371 replies to this topic

[mjsh]

Is the new Slick 7 Retro Can-Am kit gonna be legal for IRRA?
Part # S-7 625. Looks well thought out.

[Rick]

Is the new Slick 7 Retro Can-Am kit gonna be legal for IRRA?
Part # S-7 625. Looks well thought out.

[Don Weaver]

Is the new Slick 7 Retro Can-Am kit gonna be legal for IRRA?
Part # S-7 625. Looks well thought out.

Pictures...Pictures???

Don Weaver

[Pappy]

I think it's being submitted for approval.

[One_Track_Mind]

Pictures...Pictures???

Don Weaver

Slick 7 Retro Chassis

[Craig]

My question, will it be D3 legal? This thing almost looks like a GT-12 car

[Roger Schmitt]

I should have them in stock early next week.



don't know why they wouldn't be legal.

rog

[Hworth08]

Slick 7's frame sure makes JK's Retro frame look antique!

I doubt the new frame will be approved for D3 or IRRA use. Not much chance for the new Rod & Custom Series either.

But it sure is pretty!

[Roger Schmitt]

not much different from this one and it's legal



rog

[Larry Mattingly]

I never read if the Ron Thomas chassis was made legal for IRRA competition... I think the front pillow blocks may be an issue...

I doubt if the Slick 7 chassis will receive approval. I know that rear pillow blocks are not permitted, although they look to be incorporated into some form of 'three-sided' bracket.

Pretty much looks like an 'inline Eurosport' brass kit. Doesn't encourage much in the way of scratch-building. And, may I add, certainly does not reflect the 'spirit' of the 1960's...

JMO...

LM

[Jay Guard]

Please note that the picture Roger Schmitt has posted is of the the prototype. The motor bracket is not of same configuration as the production chassis, which clearly has a three sided bracket when assembled. As far as I can tell this chassis meets all of the requirements of the IRRA and D3 rules.

[Rick]

The IRRA Mission Statement which mirrors pretty close that of D3 also:

The purpose of this organization is:
• to promote a return to the spirit of slot car racing fun from the ‘60s, using scratchbuilt slot cars,
• to define slot cars that reflect the appearance of actual racing cars from the above time period,
• to provide a unified set of rules for regional, national, and international competition, and
to create a rules structure that is cost-effective for the racer as well as the raceways

[Hworth08]

There are too many to remember but isn't (wasn't?) there a rule concerning EDM cut parts, or what ever method is used to cut brass? The JK Retro frame sheared.

I think I hope the Slick 7 is deemed legal. I'll have to have one. Too pretty not to have!

Boy, if Champion of Chamblee had thought of a frame like that in 1967...

[Joe Mig]

D3
3b. Chassis Materials: Brass sheet, rod and tube, steel wire, pin tubing and guide tongues are allowed. A three-sided motor bracket including rear axle carrier is mandatory. The motor must be attached to the bracket with no less than two machine-screws. Other than guide tongues, stamped steel parts and EDM or laser-cut parts of any material are not allowed unless submitted for approval.

[jimht]

IRRA:
"Chassis parts, such as pans, brackets, guide tongues, etc., that are made using EDM, laser, or water-cutting techniques are allowed only if they are individual commercially-available components or components of chassis kits (i.e. these techniques may not be used in the private manufacture of one-off components).
The issue is whether the kits get more racers building & racing.
If they do & they're reasonably priced, who cares how they're produced.

[Roger Schmitt]

3 sided bracket looks good to me.

rog

[Matt Bruce]

As much as I like the Slick 7 product line, if that chassis is approved by the IRRA governing body for regional and national competition, then true retro will cease to exist, and will surely mark the beginning of the end. I knew we would find a way to screw this up eventually. If you want to run EDM cut Eurosport type cars there is a organization for that, its called ISRA. There is nothing scratch built about that chassis. Make it a retro pro if anything, but please stay to the original intent of the organization in regards to Can-Am and GT Coupe. Those wheels do not need anymore grease guys. Nice Eurosport chassis though.

[jimht]

Whack-a-mole is not where we want to be.
The IRRA/D3 should not get into adjudicating the legality of kits like this on a case by case basis.
The chassis rules were set, I assume the manufacturer read them, this chassis kit is OK according to the rules as I read them.

The more easy-to-build kits that are available, the easier it is for the beginner to start building.
AND...Most of the old & new chassis builders that know what they're doing wind up building for others who don't want to be bothered.
The kits make it easier for them too.

