[911TT]

Manx Slot Car Club Race Calendar 2012

Please see the 2012 Rules for the classes and rules related to the following races. Please Click Here to go to the 2012 Rules & Regulations page.

January
5th RTR Nissan Skylines + GP Cars
12th Club Nascars + Sports Cars
19th Scratch Built GP Cars + Saloon Cars
26th SlotRally

February
2nd Club LMP Sportscars + GP Cars
9th Scratch Built Sports Cars + Saloon Cars
16th Ford Escort Race + Sports Cars
23rd SlotRally

March
1st Team Race with Club LMP Sportscars
8th Club Nascars + Saloon Cars
15th Open Ferrari race (no open wheel cars) + GP Cars
22nd SlotRally
29th RTR HPI Nissan Skylines + Sportscar Race (No NSR's)

April
5th Saloon Cars + Sports Cars
12th SlotRally
19th Club LMP Sportscars + GP Cars
21/22nd Manx SlotRally - Glen Helen
26th Scratch Built GP Cars + Saloon Cars

May
3rd Sports Cars + Scratch Built Saloons
10th Club Nascars + Saloon Cars
17th GP Cars + Open Sports
24th Sportscars Race (no NSR's) + Scratch Built Sports Cars
31st SlotRally

June
7th Team Race with Club Nascars
14th Club LMP Sportscars + Sports Cars
21st GP Cars + Open Porsche Race (no open wheel cars)
28th Scratch Built Sports Cars + Saloon Cars

July
5th Club Nascars + Sports Cars
12th RTR Nissan Skylines + GP Cars
19th Saloon Cars + Open Sports
26th SlotRally

August
2nd Scratch Built Sports Cars + Saloon Cars
9th Club LMP Sportscars + GP Cars
16th Ford Escort/Fiesta Race + Sports Cars
23rd Sportscar Race (No NSR's) + Club Nascars
30th Scratch Built Saloon Cars + GP Cars

September
6th Open American Musclecars + Sports Cars
13th Scratch Built Sports Cars + GP Cars
20th Saloon Cars + Open Scratch Built Race (hard bodies)
27th Club LMP Sportscars + Sports Cars

October
4th RTR Nissan Skylines + GP Cars
11th Team Race with Club LMP Sportscars
18th SlotRally
25th Sport Cars + Open Sports

November
1st Open Ford Race (no open wheelers) + Saloon Cars
8th Club LMP Sportscars + GP Cars
15th Scratch Built GP Cars + Sports Cars
22nd Saloon Cars + Open Sports
29th SlotRally

December
6th Sportscar Race (No NSR's) + Club Nascars
13th Saloon Cars + Sports Cars
20th Devil Take the Hindmost with Saloon Cars + Team Race with Club LMP Sportscars
27th Scratch Built Saloon cars + GP Cars

 

[Priest'y]

Clarification please, scratch builds.

9th Feb Scratch Built Sports Cars to CSCRA rules, what type of sports car? They define 6 types or is it just anything in these 6 fits?

While I'm asking, in May saloons, again any of the sub groups?

Cheers Chris

 

[911TT]

Hi Chris,
personally I don't think we should be splitting into the different sub groups yet as there just aren't enough scratch build cars about within the club.

The sub groups, or different year groups are obviously the way that they should be split as some years have an advantage over others with wider tyres etc. Just at the moment though, we are still encouraging some members to get involved in this so we are just pleased if they bring a car that complies with the rules!

Just my thoughts, but others may have another view.

 

[Slotcarmann]

Hi guys

Just to confirm Steve's view on the Scratch Sports/GT cars - the whole idea is we want more cars on the grid, so we are looking for any CSCRA eligible car, provided it complies with the rules/regs for the CSCRA era/class in which it falls.

Steve - a quick question about the calendar for 5th April: in the calendar it states:-

April
5th Saloon Cars + Sports Cars

Should this be "Scratch Saloons + Sports Cars"?

Cheers
Dave

 

[911TT]

Hi Dave, no, it is as written, just the normal saloon car class. The first Thursday of May is the scratch build saloons first outing I believe.
I left it that late because there aren't many people with a scratch saloon car (including myself), and I was trying to give them more time to get one ready.

 

[Slotcarmann]

OK, just wondered. I can leave my Scratch Saloons for another week or two then!

 

[demontweeks]

After talking at the club last night it seems to me that we are making it even more difficult for club members who might want to construct a scatch built car. Why when we ran GT/Saloon scratch class last year have we now seperated them? If I remember correctly very few members turned up on scratch build evening (I did suggest that running modified sport class and then scratch might encourage more members to attend).

Why would anyone want to construct a scatch built saloon when we only run this class twice in the year? Surely it would be better to just not turn up, wouldn't it?

Please let us combine the two scatch classes (GT/Saloon) and encourage all members to have something to enter and have the opportunity to race something at least eight times a year. Let's also run the modified sports (as it was) with scratch class.

Let's not be too heavy with the rules while we get everyone 'up to speed'.

