We may have to switch location

[StevePond]

Apparently the person that we and Team Associated had worked with at the Irwindale Speedway has left. When we contacted them recently about confirming the date for the event, the new person asked how long we would like to rent the track for a fee that's WAY too high for this to event to makes sense at that track. :mad: The person we had been dealing with indicated they would let all of us use the track at no charge.

Needless to say, we're probably going the have to change to a new location. The positive part of this is, we're going to look for something that's straight and flat, which should provide for much higher speeds than are possible at Irwindale. Yes, it's a disappointent on one level because I'm sure some of the cars are being designed with the anticipation of having to make it through the corners, but straight and flat makes it easier to go faster. When we have more information on a new location, we'll post it right away. We're still going to shoot for the same time frame and in the same general area.

[cool head]

how about willow springs? that has a nice long front strait with a slight downward slope. or maybe button willow or famosa drag strip in bakersfield. both locatios have a lot less smog than so cal too. most of us aren't used to chewing our air!
ya know,... something closer to my house! ;)

[StevePond]

LOL! Anything is open right now, we just need a minimum of 1/4 mile of glass-smooth asphalt and a place to pit and poop.

[StevePond]

I said "poop" in my 5000th post. :D :rolleyes:

[cool head]

you said "poop". LOL. most of these guys are anul retentive. one porta potty will probably do!

[rpmmaxxed]

To the new guy at Irwingdale, Dousche' my portly little friend.

Thanks for keeping us posted Steve.

[Kmot]

California Speedway is in the same general area, @ Fontana. It has all the amenities you could want. They have 1/4 mile "street legal" drags there so the infrastructure is in place. Would they want a humongous fee? Maybe not...

http://www.californiaspeedway.com/track/TrackRental.jsp

[mgs9]

Yea thanks for the update SteveO.
Hey mabey you could move it to, tucson raceway park drag strip http://www.geocities.com/grc46250/tucson.html . Lol :D
Its there off season right know, i think. I dont think they are that well known and would probbly be fairly cheap to rent.
It has nothing to do with the fact that its only 20 minutes away from me. :o

[Sigurd Ruschkow]

Steve,

I am actually glad that you will not run in an oval race track. Speeds would not have been the maximum speeds that our cars ca go.

A clean and non bumpy 1000+ feet long straight is awesome to drive on. My track here in Sweden is a standard drag car length racewat, and it is awesome to see the car at 100+ mph! Especially for the people watching the race.

A drag car raceway is perfect as one can then use the drag car guys' timing eqiopment, and they have 2 speed traps. One in the middle and one at the end of the track.

I hope you find a good track!

Best regards,
Sigurd

[microrcdude]

Its all cool till your out of radio range.

[Speedtester]

I believe failsafes are required equipment at the race.



Its all cool till your out of radio range.

[Sigurd Ruschkow]

You have to stand in the middle of the race track. This gives you 2 advantages compared to standing at the start:

1) You will be able to see the car at both the start and the end of the track

2) radio range will be used optimally

Also, you preferably need an airplane receiver and an airplane transmitter that both have longer antennas compared to car/boat radio systems,
and of course a fail safe somewhere in the system.


Sigurd

Its all cool till your out of radio range.

[Craps]

Bristol Raceway or Salem Raceway with the high banked 1/2 mile ovals are the fastest 1/2 mile car tracks in the country.

What good is a long straight a way if you can't see or control the car much further than the area of 1/2 mile oval from a stationary position.

The stationary position with a stock radio system is really going to limit the range on using a long straight a way.

I know the race car tracks are a little on the rough side for the small cars, but the bigger ones can be built to handle it and look forward to the challenge.

[SerpentKing101]

If the event does change location, it should still be at a place where the cars still have to turn...some of these people's goals is to put a serious mudhole in Cliff's record, but dont wanna make a rail to do it. That's just too easy and a bit cheap IMO.

[Gemini12602]

There is a drag strip near me that could work for the fastest car competition. It is located in Southern Maryland. Its called Maryland Internation Raceway, and is an IHRA sanctioned race track. The website is www.mirdrag.com It might be worth a look. They just repaved about 3 seasons ago, so the track is pretty smooth, with plenty of rubber laid down on the track in the starting area.

