IFMAR Worlds Qualifying
 

OK, so I have some questions about how competitors from North America qualify to participate in the Electric on-road worlds that is due to be hosted by ROAR in 2014. Since 2013 is a qualifying year I wonder if someone can explain what is required to qualify?

As I read the IFMAR rules I can see that 20 slots are open for 1/12th Scale and 32 for TC.

The ROAR rule book states that the allocation is 30 slots with the possibility of more slot for the host country.

IFMAR Rules
http://www.ifmar.org/pdf/rules/ifmar...neral_2011.pdf

ROAR Rules
http://www.roarracing.com/downloads/..._Rule_Book.pdf

So now for the questions:

Where do allocations come from in the North America? Carpet Nationals, Paved Nationals, both or other level 5 races?

If you qualify in one class are you also allowed to run both 1/12th Scale and 1/10th Scale?

It says that the number of people qualified is based on the number of entries...is this based on a number or a percentage of participants? (I mean is it top 10 in each modified division or top 20% in each division?) The rule is not very clear.

If ROAR allocates 30 competitors and IFMAR allows 20 in 1/12th scale and 32 in 1/10th scale...which number is correct?

So since Rick Hohwart was the only ROAR driver to make an A main in the last worlds...that only locks up one slot in ROARs total block of drivers.

I decided to post this here... because the ROAR forums have very low traffic and I am not sure how much response I would get over there.

Anyway if you have some info to share please do...please don't speculate if you don't know the answers that just creates more issues than it solves.

The IFMAR driver allotment is correct. And based on ROAR rules I am the only driver qualified at this time. However since the races used to determine the qualified drivers are unclear, I have sent and email to ROAR requesting that it be clarified.

You will have to qualify in each class. Because participation at the Worlds by US drivers has dropped. The issue of needing to actually qualify for two separate classes hasn't been addressed.

My feeling is that qualifying for both classes is based on results at the ROAR Asphalt Nats. This is how it has always been and like mentioned before, it has never really mattered to to low participation by US drivers at the Worlds.

Lastly, I am fairly confident the US will get skipped over and the race move to the next bloc in lone (FEMCA). There are none or very few facilities in the US that can host a race of this magnitude. And many of the people capable of running an event like this won't do it for free.

I truly hope we don't decide to pass it along to the next bloc in line. I have heard of a possible solution if there isn't an established track to host the event.

Rick, thanks for responding.

I was also under the assumption that qualification came only from paved nationals...but will it be different this year based on the increased number of competitors that hope to qualify for worlds at both nationals?

I think the indoor portion of the Worlds should be held at a Convention Center and every state has a killer one..... With that, picking a outdoor track should not be a problem..... Lots of great permanent tracks out there to compete in......

...... Plus I think 20 to 30 slots is a lot for representation..... But that's just me thinking out loud.....:nod:

Stupid Question. Canada would be grouped in with roar in the us?

Yes

I can think of some tracks that could pull it off. :)

A Jackson/Horsham Worlds would be awesome!

Just have to remember that TC is on Asphalt and 12th is Carpet now. So both places have to be pretty close to each other if not at the same location.

EA

I do agree that electric onroad track presence is on the decline. RC tends to ebb and flow and Im sure the tide will ebb back toward onroad soon enough (especially if lower cost options can be had and can be raced)

That would be really disappointing if the US passed on hosting the Worlds. I know around here, the 2014 Worlds have created a bit of a buzz about running Mod 12th and Sedan again...

And given that the last 2 Worlds have had the 12th scale portion run on a temporary track built in some sort of convention center, it would seem that finding a a suitable venue for the Worlds is only as difficult as finding an appropriate asphalt location for TC.... and then settling the logistics with the host city for renting the 12th scale facility.

According to the rule book you can run TC on carpet as well, so you don't necessarily have to find 2 venues close together. A clever reading of 1.0.4 reveals that technically the surface is only recommended to be indoors on carpet, so maybe there is a possibility of running 12th on asphalt (as has been done many times in the past) as well.

I thought a couple of years ago they came out and said that 12th scale would be on carpet from there on out. Maybe not. They were trying to eliminate the "secret special" Yokomo tire.

Maybe a TC and 12th worlds on carpet would be awesome! Run one layout for 12th scale then change the layout and run it for Sedan! Would not be that hard to pull off a swap over with the day off between classes.

EA

i agree :sneaky: :eek:

I don't know what announcements have been made, only what is in the rule book. It is what is written that constitutes the rule, not what has been said.

I believe carpet was the recommended surface for 12th the last time it was run on asphalt as well. The wording I think has changed slightly, but not enough to rule it out.

You could argue that the wording has the "recommendation" only for it being indoors, not the surface type. But any sane person will reject that interpretation outright on the basis that an outdoor carpet race over 3 days is nonsensical. It would make for some interesting rain delays that's for sure.

There was some talk at the last Worlds of splitting 1/12 and TC so they would not have to be at the same venue.

I'd be all for a carpet Worlds if it was on the right track. A Euro size pro level track in a Vegas ballroom would be pretty good and would attract a full field. I heard there is a guy who has experience with this type of thing.

