Odd Thursday Night - New Class Discussion March 2016 (Page 1 of 5)

From Mitch Brooks:

I did the same last night. I had a Fly 250LM that I had changed the wheels and lowered the body. So I found the stock axles, wheels etc. And lengthened the body post to clear the stock wheels/tires. It actually runs pretty good. If we pursue this I'll probably replace it with a Porsche 906. We have several Ferraris and GT40s. You can never have to many Porsches.

From Goose:

Chris: Nice job on laying out the rules, i agree with what you stated as we discussed at Al's. Also i am for adding the solid front axle modification. The other thing i feel we need to discuss is; we "add" this new class, not replace any existing class. And do we just run this class on "Al's" track only and rotate with one of the existing classes?
Goose

I'm mostly fine with the proposed rules except the stock gearing. The stock Fly gears leave a lot to be desired and many are bad right out of the box and I see no reason to trade bad for bad if one has to be replaced.

So if I'm hearing this correctly, add the following to the rules outlined initially:

Solid front axle mod - OK
Gear swap for identical ratio - OK
Glue bearings into chassis - OK
Glue inside bearings to eliminate slop - OK
Chassis filing for float (1/16" max?)- OK

Does that capture all the intents?  I will write up something more scholarly later for the rules thread.

As for replacing vs adding the class and how to schedule its running, my personal opinion is to ADD it as its own stand alone category and I would definitely like to see it run at Bill's and Al's.  Until we build a critical mass, it may be easiest to run it as part of the current classics category- or we may have enough entries to start it off on its own immediately.

Thoughts?

CK

I wouldn't mind using this class as a replacement for the GT Class. The GT Class was implemented as a "beginner's" class where just about anything could be raced. We have enough well defined classes now to cover most all types of cars. In addition it is an accepted practice here at TooBad to allow racers to use other cars that don't technically fit the class being raced, if they do not have anything compliant with the class. And it is not uncommon for racers without legal cars to race borrowed cars. The only stipulation is racers cannot score an official win with a non-compliant car.

This is starting to look a lot like our Trans Am Class.............

Except it will actually be slower.

I took a quick break and wrote something up.  What do you think?:

Draft rules package for the new "Le Mans Classics" category:

Except for the following allowances, car should be box stock.  Specifically this means-

• Stock motor

• Stock wheels

• Stock wheel wells (may not be altered)

The allowances-

• Traction magnet must be removed

• Any rubber/urethane tires may be used

• Tires may be glued and trued on the wheels

• Guide and braid are free to replace/modify

• Guide may be shimmed to appropriate depth for track

• Grinding to fit (lead, brass, etc...) weight in is acceptable.  Grinding to remove weight is not.

• Front stub axles may be replaced with a single, solid axle holding the stock front wheels

• Swapping gears is allowed provided it is for the identical stock ratio

• It is permitted to glue bearings into the chassis

• It is permitted to apply glue inside bearings to eliminate slop of oversize bearings

• Chassis may be filed along its perimeter for float, but do not remove more than 1/16" of material.

If it's not mentioned, you can't do it.

The class would be broken into two categories- front vs rear motored (inline counts as REAR motored; front motor has a driveshaft between the motor output and the pinion).  Any Le Mans competitors modeled by Scalextric or Fly which ran in the 1971 event or prior are eligible for competition.

Additional proposals for your consideration:

• Valances and other bodywork may be separated from the chassis and attached to the body provided it maintains the original profiles, features, proportions, and contours of the model.

• Weight affixed to the outside of the chassis is permitted only if it does not risk contact with the track power

• BNOVA and similar guide repair components are acceptable for repairing existing cars but not as a tuning option

Discuss.....

Probably no choice.  I don't think the Fly wheels will fit a slot.it axle.

As long as we are including both Scaley and Fly can we include the Sloter cars, they fit the era perfectly.

That would be an easy fix for Fly's pinion gear problems.

If a crown or spur gear were bad, wouldn't it be easier to swap out the whole rear axle assembly if we are limited to using the original plastic wheels?

It has been a long time since I seriously tried to tune a Fly but I think the axle dia's are the same and the wheels should slip on just as well as they do to a Fly axle.  I will see if I have one to monkey around with this weekend.

I agree a full axle assembly may be problematic to locate for replacement- may be more cost effective to just find another car and swap in/out the parts needed.

For the weight, I am fine specifying it needs to go inside, but I do remember that some of these cars were stuffed with interior detail that it was tough to find space to stick it.

Any discussion about the valence allowance?  I think it's a valid option for those scaley cars.

Regarding the Sloters, I did think about them too as I thought they were related in some manner.  The only one I have has a motor which is SERIOUSLY peppy and doesn't fit the intent of the class.  If they are appropriately motored and don't have a significant competitive advantage (not podded, etc...), I am ok to write them in if the general consensus agrees.

CK

RE: The Fly gear issue, until Electric dreams updated their website the other day, every Fly sidewinder car had a note about replacing the pinion with a Scalextric pinion to run quieter. It is an 11 tooth pinion. Mine happens to have a brass pinion on what I think is actually a Scaley black stripe motor (built out of the parts box of course) and it runs very quiet. Scalextric offers their 11 tooth pinion gears in a package of 4 for $3.99.
  I have since found the original Fly motor. It seems to be much quicker.