36 replies to this topic

[Jim Lange]

The ever changing track conditions made it very tough on everyone. It was quite the learning experience. Hope everyone took notes. 

[DCR]

Rick said the new DCR tripods were much faster that the straight rail DCR, but he didn't get the tires right in the A.

 

it seems the "softer" chassis are more sensitive to track conditions, as Ben Jr was fast as soon as he got the right tires on the car

 

Mike it's the lighter cars are more sensitive to track conditions……..they are very picky about tires and the way the track changes from hour to hour,,even the room temp……….add 10 grams and the cars are WAY more forgiving…….it's a crap shoot…..I was very sick that weekend,,I wanted to be in the A-main and that 84gram car was my best shot………but my other "EVO" chassis cars at 90+grams would have been better race cars……….but I would have started in the B or C main,,and as sick as I was I would have never moved up…………Ricks car was a few grams heavier,,but was much easier to drive or make laps with……..but it just didn't workout like I'd hoped for…………..I guess thats just how it goes at the big race?……..lol………..DC

[MSwiss]

The ever changing track conditions made it very tough on everyone. It was quite the learning experience. Hope everyone took notes. 

 

 

Mike it's the lighter cars are more sensitive to track conditions……..they are very picky about tires and the way the track changes from hour to hour,,even the room temp……….add 10 grams and the cars are WAY more forgiving…….it's a crap shoot…..I was very sick that weekend,,I wanted to be in the A-main and that 84gram car was my best shot………but my other "EVO" chassis cars at 90+grams would have been better race cars……….but I would have started in the B or C main,,and as sick as I was I would have never moved up…………Ricks car was a few grams heavier,,but was much easier to drive or make laps with……..but it just didn't workout like I'd hoped for…………..I guess thats just how it goes at the big race?……..lol………..DC

 

Don,

 

At my big race of the year, usually the TQ is also the fastest guy on red and black.

 

I don't recall an A Main sit-out, ever being just a "blue (or orange) lane wonder."

 

Maybe a more useful monthly "experiment," rather than sidedam Lolas, would be trying 100 gram minimum weight cars.

 

Especially if you guys are experiencing wildly changing track conditions, and any sort of climate control seems to be out of the question.

[DCR]

Mike,,,I just try to take the rules that are given,,,and do the best with them as I can……..The car I used was a good car on all the lanes,,,it would have just driving better if designed to be 10grams heavier.After the smoke cleared I was only about a lap and a half out of second…………Im a believer in the 100gram minimum,,,I feel that we could build stronger,better handling cars,,,and the racing would be cleaner with less crashing & mayhem………A better deal for the guy that needs to buy a car or chassis,,,the cars would last longer and be easier to set-up at 100grams……..as a builder I could and would use that extra weight to make the chassis stronger…….
 
Now this is just my opinion,,and I understand many people like things the way they are and I can live with that to………I feel that I have enough talent & knowledge to get 100% out of the rules Bryan & the SCRRA have given us,,and I don't want to "Rock the Boat",,,the SCRRA has a pretty good program that seems to work,,and they will listen and work with people if a issue does arise,,and I am grateful for that,,and appreciate all the work & time Bryan gives to the SCRRA so we can have a group to race with,,,even though we sit around and bitch about the rules from time to time,,,,lol………..Take care everyone……….DC

[bbr]

I don't think there's any rules about adding weight to the car during a race.

I would think quick removable weights can be designed into a chassis. I had Samson built me a chassis that way. It may be the next innovation in our ever relentless search for a better chassis design.

[DPmax]

My king track DCR F1 has a removable center section and depending on the track conditions does handle red in the donut better with it in, but the lap times are not better, the extra weight carries a penalty on the rest of the tack... plus with my hand tremors I doubt I'd ever try to swap it in/out between heats during a race! It's well designed with quick pull pins but I have a hell of a time just dealing with oiling and stickers sometimes.

 

On the BPR fast king... a well tuned 100 gram car will always get beat by an equally well tuned 85-90 gram car.

Taking the driver and motor out of the equation of course.

[usadar]

My king track DCR F1 has a removable center section and depending on the track conditions does handle red in the donut better with it in, but the lap times are not better, the extra weight carries a penalty on the rest of the tack... plus with my hand tremors I doubt I'd ever try to swap it in/out between heats during a race! It's well designed with quick pull pins but I have a hell of a time just dealing with oiling and stickers sometimes.
 
On the BPR fast king... a well tuned 100 gram car will always get beat by an equally well tuned 85-90 gram car.
Taking the driver and motor out of the equation of course.

I introduced a less-than-90g Kamo-Speed Can-Am car at the 2012 Checkpoint Cup.
This kind of light weight car does well on Gerding Kings especially at such a race way with weak track power as Buena Park Raceway.
From my experience of racing at Retro East, 100g plus cars easily break 4.0, running over 340 laps easily with proper track power & surface.
I don't mind SCRRA sticking to no minimum weight policy, but when I saw at the A-main of F-1 at this year's CPC a ultra-light weight car messing around the race, saved by track calls, maybe it would be time for SCRRA to think about the minimum weight requirement.
But if they set minimum weight requirement of 100 g for Can-Am/F-1, it would be better for BPR to improve their track power.
Although this is not related to the issue of minimum-weight, I hope BPR will rebraid their King to improve their King's Orange lane as a whole & Red at Donut. Qualifying on Blue is OK but I prefer it on Orange.
I race at Buena Park once or twice a year, so my suggestion is just a small one, so it is totally up to local racers & SCRRA.

Haruki

[John Streisguth]

Not only that, the lap record at Port Jeff for coupes is even faster than that for Can-Am, with a 110g minimum weight, at 3.829.  

 

As always, my comments are not in any way a knock on what SCRRA does, simply for discussion of facts and/or ideas.  (standard disclaimer  LOL)

[Noose]

Minimum weights help the whole field and not just those that can drive a lightweight car.  That was our premise right from the start and it has worked just fine for over 9 years. Gee I just saw this somewhere else and it holds true to min weights:
 
"This is beyond the "average" racer. And that's what the IRRA^® rules are aimed at, and the difference between IRRA and SCRRA."

[Half Fast]

It seems to me that light weight cars are also way more aero sensitive. So any small crash damage to the body will really ruin your day. Not so with heavier cars.

 

Cheers

[John Gorski]

Great reports and pictures, Bryan and awesome second place in Can-Am!

 

[Bryan Warmack]

John,

 

And thanks for the motor!!