Wow, this would be awesome...makes all of the weather drama from 2012 a non- issue.

regardless of where it is held, if a class is contested on carpet, would it not make sense to qualify for that event on carpet? or for asphalt on asphalt?

just saying.....:confused:

...in a state that EVERYONE wants to come to that has plenty of attractions and the best weather year round:sneaky::D:nod:

FL? Cause no one wants to go to Cali!!! :lol:

EA

I hear Hawaii is nice also

LOL, there's room for only 1 and it ain't either of 'em.:ha:

Rick,

If I may ask, what's ROAR's priority in deciding whether the U.S. can host? Is it that they're looking for a really strong club, or a really big track?

Hey Todd, Organizing a Worlds is a daunting task even for those with deep experience. Significant dedication that will consume an organization. If your interested in more detail please contact me and I'll answer your questions.

I agree. It makes the most sense to at least use the mod class at the Carpet Nats for 1/12 Worlds qualifying. But in that case the 2014 Carpet Nats might be the better qualifying event if it is not held too late for the sign up process.

ROAR just needs to figure this all out. It has been so long since a qualifying priority list was required that they could get surprised by the number of interested racers. The qualified drivers will not be an issue. But you can't accept alternates based on when they send their entry in. It must be based on results.

I don't know what the actual requirements are but it is a matter of working within the structure of IFMAR and following the guidelines set forth by them.

Aide from IFMAR, a strong club is important in that it takes a huge number of volunteers to run a race of this magnitude.

I Don't know why it is so hard to find a track to host the EC worlds in the U.S. when the U.S. has sucessfully hosted two Nitro onroad worlds since 2009
,one being in texas for nitro sedan which I attended and latter on the 1/8th in Miami.....

I will talk to the guys at Gulfcoast Raceway in Porter, (Houston) Texas. This is one of my local tracks and is more than capable to handle an IFMAR event. I can tell you that from what I have heard, is that they had a really sour taste left over after the 1/10th IC Worlds. However, I think that they might be able to be persuaded into hosting an other event. They had bid on the on-road nats and if they would have gotten them, they were going to re-pave (although the track is still in good shape) in order to change the layout.

As long as there are guidelines with as what to follow, the organization, while time consuming is not a project that can't be handled by a competent group that understands how to fill out forms and is capable of coordination simple logistics. Now finding a group that is willing to do this is another story. If they do decide to host, I will try to see if I can help them organize the event. I would definitely be willing to give up some of my spare time to bring an event of this magnitude to the US.

Our problem would be setting up the carpet track. We would have to organize something in a convention center of some sort, unless we do get our carpet track in town by the end of this year.

New info
 

I was told that the results from both the 2013 Carpet and Asphalt Nats are used to determine the qualified drivers for the 2014 Worlds.

The number qualified from each event is determined by calculating the percentage of the total number of entries from both events. So if you get 20 entries at each event, 10 from each would qualify to make the 20 person team.

The ROAR team gets 20 spots plus 10 more for being the host venue. ROAR also get unused spots. There could easily be 50-60 spots for ROAR drivers which means that all these spots probably won't be taken anyway.

US tracks have to bid to hold a national?

What were the problems with the 1/10 nitro's worlds?

Rick, I'm assuming the same would apply for touring, where ROAR would get 32 slots plus 10 for being the hosting bloc.

Yes. And any unused spots would go to ROAR.

Yes, there is usually a couple of venues vying for the Nationals since it is a single event. While they have not yet announced the Paved nationals location, it more than likely won't be Porter.

I am not certain on what was the bad was from the IFMAR worlds. The only thing I sort-of-understand was that there was a big lack of manufacturer sponsorship and support. Considering the Economy was in full recession mode, this was a bit to be expected.

In this day and age, where there are less and less clubs, it is necessary for the manufacturers in the industry to step up and help organize these events on a much larger scale than in the past. That is, until our sanctioning body actually becomes a for-profit business where there would be more motivation to make a better organization in order to get more people involved. ROAR is terrible at this, but it really isn't their fault. As long as it is run by volunteers, getting things done is never going to be a priority in the lives of the people doing it.

It is sad that there might not be a venue that wants to host the IFMAR Electric On-Road Worlds and that there is a possibility that we once again, get passed on as a host. If ROAR is a serious as an organization, they should be on the phone calling every known track and club in the country trying to secure a location.

Last time it was our turn for an Onroad Worlds ROAR did not look for a track. They did just what they are doing now. I called around and talked the Kissimmee, FL track into hosting it.

I also did the promotions, fund raising and got Scotty to run the show. The sponsor money is there if you know who and how to ask for it.

The last US event was not the world class show it could have been. The track owner had organizational issues and failed to deliver on many promises. It felt like a regional with a ton of great out of town drivers.

Honestly, I think IFMAR should contract Scotty to locate venues and put on all their events. He calls them all anyways and knows how to put on a great show.

:nod::nod:

Can a club/track turn a profit from running a show like this or at least cover their expenses?

Wouldnt it be awesome if The worlds were held say the last week of Sept at the Riveria in 2014 and then the following week the IIC took place at the same track. World Championships first then the normal people of the world get to race on the same venue and layout as the WC was decided on. That could be an attention getter!

EA

Now you are just being silly. That would make way too much sense. It will never happen.

Yes, if the facility is in good condition and you get a person with a solid event planning and promotions background to put together a solid proposal and contact sponsors.

That's a pretty cool idea and is sure to bring more revenue as well as exposure.

I can see it now.

EA Motorsports is proud to present the 2014 IFMAR Electric On-Road Championships at the beautiful <insert location of your choice>. :lol: