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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
 Posted - 29 September 2010 : 23:36:13
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Before you all go buying loads of new tyres, My advice would be to check out the new indoor venue first - we may be moved to a different 'hall' and the floor covering is not hessian mat, more like a felt carpet - and mini-spikes might not be suitable, possibly fluffing up the carpet. I reckon kit tyres would be sufficient.
Sorry I didn't put a name to the face Tim, all you white blokes look alike to me... |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 06 October 2010 : 16:02:46
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Considering we were not advertising last night as it was supposed to be a 'shake-down' meeting - wasn't it good?
Pitting space is going to be a problem if we get increased numbers next week, so it's get there early!
The fact that a few of us turned up mid-afternoon to lay the track the first time showed the hard work and expense of the timber track marking was worth it. The track was narrower than originally designed due to being in a smaller venue than first offered, but we often ran 1/8th nitros on tracks not much wider at Laughton!
The track was a little tight for the SC trucks but we managed, in fact it will simply be a case of getting the right tyres, maybe lowered and hardened to reduce roll - and Bob's your uncle. The buggies didn't seem to have any issues at all so it's all good.
'Dolly the trolley' made packing away relatively quick - how long the 'Heath-Robinson' creation is going to last is another question. The old problem will eventually raise it's ugly head, the setting out and putting away, I'm sure it will be same 6 people like it always is....such is life, roll on next week!
One major issue is going to be preventing the use of the only available power point for re-charging of batteries - ALL users will have to source a 12v car battery (in a box) for that purpose... |
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TomTom
Average Member
Kyrgyzstan
596 Posts |
Posted - 06 October 2010 : 19:07:51
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| Looked. Good. Hopefully have a truck next Tuesday. Cant wait!!! |
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admin
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1189 Posts |
Posted - 06 October 2010 : 20:47:09
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Damn good meeting! I was expecting ten drivers at the most, let alone twenty and spectators.
I must admit I was quite please how it ran, the timings and race starts where sorted by the end of the first round and we managed to get as much track time as possible with five rounds in total.
Just need to get some jumps sorted now.
So anybody who attended have any constructive feedback good or bad?
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frecklychimp
Average Member
852 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2010 : 00:15:06
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I can only get half throttle with the new brushless combo, can we have a longer straight and softer building supports?
Was a bit tricky at first, but with some set up tweaking and learning to drive much neater it was getting better and was enjoyable overall...
think the driving needs to be cleaner indoors with the SCT's as there is less room for barging the trucks about and the track is a bit harder on cars than bouncy astroturf... was a fair few high speed impacts with cars flying over the track markings onto oncoming traffic. (yes i know i'm one of the worst for the agressive/progressive stylee but there was a certain member that was taking it a bit far and needs a warning!)
Would it be better to move race control next to the rostrum or in line with it to allow more pitting in the allocated area?, sure if we all pitted a bit neater that there would be room for more bodies.
Can someone ask the question regarding food situation... are they going to provide or can we order in food, its become normal for us to get tucker on a race night and i wouldn't want to see Phil wasting away! |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2010 : 09:41:14
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quote:
Originally posted by frecklychimp
I can only get half throttle with the new brushless combo, can we have a longer straight and softer building supports?
Was a bit tricky at first, but with some set up tweaking and learning to drive much neater it was getting better and was enjoyable overall...
think the driving needs to be cleaner indoors with the SCT's as there is less room for barging the trucks about and the track is a bit harder on cars than bouncy astroturf... was a fair few high speed impacts with cars flying over the track markings onto oncoming traffic. (yes i know i'm one of the worst for the agressive/progressive stylee but there was a certain member that was taking it a bit far and needs a warning!)
Can someone ask the question regarding food situation... are they going to provide or can we order in food, its become normal for us to get tucker on a race night and i wouldn't want to see Phil wasting away!
In response to Monkeybollox sorry! Frecklychimp:
Maybe you should have stuck with brushed - mine was quick enough for indoors!
How is the track 'harder' than bouncy astro? - and we've yet to stick jumps in.
Name and shame that driver - was it me? the red mist did start to come down on Tuesday, if it was - sorry, but I was enjoying it immensely!
