371 replies to this topic

[slotcarone]

Very well said Joe---especially your last sentence which sums it all up!!!!

[Pappy]

The board made the right decision in my opinion.

Maybe some day the S7 and FK chassis will be put in a Spec class with the JK and Warmack chassis. Then who ever runs a JK chassis would qualify for JK prizes, who ever runs an S7 chassis would qualify for S7 prizes, who ever runs an FK chassis would qualify for FK prizes and who ever runs a Warmack chassis would be just sh!t out of luck.

[John Streisguth]

Thank you to the BOD for making the right decision. Interesting that the S7 website touts the kit for retro and yet it was never submitted. Sounds a bit like what someone had mentioned, putting it out there and then having enough racers buy them and pressure the powers that be to allow it.
To those who complained about not having something for beginners or those who can't or won't try to build their own chassis, it seems to me that just about every other type of slot car racing is based on a production chassis of some sort. Maybe there are too many types of cars, which dilutes the pool of interest. The retro class is unique, and should not be made into another "production" class. Name a USRA class that is not based on a production chassis? I would like to know what that is. And how many classes are there is USRA? If you don't have something for beginners, you're just not trying. Slap whatever body you want on a flexi chassis, voila, instant beginner class. You can even limit it to one type of chassis and motor to keep it simple (guarantee that won't last long!)

[Matt Bruce]

The S7 is a wonderful designed car and very impressive.Thinking outside the box a little, I have an idea which I could satisfy all involved. Being an active racer in both Retro and ISRA style racing, as of late the numbers of support for ISRA have not matched the growth of retro. Many racers of both styles of racing have shown interest in the other but crossover has been on the light side. I see this chassis as the answer to an issue for ISRA more so than Retro. Till now, ISRA offers many classes of cars but those mainly raced regularly are JRL, 1/32 Prod, Grp 10, B Prod., Open 12, and Eurosports 1/24 and 1/32. The key class here is Grp 10. Other than the motor and a higher downforce body it is basically a B car. Why not change this class to utilize that type of chassis using an inline D engine? It could be the crossover class ISRA needs to boost its numbers a little. Would this become a very popular class? Low cost, easily built, eurosport styling with the hint of retro, inline engine like the 1/32 Formula Falcon class has, high downforce to help the thing work with a big D motor in it, and most importantly what ISRA needs most, a red carpet laid out for retro racers to get their feet wet. I see a place for these cars and maybe a chance to breathe new life into flat track racing in general while still allowing diversity for both ISRA and Retro.

[Noose]

Good point Matt. I know locally, the NJ ISRA guys were looking at adopting the IRRA Flexi GT rules too.

[JerseyJohn]

Let me preface this by saying this is my response and do not take it as that of the board's.

Just take one look at the chassis built by Tony P, Steube, Samson, Bruce, Warmack, Anderson, Gorksi and many others and you will see lots of innovation that is still within the spirit of the scratchbuilt chassis on which retro racing was founded. Snap together kits with pillow blocks require nothing except a soldering iron. Real scratchbuilding requires at least a dremel too. Some can be built without a jig but it helps.

The Warmack and JK "kits" come with pieces that can allow one to make a chassis in the true spirit of what retro racing was about. R-Geo's kits affordyou the same opportunity. Some may argue that the bent up front ends are no different than pillow blocks. To me, they are quite different. Some of the early chassis built in D3 that got us all started had these and they were hand bent. Some may say well a separate 3 piece bracket was allowed before. Well, it really wasn't as the bracket was made in 3 pieces but sold as one unit and put together by the maker. It's a mute point as they are no longer made.

While looking at the classes of chassis for ideas that you mentioned is useful, it does not mean that making a copy of those is what was intended for or would be allowed in this type of racing.

Everyone is free to buy what they want and build what they want. I'll probably get one of those S7 chassis to play with for some regular old slot racing fun. I just won't use it in retro racing. Retro racing is not about growing the designs where we replicate the history of slot racing, it's about replicating the spirit of scratchbuilding and the cars of the times.

As has been said by many others, the FX and S7 will find a home perhaps in another class, or in another organization. People will buy them and make cars from them. They will buy parts. It's all good for slot racing and no different than those that buy other types of slot cars and parts.

