163 replies to this topic

[Chewy]

Motors, motors, motors!! We can all run what the IRRA™ rules say is legal pick your choice.

BUT before the motor becomes your complaint try this: set-up. Are you getting the HP to the track? Tires, bodies, weight, bearings, gears and mesh, front wheels and tires, voltage, all equal horsepower.

When you have this perfect then talk motors and before that study the actions of the top Retro racers. Study their hands on the controller, braking, acceleration, timing. These racers make HP happen.

[Samiam]

Pat,

Just so you know, everything you just said has been brought up before. There are many hand-out events during the year. At some you only can get two motors. So you are right on track.

Don't get caught up in the hype. Lets just race.

[George Blaha]

Hey ya all,
 
Whatever motor you want to play with, let's race. The addition of the JK Retro Hawk supplies a good quality alternative to the IRRA™ mix.
 
Shakey George Blaha

[Ramcatlarry]

Other than the occaisional toasted arm sydrome, my biggest complaint with the PD refurb/new program is the inconsistent arm spacing resulting in the bushing coming loose in the endbell, melting it. The FACT that I am denied to be allowed NOT to shim my own motors to be certified is a big problem to me. For the extra expensive of these "better" motors, I expect a better motor.
 
Go JK!!!

[Brian Russo]

I think it should be one motor for every class; I don't care which one, lets pick one and run them. It should even the playing field for everyone.

Too many choices obviously causes too many problems. What's the the big deal here? Somebody needs to take the bull by the balls and make a decision. This motor thing is very divisive and not good for racing overall.

As far as motors go I do have my own personal preference but I'm only one person who has been Retro racing less than a year.
I'll let the powers that be make them kind of decisions and abide by it WITHOUT complaining.

[Gator Bob]

 Dog attacked by Hawk

[stemmy]

I think it should be one motor for every class; I don't care which one, lets pick one and run them. It should even the playing field for everyone.

Too many choices obviously causes too many problems. What's the the big deal here? Somebody needs to take the bull by the balls and make a decision. This motor thing is very divisive and not good for racing overall.

As far as motors go I do have my own personal preference but I'm only one person who has been Retro racing less than a year.
I'll let the powers that be make them kind of decisions and abide by it WITHOUT complaining.

My exact thoughts. Well said. Pretty soon we'll have more motor options than Ti22 body options.

[Zippity]

Pretty soon we'll have more motor options than Ti22 body options.

 
What?!
 
You mean there is more than one option??
 
Oh, the inhumanity...

[MSwiss]

My exact thoughts. Well said. Pretty soon we'll have more motor options than Ti22 body options.

Not true.
 
Motor submissions were closed Sept. 1.

[John C Martin]

Rick C,

This hobby will never quit evolving, they'll always be a new something or other.

Every track I've been in has more outdated merchandise than the sellable stuff. If it ain't sold in six months mark it down (talking chassis kits, bodies, some motors, especially PDs.) You won't make your 40 percent BUT you made something/ Any retail business does this. Go buy a new three-year-old car, would you pay full price?

PS: I'd be more worried about that For Sale sign out front for the building you're in. Sales will drop at that threat...
lots more than a few bodies and chassis. LOL...

[stemmy]

Not true.
 
Motor submissions were closed Sept. 1.

At your digression

[MSwiss]

It was only reopened when Falcon 7s didn't materialize after (six or seven) months of promises.

[Samiam]

OK, I'll be first to answer the OP... good.

[stemmy]

How many motors were submitted?

[MSwiss]

Only one FK.

[Brian Russo]

It appears common sense isn't so common any more.

[Brian Russo]

Just had a thought, why not have a $5 membership fee paid by all racers who particapate in Retro East? This money could help with the buying of plaques, awards, etc.

And on the important issues such as the motor issues, put it to a vote with the membership. This way majority rules. In this electronic age it could very easily be done. To bring an issue to vote you need a petition of one third of the membership.

Isn't this is what we believe to be fair as Americans? We need to unite, not be divided. Just trying to think outside the box a little bit. We should all be part of the solution, not the problem.

[Cheater]

Brian,

The problem with your suggestion is that racers always vote for their personal preferences, not what's best for the overall hobby/sport. That's why there are virtually no competitive activities in any field managed by the system you suggest.

 

In the slot racing genre, all you have to do is look at the record of the USRA over 40+ years to see proof of my claim.

[Pappy]

I believe the race directer at any race could dictate which motors will be legal for that race and in what classes without breaking the IRRA™ rules. There is nothing in the rules that I am aware of that says all the legal motors are legal for every race. As long as all the parts used are legal parts then you are abiding by the rules.

 

I personally would like to see the IRRA™ go to all sealed/non rebuildable motors.

[Brian Russo]

Greg,

What brings racers out is personal preference. They'd rather be racing slot cars than doing something else. Doing what the majority wants can only be good for slot racing.

I've been involved in activities where the few were deciding for the many and it has NEVER ended well. I think something like this could be a first step in uniting racers. Having someone else decide what is good or bad for you has never worked out no matter what the genre.

[Noose]

Brian, you have per se a membership in Retro East™ when you pay your entry fee. For that you get to race, get a plaque if you win a Main, and get goodies at the end of the year. 

We have and will continue to follow the IRRA™ rules. The small changes made of the last seven years as a means of continuous improvement have upped our entries. The mix we have in classes and tracks offers everyone a chance to participate in those they choose to. Raceways like when we come because they make money. Ask Gene and Barb how they felt about this past weekend. 
 
I would think that if you asked the guys that have run in Retro East for the past seven years if things are OK you will get the majority answer you are looking for.

[MSwiss]

Brian,

You are racing in a well-run, well-attended series that is growing.

IOW things are going great out there without racers having voted.

Why the prediction that things will not end well?

(It looks like Joe posted at the same time.)

[Cheater]

What brings racers out is personal preference. They'd rather be racing slot cars than doing something else. Doing what the majority wants can only be good for slot racing.

As Noose said, you've not supported the claim that IRRA™ racing isn't what the majority wants.

If you'll review the many contentious posts here at Slotblog, you'll find it is something like 2% of the posters making 90% of the noise. Please don't confuse the volume of sound with the preferences of the majority.
 

I've been involved in activities where the few were deciding for the many and it has NEVER ended well... Having someone else decide what is good or bad for you has never worked out no matter what the genre.

Most of the time, it does work out better in my experience. Consider NASCAR, F1, NFL, MLB, NBA, the Olympics, PGA, LPGA, etc., etc. Not a one of these (and other) very successful activities utilizes a majority vote management structure.
 
In fact, I can't come up with a single example of a stable and successful competitive activity in any arena that is managed by the votes of the competitors. Can you?

[John Streisguth]

The USRA is a perfect example of what happens when the racers vote for the rule changes. From when I participated in 1990 to now, the lower end wing cars have disappeared, and everything IS about motors now. And expensive ones at that. 
 
If you look at the posts on this thread, half of them pretty much say "Things would be better if you did it MY way".

Get over it guys, it's status quo, and rules will be tweaked on an "as-needed only" basis, which is what's been done for the last seven years. Seems to be working for the MAJORITY.

[John Streisguth]

BTW if you don't think chassis tuning and driving ability are the key, take a look at the race report for the most recent Retro East race. 

 

In Stock Car, take away the TQ, and the next seven racers times have a spread of .17 seconds.

 

Then look at Can-Am; take away the TQ, and there are thirteen racers within .10 seconds. 

 

The Stock Cars are more difficult to set-up and drive, so the best guys have a much clearer advantage over the rest of the field.

 

Remember, the majority of racers were all running the same motor... so what does that tell you???