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The official 2019 Austin Slot Car Club Race Schedule is published. The only small change we might want to discuss is the timing of the Thunderslot series and the availability of the new McLaren cars from Thunderslot. We might think about moving that series back from Q2 to Q3 and move up the NSR 908/3 series to Q2 from Q3. We can discuss at our next meeting. Please post any additional questions or concerns.
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Marty,
The reasoning for that was to keep the foam tires on the BRM and Revo cars from affecting any other series. That’s why we put the Thunderslot series there and the NSR 908 series in Q3 as it will be on the rally track. I would be opposed to swapping the series.
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Touche! Having said that, the most popular chassis for our tracks is the stiffer green version. Routed tracks that are as smooth as ours perform better with a stiffer chassis. Plastic tracks that have more bumps due to the warping of the plastic and the numerous joints require a chassis that is more forgiving. That in no means dictates you cannot or should not try something different. 🙂
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I know this is going to seem a little late but after running the NSR 908/3 on the track this past Saturday I would like to propose a significant change to the rules. I would like to propose opening the series to more cars – Slot It Ferrari 312PB, Slot It Alfa T33, Sloter Lola T280 and the Fly Chevron B19/21. I put some time into what the rules might look like to make the series as equal as possible.
Our original thought process was that nothing would be able to stay with the NSR 908/3 but I don’t know if that is the case. I think the other cars I have listed could hold their own while giving the series and racers more variety. I also think it will be more interesting to have the option to build a car and see what set ups work best on our “rally” track.
I would like to discuss this change at this weekends club meeting.
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[quote=13320]Slot It Ferrari 312PB, Slot It Alfa T33, Sloter Lola T280 and the Fly Chevron B19/21.[/quote]
YES! Let’s do some testing and see what we think. I can imagine the technical nature of the rally track would make for multiple chassis to have a chance against each other – it is a different beast than setting up something on the fast course. Of course, because I own the slot.it Alfa 33/3, I have a vested interest, and I’m dying to run that car. 🙂
If this rule change flies, then I claim the #34 Sebring 1971 Alfa 33/3. I plan on doing some testing in general this Turkey-day-week to make up for all the bid-ness travel I’ve had the last few weeks that has kept me away (either Mon or Wed since they may be rainy-ish…not sure which day yet – depending on King’s hours. If anyone else wants to try some stuff on the rally track, I’d be available.)
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I’m really open this week – having taken the whole week off. If there’s a good day this week for folks, I can’t imagine I wouldn’t be able to be part of the test. I am heading up to Kings today(Monday) and will be there most, if not all, of the day.
I also just grabbed the Ferrari 312BP off eBay on a lowball bid because it is so pretty (and it was my favorite AFX HO car as a kid, too). I got my Alfa the same way – not sure why these cars don’t go for full price. I ran the Alfa previously, only changing the rear tires to some used rubber and added the wood guide, and it was fantastic with no other tuning.
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2019 RALLY UPDATE
1. Just a reminder that this year the rally series is a Quarterly event – starting July 6.
2. The theme is “Targa Florio” a mountainous Italian road race where many style of cars were used. Study up if you are not already familiar with this classic!
3. The RULES will be updated soon – including the all important list of legal Car bodies, liveries, slot car manufacturer, model-#s. We apologize for the finalization of the Rules being so close to the first round 🙁** So – in the coming weeks please acquire a car, build/tune it and practice!
4. Just FYI – the leaderboard criteria are fairly simple- fastest time to complete 40 laps – over Five races determines Round rank and overall Series rank (as of May 10 – points will not be awarded for fast lap. If you wish to discuss bring up in a club meeting).Dave & Mark
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I agree – It would be good to identify some specific practice dates for folks.
David, Randy and myself opened up the track on Thursday and ran some laps. We tried a couple different NSR Porsches and I ran my Alfa 33/3. Cars seem to run well. Kind-of starting from scratch on figuring out personal voltage, gearing and such, but the initial tests are very positive.
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Practice when you want I’ll be there maybe tomorrow for sure Monday. King’s closes early Monday I think 4:00
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When I posted the question asking if we were going to publish practice times it was done with the goal of making the series and practice times fair for everyone. To find out practices have already been held or that we will “open the lid” tomorrow without any advance notice is bullshit.
The idea in locking the top was to keep it from being opened by any one individual to practice when others could not. Our regular track is open all the time but the rally track is not and should not be opened without it being posted in advance and available to all.
This was discussed and agreed to by the club members in previous meetings. I have not heard any discussion of that being changed for this series.
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I’ve been reading up on full scale rally preparation. Real rallies seem to have a recon guided tour a day or two before the rally at less than full speed.
The Targa Florio has used many different routes, but always published the route early and the teams traditionally drove a road car, or put a license plate on their race car, and drove the course in traffic during the week before the race. Recent courses have been short enough that cars did 11 laps and did not use a navigator. They did often change drivers and have a pit stop.
Running our Targa Florio race I suggest we start having practice on Thursdays and Saturdays plus Sundays if it is tolerated by Kings. We should do some scheduling, like us golfers do with tee times, so that members can be assigned an hour (?) with one or two others to practice. No mandatory marshaling. Some members may want to run more laps than others, but everyone should keep an open mind to letting the others assigned the time to get equal time on the track.
I believe many members will be testing more than one brand of car or more than one car of the same brand. Full size teams would really put that kind of effort in. We should go ahead and allow plenty of practice.
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Ah…OR…we could keep it locked up and never allow practice. SCCA Pro Rally does not allow recce since they only get their route instructions while sitting on the start line. Those FIA guys are all weenies since they know what’s coming. 🙂 <— (see that smiley…that’s just a joke…FIA guys just go faster because they know what’s coming. The size of the cojones are the same.)
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My $1.38 – If we can practice on the main road course any time why can’t we practice on the rally course ‘any time’? Our practice times are already fairly predictable – Thurs nights, Sat post-race and Sundays (for Marty) so why not follow the same pattern for the Rally?
Randy’s idea of a sign-up list sounds interesting[1]Dave is Series Manager so the decisions should be up to him – he can (1) set certain days or (2) make it ‘open’, or (3) close the course until race day. Next year’s SM may make other decisions. If Marty needs to practice on Sundays and wants help with the covers (esp. if he has to take care of Jensen) I will be glad to meet him at Kings to help him [1] and I’m sure others would also.
TRIVIA Last year I don’t think Shawn had much practice and he was consistently in the top two. Plus – there are a few guys who rarely practice on the road course and consistently do very well, and others who *can’t* practice much but are improving dramatically (e.g. John). I would hate to be told I can’t practice because someone else is not able to practice (unless it is a clear, established part of the series rules from the beginning). Heck I need more practice than anyone!
Some key criteria for the Rally practice are:
(a) You can get someone to help you with the covers (even Mark H, Rudy, Don)
(b) You can coordinate with Rudy to have the top cleared (or his OK to move the consignment stock to the south-side pit bench.)
(c) Look UNDER the track for the green extension cord I put there – plug into the power strip under Russell’s pit box.
(d) Know how to use the practice software.
(e) Be very Gentle with the computer and all its cords – when pulling it out/in.
(f) Be very careful putting the covers back on and always replace the tarp. -
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