As most of the racers know, for quite some time now, the availability of preferred and legal .010" thick Retro Can-Am bodies has been a serious problem at BPR. Body thickness has never really been an issue at SCRRA races at Buena Park and I'm sure some a bit thinner were being used but as long as the bodies felt "thick enough" in tech they were OK and no one ever mentioned any problems with turn marshaling any unusually thin bodied cars.
Recently, however, it seems that many UNUSUALLY thin bodies have been showing up at BPR that are certainly difficult to marshal as well as having certain performance advantages as well. It seems a lot of racers have been using these bodies because that's the only thing available.
In view of the entire situation, and until the SCRRA determines that legal Can-Am bodies are readily available again, the SCRRA will allow the continued use of these thinner bodies with some restrictions. To negate any possible advantage of flex, weight, or lower CG, all Can-Am bodies must meet a minimum weight of 5.5 grams, as weighed in at tech by the SCRRA scale and must meet this minimum weight during the competition. All podium cars will also have their bodies reweighed. The minimum weight of 5.5 grams will include painted body, interior, spoiler, and any body details such as plastic injectors, etc. Bodies will be weighed without pins or body clips.
Any weight used to meet this minimum requirement must be sheet plastic and must be added to the body contours on the sides or top of the inside of the body. Any weight added that could be considered an advantage (too low) may be asked to be removed and retaped. We are trying to simply make these bodies a little thicker. At the monthly races, any body that is deemed too thin in tech will be weighed and the SCRRA will provide .010" thick UHMW tape in precut 3/4" wide strips in varying lengths to add to the sides or top until minimum weight is reached. This tape is also EXCELLENT body armor and will be available at the tech table. At the major races, as long as this body situation exists, ALL bodies will be weighed when brought to tech as part of the new SCRRA motor tech procedures with all cars brought to tech with their bodies off.
We'll try this next weekend at the monthly SCRRA race on the King track on the 28th and see how it works. As posted previously the SCRRA will also initiate a motor protest/teardown rule and the fee will be $30.
These things may need some fine tuning but we'll start here and see how things go...
Retro Can-Am body situation at BPR
#1
Posted 20 February 2015 - 01:41 AM
- Howie Ursaner, usadar and George Blaha like this
#2
Posted 20 February 2015 - 11:12 AM
Just to clarify, are you looking more at the minimum weight of the bodies rather than achieving .010" thickness around both sides of the body? I used Shoe Goo in the past to protect the most vulnerable areas of the body (wheel wells, etc.). It definitely adds weight but can be a little messy applying the Goo.
Regarding the motor protest/teardown rule, I don't think some of us newbies know what that is or have ever seen it in writing. Any elaboration would be helpful. Thanks.
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough" - Mario Andretti
#3
Posted 20 February 2015 - 12:25 PM
So this poses problems with regards to stability for turn marshals and fair playing field for handling characteristics. If its the matter of just weight, then of course the addition of material(s) would be placed at or near the bottom of the body which doesn't necessarily address the very thin upper portions which impact the duties of turn marshals.
Having a minimum weight for bodies is a start in the right direction. Every racer should have a simple digital scale on their work bench. If you don't mind being seen at the local "head" shop, they have them. Pipe and cigar shops may have them, too.
?/?/1950-3/8/22
Requiescat in Pace
#4
Posted 20 February 2015 - 12:33 PM
Just to clarify, are you looking more at the minimum weight of the bodies rather than achieving .010" thickness around both sides of the body? I used Shoe Goo in the past to protect the most vulnerable areas of the body (wheel wells, etc.). It definitely adds weight but can be a little messy applying the Goo.
Regarding the motor protest/teardown rule, I don't think some of us newbies know what that is or have ever seen it in writing. Any elaboration would be helpful. Thanks.
Tim,
I'll post a simple explanation and some pics tonight.
#5
Posted 20 February 2015 - 01:07 PM
So if these bodies had too thin sides, they would easily pass the weight test, but still have the problem that this rule is designed to address.
Am I missing something?
Cheers,
- Joe Mig likes this
Bill Botjer
Faster then, wiser now.
The most dangerous form of ignorance is not knowing that you don't know anything!
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
#6
Posted 20 February 2015 - 01:17 PM
I weighed a lot of my Can-Am bodies, that were painted by premier painters Eddie MacDonald and Jeff Bigelow, and they all fall between 6 to 7 grams...
Now, mine are TrueScale and O/S, and are easy to grab hold and marshal... You must use a lot of body armor or paint to get a body weight up there, but no harm done...
This just seems an easier way to level the playing field...
Mill Conroy
AKA : TWO LAP CONROY, Anointed Trigger Monkey by Mike Swiss
Deal me life's toughest cards, without chance for hope nor fame, just let me play this one last hand, and I'll win this whole damn game.
Second Most Interesting Man in the World.
#7
Posted 20 February 2015 - 01:20 PM
- MSwiss likes this
#8
Posted 20 February 2015 - 01:53 PM
Evidently Truescale has scaled back their production or out of commission?
Hi Mark,
TrueScale is definitely in business. Victor makes a quality product and we should see plenty of Ti22 bodies very soon.