Some may think retro is stifling. Well, not to me or the many guys that come to run these wonderful cars, get together with friends and have a good time.

Well said and spoken Joe!!!

[Tim Neja]

Relax Mill---find another target! I guess you're the next Lewis Hamilton? Congratulations on your Checkpoint finish's -- your moving on up!! I don't get the manufacturer's support issue--buying and building supports them more then all the BS typing we see. And I've raced all I could and that's up to me to decide--glad your a champion turn marshall--great to see you at the track. I'll be swapping paint with ya whenever I can--you going to the USRA races too? Got a GT-12 or Euro car yet? Western States are coming next month too--let's race!!

T

[68Caddy]

I don't care what you guys are arguing about but I sure will buy one. After all I love Flexis, too.

D3 or not, I want one.

Nesta

[NY Nick]

Where can I get one of these? I love it. Maybe I will talk to Kenny about running them at Slots-A-Lot.

Anybody else out there that wants out of the sand box, I will call it Retro 80s. (I can say Retro, can't I?)

[Noose]

It's more a retro 90s chassis. It surely can be made and sold and many guys will have fun with it. Like I said, I plan to make one for kicks.

[Tex]

Is the manufacturer the only entity that can submit the S7 chassis for approval? Or, can a ANYone submit it for approval?

[Noose]

The manufacturer has to submit it Tex. As noted, it has not been submitted.

[Noose]

A lot of stuff being raced these days doesn't look like anything I've seen from the '60s.

Noose, If I show up at Lou's with a chassis I cut and built that looks like the S-7 and it is within the rules, will I be allowed to race it?

Also was the Skunk works car submitted? It's parts are done on a water jet. The kit also has all the stuff pre-cut/bent so all one needs to do is solder it together, much like the S-7.

A lot of the kits have the parts pre-cut. Most though need some additional work and cutting, etc. to be put together.

I can't answer a hypothetical question on a chassis you would build until it is seen. It may look like the S7 but it may again be built in a manner that met the rules.

[jimht]

Since the FX chassis was disapproved & the only real difference between it and it's predecessors is slots for the front pillow blocks,
I guess if the IRRA Board doesn't approve the Slick7 it will be because the majority doesn't like "slots".

So sue me; I couldn't resist.

[slotcarone]

Why can't everybody stop complaining, stop questioning every decision and just have fun building and playing with their toy cars??????? If you feel the need to re-invent the mouse trap with some new technology go right ahead and do it!!! There are many non retro classes where this stuff is welcomed!!!!

[jimht]

"cause it's a free country, Mike...
& the fact that the issues are being discussed means that they need to be.
I notice throughout this thread that some of those who have rediscovered slot cars through Retro fail to understand the viewpoint of some of us that have been doing this before, during & probably after this particular fad dies down...
irritatingly educational, ain't it?

[redbackspyder]

Mike, you looking to take away 90% of the reason the blog exists ?

[slotcarone]

Mike, you looking to take away 90% of the reason the blog exists ?

Not at all!!! Lets concentrate on the other 10% then.

[Hworth08]

If the S7 frame is ready to market, I wonder why Rudy never submitted one to the IRRA?

And the IRRA said no before the question was even asked. Hmmm...

[redbackspyder]

Since the FX chassis was disapproved & the only real difference between it and it's predecessors is slots for the front pillow blocks,
I guess if the IRRA Board doesn't approve the Slick7 it will be because the majority doesn't like "slots".

So sue me; I couldn't resist.

To quote Steve Martin from the movie The Jerk " The Cans, The Cans, somebody doesn't like The Cans "

[slotcarone]

How about why can't some hold open-minded discussion without it being called complaining or bitching???

As for reinventing the mouse trap, isn't that what racing retro is all about? Does TonyP not try and build something better everytime he builds a new chassis? Gorski? Whoeve, etc?

Bottom line, we are racing. Better and better chassis designs are not going to stop coming, be it in kits or custom jobs by the great chassis builders. The longer and longer we race retro the more competitive it will become. The only way to change that is to stop racing.

Mark all good points and I agree with you.