56 replies to this topic

[Gator Bob]

What to do....

 

"Throw the bum out"?

 

 

Sure, no one likes to lose racers especially in regions the barely have 8-12 cars but a precedence needs to be set and in the longer run might bring more racers.

Example - Those who get fed up with any perceived lack of parity or favoritism.

7s dressed up as retro hawks, thin bodies, can openers ... etc.

 

The example below - Is it 'too harsh" for PC 2015?

I brought this up with a couple of influential people and it was not well received.

It went something like this:

1. Look the other way in tech
2. Let the clown hook-up, set the car on the track
3. Start the race
4. Directors track call after the first lap
5. DQ - confiscate illegal parts.
6. No money back.
7. See ya next race... or not.
8. All on the QT till the report comes out and 'Who Ever' shows as a one lap. You know it would spread like wildfire long before the report comes out.

 

Some jobs... it is better to be feared than liked.

 

[DocSlotCar]

Sometimes the tech job is complicated. but if someone races an illegal part on their entry KNOWINGLY, yes a penalty is appropriate.

If in this case apparently, it was during practice. I do not see how in practice it is anyone's business what someone uses to practice or run around a race track. I certainly would never even look at someone's car at that time. It is basically a non starter for me. with that being said....

 I would of course support the appropriate penalty if the part was used in a race. Now if the tech director missed it, shame on the tech person. The tech person should be knowledgable of the rules and make sure the illegal part is not "Okay to race" and then raced. 

Now in the past I have seen as a racer someone switch a chassis, use a "pre numbered" or selected motor that was not part of the selection process at the race. Those people were caught during the race or after the race at the after race tech for the top three or podium finishers. In all case, they were DQ'ed and their entry fees forfeited. The people never did run again in the local races. 

As far as naming names, I will not and it is not the purpose of my reply to this post. the purpose to make sure whomever is tech person actually techs the slot car and is knowledgable about the rules. That falls on the raceway and the organization.


Just my opinion and in no way am I throwing anyone under the verbal bus.

[The Number of]

   The downside to someone running an illegal car in practice might be the time and effort a legal racer puts in to trying to make a car meet that which they believe is a competitive time. I.E. thrashing motor,tire,body,and chassis trying to reach the cheaters time,and in the process wrecking a car and becoming frustrated and withdrawing from the event. At local races there is not much that can be done,but at BIG events after you pay your practice fee you should be open to a tech inspection at any time.

 

   The idea that a tech inspector who misses an illegal car in tech is somehow a free pass to race that car with no sanctions after it fails post race tech is wrong too.

 

   Tech inspectors make mistakes just as racers do,so the first time anyone is caught with an illegal car they get the benefit of the doubt and you are DQed from that event. Someone who makes "mistakes" over and over and gets caught should be dealt with in a more severe manner.

[Mayberryman]

Ah the never ending thought process of cheating,  I have gone through two phases in my thought process on slot car racing and to what point I would go to win a race.  Early on I raced with the idea that there was no such thing as cheating unless you get caught and if the rest of the drivers thought you were cheating then you had a built in advantage.  I used the old Tommy Ellis (Two time Busch Champion) thought process of if you pass tech. the first time you are really not trying to win.  In this later stage of my life and my last lap in slot car racing I would be too ashamed to return to a track if I thought I needed to cheat to compete (notice I did not say beat) with racers many young enough to be my son and many more to be my grandson.  I guess that at this stage in life integrity means much more than it once did.  Now, as far as the tweaks done to cars in practice to Psych out opponents it has been a part of slot racing as well as real car racing since old Henry Ford won that first race to start Ford Motor Company.  This is why you should never place a great deal of importance on the monitor screen during these practices.

 

I guess what I am attempting to say is that a person is only as good as his word and his honesty, when we stand alone devoid of our massive boxes of toys and tools do you really want to be know as an honest and decent person or a liar and cheat.  I know that we are only big boys racing toys but the idea if integrity (or lack of such) remains the same whether you beat seven other drivers to win some racebucks or you win The Daytona 500.

[Gator Bob]

The example above  - Is it 'too harsh" for PC 2015?

[Bill from NH]

Back when we were running Plafit Cheetahs (FK motors) in the days before Falcons & Hawks were thought of, during one race, a guy's endbell fell off. It was obvious he had been opening these sealed motors. Some of the senior racers, myself included, rode & heckled that guy for the next six months. But he stopped messing with his sealed motors. Soon after that, he moved back to Canada. My proposal for handling the situation would be three strikes & you're out.

 

1st time.) Publically heckle the cheater.

2nd time.) Suspend the cheater for six months.

3rd time.) Suspend the cheater for 20 yrs. (No one then will recall what retro or slot racing is.)

