20 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

Jay and I worked up an entry form for the SERRA race series that is a bit different from the typical entry forms that have been used in our area for the last dozen years or so.

Most race entry forms seem to mimic the ones usually seen at the USRA Nats events, where the racer is asked to list the various brands of parts used in his car, as well as to give a few other pieces of info, such as gear ratio. Since no one is publishing tech sheets these days, we figured we'd remake the entry form for different purposes.

Having observed the tech inspection process at innumerable slot car races, I've seen that the inspector almost always has to depend on his memory for the parameters to be checked on each car. And with the noise and hubbub present around the typical tech table, it's not uncommon for a tech inspector to inadvertently forget to check an item or two on a particular car. So we decided to remake the entry form into a kind of checklist, with the various sizes and diameters to be checked at each point listed for reference.

Besides helping the tech inspector to remember all the points and parameters to check, the entry form also acts as a sort of documentation of the tech inspection process, in case anyone suggests well after the fact that a certain car was not legal in some way. There is also a remarks section where the inspector can make notes for future reference, like "racer was asked to correct XXX before the next race..."

Just thought you guys might find our different kind of entry form worth taking a look at.

 SERRA_Entry_Form_5.14.09.doc   44KB   134 downloads
(This is the latest revision, as mentioned in the last post in this thread.)

[Noose]

I like it. The East Coast has had a form for each class but I like the combo one with the reminders. This could become the standard for IRRA events with a few tweaks. Nice job. The one thing we capture on the East Coast is all of the neat stuff about what gears, tires, controller, etc., were used to provide the details in the race reports like the "old days".

[jimht]

Excellent!
And... Noose, I agree with you about the parts details being very interesting.
The great pictures everyone has been taking & posting in their race reports are the best way to keep that information available for reference... could even be a line for "Picture taken" on the Tech Sheet.

[Cheater]

Noose,

I agree the info on the equipment can be interesting but as I said no one seems to be making use of it, so why collect it? Plus, it's pretty rare in my experience for the brands listed on tech sheets to be exactly what is used on the cars, especially at the USRA Nats, where sponsors' products are sometimes listed in lieu of the stuff actually fitted.

The combo form works well (and has been a feature of other local series entry forms for a while now), and keeps racers from having to fill out their personal info on a new form for each race. Saves a few trees, too.

[MSwiss]

Where is front and rear track?

[Cheater]

Jim, that's a good suggestion for a "pictures taken" checkbox. I'll add that right away, since it would have helped me to photograph those two Can-Ams I missed.

Mike, the front and rear track measurement is sorta covered under the "chassis width" category but of course that doesn't work as well with the F1 cars as the others. I'll check with Jay on that one; we might add another line for it.

[Cheater]

OK, I've tweaked the SERRA entry form based on the suggestions you guys made and have uploaded the revised version to the first post in this thread.

So if you downloaded the form to save, do it again and replace the first copy you saved.

['Slots of Fun']

Hi Greg,

I thought the TOTAL WEIGHT was (100 grams 'maximum')...Only kiddin'!

V/R,
Don
'Slots of Fun'
Abbeville, SC
(864)366-RACE (7223) (raceway)
(864)394-1113 (cell)
slotsoffun@wctel.net
www.slotcars.org/slotsoffun/

[Cheater]

Don,

That was a mistake and I fixed it...

[Pappy]

Cheater,

I'm sitting here using your tech sheet as a guide to make one for the Ohio Valley Retro series and I noticed you don't have a column for GT Coupe.

I also noticed the Front tire width for Formula 1 reads .225", shouldn't that be .400"?

In the motor type column you didn't list Pro Slot as one of the motors, unless they are not legal in your series.

Just thought I'd point these things out to you.

[Noose]

Good point, Butch. THE IRRA Rules require a .375 minimum width for the front tires. They aren't using Pro Slots yet down there and have limited their series to Falcons and TSR D3 motors.

[Cheater]

Butch,

SERRA elected to go with just three classes this year, and to not run GT Coupe. For your series, just add another column for GT Coupe.

