Electric Offroad in Calgary?

Sabben · 05-10-2008, 02:03 PM

Hi!

I wondered if it is any offroad tracks in Calgary for electric buggies?

I am traveling to Canada this summer together with my family, and it would have been cool if I could bring my buggy!

SUNA · 05-10-2008, 02:24 PM

Yup!

Electric offroad seems to be picking up in popularity again this year. Hopefully it will continue.

The track is RCGEARS. www.rcgears.ca

A lot of us Calgary folk also frequent the site http://www.calgaryrc.com/forum/

Sabben · 05-10-2008, 03:18 PM

Great!

Is it some specific days you practice? I tried to look at your race calendar, but I didn't figured it quite out when you have club races and when you have free practice/training...

MattDickson · 05-10-2008, 04:40 PM

Practice times are Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6pm-9pm

Race days are held on Sunday, excluding long weekends and provincial CORCS race weekends.

Sabben · 05-11-2008, 07:48 AM

Okay! I will try to make a trip on a tuesday or thursday then

Scottmisfits · 05-12-2008, 04:15 PM

The electric racing here is kind of hit or miss. The Nitro scene is definatley bigger but as Suna said, electric is picking up. Most of us have the electrics. Just give us a heads up and you'll be good.

SUNA · 06-09-2008, 01:25 PM

Anyway, there has been some interest in indoor offroad during the winter months. I personally believe if it is built people will come. It's hard to ask people to commit their time and money before anything exists. Lots of people may need something to exist before they invest into electric. I know I did last year with my B44.

Me personally, I have a lot more spare time in winter and would love to see this happen. I would even help get it going.

WheelNut · 06-09-2008, 01:41 PM

Here in Grande Prairie we have a carpet indoor offroad track through the winter, and it rocks! Definately not as popular as the outdoor track in the summer, but there is still a decent turnout for races. If we can support an indoor offroad track here in Grande Prairie I'm sure you guys in Calgary can do it no problem.

SUNA · 06-09-2008, 01:59 PM

CARCAR has offered us the space. The rates and times have already been negotiated. RCGears already owns carpet as they run at the World of Wheels every year. It's all ready to go. Just need someone to step up and make this happen.

Here is a thread that is getting some momentum.

http://www.calgaryrc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5511

Scottmisfits · 06-09-2008, 04:43 PM

I will be here this winter so I will be putting some effort into it. That being said, I do need commitment for everyone. I want to do an electric offroad style trophy race this winter if I can swing it as well.

MattDickson · 06-09-2008, 05:00 PM

I'm sure the RCGEARS Executive members have already heard about this proposal individually, but it would be beneficial if they came together as a group and discussed this in further detail. This is obviously going to take a team effort in order for it be successful....the 'one man army' thing probably isn't going to work.

At this moment in time, everyone is primarily focussed on their nitro rigs. It might take some convincing to have the 'powers that be' come together and discuss electric/winter business. Obviously the ealier they meet, the more likely a solid plan will be developed

SUNA · 06-09-2008, 05:07 PM

I will step up.

How do we get the ball rolling to take advantage of this offer and solidify our spot at the venue?

Please let me know what I can do. Scott are you leading the charge? (no pun intended). Haha.

Scottmisfits · 06-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Matt, although I appreciate the input, you couldn't be more wrong on this. I had it all set up so that all had to be done was a yes from one individual and nothing happened.

I will be heading this up in the same fashion I did last year. I will be talking with both sides about it again soon as this shouldn't be left until late in the year. I need to get this going so we can book a date that doesn't interfere with the WCICS series and also have the venue booked. I will also be recruiting a specific couple of people to help me with this, building jumps, hauling what we need from RC GEARS, etc.

This will take some money that the club doesn't have to spend on a venture like this and I have no issue with spending the money on it because it is something that I want to do. I have always prefered electric anyway, I just run the Nitro because that's the main class.

SUNA · 06-09-2008, 05:31 PM

Scott I'll PM you my cell number. Please call me with anything you need assistance with.

MattDickson · 06-09-2008, 05:53 PM

In my experience, team efforts have always been more likely to succeed than individual efforts. In any case, I fully support your cause and I sincerely hope offroad electric racing is established for the next winter season. I can't express enough how thankful I would be to have offroad style racing year-round here in Calgary

While it may be a while away, what kind of racing schedule did you have in mind? Once a week? Once every two weeks? Thanks.

Scottmisfits · 06-09-2008, 05:58 PM

If all goes well, it will be every two weeks.

