Originally Posted by
jpeck
But, does anyone else have any numbers?? Where is the justification for any type of weight penalty? I would prefer to see the weight rule left at 794 for all, and allow all of the traditional 1/12th cars the opportunity to trim down to that weight (BL-Nimh, Lipo, and/or 27t stock).
The LiPO/13.5 guys seem to be two maybe three tenths faster per lap than NIMH/17.5. The NIMH/27T can compete with the NIMH/175 early in the run, but then fall off several tenths for the latter two thirds of a run.
The NIMH/27T guys are typically weighing in at 800-815, the NIMH/17.5s anywhere from 855 to 900, and the LiPO well down into the mid 700's.
I'm not advocating a weight penalty for any of the types, but as it stands now, the NIMH/17.5 IS operating under a weight penalty, as much as 100 grams.
If the LiPO/13.5 had to make a reasonable weight, I['d have no issues, but as it stands, there's a 100 gram or more weight advantage to the LiPO/13.5
Given that it's not likely to be possible to get a NIMH/17.5 to 795 grams, it'll still be a weight advantage to the LiPO 13.5 to run at that weight, but I'd be able to live with it. I'm pretty sure I can get a NIMH/17.5 car down to 825 to 830, and I could live with the one ounce penalty until someone decides that t-bar guys aren't the scum of the earth and comes out with a 3.7 saddle pack. Hell, maybe I'll look into sourcing and reselling one myself for that matter.
I suppose my earlier proposal of 835 was a bit utopian in nature... but certainly making the LiPO/13.5 meet the current 795 weight rule can't be all that far off an idea... at least until the 1/12 class goes all LiPO... and I don't doubt that it IS headed that way.