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough" - Mario Andretti
#9
Posted 20 February 2015 - 03:17 PM
?/?/1950-3/8/22
Requiescat in Pace
#11
Posted 20 February 2015 - 08:14 PM
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough" - Mario Andretti
#13
Posted 21 February 2015 - 08:46 AM
That having been said, I'm glad Victor was only on vacation as I'm sure I'll continue to utilize his services.
- Noose likes this
Remember, two wrongs don't make a right... but three lefts do! Only you're a block over and a block behind.
#14
Posted 26 February 2015 - 12:54 AM
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here... and GREAT!! to hear of Victor's return, but until things kind of return to normal at BPR the SCRRA will continue with the original plan of allowing the thin bodies with the restrictions posted earlier.
So, back to the original post and some pics with explanations...
A SUPER thin body here, with interior, spoiler and body armor weighs in at 3.8 grams. When mounted on a car it is hard to pick up as there is almost nothing to grab and certainly turn marshalling is difficult.
Here is some of the .010" UHMW tape from McMaster-Carr. Two strips 3/4" wide by 3" long and (2) strips 1/2" wide.
3/4" wide strips applied to the inside of the sides.
1/2" wide strips applied to the inside of the body on the top next to the interior.
With a little added ballast the body is now comparable to the others at about 5.5 grams so the tape added a little over 1.5 grams, BUT also noticeably stiffened up the sides and top so the car can now be comfortably lifted and turn marshaled.
Racers can add their own tape as necessary on these thin bodies but any added tape to meet the restrictions must be applied as in these examples that will negate any advantage of low CG or body flex. If any thin body is found to be taped in a manner judged to be of any advantage it will be retaped. The SCRRA will provide this UHMW tape at the tech table and understands that this is just a temporary band-aid on a problem that hopefully will resolve itself when legal bodies start returning. We'll try it this weekend at the King track race at BPR and see how it works out. Bodies will be weighed complete with interiors and spoiler but without pins or body clips.
As far as the new protest/teardown rule that will also be in effect this weekend, the details are simple. $30 buys the teardown and inspection of any motor immediately after the racing is over. If the motor is found legal the racer who lost the motor pockets the $30. If the motor is found illegal the racer is disqualified and suspended from SCRRA racing for three months. The SCRRA will conduct any teardowns and all racers can watch. A motor claiming system has also been suggested but the SCRRA wants to keep it simple to start and will try this first. Changes may be made to either of these new procedures but we'll start here and see what happens.
- team burrito and Tim Neja like this
#15
Posted 27 February 2015 - 08:33 AM
The minimum weight of 5.5 grams will include painted body, interior, spoiler, and any body details such as plastic injectors, etc.
Bryan,
Will pins or clips need to be removed before presenting the body in tech?
Bob Israelite
#16
Posted 27 February 2015 - 04:37 PM
- Tim Neja likes this
#17
Posted 27 February 2015 - 06:37 PM
I asked because I didn't see it specified and figured it would come up.
Bob Israelite
#18
Posted 19 March 2015 - 01:24 PM
John Hegedus here.
I'm out of O/S Ti22 Can-Am bodies... Debby has none... PCH has none.
What other bodies can I race without compromising performance? I may not be able to buy new O/S Ti22 before the Zimmerman race... apparently, there is a problem at O/S, TrueScale, or both.
Can you offer me an alternative plan? Please advise.
#19
Posted 19 March 2015 - 01:52 PM
You can double check at R4 results and the link the photos. There is a photo of every car that ran as well as a tech sheet.
#20
Posted 19 March 2015 - 01:55 PM
Joe "Noose" Neumeister
Sometimes known as a serial despoiler of the clear purity of virgin Lexan bodies. Lexan is my canvas!
Noose Custom Painting - Since 1967
Chairman - IRRA® Body Committee - Roving IRRA® Tech Dude - "EVIL BUCKS Painter"
"Team Evil Bucks" Racer - 2016 Caribbean Retro Overall Champion
The only thing bad about Retro is admitting that you remember doing it originally.
#21
Posted 19 March 2015 - 02:55 PM
#22
Posted 19 March 2015 - 03:00 PM
- team burrito and Joe Mig like this
#23
Posted 19 March 2015 - 03:17 PM
In some cases us-in and you-in don't mix.
Wish we did on this one.
#24
Posted 20 March 2015 - 12:07 AM
On the BPR King, Ti22 Kirby (TrueScale TSR24 & Outsight 415L) is very popular. Are they no longer available?
I remember I purchased OS 415L directly from Ron. I hope they will be widely available soon.
Electric Dreams have Kirby Ti22 Long, I think.
Is Parma interested in producing Kirby Ti22?
Haruki
Retro Tokyo
Retro Tokyo
Retro Tokyo on Facebook
Where do we go from here: chaos or community?
#25
Posted 20 March 2015 - 12:42 PM
I hope everything will be readily available soon also!! As well as the thin bodies I'm sure most of the BPR racers know that we have even allowed a few of the wider and longer IRRA® TI types to run during this little body shortage.
We'll see what happens by next week at the King track race on the 28th...