Scottmisfits · 06-09-2008, 05:59 PM

And I have done the team effort thing and the solo organization. With something like this where most of the stuff is there, I just have to add 1+1, it's easier to do solo.

stulec52 · 06-09-2008, 07:49 PM

Scott,

count me in.
every 2 weeks would be perfect for me.
you know I have the cars ready to go, I just need the venue !

I can certainly help with track layouts for indoor, so long as you guys want to try 'my' type of track !

I was alos wondering if like you were saying plan ahead right? so, to that end, so that people know now what sort of things they might need to come race, could we start drawing up some ideas?
I mean are we talking about 2 and 4wd? together, separate? stock or open, that sort of thing.
I certainly don't want to look like rule guy, I only mean lay it out now if you think you have a good idea of what will fly, so that more people have a better chance of picking up, or readying what they already have in time to be ready right at the start of indoor time.

also, feel free to PM me if I can be of any help.

Woo Hoo !!! electric off road !!

--

Scottmisfits · 06-10-2008, 04:54 AM

Because of numbers it will be a run what you brung type setting. Until/if the numbers increase then we can look at seperating it. It will be a true race format, not like WOW. And I will absolutely take a few track designs from you. As long as there are no exotic materials needed to build the track, it's all good.

axle182 · 06-10-2008, 06:13 AM

Even if it is a 'run what you brung' racing, anychance someone can point us non offroaders in the right direction of what type of chassis to buy, stock/mod etc? Id prefer to buy whatever you guys believe will be the largest class ie. 2wd buggy etc. Im assuming if the venue is the carcar horseshoe club, Lipos would be allowed? Ive never done elect offroad indoors and would love to try it, im done with nitro so this would be a great addition to racing onroad this winter.

Stu, would 2wd be the best start? B4 or something like that? I know you guys use 2wd at the WOW, so figured the same guys would be out racing this? Any direction would be appreciated, so i dont end up buying twice as much gear. Also, not sure if its been mentioned, is this weekend racing? what nights/day are you proposing?

Scott thanks for your hard work

goatman · 06-10-2008, 07:02 AM

RCGEARS would love to see winter racing happen. It will only benefit both clubs, but there has to be commitment from the racers. Now I am not saying financial commitment, I am saying I would need to see an expected number of racers. I have heard nothing in the past of what would be the plan, who's insurance would this fall under? How much would it cost to rent the facility for carcar? I know Scott you probably had that info last year, I understand your situation last year. Using the carpet and jumps from RCGEARS? We purchased the carpet 2yrs ago in the expectation that it would last hopefully for 10 yrs. With it being used for winter racing that would be at least cut in half. Now again if the commitment is there and we get good turnouts then it wont be a problem, then we would be bringing money to purchase when it needs to be replaced. The only thing that causes me to be uneasy about this venture is the turnouts of electrics at our current facility, on average 2 to 3 electric vehicles show up on practice nites and race days if we are lucky. Those numbers dont work. I also know every year we have a very hard time to get people for world of wheels. Now I know there is allot of electric vehicles out there so guys all I can say is show me the commited users.

SUNA · 06-10-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatman

RCGEARS would love to see winter racing happen. It will only benefit both clubs, but there has to be commitment from the racers. Now I am not saying financial commitment, I am saying I would need to see an expected number of racers. I have heard nothing in the past of what would be the plan, who's insurance would this fall under? How much would it cost to rent the facility for carcar? I know Scott you probably had that info last year, I understand your situation last year. Using the carpet and jumps from RCGEARS? We purchased the carpet 2yrs ago in the expectation that it would last hopefully for 10 yrs. With it being used for winter racing that would be at least cut in half. Now again if the commitment is there and we get good turnouts then it wont be a problem, then we would be bringing money to purchase when it needs to be replaced. The only thing that causes me to be uneasy about this venture is the turnouts of electrics at our current facility, on average 2 to 3 electric vehicles show up on practice nites and race days if we are lucky. Those numbers dont work. I also know every year we have a very hard time to get people for world of wheels. Now I know there is allot of electric vehicles out there so guys all I can say is show me the commited users.

I'm not sure if it's fair to use the turnout at RCGears to be a basis for winter indoor offroad. If I owned a B44 there is zero chance I would run it outdoors mainly due to it's carbon fiber nature. Secondly, nitro rules there. I think electric will pick up...but it will always be a mainly nitro track. Summer = nitro, winter = electric.

IMHO if this indoor track proves the slighest bit successful I would almost bank on a linear increase in turnouts. If it is built...people will come. I also think this is a great gateway for kids to get into the hobby. Lots of younger kids with 18th scales and zero venue for them. I forsee lots of positives from this venue.