U.S. Vintage Trans-Am Racing

[ApexSpeed]

Some of you may have seen a previous thread in here about Vintage Trans-Am cars based on TC chassis, or the various threads in some of the Regional forums. There are currently a handful of tracks around the country running various iterations of this class, and most have had decent success with the new/old idea.

There are a handful of guys in the Midwest who are putting together a sort of mini sanctioning body for these cars, and we'd like to try to get the word out to racers and track owners about it. It's been a massive amount of fun and real benefit to what I personally believe is a class that is suffering (touring cars).

We will be going live with a website that outlines the class, specifications and Association in the next week or so, but I wanted to get the word out before hand. The class right now is only on the local level, but to start with, we are putting together a series of races in the Midwest (for now) to get racers back to the grassroots of R/C racing, which has really been lost completely in the last many years.





Rules updated 6.12.08. All rules subject to change and expansion should need arise.

Complete downloadable and printable 2008 Rulebook is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format here. It is highly suggested that all indoor carpet tracks use these rules exactly as they are written with no deviations. Please try to keep it consistent and fair for everyone who may attend your track from around the country.


Trans Am Class Rules and Specifications

Body Specifications:
Late '60s to early '70s American pony car Vintage Trans-Am bodies only.

HPI part numbers:

17510 - 1970 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda
17519 - 1966 Ford Mustang GT
17508 - 1965 Ford Shelby GT-350
7494 - 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

Parma part numbers:

10143 - 1969 Z28 Camaro
10141 - 1970 Boss Mustang
10113 - 1970 'Cuda

Pegasus Hobbies part numbers:

PGH4001 - 1970 Camaro SS
PGH4002 - 1970 'Cuda
PGH4003 - 1970 Mustang

Body provided deck lid spoilers allowed (not wings). No additional skirts or raised/extended wings or air control surfaces allowed. Body must be trimmed at body trim lines. Full rear bumper required. It is highly preferred that bodies are detailed in race type livery in period-correct paint schemes. Fluorescent colors, wild graphics, chromes and non-period correct paint schemes are frowned upon. All cars should have a number on the hood, both doors and trunklid. Wheel covers of any type are NOT allowed.

Tire & Wheel Specifications:
The only tires allowed are HPI tire part #4793 front and #4797 rear, using stock tire inserts provided with tire and any HPI Vintage wheels designed to fit these tires. Five or Eight spoke wheels available in various colors. 0mm offset front wheels and 6mm offset rear wheels are intended for 26mm width fronts and 31mm width rear tires. 8-spoke Vintage wheels from #3805 through #3814, 5-spoke Vintage wheels from #3815 through #3822 and Vintage stock car wheels from #3854 through #3860 are all legal wheels.

Grinding of tire tread is NOT permitted. Sanding of mold seam to remove seam is allowed. HPI Vintage Slicks are not allowed. Tire traction compounds are at the discretion of the track. No other altering, changing or softening of the tire is allowed.

Chassis Specification:
Four Wheel Drive touring car chassis only. Any era or brand 4wd chassis is allowed. An Excel spreadsheet gear ratio and final drive ratio calculator for most touring car chassis is available here.

Motor Specifications:

• Option 1: 27-turn ROAR stock motor: No FDR limit, bearings are not allowed.
• Option 2: 17.5 brushless: Motor timing advance is allowed. 12.5 mm rotor diameter maximum (no "tuning" rotors are allowed).
• Option 3: 21.5 brushless with 2C LiPo: Novak SS21.5 Pro brushless motor (pn:3421) ONLY combined with any ROAR-approved hard-cased 2C 7.4v LiPo pack up to and including 5000 mAh capacity. All house track rules regarding LiPo usage apply. Final drive ratio is to not exceed 4.2. Motor timing advance is allowed.

Suggested gearing FDR recommendations:

• 27t brushed/4-cell: 5.4 - 5.7 FDR
• 17.5 brushless/4-cell: 3.5 - 3.7 FDR
• 21.5 brushless/LiPo: 4.2 - 4.3 FDR

Tracks should not dictate which motor combination a racer should choose. All three motor/battery combos have been tested to compete evenly against one another in competition with great success. If any one power choice shows a definitive advantage at a certain track, it is up to the race management to even the racing out via suggested gearing changes.

Battery Specifications:

• 4 cell NiCd or NiMh batteries, 4600 mAh limit (27t brushed or 17.5 brushless option ONLY)
• 2 cell ROAR-approved LiPo hard cased, 5000 mAh limit (21.5 brushless motor option ONLY)

Ride Height Specification:
Minimum ride height is 5mm.
Weight Specification:
Minimum 1450g in race-ready trim

Race Specification:
- 5 minute qualifiers
- 8 minute mains
- Absolutely NO IFMAR-type starts. All heats and mains should be straight-up starts, with random sorts for each heat. Non random sorts should shuffle starting order for each heat.

