108 replies to this topic

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

Welcome to the R4/10 racing schedule. Most of you already know my reasoning behind the decision to use hand-outs in a Premier Race Tier 1 class. I have received a huge amount of support as well as a fair amount of criticism. Hopefully once the dust settles it will have been worth the extreme amount of extra work we’ve put into this. On the off-chance it fails miserably we are hereby banning all sharp or deadly instruments from the raceway in case you get the urge to do me bodily harm. (Just kidding...). If it fails it won’t be for lack of trying and I will take full blame.

 

My overriding concern while putting this schedule together was to do everything I could to equalize all racers access to both “bench” time and “track” time with their hand-out motors. I feel that this schedule is the best balance within reason I could ask for giving almost everyone equal access.

 

Since this has not been done before I’m sure there will be snags and issues that will need to be addressed. Hopefully all minor. Some changes may need to be made when real-life smacks careful planning in the face. Your patience and understanding will go a long way towards getting things fixed. Understand that at all times fairness and equality are my overarching goal. Of course, alongside fun and exciting racing.

 

As always, your help is appreciated and constructive criticism is encouraged.

 

We will use a controlled practice format. The format is simple. Drivers will form two lines, one starting at Red Lane and one starting at Black Lane. Those starting on Red will use normal lane rotation (Red - Green - Blue - Purple) then leave the track after Purple and re-join the line if wanted. Those starting on Black will also follow normal rotation (Black - Yellow - Orange - White) and leave the track after White to re-join the line if needed. Please check the schedule to see how much time is allowed on each lane for the individual days. The track will automatically shut off and announce the change with a 30 second pause before power is restored.

 

In an effort to improve the practice sessions the lines will form for the Black Lane rotation in the "Finger" and the "Ninety" for the Red Lane rotation. Drivers will help marshal the "Finger" then move to the "Deadman" then to the "On Deck" position at the drivers panel (Black rotation). Red rotation will first marshal the "Ninety", move to the "Doughnut," then the "Leadon", before hooking up to Red Lane. Your cooperation should make this a much better practice experience.

 

The track will be cleaned and spray glued on Wednesday, March 15, and the track WILL BE CLOSED FOR RACING until Thursday morning March, 16.

 

Monday, March 13 - closed

 

Tuesday, March 14 - open 10 AM to 6 PM

Track Pass - $10 all day

 

Wednesday, March 15 - open 10 AM to 8 PM

Track Pass - $10 all day

Controlled practice* - 10 minutes per lane

(Track will be cleaned and sprayed glued for the final time after closing)

 

Thursday, March 16 - open 10 AM to 10 PM

Track Pass - $10 all day

Controlled practice* - 5 minutes per lane

Parma PSE Paint Clinic 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Soon after the Paint Clinic ends tech sheets along with hand-out motors will go on sale. However, NO MOTOR will be released until 6:30 PM. This is to reduce congestion at motor release time.

 

6:30 PM – Track power will be shut off and Hand-out Motors will be released / registration continues.

8:00 PM – Track power turned back on for practice. ALL MOTORS MUST BE RETURNED TO IMPOUND BEFORE 8:00 PM OR MOTOR(S) WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

 

We will impound motors only - OR - we also can impound complete cars if you want to save time Friday morning.

 

Friday, March 17 - open 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM

7:30 AM Registration /hand-outs sales opens for GT Coupe FK ONLY!

 

8:00 AM Motors released for GT Coupe FK racers. Motors / Cars released for GT Coupe PRO racers. Track power ON for REGISTERED GT Coupe Pro racers ONLY!

The GT Coupe Pro eligibility list can be found HERE

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

 

9:30 AM Practice for GT Coupe Pro ends

Tech for GT Coupe Pro opens

Track power ON for REGISTERED GT Coupe FK racers ONLY!

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

 

11:00 AM Practice for GT Coupe FK ends

Tech for GT Coupe FK opens

Qualifying for GT Coupe Pro begins. GT Coupe FK qualifying follows.

