Search options (Page 153 of 229)

I am conducting all my testing at the 10 volt setting we race at. Because I am taking readings off the rear tire the actual motor RPM is not relevant. I am looking for a reading or value that represents the upper limit of a cars performance based on Ft/Min (feet traveled per minute). Our rules specify what motors are legal by the official chart's RPM readings of motors at 12 volts. It does not attempt to specify what actual RPM the motors produce at our race voltage of 10 volts. One can assume the actual motor RPM is less than what is specified on our official chart. For a motor to be considered legal it's stated RPM rating at 12 volts must meet the specifications for the intended class. What RPM it actually makes at 10 volts is irrelevant.

I've been promoting and holding slot car races for over 35 years now. In that time I've learned that rules are an important part of a successful racing program, and that for the most part, the simpler the rules the better. Here at TooBad Motorplex the written rules ar simple, and even those are loosely enforced. That has resulted in some great racing on odd Thursday nights. However as we develope and refine our cars, and improve our driving skills on the race course, the racing becomes closer. As the racing tightens up the rules become more important as a car's performance becomes more of a factor as skill levels equalize.

At the last race I stated for a car/driver to claim an official win, the car must be compliant to all the rules. What bothers me the most about out of spec car wins is that it skews the race statistics. A lap record is of no value if it cannot possibly be met or broken by a legally prepared car. So that brings us to rule enforcement, and I just totally HATE that! It seems lately the biggest issue with the rules seems to be motors that are above spec, producing more RPM than allowed by the rules.

I am currently conducting some testing using a hand held mechanically driven electronic tachometer. My goal is to come up with a "spec" number to use as a guide to determine if a particular car's motor is within the rules. Where this becomes difficult is in obtaining a measurement from a car without total disassembly and removal of the motor. I addition to RPM, this particular instrument I have measures in FT/MIN. I have found that the FT/MIN reading may be usefull as the reading can be obtained without disassembly of the car, by measuring rear wheel speed. I understand that there are other variables that affect the rear wheel reading such as tire diameter, friction, and gear ratios. From testing I have seen that these variables do not have a great affect on the FT/MIN readings. The RPM readings on the other hand vary much more according to tire diameter and gearing, and the readings also fluctuate more as the car runs. To date I have test data from more than 60 cars of all makes and configurations.

I will continue with the testing and may even try to validate the test results at the next race. Please keep in mind NOTHING is really changing at TooBad in regards to the current rules. The testing to be done is simply accomplished, and will only be required of the "official" winning car. The Traction Magnet Rule for new and less experienced racers that have not won a race is still in effect. The only difference is in my data collection as cars with traction magnets will not be elligible for establishing records (excluding the BRM Porsche 962 Class). In addition there are other reasons a racer may wish to race a car that is out of compliance with the class rules, such as car developement and testing for another race or track. TooBad's policy of WHAT a racer can race or put on the track is not changing. What is changing is a car's elligibility for an "official win".

==========Bill

Anybody bidding on this BRM Porsche 962?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-24-scale-BRM- … 3d00d455cc

GOOD QUESTION!!!

Info I received from Beau:

"Don't know if it was already suggested, but what about wheel chair wheels? Kinda spendy new but if we can chase down an old lady that may "accidentally " tip over, we might have a used set. Guess we'd have to do that twice."

"Do a search for Images of Adult Soapbox Derby Cars. Some cool stuff.... "

I will go ahead and post race results until Amy is able to get our spread sheet up and running.

Results from the August 13th race:

Classic Sports Car Class:
1st Rico Locati 51.1 laps
2nd Goose Gossett 50.2
3rd  tie Greg Petrolati 49.3
3rd tie Bryan Dickerson 49.3
5th  Glenn Heath 48.3
6th  Chris Kouba 48.0
7th  Al Christensen 47.7
8th  Jeff Fields 46.7
9th  Amy Fields 39.7
10th Bill Bostic 37.7

F1 Class Results:
1st Goose Gossett 54.5
2nd Amy Fields 51.5
3rd Rico Locati 49.5
4th tie Greg Petrolati 48.5
4th tie Jeff Fields 48.5
6th Bill Bostic 47.2
7th Chris Kouba 45.4
8th Bryan Dickerson 35.4
9th Glenn Heath 30.7
10th Al Christensen 29.8

BRM Porsche 962 Class Results:
1st Goose Gossett 61.5 laps
2nd Rico Locati 57.4
3rd Chris Kouba 57.1
4th Al Christensen 55.4
5th Bryan Dickerson 53.5
6th Bill Bostic 47.1

Over 50 Class Results:
1st Goose Gossett 52.7
2nd Rico Locati 51.2
3rd Al Christensen 50.0
4th Chris Kouba 49.9
5th Bill Bostic 44.5

Rules updated August 17, 2015. Addition to General Rules, numbers 5,6, and 7.

Rules updated to allow for better record keeping of class statistics and records. Many of the current recorded class record statistics have become scewed due to non-spec cars, or racers using multiple cars in one race. Racers can still use multiple cars in a race if they choose to however, they are not elligible for an official win.

Thanks Goose for the nice words, and thanks to everyone that came out to race!

Amy volunteered to help me post the race results and keep track of the stats. She is developing a spread sheet we can use, so look for the results to soon be posted along with more stats you can use for tuning your cars. Thanks Amy!

=============Bill