Optional Main Variations:
- 12-20 car A-mains, depending on car counts.
- Invert qualifying order based on random hat pull (top 6-10 cars).
- "LeMans" type starts where all cars are lined up on an angle to the racing line in order.
- Run track in reverse rotation for mains.
- Rolling starts


MOST IMPORTANTLY: If it's not in the rules, consider it illegal. The class is based on slower, equal playing field competition with less traction, minimal aerodynamic aids and mostly older carpet racing technology. The final objective is close, fair, wheel-to-wheel racing for all. All decisions of the race promoter or track owner are final.



************************************************** *******************


The object of this "Series" or sanctioning body is to try to get everyone on the same page right off the bat, and not have this class become bastardized across the country. It would be ideal if everyone followed the same class rules (generally) and was able to go to a different track that supported the "Official" Vintage Trans Am rules, and be able to race and compete with anyone.

There is nothing preventing tracks from running their own rules, but we will not sanction them as an official U.S. Vintage Trans Am race track. And obviously, being different right now doesn't help anyone. Keeping these rules simple and a tested formula that has shown to work very effectively will help get this class off the ground, where it can evolve and grow in the future.









If you manage or own a track, or know of a track that would like to be a part of this growing class, feel free to PM me here or on AIM/Yahoo (upon3) about joining the group of tracks who are have committed to running these rules or are in the process of developing the class. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about getting on board. There is also a form you can fill out on the USVTA website that will automatically register you to our Tracks section and get you noticed with local Trans Am racers.



doug

[SWTour]

NICE!

Nice looking set of rules too...

[convikt]

Good luck. Tried doing that hear a couple years ago, before the HPI bodies even came out, and only about 4 people bought bodies. Only lasted a few weeks before all intrest was lost

[Scottrik]

I can almost guarantee that if you created an allowance for 19T spec motors MCRC would join your league. Everything else is in 100% alignment other than we've adopted a more aggressive "success ballast" formula than you guys are using and we HAVE adopted a minimum weight at 1525g which is ROAR/IFMAR's minimum for 6-cell rubber TC. This allows "obsolete" chassis to be suddenly VERY competitive with the latest offerings from X-ray, et al.

We have spec'd 27T/Stock as an entry class here and 19T Spec as the "Pro" class. We've been averaging about 12 cars per race (as many as 15) which is UNBELIEVABLE in a small club out in the middle of nowhere.

I know it's your league, but there's GOT to be room for different power/performance levels, right?

[ApexSpeed]

We have roughly calculated that there are already 40-50 T/A cars built or being built between Trackside and The Track at Winthrop Harbor, and the number is steadily growing. Beginners and experienced racers alike, are jumping in at a very rapid rate. The following has been attributed to a very simple formula. We have competitive cars that are 9 and 10 years old, as well as relatively new cars.

Right now, we definitely DON'T want to split the cars up into fast and slow classes, as the main appeal to this class is the speeds and the ultra competitive racing that it allows for all experience levels. There are plenty of other classes to go fast in, and that's not what this class is about right now. We all firmly believe that splitting things up only dilutes the strength of the original concept, and none of us want that. There are 19T and 13.5 classes for rubber tires and foam tires that most of us race in anyway. There is no need to make other classes smaller, when they all struggle for car counts anyway. Wouldn't you rather race against 20 cars in a main than split them up into 2 classes? Most of us would.


Our only real expansion discussion taking place right now is how to adapt brushless into this class. Some of us believe that we may follow ROAR's lead in this, or just test the 17.5 ourselves, with the potential for 21.5 on Lipos. It complicates the rules a bit, and if one has a big advantage over other formulas, it either kills the class or forces guys to go buy more stuff—which is 100% against the intent of this class.

This is real grassroots R/C racing. Wheel to wheel and bumper to bumper for laps on end, with multiple cars dicing back and forth for position. It's consistently been the biggest crowd-gathering class at any track where it is raced.


We're always open to options, but all of us currently involved do agree on one thing—K.I.S.S. The more complicated the formula becomes, the less inviting it is to all racers.



doug

[Scottrik]

The 19T cars are anything BUT fast but remain challenging to drive with the no aero.

I am absolutely certain that for next year we'd create a "US Series" class here that did away with weight handicaps IF the 19T (or 10.5BL) option were available. The 27T/17.5, though, will be a MUCH harder sell for our more experienced racers. Maybe not impossible, but much harder...it's hard to justify your "elite" class (I would see this as the US Series class) being slower and easier than the existing HIGHLY supported version.

A half-dozen of us did extensive testing from last spring through the summer, trying several motor and cell count combinations before settling on the 4-cell format with both 27T and 19T. For us we've driven both (well, more than both, but you get my meaning) and our preference was the 19T.