[Craps]

Steve
Tell us you are going to stick with some kind of banked 1/2 mile oval due to my project is being built with that in mind and not a long straight a way that will be limited to sight distance with a fast accleration drag race.

I will need the roll up that a 1/2 mile oval was oringinally planned on to hit the speeds estimated that can be controlled by the visual distance range of a stock radio system.

The more notice you can give on the location and track type would be very important to what RC car to build.

Thank you!

[FreakyFast]

The sonner people get a date, time, and location the better.

I really hope its not a strait line, otherwise everyone will built a rail, doesnt take anything to do that.

[Hard Case]

I agree FreakyFast!

If the comp. goes to a strait line ,
I May not even do it. It would be a SHAME to take the creativity out of it....:(


Hope it's an oval.
It Really would be more interesting that way.

[racinlosi]

Craps is 100% right, try Bristol. That way you get 1 or 2 laps, or maybe even 3+, to make a chance at the record. Also, throughs some wrenches into the work because you have to worry about the suspention also. That should be awesome because you have to work on many things rather than just displacment of weight and gear ratios! :D

[Craps]

I think Bristol and Salem Raceways are the 2 fastest and highest banked 1/2 mile ovals in the country (the world)! Unless somebody knows of another one anywhere in the USA, these should be at the top of the list of consideration due to the high banking and size that will be just inside the radio range of a stock radio system.

I am not even sure where exactly Salem Raceway is, but I have heard alot about how it's high banking allows for some fast speeds with the cars.

Now everybody has heard of and has seen Bristol Raceway on TV from all the great NASCAR races shown there. I really don't know how rough the concrete surface is there, but it has been ground down to make it smooth for the full size cars.

Somethings to consider!

[kastcreations]

Texas Texas Texas Motor Speed Way!!!!!!! One of nascars fastest tracks!!!!! Plus its in the middle of the US,location wise!!!!!! Oh as for turning wise not a good idea! After ur car hits over a 100 ant slite movement will lose the car! Just reminding those who for got!

[Craps]

Texas Texas Texas Motor Speed Way!!!!!!! One of nascars fastest tracks!!!!! Plus its in the middle of the US,location wise!!!!!! Oh as for turning wise not a good idea! After ur car hits over a 100 ant slite movement will lose the car! Just reminding those who for got!

Texas Speedway is a 1 1/2 mile speedway that would not only be hard to see the car, but would be pushing the limits of the radio system if it will even work at all.

[FreakyFast]

I think California is a good place. alot of RC things in those parts, also, alot of people are already planning on going to cali, moving it to another state would cause problems probably.

[Craps]

I think California is a good place. alot of RC things in those parts, also, alot of people are already planning on going to cali, moving it to another state would cause problems probably.

If they are serious about competing like I am, it does not matter where it will be in the USA as long as the facilities are the best for the competition. Put the event on anywhere in the USA and the same people will show up regardless of where it will be.

I was willing to travel to California from NC to compete and I will be gladly to go to Bristol or Salem Raceway where the high banked 1/2 mile ovals are the best 2 venues in this country for this event.

[FreakyFast]

Well I am willing to travel from south florida to california, so it doesnt matter to me either, but there are alot of other RC things in california that would make the trip more fun.

[kastcreations]

dam radio limits lol im gona hard wire it and then that will solve the prob! I still like the open stretch though

[Combatcm]

It kind of kills it you know, when the only reason they were going to have it is because some guy had connections to another guy and now he left. Makes it seem that they were only springing for the opportunity and now its gone.

[Eightballracing]

From what I know, Bristol is a very bumpy track. These RC cars would be sent flying if you hit one of those bumps at 60+mph. Then we would have some sort of flying contest on our hands.

[Craps]

From what I know, Bristol is a very bumpy track. These RC cars would be sent flying if you hit one of those bumps at 60+mph. Then we would have some sort of flying contest on our hands.

Funny though that a 3400 lb NASCAR race car has no trouble averaging over 120 mph (Ryan Newman 128.709 mph 3/21/03) on it that has a small tire patch for it's size, a high center of gravity, a low power to weight ratio and the one of the worst aerodynamic confiqurations in racings top divisions compared to an RC car that would be way superior in every area including suspension system.

I don't see the problem with the track that can't be overcome by an almost open ruled RC car to do well over 150 mph there in a trap speed measurement.

[Grant Tokumi]

Assuming the rc car is around 10th scale, wouldn't a rc car traveling over a 0.50" bump on the Bristol track at high speeds be similar to a real car driving over a 5.0" high speed bump at high speeds?

[Craps]

Assuming the rc car is around 10th scale, wouldn't a rc car traveling over a 0.50" bump on the Bristol track at high speeds be similar to a real car driving over a 5.0" high speed bump at high speeds?

I don't think the bumps are that big there if there is any at all, but I quess we will not know until it is checked out.

Besides, when they changed the rules by expanding the length to 40" kind of ruled the 1/10th scales out the window. I am not bringing a 1/10th scale and what I am bringing will be 39-63/64ths inches long to exactly 40" long to take full advantage of the rules.

The sooner we know where it will be, the sooner we can design/build it with track conditions in consideration.

[Hard Case]

The premise that RC CAR ACTION wanted to host the fastest RC competition at a professional venue ON THE CHEAP, is very revealing.
“The fee is WAY too high for this event, to make sense”.
” We just need a minimum of 1/4 mile of glass-smooth asphalt and a place to pit and poop.”
To me it sounds like; all we need is big parking lot with a generator & a port-a-potty.
Steve----I think you should re-think those statements----
Step up to the professional level & find a way to pay for it!

*****The competitors--- on the other hand;*****

1- Are spending thousands of $ on a ONE OF A KIND RC car.
2- Very talented & creative people willing to invest countless hours.
3- Are willing to travel around the world to attend.
4- Burning vacation time & time away from family
5- Forming teams with people that have the same GOAL

GM, McDonalds or Trinity, could be potential sponsors for the event. After all, RC CAR ACTION is a business, ready to go to print with the event. Irwindale Speedway is perfect place to have the fastest RC competition. Please stick to the original plan. This could be bigger than IFMAR , bringing even more people into the world of RC. :)

Steve Pond, Chris Chianelli:
Where do you guys stand on this? I haven’t heard anything from you lately.

Sincerely
Nic Case

[beaker]

I think Steve is just trying to keep the cost of this competition down so that more people will enter. I did a quick search of the forum and didn't see any mention of an entrance fee.

If you want to race at a world-class track, then you should be willing to pay a large entrance fee. If not, then you should be happy that Steve was / is trying to find a free location.

As for the first item on your list:
If it is so easy to get sponsors, why don't all the competitors get companies to sponsor the cost of building their one of a kind cars.

Races and competitions cost money. Just look at any national level rc race. These are sponsored, but you still have to pay a large entrance fee for each class you race in.

[Craps]

If this event is recorded by Guinness or Ripley's and is official, charge $50 to $100 and entry to help cover the cost of the facilities. Count me in!

What's another $100 when thousands of $$$$s are spent on the equipment and travel for such an event.

[Combatcm]

I have one thing I need to say. What makes this event so important for someone to break the record? Sure it sets a date goal, and you get to show your car off to a bunch of people. Come on, grab a GPS or radar gun,, find a newly paved section of route 80, or the millions of miles of flat roads and just rip it up. I see no reason why people are not trying to do that. So you want it to be official, who cares? The only people that would care are people on RC forums, and if a video is posted it will be passed around and everyone would see it anyway and you would get your fame. I feel the negative vibes coming from them and the event might not happen. Sure it would be cool, seeing cars go fast, seeing the cars waste away when they flip or hit something.

Take my comment above, they were just springing the opportunity and now its gone.

It requires effort now...

[Noob33]

HMM IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE FUN IN EUROPE COUNTRIES LIKE POLAND,GERMANY the peolpe there would love it :rolleyes:

[HRDforever]

how bought coming down here to englishtown nj

[Scomp87]

how bought coming down here to englishtown nj

how about no?

[HRDforever]

i think it sounds good. Anyone from NJ out there?!

[StevePond]

I'm pretty sure we're still shooting for the SoCal area simply because we need to be able to count on the weather, and nowhere else is the weather so reliable, at least at certain times of the year. As for the track, I'm almost certain that a 1/2 mile oval is not going to be viable for the fastest cars. Cliff Lett put his cars into wall a couple times from what I understand, because at the speeds he was running, it was becoming very difficult to make the corners at that mind of speed. I plan on going faster.

