40 replies to this topic

[Eddie Fleming]

Barney,
I'm impressed they are so far able to run with just the motor bolted in and not triangulated.

Probably it helps it's a straight sidewinder.

With the can spinning the only way I can see to triangulate it or stabilize it would be to have the shaft all the way through and put a chassis supported bearing on the non gear end of the shaft.

 

They obviously have no movement in the motor mount plate as it is.

[MSwiss]

Maybe with the shortness of the motor, the triangulation isn't necessary.

Now that I've done the rah-rah, back to the other side of the coin.

Richard Mack did a nice bespoke chassis for that motor, where everything fits nice.

I haven't thought that much about it but I'm not sure you could have a chassis that would be suitable for both solder in motors, and bolt in, brushless.

Are the boards going to hold up to be in a car that hits 1/2" thick MDF, pretty regularly?

Two brushless guys haven't raced each other, yet.

Mike Low, without a lot of knowledge of the motors, has declared/assumed that they all run closer to the same speed.

Tony P/ ex-Trinity has already chimed in they vary like brushed motors.

To add to that, now that brushless is starting to get a little bit of traction in slot cars, I've seen guys on FB chime in how there are Robbie Rotor guys out there, selling (obviously) higher-priced versions of XYZ brushless motors that have been massages / blue printed / ???.

[Bags]

Robbie Rotor motor works??? Haven’t heard of that shop. 
 

I’m sure that if a brushless Outrunner motor was/ could be worked over/modified it would stand out from the rest of the field really bad.

I don’t see any reason to mess with them at all the way they run. There is still a lot of testing to be done with gear combinations on different tracks and in different chassis too. 

Very shortly there will be 2 brushless cars on the same track, I’ll keep you posted.

 

So here is where brushless technology is…….like it or not.

[MSwiss]

You're probably right.

Once people are running them, they'll lose the urge to be faster than the other guy and win races. Lol

[Phil Smith]

A lot of people post how great this is and it's the inevitable future of slot cars. But how many people have actually bought a brushless slot car? Other than the people that are trying to promote and sell them, is Mike Low the only one that actually bought one? Maybe they're really taking off, but it sure doesn't seem like it.

 

Again I think it's very cool, but I don't think brushed motor manufacturer's have anything to worry about.

[bbr]

Brushed motors been around 60 years in slot racing and has evolved into quite a nice package.
The usage of cheap (not so cheap in reality) chinese motors for racing about 15 years.
The infrastructure are well established for brushed motors.
It will be a little bit for guys to develop escs and brushless motors for slot racing.
It's being done. R Mack testing are real promising. Tom's team constantly making developments. I will also continue to play with these things, so guys that are involved - do the good work and good things will happen!

[Bags]

This is interesting……brushless too!

 

https://youtu.be/Pso9-AZrCVk

[Bags]

You're probably right.

Once people are running them, they'll lose the urge to be faster than the other guy and win races. Lol

In the future the racer will be able to change the settings in the switches by Bluetooth….I don’t think a motor that’s modded will be needed.

 

A laptop is needed at this point to do that.. 

[Phil Smith]

My guess is there's not many slot car racers that want to pair their slot car to their smart phone.

[bbr]

Anyone that's a "racer" will do everything at his/her disposal to win.

If using modern technology helps -
they will use it. That's always been the nature of competition.

I can't count all the different dynos and motor analyzer tools I have. Someone will always be looking for those marginal gains - all you need is to be a little ahead of the other guys to win.

[MSwiss]

In the future the racer will be able to change the settings in the switches by Bluetooth.I dont think a motor thats modded will be needed.
 
A laptop is needed at this point to do that..

Unless I don't understand it, your above statement is probably some sort of indication on how little you know about domestic commercial raceway road racing.

Probably 90-95% of the commercial tracks in the U.S. are relatively easy to drive, 2-6 turn tracks.

IOW, very few ISRA style "Flat tracks".

On those 90-95% tracks, probably 98% of the racing is with limited power motors.

They are chosen based on price, but more on consistency, and even more so, on appropriate speed for the car and track configuration.

This provides races with cars with close straightaway speeds, somewhat clean racing, with fairly low attrition.

If the point was to overpower the cars, and hope the drivers use the appropriate amount, buying a fast motor would be easy.

It wouldn't matter much if the motor was a little overpowered and a lot.

But having the ability to jack up your cars power, mid race, to a higher than normal/appropriate level, is not a positive feature.

Racers competing for the win, don't want other guys on the track, who have fallen out of contention, running out of sync straightaway speeds, to amuse themselves, or possibly put down an impressive single race lap.

But in Europe, where there really aren't commercial raceways,flat tracks are the norm, because the clubs are catering to enthusiasts, not casual racers.

Richard Mack had said on FB, and I agree with him, the brushless motors might provide cheaper speed for the ISRA guys, in their classes, where non-spec motors are used, and these experienced racers, running on multiple flat turn tracks, are use to dialing in the right amount of power, using their $400-$1,200 controllers.

[bbr]

slot racing is not cheap at any level.

 

I have seen guys buy a fleet of wing cars from the best to run at the big events, and another fleet for the next event.

I myself, while racing retro, bought 300+ motors, a couple K in dynos and such, about 10 of those motors can be call race winners.

retro chassis are 150-200$ from the best builders.

 

to win, $$$ has to be spent, there is always some guy that can spend a lot more than you...

 

 

at this point in their development - brushless motors, bc the esc is not fully sorted out yet, is suited to the "blip" type racing.

bc of the startup v and v cutoff in the esc. 

once that has been solved, real flat track is possible, and R Mack has a esc with low startup v and has been running laps close to brushed eurosport lap times.

 

don't know the survivability of the US commercial raceway formula, the overhead is costly - you have to be a rich owner, own the building, or like losing $$$.

 

the club formula maybe the future of slot racing if it is going to survive...

[Phil Smith]

How are brushless motors going to change any of that?

[bbr]

brushless will not change the nature of slot racing... racing - no matter what the equipment... $$$, talent, knowledge. and it seems there's always someone that have more of it than yourself.

 

brushless, another new thing - like aero on bodies, steel chassis, rare earth magnets, chem treated tires, electronic controllers... it's no worst nor better than any of the stuff that came before or that will come after.

 

it has + and -, and which side of the railroad tracks you stand on.
 

like a new GF,,, ask me after 6mo to a year... so far I like it!

 

maybe some of you will cozy up to it if it makes you $$$, or whatever rocks your boat

[Phil Smith]

Well why didn't you say that in the first place? I can't argue with any of that. Dammit!

[Bags]

This is brushless too !

 

https://youtu.be/9LPxtNH0UTU