 

ALL motors that you want to be eligible for Can-Am MUST be brought to GT Coupe tech and be impounded along with your GT Coupe Car

 

After all qualifying is complete the GT Coupe FK Mains begin followed by the GT Coupe Pro mains.

 

An announcement will be made during the afternoon when those who have not yet purchased motors for Can-Am can do so. All of these motors will be released at the same time and will be required to be returned to impound 90 minutes later.

 

The track will be open for practice after all racing is complete.

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

 

ALL motors MUST remain in impound to be eligible to be used in Can-Am.

 

Saturday, March 18 - open 7:30 AM to ???

7:30 AM Registration opens for all Can-Am racers

A entry number and group number will be given you when you register. Those numbers will stay the same for the entire event. Those who raced GT Coupe (Pro or FK) will already have an entry number. Most, if not all, racers who purchased motors either Thursday or Friday will be in Group 1.

 

Motor sales opens for those who have not yet purchased their Can-Am hand-outs. You will be part of Group 2.

 

We will do our best to balance the number of racers in both groups.

 

8:00 AM Motors / Cars released for Group 1 Can-Am racers. Motors released to Group 2 Can-Am racers. Track power ON for REGISTERED Group 1 Can-Am racers ONLY!

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

 

9:30 AM Practice for Group 1 Can-Am ends

Tech for Group 1 Can-Am opens

Track power ON for Group 2 Can-Am racers ONLY!

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

 

11:00 AM Practice for Group 2 Can-Am ends

Tech for Group 2 Can-Am opens

Qualifying for Group 1 Can-Am begins followed by Group 2

Racing immediately follows qualifying

 

After all qualifying is complete we will split Senior racers from Open racers and race Senior first. Senior classes are “one and done” style mains.

 

Sunday, March 19 - open 7:30 to ??

7:30 AM Registration opens for Retro F1

 

8:00 AM Track power ON for REGISTERED Group 1 Retro F1 racers ONLY!

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

Registration opens for Group 2 Retro F1 racers

 

9:15 AM Practice for Group 1 Retro F1 ends

Tech for Group 1 Retro F1 opens

Track power ON for Group 2 Retro F1 racers ONLY!

Controlled practice* - 3 minutes per lane

 

10:30 AM Practice for Group 2 Retro F1 ends

Tech for Group 2 Retro F1 opens

Qualifying for Group 1 Retro F1 begins followed by Group 2

Racing immediately follows qualifying

 

After all qualifying is complete we will split Senior racers from Open racers and race Senior first. Senior classes are “one and done” style mains.

[gotboostedvr6]

LOL. What a cluster of fun.

[slick in the slot]

Extra motors returned at tech. But do you plan on impounding the Coupe car we raced overnight or will we have the opportunity to take the motor out so we can have the chassis back?

[slick in the slot]

Also the Coupe FK guys will get their motors on Thursday at 6:30 to be returned at 8.00. And then they will get them back at 8:00 on Friday for the 9:30 practice, correct??

 

Thanks.

[gfox]

Mike,

In your post #130 in the original 'R4/10 motor announcement' in reply to Dan Ebert you state racers will have additional time Friday afternoon to 'bench prep' their motors.

In the 'daily schedule' topic I don't see any additional time as racers are required to turn in all their motors during Coupe tech. I think all the racers would appreciate not having to turn in their motors till closing on Friday night.

[willy wonka]

I totally agree. What's the point of impounding the motors while we're still at the track? That extra time was what I was banking on to get a real good understanding of my picked motors. I just dont see the point in it. As im sure many racers will agree...

[Butters37]

So if this schedule stands as true we have about three hours to break-in Can-Am motors? I was under the impression we could keep them Friday and return them to impound before closing time on Friday in order to maximize break-in.

[Butters37]

It's sounds like it's water break-in or take your chances with a motor that's fresh at this point.

[willy wonka]

So if this schedule stands as true we have about three hours to break-in Can-Am motors? I was under the impression we could keep them Friday and return them to impound before closing time on Friday in order to maximize break-in.

Pretty sure we all were under that assumption. Considering Mike said we would have "additional time."

