85 replies to this topic

[raisin27]

Looking for some opinions on an interesting question...
 
Several years ago (maybe 25 or so) I was in a very close race with one of my best friends. We pretty much stayed on the same lap through the whole race. We were neck and neck and when the power went off in the final segment car "A" was about four feet ahead of car "B". Car "B" then coasted past car "A" after the power turned off.

Since car "A" was ahead when the time expired, was it the winner or was car "B" the winner because it covered more distance?

We have had friendly debate over this one ever since.
 
Raisin

[shadow]

Good question. That's why I don't like Falcon racing with Puppy Dog. With ten to fifteen track calls the Falcon will have coasted about two laps more that the Puppy Dog.

What a joke in my opinion.

[The Bugman]

What question?

If car B coasted "past" A... B is the winner... end of topic... LOL.

[John Streisguth]

I agree, the race isn't over until the cars stop.

[Brian Davis]

The lap counter will still tick off a lap if you coast into it after the power is off, too.

Plus since your race is a continuation of the previous lane, on all lanes you always "coast" after the power is off. Some people just coast further than others.

Turn that brake dial off when the power shuts off! Ha-ha...

[Tim Neja]

It's when the cars STOP!! If YOU were car B, you wouldn't ask the question!!

If every time you changed lanes, did you put your car back to where it was when the power went off?? Or did you move it from where it coasted, too??

[Tim Neja]

Good question. That's why I don't like Falcon racing with Puppy Dog. With ten to fifteen track calls the Falcon will have coasted about two laps more that the Puppy Dog.

 

That's a simple solution - run the Falcon!!!  It MUST be better!!

[Ralph Thorne]

I was just having this same debate the other day with a friend. I think the race should be over when the power shuts off. After all we do run 3 minute heats not 3 minutes and 2 seconds, LOL.

 

It would be nearly impossible to determine where the cars where when the power shut off before the roll at the end of the heats and the finish of the race. Even thought that's how I feel, I know it is commonly accepted in slot racing for the race to be over when all cars stop moving.

 

I lost a race like that, I led every lap flag to flag and finished second because the other guy coasted by once the race was over.

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

There is no perfect answer. But the one that makes the most sense is when the cars stop. Because both cars more than likely coasted during lane change and track calls without being moved back to their "power off" position, why shouldn't the final "coast" stay as-is?

[FSK]

If the coast does not count then I beat Bud Bartos at the R4/6. Yeah, thats the way it should be. LOL.

[Ben Naelitz]

Got bit in the butt by this the last time i raced.... But the winner of the race is the one who goes the furthest distance in the alotted time... coasting is a part of it...

 

Funny you mention Bud there, Steve...  that's who coasted by me.

[Michael Rigsby]

The lap counter will still tick off a lap if you coast into it after the power is off, too.

Plus since your race is a continuation of the previous lane, on all lanes you always "coast" after the power is off. Some people just coast further than others.

Turn that brake dial off when the power shuts off! Ha-ha...

 

It depends on how long after, and the timing software used. I have been the victim of this before, running a NASCAR race with a 16D,  having passed the second place car and barely made it to the finish line as the power went off, only to have the second place Falcon VII powered car car come out of the turn before the finish line, and AFTER the power went off, coast past where my car stopped. Since it had been a couple of seconds, the SRT software did not record his lap, but since he was ahead of me on the track (by less two inches, even though I really beat him to the line by five feet), the other driver was given the lap and awarded the win. Granted this is a rare occurance, and I was just barely past the lap counter, but it really sucks to lose a race when a Falcon power car has a six-seven foot coast.

[Rick]

It's where the cars sit on the track when it's done. If you feel there is an advantage to having the coast, run that type of motor. Wouldn't that be race management?

[gotboostedvr6]

Must be using a DR40... maybe the IRRA™ BoD can investigate this situation... LOL.

[A. J. Hoyt]

Cheater often says, "It is not the faster but the one who goes farther". Now, he's not the final authority on this question but that is the premise of slot car racing and he sure got it right.   