I have made some enquiries and can probaly get the use of a workshop where we might offer a session or two on building, perhaps we could just start with 'how to improve your car' and share some 'tips of the trade'.

Great guys, great track, great club, great Thursday nights.

Thank you.

 

[Priest'y]

It's within the rules to run a RTR car in the CSCRAP rules 'if in the era' which is wide open anyway.
As long as that is known I think most fellas will still attend.

 

[911TT]

Hi Andy, I can understand exactly where you are coming from with the scratch build classes and am partly in agreement with you. It was discussed at the last committee meeting we had, and the general opinion was that we needed to start splitting the scratch classes into the same as the Classic Slot Car Racing Association Rules stipulate. It could also have been split into the different year groups and types but it was agreed that this would be a step too far at present, for exactly the same reasons you mention.

Members have now had a year to sort some scratch build cars and there is plenty of help available to them. I am in the same position as many others, not having a car for the 3 different classes we will be running, but hopefully this will push me into completing some more builds.
Personally I'd like to have rules and classes that stay the same for a few years at least, but we all do this as a hobby and not professionally, so we adjust things as well as we can when we see things that we think need to be changed.

The calendar this year, I believe, makes sure that a 'normal' MSCC class is run on the same night as a scratch class. That was certainly the intention anyway. Last year it didn't and attendances suffered because of it. I think most members are like me, they like the scratch cars, but haven't had the time or put enough effort into getting cars sorted for themselves. Hopefully this will encourage people to build.

Great idea about the workshop session. how about yourself, Mike B, and Dave discussing this and see if you can sort a date out for it?

Thanks for the comments, if everyone gave us their thoughts we would know the direction the club needs to go. At the moment we are catering for all the different aspects of slot racing that members have, in the past, been involved with. No bad thing in my opinion, scratch building was an undiscovered aspect of the hobby for me and I've enjoyed it so far.
Steve.

 

[Slotcarmann]

Hi guys,

Some interesting and valid points and thoughts here. I think the key is to have full grids for each week if we can, no matter how this is engineered for the time being, so that everyone is included. We can always have a chat about this tonight and again next week. The Race Calendar is not absolutely cast in stone and can be tweaked as necessary.

As for the "scratch-build sessions", I have previously agreed we ought to do this, it's a question of where we hold them (the club-room would be OK, I think, as one option - Chris?) and when would suit the majority. I'm happy to pass on my "expertise", such as it is....!

Again, we can have a chat about this tonight/next week.

Some further thoughts from me for consideration for the Calendar:

1. How about a regular "practice/set-up" session, so that those who can't make it down to the club early on Thursdays can have the opportunity to tune their cars. Could be weekly, or maybe fortnightly/monthly?

2. How about seeing if we have any juniors interested in having a go - this could be done maybe to alternate with open practice sessions. I'm happy to host them, but all juniors would have to be accompanied by a responsible adult (parent or relative).

Chris - how would our hosts react if we wanted a second weekly session?

Let's have a chat about the various ideas we've all had, which could take the club to the next level.

Finally, see you all tonight: luckily the snow seems to have passed us by!

Cheers
Dave

 

[manxbus]

Hi Folks,
It,s not often I am prompted to add a reply to posts, but I want to bring a bit of clarity to the situation. Firstly it was decided to try to run the three CRCSA classes as well as the three "normal " classes i.e. Saloon, GP, Sports in order to simplify the racing instead of the initial confusing number of classes we started with.
I think that Steve has managed to organise a well balanced calendar for this year which goes a long way to satisfying everyones wishes for variety and with the exception of the Slotrally events allows us to race two classes each evening.
From a quick glance at the calendar I note that there are 4 sports, 3 Grand Prix, & 3 Saloon scratchbuilt races over the season which I feel are adequate for us at present, there is also a non scratchbuilt race on each of these evenings.
I also note that we have OPEN Ford, Porsche, Ferrari and American Muscle Car events which a scratchbuilt car is eligible for (if it conforms to the make and or description).
One of the points considered in running the scratchbuilt salloons separately from scratchbuilt sports was the fact that with the exception of ONE group (group5)(1977-81 German DRM Series), scratchbuilt saloon cars must run in-line motors, whereas several of the sports cars can run anglewinder/sidewinder chassis.
See CRCSA rules for clarification.
Whilst last year we had to combine scratch built classes to ensure we had enough competitors, as we now have members wishing to attend meetings across the water, we really need to be encouraging people to construct cars that comply with the CRCSA rules otherwise they will be chucked out at scrutineering at those meetings. Also it is demoralising for someone who has spent a lot of time scratchbuilding a car (perhaps for the first time) & following all the rules to be blown into the weeds by a car that does not conform to the rules. We have never slavishly followed all the rules and provided a car does not blatantly flaunt them it will be allowed to race, but any points of issue will be brought to the drivers attention for correction for future events.
The same applies to Slotrally cars which must conform to Slotrally GB rules
To answer Priesty's question, yes RTR cars can run in scratchbuilt events, (check the CRCSA rules, as in saloon for instance anglewiners/sidewinders are allowed), however if the Motor, Chassis or Bodyshell are changed or modified in any way then they must comply with full scratchbuilt rules.
I will make sure that a copy of the CRCSA rules is on hand at the club should anyone want to have a look at them.
Regards,
Mike

