tim fry

iTrader: (1)

As the title says why is 17.5 so popular in US compared to Europe running Mod or 10.5?

nf_ekt

iTrader: (115)

Perhaps the larger and more flowing tracks that can be found in general, it's a bit harder to find that over here. Others will surely chime in with more reasons though.

kingbee9

iTrader: (31)

i would think that is the main reason. like my club track is 90 x 40. It'd be murder to run 10.5 on that track. Also, 17.5 is a bit friendlier for the newer drivers. if you've ever run 17.5 boosted, you know how fast that can be. 17.5 is a great equalizer, good drivers shine and still win. But bad drivers don't end up turning their cars back into a kit. How wide are your lanes? we get maybe 8ft. lanes. that makes a huge difference in addition to overall track size.

mracer

iTrader: (43)

yeah, on the tracks I have been to here, 10.5 would give you just enough power to re-kit the car on impact. 17.5 is a little easier when you do hit something. We have stepped to 13.5 blinky at our track and it seems to be a little more speed. Most of the other guys are driving it fine. Myself I am changing the layout with each lap.

Solara

iTrader: (17)

If tracks in US are all 200 x 350 each and we have no rain and no snow in winter....US will run MOD over the 17.5 in any time.

TRACK SIZE dictate the speed of the car, running MOD on 12th scale in a 50x80 indoor carpet track might be only 0.2sec faster then running boosted 17.5 on 12th scale...

AreCee

iTrader: (1)

We went from 13.5 to 17.5 (both open) and there wasn't a big jump in lap times. About the same for a 65 X 40 foot track.

dominick i.

iTrader: (123)

us old timers that raced sealed endbell 540 mabuchis can remember the "slower" days creating some great races. 17.5 is kinda like racing in a spec sports racer in scca.

nf_ekt

iTrader: (115)

The only track I've ever personally been to (the U.S.) that would be awesome for mod 12th would be Kissimmee Raceway. For the tight tracks I normally run 17.5 or 13.5 is enough.

Rick Hohwart

Track size is one main issue but the racing mentality in the US has changed. Eventually moving to modified used to be a part of a racer's natural progression up the ranks. Now stock results are considered just as prestigious as modified and there is no longer a stigma attached to sandbagging in stock classes.

wingracer

iTrader: (24)

My closest track is about 120x40 ft or so. We used to run 10.5 boosted and it was great fun but VERY demanding for the new guys. To try and keep the new guys around we went to 17.5 for a while. Everyone hated it. The cars weren't much slower in terms of laptimes but they felt like PIGS. We have now settled on 13.5 boosted and it's going great.

JamesL_71

iTrader: (13)

Great analogy. The Spec Racer Fords provide some super close and competitive racing, aren't overly difficult to drive, and are just about the cheapest fullsize "sports racer" out there. And the fields reflect that... Next to "Spec Pinata", SRFs are just about the largest class in the SCCA.

Seems to reflect pretty accurately on 17.5 1/12th scale. Cheap, not overly difficult to drive, and good close racing.... That seems to attract drivers.

mracer

iTrader: (43)

I think a lot of it has to do with track size as well. We tried 17.5 blinky and I would fall asleep while my car was on the straight. 13.5 blinky is what we are doing now. It is not crazy fast, but it is quick enough to have the "hang on to it" factor that doesn't put me in a trance while driving.

spooky 1

iTrader: (1)

We just started racing carpet here on 85' x 50' and the 13.5 blinky made us crazy , so we went to 10.5 boost and now we run 10.5 2s. The 2s made it exciting again and we won't go back. The 2s went in the 10th pans and the 10.5 blinky is our 12th. Soooo much better. 17.5 in anything is bad slow.

kingbee9

iTrader: (31)

in your humble opinion

horsepower isn't always the answer

CarbonJoe

Because ROAR says 17.5 is "Stock".