I don't find out... I replace my batteries every year....

This rule change has no value to the sport if you ask me. Adding 0.1V isn't going to make a difference, in mod classes, you can run whatever motor you want until you have enough power. People run 7.5 motors in 2WD buggy and already have more power than the track can handle, adding 0.1V won't make a difference.

I only see this being a factor in "stock" racing, where maximum power is necessary out of the 17.5 motors. They already run crazy boost and have to gear to the moon to get the power, so adding 0.1V may help them get that edge on their opponent. It's already the biggest "wallet racing" class already, factor in shortened battery lifetime, and ROAR is only making the 17.5 class more inaccessible to budget racers.

My biggest fear about this rule change is the inexperienced racer trying to squeeze extra power out by running their lipos at 8.5V. How many racers are going to pop their lipo on the charger, without a lipo sack, put their charger into NiMh mode, then head to the driver stand and leave their charger unattended while they're racing another class.

Do you want the guy next to your pit space using a NiMh mode to charge their lipo to get extra power out? I don't.

Searched the ROAR site for info on this and came up with nothing. Wonder if this is a holdover from an April fools joke that was circulating?

At least it would stop the STUPID STUPID idea that when you tech your car if it is over voltage you can't just run it for a second....
That is the Dumbest thing

+1, I was DQ'd a qualifier at 1/8 Nats last year because my LiPo read 16.81V on their multimeter.

Depends on what you are racing.

In my 1c carpet oval car, the difference between 4.20v and 4.22v is about 0.2 second - per lap - in my car. When you run lap times in the low four second range in a horsepower limited class in a car that's hooked up to the point where you are full punch from tone to tone, everything matters.

In my SC truck, I could likely not charge the battery for two rounds and degrade my lap times. Might be harder to jump the triple.

I was sharing in conversation with Barry Baker and a few other people at OCRC this past weekend about this very topic. Barry isn't a Battery developer, but I think most people know he's been one of the best RC Car racers on the planet for years, so I think he probably know's a thing or two about Batteries. He said most of the current Lipos (with improved substrates) such as the Reedy Wolfpack's are actually very capable of 8.5v and some can actually handle closer to 9v. without battery degradation. Most people's chargers are the limiting factor and as already mentioned, people would have to peak them in Nimh mode which could be very dangerous if people don't know what they're doing or forget about their charging battery. I think the fact that ROAR has adopted this, means that some very good improvements in battery technology are very close and this is just a step in getting the public used to new numbers. As we know, ROAR has been known to be very slow to adapt to new technologies, so I personally applaud ROAR for doing this and take this as a cue for some very exciting things in the near future. Also, with ROAR accepting 4-Pole 540 can and 2-pole 550 can motors, it seems that they're trying to make adapting to new technologies a priority compared to the past. I've been pretty critical of them in the past, but I have to say, these are great signs from the governing body of RC