[willy wonka]

Everyone will have equal prep time. And there will be a lot of down time Friday to bench prepare your Can-Am motors Friday during GTC racing. And many have said they plan on using GTC as motor testing for Can-Am. So... coming as early as you said you had planned you would have plenty of time to get your cars sorted. Thursday night you can have six motors to bench prep and Friday morning to track test, Friday afternoon for additional bench prep if needed, and Saturday morning for additional track test.

This is one statement made by Mike. Plenty of down time for bench prep on friday. Yet somewhere between then and now things have changed? Why gear one of the biggest Retro events towards the racer who shows up on race day trying to equalize the time a racer gets? I'm pretty sure well over 75% of racers at this event will be traveling far from home.

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

Also the Coupe FK guys will get their motors on Thursday at 6:30 to be returned at 8.00. And then they will get them back at 8:00 on Friday for the 9:30 practice, correct??

 

Extra motors returned at tech. But do you plan on impounding the Coupe car we raced overnight or will we have the opportunity to take the motor out so we can have the chassis back?

 

Yes and yes.

[Jimmy Williams]

I also do not understand why the track is off when we get the motors on Thursday. We are being left with 90 minutes on Friday morning to test up to 6sixmotors and still have to decide on cars, tires, and other things within that 90 minutes.

[DOCinCanton]

I can't get past Thursday right now. So confused. Here is Thursday schedule.

 

Thursday, March 16 - open 10 AM to 10 PM

Track Pass - $10 all day

Controlled practice* - 5 minutes per lane

Parma PSE Paint Clinic 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Soon after the Paint Clinic ends tech sheets along with hand-out motors will go on sale. However, NO MOTOR will be released until 6:30 PM. This is to reduce congestion at motor release time.

 

6:30 PM – Track power will be shut off and Hand-out Motors will be released / registration continues.

8:00 PM – Track power turned back on for practice. ALL MOTORS MUST BE RETURNED TO IMPOUND BEFORE 8:00 PM OR MOTOR(S) WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

 

So track power is shut off at 6:30 PM and the hand-out motors are given out; but at 8 PM the track power is turned on, but the hand-out motors must be given back in by 8 PM.

 

Am I missing something? In order words, no track time for the hand-out motors. Is that right?

 

EDIT: I did not mean my post to be critical; I thought that it might have been a typo or I did not understand the schedule. I apologize to anyone who took my post the wrong way.

[willy wonka]

Right. Not missing anything. Shaking my head.

[slick in the slot]

I can't get past Thursday right now. So confused. Here is Thursday schedule.

 

Thursday, March 16 - open 10 AM to 10 PM

Track Pass - $10 all day

Controlled practice* - 5 minutes per lane

Parma PSE Paint Clinic 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Soon after the Paint Clinic ends tech sheets along with hand-out motors will go on sale. However, NO MOTOR will be released until 6:30 PM. This is to reduce congestion at motor release time.

 

6:30 PM – Track power will be shut off and Hand-out Motors will be released / registration continues.

8:00 PM – Track power turned back on for practice. ALL MOTORS MUST BE RETURNED TO IMPOUND BEFORE 8:00 PM OR MOTOR(S) WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

 

So track power is shut off at 6:30 PM and the hand-out motors are given out; but at 8 PM the track power is turned on, but the hand-out motors must be given back in by 8 PM.

 

Am I missing something? In order words, no track time for the hand-out motors. Is that right?

 

EDIT: I did not mean my post to be critical; I thought that it might have been a typo or I did not understand the schedule. I apologize to anyone who took my post the wrong way.

 

Doc,

 

I believe the reasoning is to give the guys that show up on Thursday no advantage over the guys that show up on Friday.

[Brinkley47]

You mentioned constructive criticism, Mike. Here we go. We are all worried about time with these motors.

Please let us keep the motors until close Thursday and Friday and keep the track on all weekend. Track time is minimal at best for the R4. Please don't take track time away from us by shutting the track off.

That is my opinion. I will give it my best no matter what.

[Brinkley47]

Slot cars

[Jay Guard]

Mike:

 

I understand why you are setting up the schedule as you are but I would like to make a hopefully helpful suggestion since this is an unusual and slightly complex game plan.