I was prepared to do what I can to run fast on an oval, but I can't say I'm disappointed that it didn't work out with the speedway. I ran my 100 mph HPI car on a airport runway, and I used up a good 1/4 mile of straight asphalt from start to finish.

[Craps]

Steve
Does this mean you guys are trying to find a 1/2 mile oval in Socal or a long straight stretch to hold the event on?

I was getting set up for the 1/2 mile oval with high corner speeds in mind, but if you are going to change it to a straight a way run, I will have to completly change my project vehicle.

To have handling or not is the question and to have a tranny or not is the other question?

Handling and no tranny for the oval and the straight line will need a tranny due to the limited radio visual range to accelerate in a short area rather than building speed up on an oval.

I don't care where you have in the lower 48 states, just give us plenty of notice to what type of track it will be on.

I heard it snowed in Socal this week too!

[studysession]

LOL! Anything is open right now, we just need a minimum of 1/4 mile of glass-smooth asphalt and a place to pit and poop.
---------------------

StevePond - why not come to England! Local here we have a runway that had a 2 mile stretch paved smoth as glass for doing high speed run for 1:1 scale motor cycles. They would let us use it for free.

We also have some drag strips that would let us use the tracks at no charge as well.

I have already talked to the places about using them for my speed runs before RCCA anouced this competition. So I know the places will let us use them. I am sure RCCA would want to use something local to them instead though as money is a big issue.

You know Guinness Book is here in the UK and Guinness TV show is in the US. If you come to the UK it would be easier to have Guinness Book at the event.

[thefasttrack]

I'm pretty sure we're still shooting for the SoCal area simply because we need to be able to count on the weather, and nowhere else is the weather so reliable, at least at certain times of the year. As for the track, I'm almost certain that a 1/2 mile oval is not going to be viable for the fastest cars. Cliff Lett put his cars into wall a couple times from what I understand, because at the speeds he was running, it was becoming very difficult to make the corners at that mind of speed. I plan on going faster.

I was prepared to do what I can to run fast on an oval, but I can't say I'm disappointed that it didn't work out with the speedway. I ran my 100 mph HPI car on a airport runway, and I used up a good 1/4 mile of straight asphalt from start to finish.
you took tht straight frommy mind why can we hold the competition in an airport it be so convienent and we could have a drivers stand it would make so much sence

[microrcdude]

RCCA needs to find a location. Without it, i am not able to land support from anyone, neither is about 20 others i know.

[racinlosi]

California Raceway has a drag strip there too. They have both Oval and Drag Strip, so that can work out well.

Oh, Steve Pond, at the California weather being reliable, LOL. It is most of the time, but there have been times when it was in the 100's, then it was raining. :p

[studysession]

A location does not make a difference on getting sponsorship. It is all how you present what you are doing.

[Craps]

What about the airstrip out in the Mojave desert?

[Craps]

Steve P
Is there at least a criteria you guys are using to pick another location as per the type of track weather it is going to be a 1/2 mile oval or a 1/4 plus mile straight line run?

I am trying to finish up my chassis and need to know which direction this is headed in. Need to do some testing by April.

I am hoping you guys go with the oval due to radio range, but let us know which to allow us to prepare for the contest.

Thank you!
Craps

[rcdemon1]

it was the perfect place. i have designed a veichle to run there. im done with my veichle it is ready execpt for tires.as far as i am concerned if we dont run oval its not worth running and i wasted $1200.00 as did many others i know.we have always run the insane speed run on a oval that what makes it insanely crazy, going that fast and putting your car through the turn .seeing if you have the balls to hold the throttle pegged and make it with out wadding up. drag racing while cool just dosnt give you that feeling of terror......THE TRUCK FROM HELL .......IM BACK

[studysession]

I personally am glad to hear that they are looking for a place with a longer straight, but still think they should do it here in the UK. We have access to a very nice airport with a 2 mile strech paved smooth as glass where they do high speed motor cycle runs.

Very nice setup. And they would let us do it for free.

[Craps]

I think Southern California is already chosen as the area the event will be held due to the so called weather conditions and I think it is just a matter of where and what track in Southern California.

The sooner we know the better of what type of track, where and the date the event will be held!

Looks like interest in this forum for the event is starting to die off and needs something to revive the interest!

[studysession]

This forum has always been slow as far as traffic is consern. For people who are serious, this will not make them quit now. If they quit now they were never serious enough to begin with.

