Rodalan Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 Don't you dread it when one or two cars crash out, the power is turned off and through no fault of your own, your car stops and you loose half a lap. I know this of course must happen to stop cars crashing into the deslotted cars at speed. Here's a idea, Instead of the power being turned off, why not have the power drop to say 5 volts. Just like in full size motor racing when the yellow flag I waved and all other cars would slow down. By doing this, the innocent cars do not get penalised and because they are going slower they have time to slow down or stop and therefore less likely to crash into the deslotted cars. Anyone got any thoughts on this idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P. R . Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 We tried it one race meet. dropped to 6 volts instead of having a yellow flag, in theory it sounds good But some cars just go better than others at a lower voltage which was a concern to some racers. Also some electronic controllers just don't like the lower voltage... Plus being on the lower voltage for a little time to reslot you cant reach the max number of laps that you could at 12 volts. just my 20 cents.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMick Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 All our tracks here in Adelaide stop the timer as well so you are only losing ground to the crashed cars. This is of course fundamentally wrong. if you crash you should lose time and track position to the rest of the field. I hate that TRACK call because all to often it is someone who has just come off and is stopping the field why they are put back on. I think the only workable solution is marshal's pay attention to you corner and get the cars off the track while others pass through. Easier said that done I know. Merry Xmas Big Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAS41T Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 You just have to remember there toy cars & it's a hobby.... People that are comparing slot cars to real cars confuse me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slot car tragic Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Here in Canberra I race with a couple of different groups but one of the rules they have in common is if you come off everybody just races on through. If the marshalls are having a yarn or it's late and just not paying attention, well it's your tough luck for deslotting innit? Several years ago we ran a mid week enduro series and a rule was if you deslotted the car didn't resume until all the others had passed. By the end of that series the racing was as clean as Chris. Quote Late Model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattcrackers Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 We have a similar rule to what Chris has said above. There is no track call button. If you de-slot it is your fault, why should others be penalized for your de-slot. Sure everyone gets a little sh@#y when you're car isn't marshalled quickly enough, and we all have those few marshalls who wouldn't see a real car crash let alone a slot car in front of their eyes. But if you don't de-slot you don't have a problem. The racing at WASCRG this year was probably the closest it's been in the 4.5 years I've been in attendance, due mainly to the fact that Syd has dropped the track voltage down to 10.5 volts. We still have plenty of speed, the times are still quick, lap records can still be broken. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espsix Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 (edited) I really love the racer that crashes, then complains/yells at the marshal for taking too long to put his car back in the slot, that's usually when I decide I need to take a little longer. Crash and Burn always teaches racers to drive within their limits. It especially stops the the first corner dive bomb. Edited December 8, 2016 by espsix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
difinity Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 I loved the track call in the 'old' days, running Gp.20/+ and sharp edged wing cars on metal chassis. Sure don't need or use it in scale racing though - the cars are just not that dangerous for a marshall's hand and they generally go slow enough to see them coming too. I'd say horses for courses. Of course if your marshalls don't care, or the drivers aren't careful enough, use the button to get their attention and teach all how to race with one consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axman Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 (edited) My personal hate is you're racing hard and getting closer to a few cars in front, under pressure one of them de-slots and takes out a couple more... a fast hand on the track button stops the race but I'm already stopped, held up by the de-slotted pack. The offending car is placed back on the track.. Still in front of me.. What? He crashed from me pressuring him so why is he rewarded with not losing a track position? I reckon the crasher that caused the carnage should be moved back a track segment or position. Edited December 8, 2016 by axman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMick Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Here in Canberra I race with a couple of different groups but one of the rules they have in common is if you come off everybody just races on through. If the marshalls are having a yarn or it's late and just not paying attention, well it's your tough luck for deslotting innit? Several years ago we ran a mid week enduro series and a rule was if you deslotted the car didn't resume until all the others had passed. By the end of that series the racing was as clean as Chris. Yep I like that one. Axman has a point to I always get nervous coming up to lap a slower car I will always pick an inside corner to make the move even if I have the pace to go around the outside. It is just to risky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry J Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 I know I'm not the best race director but I get stuck with the job at many MCN and APC events. I try to keep it fair but there's only so much you can do and here's how I try to make it work. If someone calls track I usually ignore it unless I can see a good reason for it. This generally earns me a lot of friends - not. Good reasons are - riders, car on the floor (clean the tyres please), car off in the straight (slot cars don't make good hockey pucks), car off in a spot the marshal can't reach, too many cars off in one spot for the marshal to handle (usually more than two but for some marshals one car is too many to cope with). There are other reasons but they generally require that someone be taken out the back and re-educated with a big stick. If there's a good reason for a track call but no other cars are held up or otherwise affected I wait a couple of seconds before I hit the button. Penalty applied and another non-friend acquired. What I would like to do is have the marshal pick up the offending car and hold it until the power is restored and any approaching cars have passed before replacing the car on the track. Unfortunately this doesn't work for various reasons such as personal loyalties, basic stupidity, etc. I raced wing cars for many years up until 2007 when I attended a race where there were more track calls than laps completed. After that I gave up wing cars as a bad joke. One thing to remember is that track calls multiply faster than rabbits, if you have one you'll very quickly have a dozen more. (yes, I'm aware that you can't breed rabbits from just one) Quote Cheers, Garry J Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espsix Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Garry, I think your asked to be race director because you are good at it, others should maybe watch and learn. It's never good letting the inmates run the asylum, and I don't see that happening when your directing proceedings. One thing that annoys me is marshals that don't lift a crashed car clear of the track, they keep it at track level while resloting it, usually to the detriment of a aproaching racer. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermouse Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 As a general rule we don't use track call - we have used it once or twice usually only when we have something like a loose screw in the slot causing a car to come off twice at the same spot or a major pile up where one car has taken out 2 or 3 other cars. I do agree though that the offending car should have some sort of penalty otherwise they get the advantage of track call for a major crash whereas someone who pushes a bit too hard and just tips out - doesn't get the same benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussieslotter Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 There's a guy in the States who uses it EVERY deslot. Yup not much racing gets done. Track call sucks but as Cam once pointed out its crucial when there is a difficult deslot under a bridge or simply a massive pile up where marshals can't keep up. Rick Quote 3 stooges, 2 apologists and 1 deep endless mess. www.scorpiuswireless.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodalan Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Axman, I agree with everything you say. If the guy you are pressuring deslots, as long as you haven't knocked him off, he should lose out, you should not. This is what we call "racing" My problem with the "track" call is that though I am reasonably fast, I am certainly not the fastest in our club, but I am consistent and don't deslot that often. I certainly would win more races if I didn't get stopped every time a track call was made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodalan Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Sorry GAS41T, If you sit around on the floor playing slot cars with you kids, yes you could call them toys. If you RACE at a slot car club they are certainly NOT toys!! If you are competing in a 6 hour endurance race we are having a great time, but we are certainly not playing, and every lap counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axman Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 (edited) Rodalan.. we're on the same page. As I get older I know I'm not driving as fast as I used to so my race "strategy" is just to try and stay on, keep out of trouble by being aware of surroundings, and let faster guys go thru. Trouble is, all too many times the faster guy comes of and buggers up my lap consistency with track carnage and the over eager track button presser. Then I lose all strategy and drive like a maniac to make up lost time.. the obvious result is game over.. Garry's right... on race day he is not the most popular guy because unless you have some kind of meercat ability you cant always see who caused what.. so as a race director most often you have to assume the guy that caused the crash is the one yelling loudest.. A slight pause in stopping the race in this scenario is good because it gives the plodders and clean racers the break they deserve. Edited December 9, 2016 by axman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springbok Racer Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 (edited) I have the honour of racing with Australian slotcar royalty - Kim (Axman) and Garry. There is very little, if anything, these two guys don't know. They can teach us all a lot. Therefor my thinking on this matter is certainly in complete agreement with their sentiments. Must admit, I do like the idea of clearing the track (most marshalls have two hands and should be able to handle one or two cars easily), restart the racing, then put the offending car(s) back on the track without causing approaching cars to run into it (them). Jan Edited December 9, 2016 by Springbok Racer Quote 'The older I get the faster I was.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAS41T Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 (edited) Sorry GAS41T, If you sit around on the floor playing slot cars with you kids, yes you could call them toys. If you RACE at a slot car club they are certainly NOT toys!! If you are competing in a 6 hour endurance race we are having a great time, but we are certainly not playing, and every lap counts. Haha that's funny 😂 There's a result This is my real race car I race .... And this is what I sit on the floor with the kids a play on Ow and this 1 Edited December 9, 2016 by GAS41T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry J Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Real slotters don't mow lawns Quote Cheers, Garry J Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAS41T Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Hey Garry Quick question? Do you remember the name Robert Berra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermouse Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 funny how folks get hung up on whether these toys are toys or not - what difference does it make - if Gas calls them toys and you call them - well what do you call them Rodalan - model race cars - a toy is defined as "an object for a child to play with, typically a model or miniature replica of something." hmm - my slot cars are models and miniature replicas of real race cars - hmm guess that makes me a big kid I tend to think if you aren't playing then in my book you are doing it wrong but then some people take racing a lot more seriously than I do fair enough whatever rocks your boat.... Track Call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAS41T Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Well said Dangermouse Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry J Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Doesn't ring a bell GAS, but I know a lot of faces that I don't have names for, or at least no surnames. Memory isn't my strong suit, actually not sure I have a strong suit. My observation - it always starts as a toy car race but quickly develops into a life or death battle. Quote Cheers, Garry J Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAS41T Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 How about Warren Jackson (jacko) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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