Originally Posted by A-Ko

In reading some of the posts. The thought that came to my mind is Touring Car is dying. I remember 15 years ago when carpet oval was big and factory drivers were racing stock, how can a privateer limited budget driver as me, compete against a driver who gets new tires, batteries, motors, escs, etc... on a weekly/monthly basis. When sedans came into the picture, the choice was easy. No factory drivers got into the primitive sedan class then and I could afford to run it on a limited budget.

Today SC Truck has come on strong. Again it is another primitive class that factory drivers, might not readily stoop to as of yet. When they do, their money and budgets could effect the structure and interest. Do I hate or despise factory drivers, not really, they really should be in their own classes competing against like drivers.

Today I participated in the ALs Hobbyshop race as 2nd part of the Assault series. I grabbed my 2wd mini for laughs (I needed tires) and chose to race stock. I never raced that surface with pretty high traction, my car was ok just needed more fine tuning (more than 2 hours). I have always ran stock but seems like a race like this today, it is a waste of time. Sure I can probably eventually beat the people like me but still would be 2 laps off the factory TQ. What is the solution, become a factory guy where I can afford expensive new cars, batteries, ESCs or find another class where it is more fair and balanced.

I have looked at USVT and keep getting told about USGT. I have raced the Tamiya Series for 15 years and find that the bigger classes are simpler classes. Mini is king. Why? It is cheap and simple. GT3 is another silvercan sedan class that is pretty big and simple. GT2 is a 17.5 spec Ballistic class (and motors of that type) fairly popular but with stricter rules and with BL insanity has fallen off. Next year they are going with 1 spec ESC/17.5 for GT2. GT1 has been 13.5 and will probably be 17.5 next year, it is dead. It seems the classes that change less are the ones people like.

I do see issues with opening the USGT class to unlimited ESCs, 21.5 motor and open ended tires, wheels and inserts. I have not jumped onto USVT or USGT mainly because they did not seem stable to me and they still don't. With Tamiya There are 2 tires to choose from one good for carpet, the other for pavement. I would think having it simplified like that would be healthy. Checking voltage, pre-tech another healthy move. I see the proposed rules favoring those who can afford and like to spend money. Don't get me wrong I will spend money if I really need to, even have a tekin RS + laptop. Yet I would rather run a class that does not take alot of work where I can just grab my car and go wih limited options KNOWING that I can be competitive anywhere I go. Many of my friends share this thought due to work, home ownership and families effecting time to totally prepare for a race.

If you want USGT to succeed you need to ask those who run it if they like the proposed rules then approach area tracks to get them on board. What is the point of having USGT with 1, 2 or 3 different rules depending on the track you go. Again another reason why GT3, Mini and Slash are popular and I run all 3.
Thanks for the reading, I will go back to watching. . .