One of my sponsors feels I should not even go to the event. Guinness Book is here in England/UK - they feel we get with them and some magazine companies for coverage and just do it at a local air strip. I told my sponsors that we can do that and then I go to the event anyway. We will see what we actually end up doing.

I am happy that they are switching the location. I really want a longer straight away. And everyone should lay off and do not rush them. Let them do the proper research for the area so this event could be done right. You know there is an even going to happen next summer in California. Get your car ready now so when it is anounced where and when you will be ready.

I think that is good enough and very fair. If you rush it, then you might get a location that maybe long enough but not smooth enough or maybe smooth enough but not long enough. I know I want a 300 yard or more straight for my run. If we can get a 1/2 mile or more that will be even better.

[Craps]

A 1 mile plus long airstrip would be about perfect with 1/2 mile each way radio range along with the visual site range too.

The 1/2 mile car oval would require handling and a different chassis than an aero dynamic cone the straight run will require.

But tell us which and I will be there to win it! You guys can fight over 2nd place! LOL!

[RC-scientist]

I think you can agree that the only real way to see what the fastest sub 44 in long radio contoled vehicle will be to hold the event on a Salt Flats type area. Eitherway however I think we are really going to see some real interesting machines.

[CrazyPhantom]

Hey,Steve

Chicagoland speed ways (Drag Strip) is called the record setting drag track cause in one day, they set like 5 new records there, including the day I went and saw John Force set a Topfuel record. It would be a Nice place to race because the track is nice and smooth, it would be perfect tempeture. It is also located in just about close to the center of the country allowing more people that live on the east and central to participate in the challenge.

Just my 2 cents.

[Team Homicide]

How can any person that is serious (like myself) get a vehicle ready for the event when we have no idea what the enviroment and track conditions are going to be.

If I make a vehicle for straight flat out drag racing and it ends up being an oval track there is no way I would be able to control the vehicle. Or the other way around, if I build a vehicle for handling and it is a straight out drag race I will be squirrely as hell with a handling suspension.

I think it is a must to know where and when before anyone can be prepaired.

Any news as soon as possible will help the event be a success. I know I am not starting any designing untill I know what I need to build.

[StevePond]

Relax people. We're working on securing a new location. We can't snap our fingers and make it happen, so please don't expect it to happen overnight... OK?!

This started as another speed project of our own, and we thought it would be cool to invite other people that wanted to take a crack at going real fast and have it recorded with some real timing equipment. This motive behind the decision to invite everyone is so we can all have some fun together instead of you just reading about it. Please don't lose sight of what this is all about. We're having a freakin blast with some insanely fast toy cars and I can't think of anything that could be more fun. Please don't ruin the spirit of this whole thing by getting testy and demanding.

As for the ideal location, southern California is the area we're targeting. It's a long flight for even us to get there, so we're not aiming there for our own benefit, it's the most logical location because the weather is more reliable there than anywhere else in the world. If we were concerned about our convenience, I would be running it at the local airport where they routinely let us borrow the runway. I would prefer a straight run of considerable distance; maybe get a big cherry picker for a drivers stand so the driver will have a bird's eye view of the run. I've run fast cars on ovals and in a straight line - the straight line is the ticket for big speeds and drivability.

Our guys are scouting a couple locations as we speak, so please be patient and we'll try to get something locked down as soon as possible. We're not going to rush it just to say we have something - we want to be sure we have the right facility with a surface that will be appropriate for running at blistering speeds.

[Team Homicide]

I am by no means trying to get testy.

I have plans for a vehicle that will cost over $3000 and to get to sunny socal it will also be pricy by the time it is all said and done. I just can't see spending 100's of hours building a vehicle to find out it is being called off and being stuck with a useless vehicle.

Not getting testy, just I am very interested in being there, but do not want to waste my time either.

I will just wait for the location to be announced before I begin.

Thanks

[Craps]

Thank you Steve P for the response and please keep us updated!

Sounds like you are leaning towards the long straight a way.

Southern California is the place to make the travel plans for, so we are going to get ready like Jed Clampett and family (Beverly Hillbillies) to travel to Southern California.

Steve don't forget the airport in the Mojave Desert where all the abandoned airplanes are setting around too! I think it is near the town of Mojave!

Just give us the date, time and location and we will be there!

