199 replies to this topic

[Mr. GoFast]

I have a question for all Retro racers.

 

If I wanted to have a big build your own motor Retro race and let you build your on motors. Let's say a Pro Slot 4002FK or a JK Hawk 6.

 

How many of you Retro guys are in with this idea?

[Samiam]

Open it up to both motors with a same spec arm. Let the better motor rise to the top.

 

I would have no problem building a motor but some haven't raced anything but sealed motors. May have to do a motor building seminar for the uninitiated.

[Half Fast]

Not me.

 

Cheers,

[Mr. GoFast]

Thanks for your input.

[Jay Guard]

Nope, no interest here. I've got all of the motor building equipment and have built a ton of motors in my time. Exactly why I've got no interest in just another motor building class.

[Samiam]

Bill,
 
It's no big deal. Once you do it a few times it will be as natural as hooking up a controller right... OH!... did I just g   there? LOL.

[Half Fast]

Mr. GoFast, on 03 Mar 2016 - 03:31 AM, said:

Thanks for your input

 
You wanted input, you got it. Are you only interested in answers that agree with your preconceptions? One of the reasons I took up Retro is because it is not a motor building class. Been there done that, ain't going back.
 
Cheers

[Mr. GoFast]

Phil Hackett, on 03 Mar 2016 - 03:57 AM, said:

Tracy. do you like teasing animals? I think not. This question will get you all the reasons you're committing Retro heresy. It's almost like you're the guy corrupting a happy, healthy community with subversive ideas: it'll get all the community leaders up in arms and convince everyone that you are a dangerous person. "Don't listen to him! He'll lead you to a bad place from which there is no return! Once you're hooked there'll be no way out!!!! DO NOT LISTEN."
 

 

I just like trying different things. I have heard a lot of racers that hate the motors we are using.

[Phil Hackett]

Mr. GoFast, on 03 Mar 2016 - 04:04 AM, said:

I just like trying different things. I have heard a lot of racers that hate the motors we are using.

 

Ooops… I hit the delete button accidentally...

 

Tracy… trying "different" things is subversive.

[Mr. GoFast]

Half Fast, on 03 Mar 2016 - 03:56 AM, said:

You wanted input, you got it. Are you only interested in answers that agree with your preconceptions.? One of the reasons I took up Retro is because it is not a motor building class. Been there done that, ain't going back.

 

I am interested in all answers. Thank you for yours.

[Half Fast]

If so many people want to build their own motors in Retro, how come exactly none of the Retro organizations allow it?

 

Just asking...

[Mr. GoFast]

Good question, maybe we can figure this out with this post. Might be time for something new.

Thanks.

[MSwiss]

Mr. GoFast, on 03 Mar 2016 - 04:04 AM, said:

I just like trying different things.I have heard a lot of racers that hate the motors we are using.

Do they hate the motors or do they hate running them on 14.4v?

[Mr. GoFast]

The question here is who wants to build there own Retro motors, not the power, Mike Swiss.

[MSwiss]

You are the guy who says some racers hate them?

Who are these "some racers"?

For what reason?

The Retro East guys love them.

Their racing is usually decided by one lap.

[Mr. GoFast]

These guys are my racers and other racers on Facebook. "They don't run, I can't keep up, I buy buy buy, and I'm still running in the back of the pack." I hear it all the time.

[MSwiss]

Wing guys build their own motors from the best parts available and there are still guys upfront, and other guys, elsewhere.

[kvanpelt]

If they are running at the back of the pack with sealed motors, they will still be there with built motors. Plenty of classes with built motors out there, nobody shows up for them like they do in Retro.

[MSwiss]

You summed it up, Kevin.

[Mr. GoFast]

kvanpelt, on 03 Mar 2016 - 04:46 AM, said:

If they are running at the back of the pack with sealed motors, they will still be there with built motors. Plenty of classes with built motors out there, nobody shows up for them like they do in Retro.

But at least they would have a chance at trying to build something and not having a chance at building nothing.

[MSwiss]

How many of your racers are building their own chassis and how many are buying them, already made, from someone else?

[Matt Sheldon]

Well since the class was not specified in the original post I will assume you are at least talking about Can-Am. If that is the case I would have zero interest. In my opinion it will fail compared to the success of the sealed motors and what I feel to be the closest, fairest, and most even field in all of slot car racing.
 
For growing RetroPro I could possibly see it.
 
Depending on what arms you would allow would make all the difference. If you are talking about the Chinese crap that is available, then all you will have is a smoke fest. If you are talking about introducing American and hand-wound arms, then the reliability will be better, but then all you have is an arm war. The motor cost will get close to Am Grp 12 and personally that is when people will cringe.
 
Make these brass bricks much faster and you are going to have more and more DNFs with simple offs. Not only will the frequent deslotter be discouraged, but the leaders that smack them full punched are not going to be happy either. Last but not least, riders are going to be fun to watch.
 
You give a guy like Ron Hershman who has the talent to win at almost any slot car discipline and is one of the best motor builders the opportunity to really create the optimal package and those few guys complaining will turn into the B-G main complaining.
 
It is hard for me to believe that those that can build their own motors cannot get a competitive sealed motor.
 
Lastly my opinion if you still decide to go through with it is to iron out ALL the details prior to announcing the race. Give people ample amount of time to prepare for it, rather than making it up as you go a month after you post a race and continue to make up rules and shoot from the hip.

[Butters37]

So Retro isn't fast enough?
We need to dump even more money into it?
Maybe it's time for something new?

It undercuts everything that Retro is, doesn't it?

Seems to me if your guys want to race Retro with built motors then go for it. But don't go thinking you are going to change the world. IRRA^® has the Hawk, RETRO has the PS FK. They are sealed. That was the point. To make it a simple sealed motor class so racers don't need lathes, arms, etc., just to race. It isn't wing racing. Not everything has to be wing racing. If I wanted to race six people I would have bought into wings or gone to a flexi series in my area.

Plus aren't built motors allowed at your hand-out race already? With all the things you are allowing people to do to the PS FK... just an opinion.

[John Streisguth]

The people who complain about the current motors would complain about motor in a built class as well... there is always someone who can make a given package go faster.  

 

RETRO has a class that allows the "Puppy Dog" motors to be rebuilt by the racer (GT Coupe)... that class is for all intents and purposes dead. If that many people really wanted to work on their motors, that class should have been the most popular. 

 

If you think there is disparity with the cheap little sealed motors, it would be even greater with built motors.

 

I suggest trying the RetroPro class... your track would probably be one of the best in the world to race those.