 

It is not about time or distance; it is about who goes the farthest with the car, track, driver and power you have. Therefore, after the power goes off, we always mark laps and segments.  

 

Consider identical laps and segments from two separate bracket Semis - who gets the move-up? It would have to go to the one who went the farthest - they both "coasted" after the power went off. You would never want to ever get wrapped around the axle on who was ahead when the power went off (from two different Sem's) so, fortunately, that doesn't matter.

 

Raisin, you did not say if you were car A or car B. It was a good friend so you both have bragging rights and are winners whatever side you were on. (But both "losers", too, because you race slot cars!    ).

 

Keep it in the slot (and punch it to get off that brake band EVERY time the power goes off!),

 

AJ

[Milkman]

I've been beat on a coast and I've won on a coast. It's just part of the game... so have fun!!

[SlotCarsten]

Well, in our club, RaceFun in Copenhagen, we have sort of a remedy for this situation.

 

When power goes off, the track engages auto-brake.

 

We race a lot of Plafit racing, heavy (model) cars with a weak motor. If we allow costing you can easily gain 4 meters (15 feet) if you are so lucky to be on the right spot on the track. Races are usually won by as much. On the LapMaster statistics we offen get a 100 % actual/potetial rating which just means that you have benefitted unreasonable by the track calls.

 

However since we applied the auto-brake system, it is much more fair. Cars stop within a reasonable distance and more or less the same for everybody. The statistics never show a 100%. We are very happy with the system.

 

All you need is an extra relay per track. The control relays of the LapMaster system is of the double throw type. The Normal-Off power the power relays, and the Normal-On powers the brake relays which simply shorts the right and left braids together. I am sure you can make something similar for other power systems, too. You just needs to be absolutely sure you do not power and brake at the same time.

[Tex]

Good question. That's why I don't like Falcon racing with Puppy Dog. With ten to fifteen track calls the Falcon will have coasted about two laps more that the Puppy Dog.

What a joke in my opinion.

 

So... are you saying you're going to give up on the Puppy Dogs? If there's true parity between the FKs and PDs, that would be the logical thing to do.

 

 Just kidding, Dave; I know that's not an option on your table. Of course, the situation didn't have to exist if the IRRA™ hadn't allowed the PDs in the first place. And, the IRRA™ could still rectify that situation by outlawing the FK-style motors. Avail yourself of the IRRA™ BoD to end this travesty once and for all!

[flyracing]

Keep in mind that most electronic controllers have NO BRAKES when the power gos off... I like this because I use an old  Speedshop modified Ruddock and I have won many races this way against anyone with a Third Eye controller because they have circuitry that enables the brakes when the power goes off    allowing me to coast on by for the win!!

[A. J. Hoyt]

By the same logic most have used in the above posts, it goes to the one who went the FARTHEST (in or out of the slot).

 

In NASCAR, you are scored as you pass the timing pylon, even if you are on your roof!

 

There may be a rule about that in some slot car rules body somewhere...

 

Now, what if it leaves the track surface? Man, you really started something here, Raisin!

 

Maybe you DON'T have to keep it in the slot (I stand corrected).

 

AJ

[Tex]

I'll make a command decision and say that the car has to be in the slot; a deslotted car must be placed back at the point it deslotted.

 

There; it's settled. All tracks and racing organizations must adhere to my edict.

[slotbaker]

We quite often have a car or two coast more than the others, and we've got an ongoing joke that their capacitor is working better than mine.

 

While we don't have capacitors in our cars, it gives us something to stir each other over.

 

[Zippity]

And what everyone is failing to mention here, is what happens at lane change time.

 

Do you religiously place your car onto the next lane on the exact lane segment position, or do you just place it adjacent to where you finished that heat/segment?

 

How far apart are your lane segments marked? 12" or 10 feet?   

[Mike K]

What happens if someone comes off when the power goes off and the car slides on its top half way down the straightaway and slides past another car but it's not in the slot.

 

They get the yardage and the FIRST DOWN! ;-)