 

[911TT]

Hi Mike, all the rules that the club uses for our racing classes, including the latest CRCSA and SlotRally rules, are available in both printed form (in the rack at the back of the room) and also as files held on the Race Controll PC, which can be printed out on request.
There is also a link to them in our rules that can be located here: MSCC Rules - Click Here

 

[manxbus]

Thanks for that Steve- no excuses then!!
Mike

 

[manxbus]

Thanks for that Steve- no excuses then!!
Mike

 

[demontweeks]

Hi fellow slot racers,

I am aware of the rules covering the various classes and if you read then fairly carefully you can decide what it is you want to run. Mike points out that some sports cars can run side/angle winders (67-70 I think) where as the saloon class in the era's we choose to run it has to be inline except where a saloon car ran in the DRM series. It seems a little odd to me that sports 67-70 can run any motor combination but saloon cannot, surely this is a little odd as the rules stand but ok rules are rules.

[Aside] I built my Dodge Charger at a time when it was thought (not just by me) that the same sports rules applied to saloon. I suppose if I have to I will just add it to the scrath built chasis graveyard which is ever growing.

I am aware that if we go to race in the UK a slot car such as the one above would be ineligible, however wouldn't the majority of our cars be ineligible because we 'modified' rules so we could change plastic wheels to alloy ones and exchange motors to provide increased performance (incidentally doesn't this change discriminate against our newer racers who don't have the necessary tools or experience to undertake these modifications).

I know that during a club evening we need to have fun, and we do, I also know that for 16 minutes we need to be focused. Somewhere between the two lies a whole gambit of choices, rules and a vast range of experience. I am more than willing to help newer members but you cannot escape the fact that some members just don't have the necessary skills to carry out the simplest of tasks even after being shown. Rule changes can alienate the very people that we need to support.

Well done to Ray, it's great to see a new face on the podium.

I apologise to the commttee and fellow racers for my scribblings and hope that they don't offend anyone.

Looking forward to seeing you all this evening.

 

[911TT]

Hi Andy,
I really don't know why we are having this discussion here on the forum. The new rules and calendar were brought down to the club prior to Christmas last year and made available for comments/objections by club members. I know that you discussed them with some of the committee. Most members that I have spoken to seem happy with the rules and understand the reasons for them. Maybe the people who have objections or concerns to any issues would be better discussing it with a committee member rather than, or in addition to, yourself.

QUOTE (incidentally doesn't this change discriminate against our newer racers who don't have the necessary tools or experience to undertake these modifications).
We have said all along that help is available to members, new or old, if they are struggling with any of the rules or with any of their cars for that matter. I don't think we discriminate against them at all. Both my F1 cars run in standard form and I have only just upgraded the motor in my Saloon.

QUOTE I built my Dodge Charger at a time when it was thought (not just by me) that the same sports rules applied to saloon.
The CRCSA rules have been available to us since the start of last year and it is pretty clear that there are different sets of rules aplied to different types of car. Go to their website (there is a link to it in our own rules) click on car standards and there is a list of 4 different 1:32 car standards. These being:
1/32 Sports/GT Car Standards
1/32 Saloon Car Standards
1/32 GP Standards
1/32 Brooklands Standards

They do take a bit of time to read, but someone like Mike Buss or Dave Capelan seem to have a good idea of what can be done with what model of car. Decide on what car you want to run and then check with them, or the rules themselves, what you are allowed to do with it.

The rules are there so that no one can gain an unfair advantage and we are all working to the same standards. All clubs have class rules of various types, usually arrived at by experience. Our members also take part in two or three types of event organised in the UK, which is why we have included events using the SlotRally and the CRCSA rules. The rules about metal wheels and upgraded motors were brought in to prevent cheque-book racing where people buy several cars and pick the best car/motor combination to get a competitive car, thus putting people who don't have that sort of money available at a disadvantage.
Hopefully this will have explained some of the reasons your committee have applied those rules. Please feel free to discuss them with us on Thursday if you need to. Hopefully no offence will be taken, I'm just trying to explain, again, where the rules came from.
Best Regards, Steve.

 

[demontweeks]

Hi Steve,

I wasn't criticising the rule change regarding 'motor change' I think it was more about how we can develop the skills in are newer members so that they feel confident when it comes to using the sorts of tools that you might need when it comes to undertaking even the simplest of jobs, hence the suggestion of the workshop. I know that it can be quite difficult passing information to fellow slot racers especially when not everyone reads Emails, maybe information could be attached to a notice board at the club so that additional yearly events (like workshops) can be publicised thus ensuring good attendance.

And.