960 to 1975 - see Eligible Cars below.

• Period: 1960-1975.
• Body: See Eligible Cars below. Body must comply with General item 2. Windows may not be tinted - interior must be visible.
• Chassis: Free, however angle-winder chassis or angle-winder pods are prohibited.
• Interior: May be modified to allow fitting of electronic components. It can be substituted by at least a full shelf with driver head, arms, steering-wheel and roll bar/cage. These items must be painted to appear like the original. Ultra-light/one-piece plastic interiors are not allowed. Must comply with General item 3.
• Digital Chip: Free.
• Motor: 18,000 RPM or lower, based on manufacturer's specifications.
• Gearing: Motor and axle gears may be changed.
• Motor Pod (where applicable): Angle-winder pods are prohibited.
• Magnets: USD rule. Magnets must be positioned at least 40mm ahead of rear axle. (This corresponds to the front magnet location on Slot.It motor pods.)
  Wheels: As close as possible to standard diameter for the particular model but may be substituted. Wheel inserts that match or are close to original wheel design are required.
• Axles: Free.
• Tyres: Free.
• Guide Flag: Free.
• Minimum Weight: 90gm.

As you see, there are no performance-related changes to the Prototype cars, only to the GT cars. Of course if these cars were to compete together, the GT cars would never win, so I have two possible suggestions about how we can run the races:

Option 1:

Run two sets of races, one for each class. On the down side, this adds one more qualifying session and three more races to the event.

Option 2:

Run the classes concurrently, giving separate points for each class. These points can be based on an updated version of the standard point system, shown in yellow below (races are really never done for fewer than three cars, so this acommodates running the classes concurrently; we can use this system for all classes from 2018 to keep things simple):



This allows us to maintain just three races for VS6075. Here are some example results and points totals:





In this example O'Brie wins the Prototype class and Luke wins the GT class. Of course points will change dependant on the number of entries in each sub-class and their finishing places.

So, let's hear your thoughts.

[steveaca]

I like option 2 Gordon, especially as it would not increase the number of races. This would mean that if there are equal numbers of each class, the winners of each class ( and second place etc.) would receive the same points.
Steve

[gordon]

This would mean that if there are equal numbers of each class, the winners of each class ( and second place etc.) would receive the same points.
Steve

Exactly. I like option 2 as well.

[gordon]

Thinking this through a bit more, I've come up with the following thoughts:

To keep things as fair as possible, I think that both sub-classes should have 3 reserved grid spots. If there are fewer than three cars in either sub-class, then the additional spots will go to the sub-class with more cars.

Everyone has the option to qualify up to one Prototype car and one GT car. Fastest 3 qualifiers in each sub-class qualify to race. Drivers may change cars but not classes for subsequent races.

[steveaca]

Hi Gordon,
well, it's January and the 2018 racing season at FRC will soon be starting. Have given any more thought to this proposal for 2018 ? I got a GT car for Christmas which would fit in this class but don't want to start modifying interior (to fit chip) etc. until regs. are confirmed.

[gordon]

Steve, I would like to do it, however I still think it would be a good idea to run one event this way before changing all future 2018 VS events to run like this. I'd therefore like to propose that we do our first VS event this way.

If anyone has any serious objections, please let us know here on this post.

[steveaca]

I'm in favour of a trial event. I will bring my Bill Thomas Cheetah, adjusted to the proposed specs. to the next event for this class.

[gordon]

Well, with my Cobra Daytona, that makes it two GT cars for the class.