Personally I consider all such things made of steel, brass, aluminum or PC board to be expensive variants on a Womp-Womp chassis...and rightly used by the great unwashed masses that want to play without pain.
If a "true scratchbuilder" can't come up with something to beat such mass produced chaff, he's not trying hard enough.

[Larry Mattingly]

As much as I like the Slick 7 product line, if that chassis is approved by the IRRA governing body for regional and national competition, then true retro will cease to exist, and will surely mark the beginning of the end. I knew we would find a way to screw this up eventually. If you want to run EDM cut Eurosport type cars there is a organization for that, its called ISRA. There is nothing scratch built about that chassis. Make it a retro pro if anything, but please stay to the original intent of the organization in regards to Can-Am and GT Coupe. Those wheels do not need anymore grease guys. Nice Eurosport chassis though.

Ditto...

Try as I might, I can not express my feelings any better than Matt's words.

LM

[Pappy]

Ditto...

Try as I might, I can not express my feelings any better than Matt's words.

LM

I agree Larry, Matt hit the nail on the head. The only hope we have is that these chassis handle like crap.

[Jay Guard]

As much as I like the Slick 7 product line, if that chassis is approved by the IRRA governing body for regional and national competition, then true retro will cease to exist, and will surely mark the beginning of the end. I knew we would find a way to screw this up eventually. If you want to run EDM cut Eurosport type cars there is a organization for that, its called ISRA. There is nothing scratch built about that chassis. Make it a retro pro if anything, but please stay to the original intent of the organization in regards to Can-Am and GT Coupe. Those wheels do not need anymore grease guys. Nice Eurosport chassis though.

Matt:
I hear you but here's the problem, you are asking to essentially ban this chassis/manufacturer but what about the other kit chassis' (JK, Warmack, etc.) already out there? Is there something intrinsically"OK" about a stamped and formed chassis (i.e. a brass "Flexi") whereas an EDM'd one is not OK? Also, on what grounds should this chassis be banned? It was designed, and I believe suceeded in meeting all of the established IRRA chassis rules. In fact it probably takes as much or more effort and skill to build the Slick 7 chassis than it does to build a JK or Warmack chassis. My point here is that NONE of these production processes were used back in the day and if we ban one process (EDM in this case) in fairness to ALL manufacturers we would have to ban ALL of them. Clearly this would be a huge problem and would probably cause much more harm than good since many of the racers that now enjoy Retro racing by using the "kit cars" may have a difficult time building a chassis totally from scratch. Unfortunately now that we've let the "production processes genie" out of the bottle I don't think we can get him back in again. Bottom line... we either have to ban them all or let them all in.

BTW... I recently proposed a new, all scratch-built chassis class to the IRRA but it was not well received, now what?

[Jay Guard]

BTW...

Here's a picture of the production chassis (#S7-625) from the Slick 7 website.



Please note the revised, fully three-sided motor box.

[Don Weaver]

.....if that chassis is approved by the IRRA governing body for regional and national competition, then true retro will cease to exist, and will surely mark the beginning of the end.

There is nothing scratch built about that chassis.
......please stay to the original intent of the organization in regards to Can-Am and GT Coupe.

Matt,

I agree with your assessment completely.....this in no way resembles a modern Retro chassis in appearance or in construction. Here's hoping it costs $100.00+ and de-slots while it's sitting on the starting line! .....and don't misunderstand, I like Slick 7 products.

Don Weaver

[John Streisguth]

From my interpretation of the rulles, it calls for a motor box with three sides. What is shown is a motor mounting plate interlocked with pillow blocks. Maybe it meets the letter of the rules, with a bit of a stretch, but certianly not the intent.
I'm not even crazy about the kits currently available. My belief is they should be relegated to spec races.

Matt, I agree, this is an indication that retro could be heading towards being an inline Eurosport class. I may be out of this soon if that's the case. Sorry, but it's not what I signed up for.

[Larry Mattingly]

Stop the 'progression' with the stamped Warmack/JK chassis... No further technology. PERIOD.

"We have to permit it, because they made it'... is a USRA mindset. The IRRA board can decide what they want, and what fits their objectives. They don't have to permit ANYTHING, if they don't want to.

True, you can't put the ketchup back in the bottle, but why spill the mustard bottle as well?

IMO none of these kit chassis would be as popular if the 'bent-up' pieces of brass front axle holders would have been made illegal. Said it then, will repeat it now. Allowing those was a BIG mistake.

Permitting ANY kind of pillow block is over the top.

Why not just go straight to spring steel cars and cut the facade?

The last bastion of Retro will be the D3-inspired 'Jailhouse' Can-Am and Grand Prix cars. At least you can't screw that up...

LM