Thank you!
Craps

[Craps]

I think you can agree that the only real way to see what the fastest sub 44 in long radio contoled vehicle will be to hold the event on a Salt Flats type area. Eitherway however I think we are really going to see some real interesting machines.

You show up with a 44 in car and you will be illegal and according to the rules it is 40 in long maximum.

Good Luck!

[StevePond]

I am by no means trying to get testy.


It wasn't necessarily directed at you. I appreciate where you and everyone else is coming from. I too am building a car and I know how much time, money and energy goes into this type of project. I just hope that everyone can also appreciate the additional challenge of finding a venue where this can happen. We had a location - they bailed on us. Stuff happens. Now we'll find a new place and it will probably be much better.

[Team Homicide]

Is all good, I'll just sit back and be patient.

Thanks for the input.

[mgs9]

If your looking for reliable weather, anywhere in the south west would be good. It never rains in the summmer. Might be hot but thats nothing we cant handle.

[Potato]

Please tell me this is a joke…

You announce the contest over six months ago with great fanfare, but with only a location and no date. The rules at the time are 24" max length on the oval track.

One month later you change the length to 40," redefining the nature of the contest on a fundamental level.

Then we come to find out the agreement for the use of the track was tenuous at best. The departure of a SINGLE person from Irwindale Speedway completely rewrites your plans, not that you were planning on sticking to it anyway. (It seems you personally prefer a straight-line track. Funny that you are both writing the rules AND participating in the contest. It brings to question your impartiality to hold a fair and balanced competition.)

So now - once again - the contest is changed fundamentally in nature, moving in location from an oval track to straight-line location (also not yet determined).

So MORE THAN SIX MONTHS after the big announcement, more than six months after people began making plans and spending money, you once again completely redefine the nature of the contest. I understand it is your contest, but there are people who are spending THEIR money to participate in YOUR contest under the false impression that this is a WORLD-class event for a WORLD-title, when in fact this is just a is a publicity event for your magazine's promotion.

Six months after the great fanfare for this SO-CALLED "WORLD'S" fastest contest, you have changed everything. What was once a competition of 24" cars on an oval track has now become a competition of 40" cars in an extended straight-line drag race, which - by the way - does not even come close to resembling any type of mainstream r/c car racing. Please explain it to me why R/C Car Action is promoting a contest of machines that do not come close to resembling anything covered in the magazine itself, let alone anything most r/c enthusiasts can identify with?! We might as well graft r/c controls to full sized cars and drag race them, because that's what this contest has become!

I was hopeful this would be a great r/c competition by providing a true challenge to design, to build, and to drive. However, this contest has done nothing but jerk me around with its capricious rules, and now even with its venue. It has become apparent to me RCCA does not have the same vision of what a speed competition should be about. I had hoped this contest would be a synergy of creative engineering and skillful driving, but instead it has just become a competition of brute force. It would have been a true design challenge to break Cliff Lett’s record on the same course with a similarly sized car. Instead you choose to double the length regulation and change the venue to a straight line. To break someone’s record, you don’t change the rules and venue to make it easier, YOU BUILD A BETTER MACHINE! What’s the meaning of a 40” car breaking a ~115 mph record by a 1/10 scale car? By what are we to judge that 40” car? What r/c car even resembles that? Where's the significance in that?! How would it even relate to mainstream r/c cars?!? We all know a 40” car can be built to run in a straight line and blow away any 1/10 scale r/c car. The appeal of the original contest was to see if someone could build a car that would go faster than Cliff Lett’s car under similar restrictions. If you can’t think of an easy way to go faster, THAT’S THE CHALLENGE!!!

So please forgive me for my naive hope that this contest would actually live up to its title, because it's quite obvious its scope is much smaller than its title proclaims. Some people might say my expectations are too high, but if you’re going to call it “WORLD’S FASTEST,” you better be ready to back that title up. Otherwise drop the pretentious "World" from the title.

Thank you, R/C Car Action, for wasting my time. Thank you for getting my hopes up, then tearing them down.

[studysession]

WOW! After reading all that, I hope you feel better now that you gotten it off your chest.

Now may I ask - have you been putting a car together in preperation for this event? From the way you have written it is unclear to me.

I personally was let down when they changed the size of the car. I did like the idea of breaking the record on original track where Cliff did the 111MPh. But I will not let all that stop me - Mostly I am frustrated over the size change than the location. I would prefer a longer straight.

