Down Under Proxy Chit Chat

[chenglaw]

One innovation you might want to look at is choosing a "standard" tyre that everyone has to use....that might make things interesting!.

Regards

 

Alan

That might work well for some cars and not so well for others. A very grippy tyre would be good for a light car but could cause problems for a heavier one. It would take away the uncertainty and part of the fun in setting up your car and of not knowing if you've made the right choice until the actual racing starts. :clap: In fact it would remove the need to use the knowledge gained in taking part in previous events as the right tyre choice is just about the most important aspect of getting a car to handle well. A point which we need to realise is that our slot cars lack the suspension sophistication of 1:1 or even scale RC cars to adapt to a common control tyre. We can't make camber, caster, toe-in/toe-out and rollbar adjustments to compensate for too much or lack of grip. So with a control tyre situation we could end up with a one make/one model race which is not the original intention.

[hoffy]

I actually dont agree with the control tyre idea(but still agree with no silly cones). Lets look at the pointy end of the field so far:

 

Phil & terry are using NSR's

Lim is using Ort's

Sports is using MJK's

Magoo & Lenny are using Slot.its

 

I think it adds another aspect to the game

[kalbfellp]

Hoffy and Lim: I agree fully,everyone has their favorite tyre and different tarcks require different tyres. So far some of us have been lucky with our selection BUT all might change when the cars go to different tracks. No sillys,all rubber!

 

Phil

[sidecar steve]

Yep, I agree. The "controls" and rules as laid out for DUPR 2007 are fine. Choice of motor, gearing, guide, wheels and tyres makes one consider the variety of tracks that the car will race on.

 

And the real leveller is the how the different drivers will fare with cars they have little experience with. That alone pretty much negates the need for a control tyre or motor.

 

I was wondering what the general thoughts were on using a "control" chassis like a Plafit or Slot.it were?

[phoeno29]

I raced in the Race Across America in 06 and did ok. After 16 rounds, the cars in front of me were on slot.it hrs chassis and I felt from what I learnt in that event, to be successful this year you would need one of them. I felt that this year would be the unoffical slot.it proxy race across America which is why I did not enter. I like variety, the variety to choose my tyres, motor, gearing, chassis and car of course and to do your best with that you have.

 

To buy a car for a proxy race, add slot.it wheels and axles, an improved tyre, and a better motor you are looking at $100 if not more. To buy a chassis as well that wouldn't be too cheap, to only have the same as everyone else.... naaa not for me.

[Antony]

As a first timer to this series, and to Proxy racing itself, I think the format of one class with a lot of different bodies readily available, set RTR chassis options and an open choice of rubber tyre, running gear and motor etc is pretty much on the money for me. The rules got me interested and then the chosen class was the clincher for my entry simply because there is a varied choice of RTR models from this period. Personally I like to have the option to enter something left of field, hence the SCX "vintage" ferrari although my other potential candidate for the series was a MRRC chaparral 2F(I do plan to build this up to the regs anyway to see how it runs) For me a varied field of cars adds to the interest and the permitted running gear tuning, especially freedom of tyre choice, seems to be great for mixing up the racing from round to round.

 

As to running two classes and/or increasing the number of rounds and consequently the the amount of organisation involved, I really think that is a matter for people running the event(s). I can only imagine the amount of work that has gone into this current series and I am deeply indebted to those involved. Personally I would probably only ever enter one class as between work and a young family it was hard enough getting just one lightly modified car to the grid this time around!.

 

This series has been just fantastic in the organisation and it is great fun waiting to see how each race pans out.

[sidecar steve]

To buy a car for a proxy race, add slot.it wheels and axles, an improved tyre, and a better motor you are looking at $100 if not more. To buy a chassis as well that wouldn't be too cheap, to only have the same as everyone else.... naaa not for me.

 

Fair call. I just added up the cost of all the bits (bushes, guide, axles, motor, pinion and spur gears, wheels and tyres and including $50.00 for a car) and it comes to over $180.00 (shhh dont tell the missus!!)..... But then Armchair has a Slot.it HRS RTR for $49.00 which seems pretty good value. Bung on a resin body and you're away for under a $100. Of course, if you changes gearing, wheels and tyres it pushes the cost up but you'd still have all the slot.it bits left over for other projects.

 

If you bought all the bits separately and built a HRS RTR chassis from parts it'd cost $160.00!!!

[chenglaw]

Personally, I would prefer to be given the choice of selecting my own chassis. I opted for the Sloter Lola after reading Dave Kennedy's review in SCI as I figured it would be a good basis for me to work on, being one of the lazy types who won't do something that is not really necessary. If we had to use a control chassis, that freedom of choice is taken away and you would end up having to work with a component which is not really to your liking and chances are you'll end up with the same running chassis as everybody else, not really my cup of tea. We should remember that this is a proxy race which places a lot of emphasis on your car set up ability and tuning to enable er.. ahem..strange drivers to drive your car well and fast. It is not about YOUR driving prowress as you wouldn't even get a sniff at it once the racing starts.

 

The current free choice formula, IMO, works very well in allowing us to express our own individuality in our choice of car and setup and doesn't cost the world - well, it doesn't have to!!! (The Lola cost me only $65 from Armchair plus postage and the only additional cost was for a pair of Ortmanns). I'd say Keep the currents regs and do not change something that is obviously working very well. And I'm not saying that because I won Round 3! Heck, for all I know, after the next couple of rounds, I might end up at the bottom of the table.

