Coastal Model Car Racing Club

markw · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 58

ive got a rebel in the loft and bout 10 other mardave cars i will get one made for the next coastal meeting to see how it goes in practice

Trigati · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Ipswich

Re Point5,

I like the idea but it does then require people to have more than one battery or set of tyres...which goes away from the beginner/cheap/entry level aspect.

I think drop qualifying and just run 6 races, each in reverse grid order based on previous race result.

First race starts either in championship position or random allocation.
It's far more fun just to get out and race.

greyfox · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 36

Sams Old Man · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 18 Location: in the Loo!!!

admin · Site Admin Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 65 Location: Ipswich

Good ideas,
Lets try a Mardave then to see if it is equal, the one thing I don't want is to end up with another class!
_________________
Built it
Raced it
Wrecked it !!!

Paul · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 61

Lots of interesting ideas here guys

I would just like to add that there are technical reasons why certain fomats are used and I will elaborate in a minute and apologies because this goes on a bit

As for the regulations to what can and what can't be used then I feel that its up to those who race to set the technical specification. What we don't want is 1) to over complicate the rules and 2) to dilute even futher the race day programme. So get yourselves together and come up with some rules and regulations that are fair to everone and that allow newbies to get their cars onto the track without too much expense and hassle.

We are trying to encourage new members and this class is ideal for beginneers who want to race in an entry class whilst allowing those already with minis to compete in a less 'intense' and expensive envoiroment as seen in the Touring cars.

Now then, I along with several others much prefer to see the emphisis on racing rather than qualyifying in all classes and with the minis we have really just had a free for all.

Are you still awake??

Heres the technical format bit

We have in the past, run the buggies in a seperate meeting allowing us to run what is known as mixed races eg. everyone races against each other and accumulated points giving a winner at the end of the day. However, with limited numbers and issues of marshalling we have decided to bring the buggies into the touring meeting which makes race day management a lot easier.

But heres the problem, the system will not allow us to run mixed races for buggies/minis and conventional heats for the Tourers in the same 'meeting'

So we have to go for one or the other. Now, having different abilities in offroad does not seem to cause a problem, mainly due to the wide open spaces and rough and tumble nature of the class. But having mixed races with the Tourers would see raw begineers in with some very fast guys and girls. I know this is that same for all ,but you all were beginners at some time and hands up those who have come around a corner at full chat only to find little Johnny reversing his blue Subaru into the path of your all singing and dancing, carefully put together and extremely expensive bit of kit?

So heats by ability are the answer for Tourers.

So this is what I propose; For the buggies and minis we have 3 rounds of what we will call 'qualifying' but it will be round by round which means in effect that you are racing because it will be your finisihing position in that 'heat' that counts towards your finals and not you time. It will be laps racing, probably 10 laps for the minis and 15+ for the buggies depending on the layout. If we have championship points for qualifying then you will be racing for championship points from the start of the day. All rounds will count so no dropping your lowest score! Then we have 3 finals, again all rounds count. In effect, there will be no difference as you will start from Championship position.

As Graham has suggested, for the minis, championship order will determine grid position but in reverse

so that the quick guys and girls will have to come through the field, like hot rod racing. (Having seen the speed of some of the top guys I would suggest that they should start in reverse order for all of the days races). For the first round grid positons will be from the last meetings results. eg' George at the back then Sam, Graham etc.

Don't go to sleep yet, nearly finished

This format will work, allowing round by round for buggies and minis, conventional heats for the Tourers. The devil in me

would like to do it with the Tourers as well but I can hear the cries of "what if I break down or someone takes me out" so I will leave that one until we see how the minis go.

Who's going to volunteer as Mini co-ordinator?

The main thing is to keep it simple and most of all fun so lets see what you have got in the loft. Now then, I have found something in my loft; whos up for racing hot water tanks?

Team Mini · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Colchester, Essex

I have just spent 20 minutes reading carefully everybody's points of view and I am still awake! What seems to be the outstanding point from most people is the 'box standard' and 'cost' issue. As you all know, we started out with 3 standard mini's and over the first few weeks with the rough and tumble of mini racing, plastic parts were breaking frequently so to SAVE costs I replaced them with aluminium parts to reduce part malfunction in the future. There really doesn't seem to be anything you can do to make your mini go alot faster if you are running the standard m03 chassis and a 540 silver can motor, although we (Team Mini) usually fill the last places of the grid, it is my belief that as our 'driving' improves, so will our positions and lap times. So it is my proposal (as everybody else has given theirs) that we allow mods apart from m03 chassis (and Mardave Mini's chassis, after carrying out comparitive speed tests) and 540 silver can motor. As far as the race format goes, as it is, is good, just collate points and trophies at the end of the meeting and maybe a bottle of champagne to spray over everyone, only joking, fizzy wine will do. To all the other mini drivers who are out there and read this, I would like to humbly apologise to those who have been accidentally taken out by one of us, it is never intentional, just learning the ropes.

Trigati · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Ipswich

Don't worry Team Mini...I've seen enough of these 10-20 year veterans take each other out....I think it's enough that it's not deliberate and we're all out there trying to have fun. learn and improve and we all make the mistakes.

I think the standard upgrade parts, ie those designed and made by Tamiya etc, should not be an issue for now. Control the motors and monitor the situation.

I like Paul's plan for the meetings, simple for him, simple for us.

So there is my vote.

Paul · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 61

Sean has proposed that, following some 'issues' with beginners in 10th scale tourers having a speed advantage over the minis, that beginners have to run the same silver can motor as the minis.

I think this is a good idea as it will 1) keep racing more even and 2) take away the greater speed advantage and therefore hopefully he chance of a tourer taking out half the mini field in one mad moment. There is also a cost factor but I guess that wearing out a 540 motor could be deemed as expensive as running a rebuildable stock motor.

I also propose that for a raw beginner with a tourer to move up into the touring car class proper, then they have to demonstrate skill, speed and ability by say, winning three mini finals (not necessarly in same meeting) and then completing a 'test, on their own, with a stock motor

The test could take the form of a five minute run with a qualifying time of say, within 25% of 'standard time.

For example. on Sunday, the quickest tourer in qualifying set an average of exactly 15.00 seconds. The slowest set a time of 18.40 seconds. If 'standard time' was set at 15.00 + 25% the newbie would have to get round and average 18.75 (15 +3.75) seconds to be able to show that he/she has grasped the ability to compete at a higher level.

This would give the driver a sense of acheivement while at the same time allow them to be able to race on similar terms with the minis. without the fear of the mini drivers that they are going be wiped out by a newbie hurtling down the straight at full beans with no chance of making the corner.

Discuss

need more speed · Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 4

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