 

I would post the schedule for all to see on a poster board but even go so far as to make a bunch of copies so the racers can have them on hand and don't have to keep running back to the post or keep asking you questions over and over.

[gfox]

So Group 2 racers get three hours to prep their motors before their track time is on at 9:30 Fri morning (1.5 hour. Thurs. and 1.5 hours Fri morning) while Group 1 only gets 1.5 hours to prep their motors Thurs. before the track turns on Fri. morning?

 

Seems fair to me LOL.

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

Yes, I did originally say there would be additional break-in time Friday afternoon. And the original schedule allowed for that. But one of the reasons I didn't post a schedule until now was, while proo reading it, I realized that giving some racers access all day Friday to their motors was making everything else we were doing to makes things equal a waste of time. Why go through all the trouble with hand-outs to try and take the motor out of the equation (one of IRRA^®'s goals) and give unequal access to "bench" and "track" time to some racers?

 

Handing out motors on Thursday night will help reduce some of the "thrash" on Friday morning. But if I didn't turn off track power on Thursday night those racers who could come early would get twice the "track" time with their motors. And if I didn't impound the motors at GTC tech those Can-Am racers who couldn't come until Saturday morning would have hours less "bench" time with their hand-outs.

 

So, WIlly, Greg, and Butters (I'm not picking on you guys - you're just the first to post) I have no doubt you three will be near the top at the end of the day regardless of the format. I'm not out to screw up your race program. But IMO I have to do all I can to make things as equal as possible for all racers, not just those near the top. What if, for example, Greg wins Can-Am over Willy. How much could Willy argue that Greg won because they both had exactly the same prep time? Now what if Greg had his motors all day Friday and Willy couldn't come until Saturday morning...?

 

The point is, whatever drawbacks there are to this system they are they same for everyone. Anyone who sees this as a restriction to them needs to remember it is a restriction for everyone. What is more equal than hand-out motors with the same prep time for all?

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

I understand why you are seeing up the schedule as you are but I would like to make a hopefully helpful suggestion since this is an unusual and slightly complex game plan.
 
I would post the schedule for all to see on a poster board but even go so far as to make a bunch of copies so the racers can have them on hand and don't have to keep running back to the post or keep asking you questions over and over.

 
Already done as I have for most of the previous nine R4s.

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

So Group 2 racers get three hours to prep their motors before their track time is on at 9:30 Fri morning (1.5 hour. Thurs. and 1.5 hours Fri morning) while Group 1 only gets 1.5 hours to prep their motors Thurs. before the track turns on Fri. morning?

 

Not true, Greg. Look again.

[Cheater]

Penalizing a racer for showing up early? Why?

No, just not penalizing the racer who can only show up the day of the race.

Walk a mile in the other racer's shoes, you know...

[Matt Sheldon]

To start I trust Mike's intent with this race. I have a high level of respect for him as he is a detail guy and by the book.

 

I have zero issues with handout racing and I think this level of race at this facility is the perfect platform to beta test it. From the keyboard looking in I would like to see the impound process more simplified. I think the stringent outline Mike has orchestrated is with the intent on keeping things fair for everyone as well as maintaining the integrity of what a sealed motor race is supposed to accomplish. It does that, but it is a little overwhelming to look at in first glance. I think penalizing the Thursday crowd to wait for 5-10 racers to show Friday is a mistake. The majority is there Thursday, the travelers are there Thursday, prep day is Thursday and the beginning races are Friday. I also do not understand why the motors are not allowed on the track on Thursday. In my opinion it would make practice a little easier for all and less congested. The guys that maybe do not go through the intense break in process would be able to get on the track sooner leaving more space for the others later. I just see this as hurting the heart of the race with is the majority that is there on Thursday. I also believe that the motors should be able to be kept until the end of the day.

 

For those that are not coming because of the anxiety over not having the proper prep time I think swapping F1 and CanAm would help that. I understand why the format is like it is, but it would not feel like so much pressure having to thrash 48 hours straight.

 

Just my .02 cents, see everyone next week!

[Brinkley47]

Are fun