Good luck though.

[ApexSpeed]

However, I could also see an alternative motor spec for outdoor asphalt racing, being 19T or 10.5, or whatever the equivalent becomes. I think anything larger than an indoor track might necessitate a bit more HP.

[ApexSpeed]

Originally Posted by Scottrik

The 19T cars are anything BUT fast but remain challenging to drive with the no aero.

I wholeheartedly agree that outdoors on a larger track, this would be something that would need to be a motor of choice. I would think that indoors/carpet = 27t/17.5 and outdoors/asphalt = 19t/10.5 would be a very reasonable rules base for motors. Outside on a larger track, the 27t on 4-cells would not be very much fun.

Great input.

[Scottrik]

Originally Posted by ApexSpeed

I wholeheartedly agree that outdoors on a larger track, this would be something that would need to be a motor of choice. I would think that indoors/carpet = 27t/17.5 and outdoors/asphalt = 19t/10.5 would be a very reasonable rules base for motors. Outside on a larger track, the 27t on 4-cells would not be very much fun.

Great input.

We're running on an indoor/carpet 40' X 65', fairly technical layouts.

[SWTour]

It is another hard sell for a lot of socalled 'serious' racers, but man they are great fun for local races..and IF you are racing someplace where your in front of spectators THEY LOVE the 'vintage' look and feel.

I've been wanting to get something like this going for year (We actually ran something similar w/ PAN cars on both the OVAL and Road Courses back around 12-14 years ago and it was using the Maubuchi Motors... AWESOME FUN.

I like that you've gone with a really slow combination for the deal (For small tracks) but I'd probably agree that for Outdoor Asphalt tracks - 4 cell 19t will probably be preferred (or something similar in speed) But if you were going to do that - why not just do 4 cell INSIDE on the Carpet and 5 or 6 cell on the Asphalt and leave the motor alone. (THAT Keeps things pretty simple)

I'm hoping to do a little 21.5/LIPO testing in the next couple months on our Touring track - in hopes to create a similar type of class.

[PitNamedGordie]

Apexspeed,

I am currently rebuilding a XXX-S for this class that I got in a trade. I am going to convert some of my 6 cell packs to 4 cell. The car is going to take a few more weeks for me to get together. (I am focusing on my TC5). I am looking forward to giving this a try.

[ApexSpeed]

Originally Posted by Scottrik

We're running on an indoor/carpet 40' X 65', fairly technical layouts.

Yeah, at this point, the 27t stock motor is pretty solid on the carpet indoor tracks. I don't think we're going to be real eager to make the class faster or harder for a beginner to jump into.

To see guys who quit 2 or three years ago building up old cars to come back and race JUST in this class, or a new guy walk into the track and have a car ready and waiting for him at the front counter, then get hooked enough to buy his own, is the whole point of this class.



And it's truly working.

There isn't anything like walking off of the driver's stand after a main where ALL of the drivers are laughing and joking and patting each other on the back.

[SWTour]

And it's truly working.

There isn't anything like walking off of the driver's stand after a main where ALL of the drivers are laughing and joking and patting each other on the back.

Yeah! I LOVE those kinds of races...

20 cars on a tight road course, slow speeds and DRIVING - THAT'S as close to 'REAL' racing as you can get.

[Scottrik]

Originally Posted by ApexSpeed

There isn't anything like walking off of the driver's stand after a main where ALL of the drivers are laughing and joking and patting each other on the back.

Agreed...we have as much "buzz" at the scale for post-TA race weigh-in as we do for any other actual race in the house.

All I'll offer is that your "federation" absolutely CAN offer two different motor specs (hell, TC and 1/12 have been running THREE motor specs for YEARS via ROAR) then leave it to individual clubs to support what class(es) they will. THIS is the "inclusive" means to build a truly nation-wide federation. We give a little (eliminate weight restrictions, etc) and you give a little (allow that more than one class can STILL create a healthy federation). I agree that Open/Mod would be a complete waste of time, but don't blind yourself to other possibilities that are out here. We're experiencing EXACTLY the same re-patriation of old and introduction of new racers you are.

[ApexSpeed]

Originally Posted by SWTour

It is another hard sell for a lot of socalled 'serious' racers, but man they are great fun for local races..and IF you are racing someplace where your in front of spectators THEY LOVE the 'vintage' look and feel.

I wish you could have seen the faces of Barry Baker and Brian Kinwald as they "guest drove" a car in the Novak Red-Eye warm-up race this past New Year's Day.

If the "serious" guys can get past their own egos enough, I guarantee that they would absolutely LOVE the class, regardless of the speeds. Our local guys who I would consider top level drivers are behind the class 100%. It's great to see all levels of skill participate. And so far, everyone has had the same great attitude. It's a lot like the Tamiya Mini class, without the toy cars.