[Pappy]

Back before Political Correctness we would have just killed the bastard. 

[Zippity]

Or had him drawn and quartered

[Tex]

Soooooo much energy in this country is spent on "punishment"; now, it even takes up multiple threads on different slot car blogs. Don't y'all get your fill of hate via the news? Slots was a good escape but beating this poor horse to death over and over is a sickness. Let it go. Those in charge will deal with cheating as they see fit. For those NOT in charge to just foam at the mouth and cry for blood is a fruitless endeavor as you are NOT in charge and you will NOT mete out the punishment; under those circumstances, for those NOT in charge to continue their bloodlust is a sickening sight... a very UGLY side of people to see.

[CoastalAngler1]

Locks are for honest people.

[Gator Bob]

Tex, I guess what your saying is after that "NOT' rant is it's to harsh and we have live in an evil world.

 

Bill, Pappy and Zip don't think it's harsh enough.

 

Noose likes both.

 

Charlie makes a valid point without offering where he stands  on the question ... 'Criminals' will practice 'breaking and entering'.

[Noose]

Don't quote me since I did not give an opinion here at all.

[JohnnySlotcar]

It is a west coast problem, not worldwide. Let it rest and let us race!

[Gator Bob]

Noose, just going by your 'likes' ... not quoting.

 

Oops .. forgot - Hack likes it as stated.

 

Johnny, I wasn't referring to any specific region or infraction. The example discussed in post one was about 'thin slot car bodies'.  

[Samiam]

Back when we were running Plafit Cheetahs (FK motors) in the days before Falcons & Hawks were thought of, during one race, a guy's endbell fell off. It was obvious he had been opening these sealed motors. Some of the senior racers, myself included, rode & heckled that guy for the next six months. But he stopped messing with his sealed motors. Soon after that, he moved back to Canada. My proposal for handling the situation would be three strikes & you're out.

 

1st time.) Publically heckle the cheater.

2nd time.) Suspend the cheater for six months.

3rd time.) Suspend the cheater for 20 yrs. (No one then will recall what retro or slot racing is.)

Or deport to the closest border country. How is the slot scene in Mexico?

[Pappy]

Bill, Pappy don't think it's harsh enough.

I guess you don't understand humor. That's why I put the big grin on there.

[Mike Walpole]

How about Death by 100 bowling trophies.

 

I remember in the early 90s when Mark Martin and Dale Sr were locked in a tight points battle going into the final race at Atlanta.  Childress put 4 left side tires on Dales car for the first practice, he ran about 5 laps and set a fast time that was well below the track record.  Dale and Richard parked the car until qualifying and went hunting or fishing while Martin's team made his car absolutely evil trying to match Earnhardt's speed.  4 left sides tires was not legal for racing or qualifying at the time, but there was no rule about it in practice at that time.

 

Since then NASCAR hired the best "inovators" (cheaters) as tech directors and has pretty much put a stop to "inovating".  Times have changed, specs are more rigorus pretty much for all racing.

 

I haven't been much of a Retro fan as I never liked the idea of a $50 motor being sealed (plus the refurb program) when I could buy the parts and build my own G12 motors for essentually the same price.  The FK motors and specifically the PS4002FK motors for under $15 make a lot more sense. Sure, someone is going to still go out and buy 50+ motors to find a few "special" ones.  Best to go to handouts at big races.  I bet the same guys make the A main though.

[Gator Bob]

Or deport to the closest border country. How is the slot scene in Mexico?

 

Closest?  Cuba?   not Que-ba

 

I guess you don't understand humor. That's why I put the big grin on there.

 

Understand?

I'm completely devoid .

[Zippity]

It is a west coast problem, not worldwide. Let it rest and let us race!

 

If only that statement was true

[Samiam]

What to do....

 

"Throw the bum out"?

If a car is found to be illegal(blatant cheat) in post race tech, the car should get "Thor's Hammer". Once hammered flat it would be placed on the wall with the racer's name and race info. Kind of a reverse "Winner's Plaque".

[Gator Bob]

Sam do you have post race tech, I haven't seen it down here since coming back in 2011. NCS, IRRA or Local.

[Noose]

We do it at all the big races Bob.  You haven't see it because you have never been to one.

Locally I also go over them when I take the podium car photos.

[Half Fast]

Nothing gets by the IRRA's  Torquemada of Tech™

 

OH OH I'm so dead at the next race .Err um our Fearsome but Fair™ tech inspector!

 

Cheers

[Gator Bob]

Joe,

Those are way to big (and far) for me man...

 

Would it make sense to just do post race tech?

 Were all big boys and should know how to present a car. If the guy who 'cheats' finishes 8th in the D who gets hurt?

Could save time to mount more pinions.

[Noose]

Guys may be big boys but you can't tech tire diameter after a race.