[hoffy]

.....I'd say Keep the currents regs and do not change something that is obviously working very well. ....

 

 

Yes, agreed. lets look at it this way. Most of the other Proxies involve some form of scratch built or replacement chassis. This way, we are looking at a unique formula which, within reason, most slotters could be involved in. As much as a few of us like to play with after market chassis or scratchbuilt chassis, not all slotters want to do this.

[sidecar steve]

Healthy debate on the merits (or otherwise) of aftermarket chassis combos aside, there is plenty of scope within the current regs for modifications. Speaking of, any chance of a pic of SportRacers chassis?. It is a unique event and I'd hate to see this reduced to a one make race.

 

Soooooo that leaves how many rounds and method for selecting host tracks AND class of car for DUPR 2008.

 

I need to get an early start on adding Ortmanns to whatever car I run so I can be a winner like Lim :dog: :haha: :haha:

Edited May 23, 2007 by sidecar steve

[Sports Racer]

Nothing special

 

Fly Lola chassis with a Slot-it boxer motor pod. Bit of a mongrel. Motor has probably done a zillion laps in the past 5 years.

 

 

 

 

Shortly after this picture was taken I filled in all the holes in the chassis so that it looked a bit better and put back on the original Fly wheels.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Sports Racer

[chenglaw]

As much as a few of us like to play with after market chassis or scratchbuilt chassis, not all slotters want to do this.

For those who have the urge to scratch, there's always Phil's WPR 2007 coming up in the next month or so. Which reminds me, I'd better get cracking on the chassis if I'm to make it to the start line. :dog:

[lenny broke]

As much as a few of us like to play with after market chassis or scratchbuilt chassis, not all slotters want to do this.

For those who have the urge to scratch, there's always Phil's WPR 2007 coming up in the next month or so. Which reminds me, I'd better get cracking on the chassis if I'm to make it to the start line. :dog:

 

I'll race ya Lim

Mine is just a brass plate and an idea at present.

now the kiddies have gone to Uncle Bo's for couple of weeks to play at the farm I might get to it.

Cheers Alan

[kalbfellp]

I like the plastic chassis rule,but think the allowance to add motor pod and a few mods is best.Controlled chassis or control car is just like sending some money away and paying for some one else to set the car up and run it IMO.

 

Hoffy After that comment I will be waiting for your entry in the WPR.

 

 

Phil

[Sports Racer]

Phil, is there still time to enter the WPR? Where do I find the rules?

 

Paul

[chenglaw]

Phil, is there still time to enter the WPR? Where do I find the rules?

 

Paul

Phil has some draft rules put up here. I believe he has mentioned in a post somewhere that the first race will be run around the second half of June, so if you pull your finger out, you can still make it, maybe same time as me and Lenny!! :lol:

Edited May 24, 2007 by chenglaw

[kalbfellp]

I am the one who needs to get there finger out,I have the first car here and mine are still not built!

 

I will try and get the bodies mould this weekend.

 

Phil

[chenglaw]

I am the one who needs to get there finger out,I have the first car here and mine are still not built!

 

I will try and get the bodies mould this weekend.

 

Phil

So, Phil, is it going to be the third or fourth week of June? I need a date as late as possible as I'm right in the midst of building a 1.5L Lotus 33 for Dave Jones' Invitational Proxy which kicks off early June. And my chassis is still in the uncut and unsoldered state!!! Been spending too much time jawing with you Aussies!

[kalbfellp]

Third week of June

 

Is the date I posted over on Slot Forum.

 

Phil

[Sports Racer]

Phil, where do I go to get all the info on the WPR?

 

Paul

[kalbfellp]

See below,I have added the Rules link to my signature.

 

Phil

[Sports Racer]

Timetable? Tracks (and more important, their surface)? Where do we post our entries to? Next Saturday's Lotto numbers?

[lenny broke]

naff posting deleted by poster

Edited June 19, 2007 by lenny broke

[kalbfellp]

Sports are you refering to the WPR? If so the first race will be the third week of June here in Tassie. The first four races are here on the HMCC tracks then the cars will be sent to the UK in time for the Pendle convention. Graham Windle is still organising tracks over there. Once the UK rounds are completed the cars head to USA for 4 more races,tracks to be confirmed.

 

Phil

Edited May 26, 2007 by kalbfellp

[mr magoo]

 

Just been discussing the idea of an after market chassis (eg) plafit etc and the crew chief say "IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT"

 

I reckon the current format allows both novices like myself and experienced tuners to compete on a level playing field , I think the average costs of a competative proxy car say around $120 is doable for most and I have certainly got my monies worth... I own a plafit chassis and for the novice there are just too many variables and tunabilities built into these chassis...great for the more knowledgable guys but too much for me....

 

the other thing to remember is once the car has completed the series you will still be able to re-use and abuse most of the components for next year (eg) wheels, axles, etc and the other used parts will be transplanted into my other cars that need not be race prepared...... this is the best series ever but i am really pleased people are thinking about ways to make it more exciting...and I will certainly have a more competative masterpeice to contend next years "BATTLE" from what I have learnt....