Cheers.

[StevePond]

Please tell me this is a joke…

If the unfortunate reality of the problems we're facing related to the venue are such an inconvenience for you, please don't go. It's a simple solution to both of our problems.

[Team Homicide]

If the unfortunate reality of the problems we're facing related to the venue are such an inconvenience for you, please don't go. It's a simple solution to both of our problems.


I am with Pot man.

I will do just as you request and not waste anymore of my time or money.

It is to bad it wasn't managed better.

[studysession]

The way I look at it - if people let this stop them, they were not serious in the first place.

For those who are serious about breaking the record, should not have to have a big event to do it. One of my sponsors has been asking me about just doing something here in the UK and having Guinness book to come where I do it here in the UK. We will see. I am not 100% sure if I will be able to go to this big event when it takes place, but I will try. I am not sure if I will be ready by the time this event takes place anyway.

This Sat I am taking my speed car to an air strip to do a speed run. Personally I am afraid once the car gets up near 80. Sounds funny but it gets hard to control a car that small going so fast. I have reached 93MPh before but wrecked the car.

My goal is to reach over 100MPh this weekend, but who knows if I will hit it or not. I just pray I do not wreck the car.

Cheers!

[Toyotatogo]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Aw nah, Steve Pond you have to come to California ...... :mad: I'll be willing to pay whatever amount to enter the contest and be a spectator (whatever) ..... would that then help with fees ???

Could we get sponsors to help fund this event ??? I could ask and look around.... Nooooooooooooooooo!

It must be held in California ....... :mad:

[TrickSpeed]

alright this is getting ridiculous.

1. Socal is R/C mecca. Plus the weather is reliable (for the most part, you might get a freak day of rain but overall it is very consistent).
2. It is not steve's fault. The place said no, what is he gonna do, point a gun at them and ask again?
3. It takes time to research a new location, work out the details. The specific date, making sure it is actually avalible, condtions, forms, insurance, all kinds of crap.
4. IT IS FOR FUN!!!!! If you want to get serious about it thats fine. But as steve said it is mostly for fun, so dont expect steve to be up all night sweating it and making phone calls across the country all day. Although I doubt steve is having much fun right now, he's not quitting like some people are nor does he have someone to [female dog] at. From his last post it sounds like this complaining starting to get to him. Would you rather not know the exact location for awhile, or would you rather Steve get all pissed off and say "screw this" and cancel the whole thing?

If you really wanna vent go call the location that ditched us and give them a piece of your mind. I'm sure they deserve it more.

[Craps]

I'd imagine it is very hard to find a place with about a 1 mile straight a way that would also contain a freak 30 plus pound 112 mph plus run a way that could not be stopped until it hit something very hard and very big. It would be very hard and very expensive to obtain insurance for such an event where any kind of spectators are involved that are not behind very hard and very tall walls.

Airport runways have no kind of containment, a back straight a way like at California Speedway in Fontana, California may not be a mile long, but does have walls and fences to protect everybody from an out of control missle.

[microrcdude]

You know what this is crazy how you guys are trating pond. dont you guys realize that Steve is trying as hard as he can? Its not all his fault this happened, or that happened, its just OTHER people. And the reason length was changed was so 1/5 cars could enter, so we would have more designs, so everyone wouldnt be running a 20 cell econo rail dragger. WHAT HES DOING IS FOR THE BEST OF OTHERS. Treat pond with respect, hes trying extremely hard.

[Sigurd Ruschkow]

Studysession -

Guiness World of Records will not put any car records in their book if there is not a car organisation behind that record.

I quote from an email from Guiness "We prefer to source vehicle speed records of all kinds directly from appropriate expert governing bodies"

Also, remember that i can take up to 6 months to get Guiness to send you an answer to your record request.


Sigurd

The way I look at it - if people let this stop them, they were not serious in the first place.

For those who are serious about breaking the record, should not have to have a big event to do it. One of my sponsors has been asking me about just doing something here in the UK and having Guinness book to come where I do it here in the UK. We will see. I am not 100% sure if I will be able to go to this big event when it takes place, but I will try. I am not sure if I will be ready by the time this event takes place anyway.

