Originally Posted by
MarkBrown
This series looks super fun and I hope to attend some races.
The rule you describe for glue on the tires of SPEC class trucks is more restrictive than the TCS rule and I wonder why? Essentially, TCS requires that the glue not be in contact with the track with the car at rest, but the illustration for your rule would keep the glue several millimeters above the track. If you are changing the TCS rule, it would be best to eliminate all restrictions on glue since what the TCS restrictions "accomplish" is to discourage people from racing their trucks on carpet. (It certainly has discouraged me, and I've heard complaints from 'Cuda and others.)
Your SPEC rules also allow open servo savers (TCS requires Tamiya) and allow open servo "drag links" (TCS requires the stock TT01E plastic part). Unlike the tire glue rule, I don't think anything can be gained by changing these rules.
First off, these are not $1000 touring cars. It's a Spec class, designed to allow all skill levels to join in and have fun on a level playing field. If you want to go super fast with a awesome-handling vehicle, get an awesome-handling vehicle.
Glue on the tires is meant to stiffen the side wall of the tire, that's it. Since there are no inserts in the tire, the tires tend to fold over and cause traction rolling (especially on carpet). It's hard to prevent this when you can't do any major tuning to the trucks (in the Spec and TCS vehicles). The rule was set in place so drivers could run glue up to a certain point on the sidewall of the tire - a 'set point' - but not up on to the tread (this would affect the handling of the trucks). Problem is, drivers have been 'rounding' the tires, effectively removing the 'set point' on the sidewall of the tire. Without that 'set point', it makes it very hard for us to tech the glue point. On top of that, drivers have been slowly inching the glue over the 'set point' and on to the tread.
Now, where do we stop? One driver has .5mm of glue on the tread - does it affect handling? Sure does - if it didn't, they wouldn't need to inch the glue up that high. If he wins a race, who do you think will be the first person to bitch about it? The driver that had his glue 1mm on the tread but lost. It's not a winning battle that the ETRL and TCS want to deal with.
So, the rule for both the ETRL AND TCS has been changed; in ETRL, BOTH the Spec and Super truck classes can run glue up to the first tread. TCS has also changed the rule (it should be up tomorrow) to that same thing; glue UP TO the first tread line. If the glue is IN the tread or is even .0001mm onto the next tread, DQ'ed. This first tread line makes it easy for us (ETRL and TCS) to monitor your glue. This first tread line allows you to add as much (or as little) as you'd like and still be within the rules.
The problem is that drivers like to test the rules. They like to find an advantage, a loophole, a way around a simple rule. We have to figure out a fair way to address the problem and make it so that we aren't the bad guys when you lose a race because Driver A was more creative than Driver B regarding a simple rule. See my point?
Now, servo savers and drag links. This rule was tweaked in the ETRL simply because the stock parts aren't the best when running on high traction surfaces, including carpet. It's a way to remove the soft servo saver and give the truck a more positive feel. However, since there seems to be an issue with it, we'll fall back on the TCS rule for the Spec class: All cars must use TAMIYA servo savers or Tamiya Direct Servo Horns. The stock drag link must also be used.
Hopefully this will eliminate some of the issues.
Please don't let the way some people perceive the rules (and then complain about them when they push the limits) discourage you from coming out to play. It really is a fun series.