Looks like there is a representative on the IRRA board from almost all Retro groups except Retro East. Retro East was a foundational part of the movement from the beginning, and it deserves a dedicated voice in current board. While no one can replace the legacy of Noose, someone from Retro East should be on the board.
Regards,
JJ
From Matt Sheldon. I totally agree with Matt
JerseyJohn, on 18 Mar 2026 - 7:12 PM, said:
John - I agree with you on this
Each active region that operates under the IRRA ruleset should be considered when backbone rules that have been in place since inception are on the discussion for change. The messy part would be who is in charge or whose voice matters the most from each. This move appeases a dozen or less of the countries top Retro racers. That is it. It is a decision that simply moves the root cause of the rule change to the next thickness of body. The participants that were the cause of the rule change just use their knowledge for the next.
Retro East is for sure the foundation of what we know the IRRA to currently be. As Noose always said, it it doesn't happen out east, it is not needed. His iron fist mentality and standing firm on Retros intent was the foundation that protected the ruleset. Its consistency is what the true recipe of it has been. How the cars have developed and the quality of racers all stems from almost everything the East has done. I am not taking anything away from D3 or any IRRA regions with that statement.
I have always supported the IRRA rules regardless if I agreed with them. The fact that they were consistent is what has always been what mattered the most to me. Our participation at the raceway and the reason that we have been able to grow is taking that consistency mindset and applying it to what we do. Our Retro growth has been phenomenal for many reasons, but one of the main factors is that we are able to show that consistency within the rules and promote the equality that Retro provides. We have all weathered the motor debates and life of Retro has been great over the last five years. Hell, people even get along these days. .
From my POV the regions of the IRRA were ignored in this decision. It is not a decision that had the racer majority's best interest in mind. There were zero issues with the rule as printed.
"It is just a body." No, it is not, it is much more than that. It is the start of the decrease in value of what a successful ruleset really means and has meant. What is next is the question that should be asked?
I am not the voice of the Rocky Mountain Region. I am however the voice of our growing raceway with a successful retro program. Successful because our customers and participants have bought into a proven and successful division of slot car racing. It does not and should not emulate flexi or scale racing. It is not what the intent has been or should be.
