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This is very interesting stuff guys. I like hearing about the history of the Can Am. Guess some day I should read a book! Heaven forbid!

It looks like from what I've been reading you guys have come to a mutual agreement on two major things regarding the class. 1) There should be two divisions within the class for the older type cars and the newer cars. 2) Pretty much anything goes as to the car specifics. The only problem I see in using lap times as a break out, or to designate the two class divisions would be in the case of "sandbagging". Personally I don't think that would be a problem but who knows. However with that said, if there were enough dispariety between the legal motors for the class (i.e. 18k motors for the earlier cars -vs- say 25k motors for the later cars) the lap times issue would resolve itself, and probably be a moot point. The breakout lap time could be set at a point where a perfect lap would be needed for an early car to break out, and it would be a high enough lap time that it would be easily obtainable by the later cars. Another point in regards to using lap times as a measurement, with the new lap counter/timing system we are using we have median laps times for the entire race. That might be a useful tool should you guys decide to use lap times as some sort of gauge.

I agree the Vanquish cars should be inelligible. I'm good with the Carrera cars in the mix.

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

From Goose:

I have been doing some reading in my can/am book. 1966 was the first year for "can/am" and it appears 66 & 67 were mostly small block cars. In 67 the big blocks started to show up in more cars, chev & ford engines, some 351 ford upped to 377 were used. So it appears the 2c chap never really raced in can/am, just usrrc. Do we disallow the 2c, or do we include some of the 1964/54 usrrc cars to run with the small block can/am cars? (food for thought?). So i am beginning to wonder if we should run all cars together and have racers declare their car as a "small block" per motor spec or "big block" car per motor spec to determine lap times & lap quantities for each of the two classes. This would be like the way we run our f-1 races with different class cars. Would this be a simpler way to run this class and help Bill keep track of scoring two classes? Please feel free to correct me on the above can/am info above if i am in error. We should be able to create a list of which years & car type had which engines used for racers to determine class to race in(?). Getting kind of complicated, or is it just me!

Goose

From Goose:

I am thinking in terms of when the cars went from small block cars to the Big block cars in terms higher performance & handling. A small block car class would have a specific years of cars with a max motor spec, a big block class would have it's specific years of cars with a max motor spec. The times and laps would be separate from the two classes regardless of lap times and total laps run. Scoring would be for "each class only" and not in competition with each other. A racer could run just one class, or if allowed run both classes with different cars. That way we do not have to worry about break out times, and bumping people up in class if they do not want change classes.

I like the "break out" as a designation for classes. The older cars could have a minimum break out lap time for example of say 9.0 seconds, and anything faster could or would be the newer cars? That keeps it pretty simple and opens things up a lot! We could rub both divisions together with anyone running faster than the break out in the upper division?

==========Bill

I like the idea of limiting the class to two divisions, older cars and newer.  I'm not a big fan of allowing magnetic traction on either class, but I'll go with whatever you guys decide. I think the scratchbuilt could run against the RTR type cars. That seems to work well with the other classes we race. I'm leaving this class up to you guys for the most part. You guys will be the sponsors, just as the Trans Am class is Glenn's, the BRM class is Chris', and the F1 class is Monte's. I think this class might be a good replacement for our current GT class. It will be better structured than our current GT class.

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

From Greenman:

Keeping in mind how Can Am worked historically it was a sports racer out growth of the USSRC racing series. Early cars were tube-framed, which later gave way to monocoque racers. The rules were basically "no rules" whatever you could do to go faster was okay... later it was a bit more structured. This included cars with moving wings (chaparral) vacuum traction assist (chaparral again), moving bodies, multiple engines in short... whatever. What really killed the series was the money chase and timing. On one hand, Porsche just out spent everyone else and ran the little guys out of the series. Add to that, the early 70s oil shock and didn't help either. Ironically the last Can Am Championship was won by the UOP Shadow a titanium monocoque car driven by George Follmer.

Might I suggest two classes? Early cars with an under 20k motor, configuration gearing, etc open. For to reflect the tube frame cars. And a later car series with a 25k motor limit and one (gag) magnet? This would represent the later cars that showed the progress learning about aerodynamics really worked that took place over the years. Both series should allow alloy wheels and scratch building, thought I feel Slotit McLarens may dominate the late cars as the Slotit Chaparral may dominate the early cars. How do you guy feel about it?

Greg

There has been a proposal and some discussion about starting a new class for Odd Thursday Night racing. A Vintage Can Am class has been suggested and there seems to be quite a few racers in favor. I'm fine with any new classes Odd Thursday racers would be interested in adding to our roster. I would suggest we temporarily replace one of the classes we are currently racing with the new class, or we could go to a three race rotation instead of the current two race rotation. Currently we rotate the 1:32 classes every other race.

The only other thing I would request would be a set of rules to post for the class. I am open to any and all suggestions!

Thanks!   ===========Bill

Below are the proposed dates for the NASTE 2016 racing season. There are 8 Sunday races and 2 Saturday races listed. The two Saturday races have been reserved for The Gorge Raceway. Track owners, I will be sending out an email requesting your choices of dates if you are planning to host a race or races. Please list your race date preference in order of priority. Race dates will be asigned on a first come first serve basis based on your priorities. All listed race dates are Sundays unless otherwise specified. All dates are proposed and adjustments can be made if and as needed.

Race Dates: September 20, 2015 - WFO
                   October 18, 2015 - Penguin Point
                   October 30, 2015 - Halloween Race @ Rapid Raceway
                   November 8, 2015 - TooBad Motorplex
                   December 19, 2015 - Saturday - The Gorge
                   January 17, 2016 - Jacquelin Park
                   February 21, 2016
                   March 19, 2016 - Saturday - The Gorge
                   April 17, 2016- Autumn Hills
                   May 22, 2016 - Hammertime
                   June 12, 2016 - Shoot Out @ Rapid Raceway

Mitch, did you buy that Strombecker set?

Cool video Rico...........but where's Cockerham????????

Lucky for me!!!!

Also saw a Strombecker set in the box with Ford GT40 and Chaparral 2D cars for $50, an Aurora Thunderjet 500 4 lane set with blue XKE, white Corvette, red Thunderbird, and yellow Maserati cars for $125, and a few T-Jet HO cars here and there in the $40 range. Also saw a T-Jet Batmobile with the box for $275. I felt the cars I saw were priced too high, but the two sets seemed about right.