As regards food - we were told they might put out an 'honesty bar' with snacks (crisps,confectionery and a tea urn) don't know if that's a go or not, I'm sure that it won't be enough for some who've travelled any distance. Even monkeys need more than nuts..... |
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frecklychimp
Average Member
852 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2010 : 12:11:23
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The 6.5 brushless set up is very stupid... maybe too stupid for the outdoor track, but it can be toned down with a programmer and when i figure out how to gear them... its all a bit of a minefield but Ben found some saddo SC10 owners website with some helpful info!
Would have stuck with brushed but i melted them at the Carnage meeting... and a 6.5 is perfect for Santa bringing me a 1/10th 2wd buggy!
Your truck seemed suited well to the hall with speed... the old Tortoise and Hare scenario, not that yours was particularly slow compared to Lewis's 10.5 set up but probably a lot smoother and easier to manage.
What i mean with the track being harder on cars is the loose wood put round the edges and the tent supports are car killers and when you get knocked off line you can end up on the other side of the track.
I broke mine before meeting even started because i was being a tit (for a change) with a daft motor and no grip or set up.
The dirty driver was Nobby (surprise) don't particularly see the need to take people out everytime when they are 'lapping' and since we are now racing against clock again rather than each other its bad sportsmanship, i wasn't the only one getting annoyed with it either!
Its maybe only the minority that will use a food service but we need to ask permission for pizza delivery to avoid misunderstandings with landlords.
Think we'll all need something warmer than nuts in a few weeks time, Tea urn sounds good though. |
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TomTom
Average Member
Kyrgyzstan
596 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2010 : 19:20:33
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Regarding the actual race rules and frecklychimps comments. Perhaps it would be a good idea to make a "newbies guide" that explains the rules of the qualifying heats, finals e.t.c. I know when we race on the outdoor track Chris seems to pull his hair out because of people waiting at the start line for the race to begin instead of continuing on their lap. I'm not complaining or pointing fingers, because I think its just a case of people not realising how the heat style races we run at A1 are timed or work. I think if more drivers understood how it works, it would get alot more competative races.
Tom |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2010 : 22:26:49
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| Now that's the best idea I've heard in a while. I must admit that the starts and timed laps, staggered starts, et al confuse the bejassus out of me too. I start when everyone else goes! |
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frecklychimp
Average Member
852 Posts |
Posted - 07 October 2010 : 23:41:07
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Staggered Starts:
The computer reads start order according to transponder/car number etc in the order you finished in last round normally... it counts down... buzzer goes off... then as it reads your car number off you start.
basically we are all set off individually at intervals to complete as many laps as possible within 5 minutes, if you get over the loop just before 5 mins then you can squeeze another lap in.
but technically we are racing against the clock... not each other.
The rolling start nitro method is the same thing against the clock... but your 5 minute slot starts when you cross the loop for the first time after the buzzer... so basically when the nitro lot bunch up near the start line before buzzer they are just causing themselves traffic... best is to get some space between cars to get cleaner lap times... like F1 qualifying!
The grid starts we were using for the SCT's this year basically are the same as a final start, we are racing for position from the start buzzer, when the leader crosses loop after 5 mins is up the race is over.
The reason staggered starts are needed indoors is the track is too small to launch 7+ SCT's in mass fairly. tbh the 1 second gap made it confusing, think it needs to be 2 or 3 second to make it clearer and give us all a bit of space to settle into 'the groove'.
I think there was an issue with the system or transponders on tuesday as the results were a bit confusing, common sense says if you leave the start before someone and they don't get past you then they can't have been faster unless there was a lot of track cutting going on?!
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TomTom
Average Member
Kyrgyzstan
596 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2010 : 19:19:29
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| Well put. Is there any way that can be put in a prominent place in the forum to make it easy to find? |
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miniracertim
New Member
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2010 : 19:38:49
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I have some rolls of rubber cable protector going FOC if you want something to protect cars from the building supports!
I aim to be there next week so can discuss then. |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 08 October 2010 : 23:08:45
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| That's very generous Tim, would it be convenient to bring some down so we can see what you have on offer? |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 18 November 2010 : 15:10:46
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A bit of information for you all.......Following the dampish evening we had last Tuesday, Iain Hammond has done a bit of negotiation and acquired the use of heating for Tuesday nights!
The management have said they will power it up late afternoon before we get there and so we should be a lot more comfortable when we start racing! |
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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
Posted - 30 November 2010 : 10:33:08
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Question has been posted elsewhere thought I'd ask in this thread as well - Due to the heavy snowfall, are we racing tonight (Tuesday 30th)....?
I'm in and ready to go...so it's a YES from me...anyother takers? |
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