Thanks for catching the front tire width error, but the number for F1 fronts in the latest rules is .375" wide, a change made because it was found that some of the .400" wide wheels were a slight bit narrower.

In regards to the motors, again, for this year we decided to not permit the Pro Slot motor simply because none of the raceways we're going to stock them.

I've corrected the entry form and uploaded it to the first post.

[Pappy]

Now I have to correct mine. I put down .400 for minimum front tire width and I just ran off 50 copies.

[Big Durl]

Cheater and Jay...

This is a really great idea, and one that we will definitely incorporate into our races. Starting in April, our tech inspection will become very close for clearances, dimensions, and parts, and this form will help a lot.

The short-term modifications I can see immediately would be to replace the driver's personal info with just phone and email, as we have no real need to get in touch with racers via snail mail.

Our simple entry form currently includes spaces for the builder, motor, body, and painter, as that info helps with the race reportage, as well as giving credit to the heroes responsible for cars that aren't created by their drivers.

I can see the use of these forms necessitating the use of two tech inspectors. One doing the tech and calling out the numbers, with the other one filling in the form. Otherwise, I can see tech for a field of 20 cars taking a very long time.

Thanks for the research and heavy lifting.

[Noose]

We've been using forms for some time now on the East Coast. The racer fills out most of the general stuff and the tech guy fills in the rest. We usually have two guys doing it and when running two races in one day we have tech'd both classes in at the same time. Saves some time.

[Rick]

We used to tech in ALL classes (five) in the oval series at the same time, track open (7 AM), practice, tech time (10 AM), begin racing (10:30) and race straight thru till they were done, no silly lunch break, etc., etc. Ran thru 100 entries in six to seven hours and then we all went out for a burger and beer. One class would end, the cars were collected up and next race was placed on the track, only took a few minutes between racing classes...

[One_Track_Mind]

Hi Greg,

Just as a suggestion, the chassis clearance table in the chart should be the first thing on the list.

If it doesn't pass this everthing else doesn't matter!

It also makes less time you pick up the car and set it down to check the front and rear track width and chassis width... then you place on jig to check for clearance... then to check front tire diameter... you're turning the car upside down too many times.

[Cheater]

Brian,

I just saw your post for the first time and wish I had seen it before. It's too late to revise the sign-up sheets we'll be using in Columbus but I understand what you're saying. And we will play around with that to optimize the order of the items checked when I have time.

A very good suggestion! Thanks.

[Cheater]

Since SERRA has added Stock Car to the classes we run, we've revised our Tech Sheet yet again.

Here's the latest version:

 SERRA_Entry_Form_3.30.09.doc   64.5KB   92 downloads

[Cheater]

Jay and I have been tweaking the SERRA entry form to optimize it for a two-man tech inspection team, in an effort to maximize our throughput at the tech table.

Here's the latest copy:

 SERRA_Entry_Form_5.14.09.doc   44KB   101 downloads
The rows have been re-ordered so that the first tech nazi can check the initial seven parameters with just a retro tech tool and a scale. The last seven parameters are measured by the second tech nazi using a tech block and a couple of measuring devices.

We used this revised tech sheet at SERRA #14 and did feel it was an inprovement in terms of shortening the tech process for each car.

[Mark C.]

Noose,

I agree the info on the equipment can be interesting but as I said no one seems to be making use of it, so why collect it? Plus, it's pretty rare in my experience for the brands listed on tech sheets to be exactly what is used on the cars, especially at the USRA Nats, where sponsors' products are sometimes listed in lieu of the stuff actually fitted.

The combo form works well (and has been a feature of other local series entry forms for a while now), and keeps racers from having to fill out their personal info on a new form for each race. Saves a few trees, too.

(Gasp) You mean someone would run a Slick 7 chassis and say Koford... or run a Koford arm and write Pro Slot?? I've never seen anyone do that before.

 

By the way I'd like to thank Coca-Cola even though I'm drinking Pepsi right now.