5 replies to this topic

[JimF]

Here is the current evaluation on the bodies we've been discussing... Main concern on the RF bodies have been that they'd be very thin and thus, much lighter than others. Additionally, I was concerned with aero modifications that might have obsoleted existing stuff. I was going to track test at Motown this weekend but it's looking like 104-106* down there and I can do without that. It's supposed to drop down to low 90s later next week.

 

Red Fox Coupes are approved. These are NOT too thin and aero is almost exactly comparable to currently approved and in use bodies.

 

RFD340C - Lola GT: perhaps a little more detail than current Parmas and JKs but no aero advantage

RFD341C - Chevron B16: Very close in shape to the O/S Chevron that we currently (occasionally) use but a little longer and maybe taller in front fenders. If anything these will actually fit a 4" wheelbase car which the O/S didn't all that well.

 

Red Fox Charger (RFD 343C) conditionally approved: These are not thin/light as I feared However, there is a potential for aero advantage due to the rear deck shape and rear spoiler. I don't think that this will matter and will be able to track test this coming week. I don't suggest you buy a bunch yet and besides, the quality of my one sample was absolutely horrid. I'm sure this will get better but right now, yuk!

 

RTR McKee: I have a couple and although very nicely done, I'm afraid this would take over the class. Extrapolating from what others have posted, this seems to be a new player in the higher downforce body category which we already don't allow. I will test this when I can but don't hold yer breath.

 

VFC Charger and Daytona: These are a little harder to get than the other stock car bodies but Gary Hooks showed me a Daytona a while back and I thought it looked nice but seemed thin. I ordered a Charger myself and it (is) pretty nice. I'd approve except that it is thinner than the current Parmas that we use. On average, these are about 2.5 grams lighter than the current Parmas and the new Red Fox. That's almost 25% lighter. The one that Gary got was advertised as .010" and it seemed like it was. The one that I got also seemed quite thin. I will test but I suspect that the thinner plastic would be too much of an advantage.

 

There will be more...

[John Streisguth]

IIRC, there was a batch of VFC bodies that were pulled from the wrong thickness material. It's the body everyone runs on the east coast, and they meet IRRA^® rules for thickness measurements (and trust me, it IS checked at the races! LOL.

 

Maybe that thin one was from the bad batch.

[JimF]

Ahhh, thanks for that info. I knew that they were the body of choice back east so was surprised to see that the two I've seen so far are clearly too thin.

[Noose]

Also, if the one you have has the larger bubble excess plastic in the wheel wells than it is for sure a bit of an older version. The ones now do not have this and have defined cut lines around the wheel wells. Also dead on at 4.5 inches.

[JimF]

More ah-ha...

Thanks, Joe. From your description... sounds like you mean this. If so, I'll withold judgement until I can get correct ones.
 

[JimF]

Update (again).

 

I tested the RF Charger yesterday on the hillclimb at Motown against the Parma Charger 500. I switched back and forth several time on two different 4.5" stock cars. For the most part, the testing was inconclusive which is (I guess) what we want. IOW.......there was no appreciable difference between the two. I did do the fastest lap of the session with the RF but it was only once and it was not repeatable so I'd write that off as a Hare lap. We checked a couple of distributors and they were in stock so Gene is ordering some (from ERI I think).

 

A few further notes.............

1. The RF was about 1 gram heavier than the Parma that I tested against.
2. The RF was thicker on the sides so the side flex was less than the Parma....
3. OTH, this kept the tires from rubbing as the stock wheel well cutout lines don't completely clear the tires.
4. The mold quality of the RF is questionable based only on the one that I have. Newer stock may be better. If you buy one, give it a close look.

Tuning and testing results to come as soon as I get my new camera up and running.