Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

It's strange but those of us who've been around for awhile remember a time not to long ago when brushed motors cost around 30-35 bucks. In order to keep them running at reasonable efficiency we needed to "cut" the commutator, replace brushes and constantly keep an eye on bushings or bearings. That required alot of extra costs and they still had finite lives. Brushless is WAY better in every respect but the initial purchase cost is higher. Add it up over just 1 season and I'll bet a brushless motor becomes much more cost efficient than any brushed motor we had. Most of us had 2 or 3 different motors that excelled in one department or another to fit various track types or surfaces. Thats 60-90 bucks worth of motors alone.
Welcome to VTA !! Hope you have a blast. You'll see that your hard earned dollar goes alot further these days. Thank goodness the "good old days" are gone.

Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

+1 Nicely said Mike !

6376vette

If I'm not mistaken, cars like the Porsche 911 ran during the heyday of trans am. There were also a handful of c2 and c3 corvettes that ran trans am in the late 60s early 70s eventhough these cars usually ran b production. There was even 1 pantera that ran half a season during 1971.

I'm not arguing that these cars should or should not be allowed but the rules as they are written clearly state PONY CAR. The Porsche, bmw, pantera, Mazda, Datsun, and corvette are not pony cars. The only other pony cars that would qualify that are not currently on the vta list are the 60s early 70s firebird and the 67-69 cougar. I imagine the only reason they are not on the list is because they aren't available.

6376vette

Because if we followed the progression of the actual trans am series no one would be racing it. Trans am racing began to die out in the mid 70s along with the can am series. Fuel costs, epa regulations, sanctioning rules etc. Remember back then so many production cars had to be built in order for the race car to run. By the end of 1974 pony cars were almost dead. Even the camaro firebird and mustang that survived lost their heritage of pavement pounding beasts that fought for the title of king. The javelin challenger and barracudas never made it through the fuel crunch. People who wanted to watch a Ford vs chevy battle turned to NASCAR.

Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

Anybody like to see a little Trans Am info, here's a good site. Something to remember is that Trans Am was a class within the SCCA.
http://www.historictransam.com/Results.html

Flying Monkey

iTrader: (54)

What I dont get is SOOOOO many complain about the class and what they dont like about it and how it should change, but want to run it. If you dont like it dont run it plain and simple. Find a class you like and run that. Whats next, crying you cant run a nitro buggy with a Camaro body in USVTA? "But its awd" Makes about as much sense.

GP40X

iTrader: (10)

Even though the Novak SS motor is discontinued, they are still making the 17.5 & 13.5 SS motors for DODC (Dirt Oval Dot Com) for spec oval racing (these motors can only be purchased from a shop running DODC dirt oval rules through DODC for $79.95, This class also requires a Spec 3200 mAh lipo battery made by SMC specifically for DODC and also only avaialble through DODC affiliated shops). Maybe Rob could interest Novak in continuing the 25.5 SS motor as a lower cost option. I know they are still selling refurb SS 25.5 motors on the Novak Website so that is an option.

EVO, remember comm drops, various break in concoctions, long break in procedures involving both Naphtha and distilled water dunkings of the motors, Trinity Bushing Buster or brasso mixed with Mobil 1, motor dynos, a myriad of brushes, spinning motor backwards during break in, and running one motor a heat along with at least 6 to 8 Sanyo Red cell packs just to run Stock class so you would try to make the motors last more than a month (we're talking late 80s/early 90s here). $100.00 for a brushless motor is cheap compared to that.

6376vette

Awesome link. Taught me some things tonight. Interesting to see the classes develop from under over 2.0 liters to the 2.5

Looks like the corvettes and the pantera ran starting in the 1973 season. Arguable if 1973 qualifies an early 70s. I did find the tempest in (I think) the 1972 season interesting. I didn't know a tempest ran trans am. I would have to look again to be sure.

For our purposes I think early 70s would end at 1972.

At any rate I agree that the rules are fine as they are written. If they started changing them I think people would leave the class.

Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

That whole scene seems mind boggling now doesn't it? If new drivers could have seen the crazy number of brushes that were made to tweak a motor they'd be dizzy. I wouldn't give up that knowledge for anything though. It's made life with BL so much easier since we were exposed to so much variation and distruction ! I smoked alot of Reedy MVP motors trying to get the most out of Big Jim's motor tuning book (Yes folks...there were books written just about maintaining,tweaking and tuning a brushed motor)
Now repeat after me .."Brushless is WAAAAY easier"
Hey Monkey..it never changes does it !? All we can do is try and edumacate em'

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

I would enjoy it if I had a group of guys that all had cupracers with the smaller displacement Trans Am bodies like the 240z and the Alfa Romeo. It would be a great thing to run while our VTA cars are cooling off. But thats just a pipe dream right now. I would be happy with a decent turnout for VTA.

SWTour

iTrader: (9)

LESS TALK - MORE PAINT!!!!


I love looking at all the US VTA Paint jobs!! Let's see some more!

pugsly

I waswondering if anyone knows of any company that makes vintage
lics. plate stickers

CSeils

iTrader: (54)

Pugsly,

Check out : http://www.rctech.net/forum/r-c-item...am-decals.html for all of my VTA decals.

If you don't see your state or year existing, I should be able to create it.

Thanks for looking.

TedBull

iTrader: (3)

I am about to join the local VTA / Scale spec class. Been running novice. Got the paint done last night on the 68 camaro. I have never been around or owned this vintage camaro so I wasnt too sure on the paint or decal setup. I tried to go for a clean factory look. I need to buy replacment body posts to raise it up in the front. Current ones work good for mazda body.

swrobel

iTrader: (1)

I don't suppose some one could tell me how many posts I have to make before I can put pictures up on here from my photobucket account...