This Sat I am taking my speed car to an air strip to do a speed run. Personally I am afraid once the car gets up near 80. Sounds funny but it gets hard to control a car that small going so fast. I have reached 93MPh before but wrecked the car.

My goal is to reach over 100MPh this weekend, but who knows if I will hit it or not. I just pray I do not wreck the car.

Cheers!

[glassdoctor]

Wow, what a bunch of CRYBABIES. Waaah waahhhh!!!! Run to your mommy now....

This is not NASCAR, it's not your career $$... it's a freekinnn hobby. Did I miss that there is a $1,000,000 to the winner here? No? So it's just for fun and bragging rights?

Stay home like Steve said if you can't deal with reality.

Steve, I don't envy you here. ;)

[studysession]

Sigurd -

Yeah - I know it takes long time to get them involved with anything. I am still undecided on if I will be able to make to the event in California though. We will see.

Today I did a speed run attempt - Had some trouble. Hopefully will have better luck next time.

[glassdoctor]

I better post a disclaimer as a follow up :) ... it was not directed toward everyone. Only to those who are throwing tantrums and threatening to take their ball and go home, or ripping Steve over how this "event" is being conducted, etc as if their lives depended on it.

Some here obviously are more mature and reasonable.

Hope you find a great venue for it, and I hope you get some good video footage for those who don't make it. :) :)

[LosiXXXS 69]

How about Firebird Raceway in Phoenix. It has a long dragstrip you could run the cars on. And lots of room for pits. http://www.firebirdraceway.com/

[streetracer]

Hey Steve, how bout "P I R"(Portland International Raceway.) Perfect track. I have done many a test with my real car there. Very nice track, and nice ppl

[kwong2001]

Hey Steve, how bout "P I R"(Portland International Raceway.) Perfect track. I have done many a test with my real car there. Very nice track, and nice ppl

Dunno about Portland, but if it's anything like Seattle, that will be the biggest gamble for weather.

[jrc]

Hi everyone,

Although Potato was a bit passionate in voicing his opinions, what he has said is reasonable, and I must admit I believe he has a right to be upset. What R/C Car Action has done is announce a competition without indicating a date, a week, or even a month when it would be held while giving the impression that the venue was set and date forthcoming. They have been without a date for several months, and people have begun to build their machines already. It's quite unreasonable to expect hopeful participants to put forth any sort of effort when the nature of the competition is in limbo - oval track or straight line? To be completely reasonable, how can R/C Car Action expect people to enter the competition with so much uncertainty six months into it?

If R/C Car Action is not ready to hold this competition, then by all means they should cancel it. If they do want to hold a competition, however, they have a certain obligation to be clear and consistent with the location and the regulations, especially if they want to hold one for a world title. It's inevitable that people will take this seriously when it appears that a world record is involved.

What I find troubling is that R/C Car Action never had a date for the contest. While I would completely understand and sympatize with R/C Car Action if Irwindale backed out after a date and time had already been scheduled, I have a hard time sympathizing when there was never a date to begin with. To me, this suggests that there was no concrete written or official agreement, and R/C Car Action announced the contest in spite of this.

I also find it a bit troubling that R/C Car Action is participating in their own competition. How can they decide the rules and venue and judge fairly when they are participating as well? While I don't doubt R/C Car Action's honesty, in the interests of a level and fair playing field, competition holders and the rule makers should not participate in the competition itself. It's an obvious conflict of interest when an organization both decides the rules and participates in the competition.

For a long time I was looking forward to this contest, but I'm very disappointed to see everything fall to pieces like this - regardless of "who's fault" it is. I'm afraid that I too will have to follow Steve's suggestion and not participate. I have to admit, I was happier with the 24" rule; you might recall that I wrote a proposal to split the classes up, although that idea didn't go well. As a mechanical engineer who has grown up with R/C cars, I found it more interesting from a design point of view that the contest involve smaller cars on the oval track. The competition has changed into something I no longer find as interesting an engineering challenge, with its focus instead shifting towards sheer straight line power. It's too bad, I really would have liked to see what other people could design in 24" cars to make them fly around that oval track.

I don't mean this post as an attack, but it's my honest opinion that many things could have been done better to ensure the success of the competition. It's my opinion that the contest was announced prematurely, and both the competitors and R/C Car Action have suffered as a result of that. Nonetheless I wish Steve and the rest of R/C Car Action well with this competition, hopefully they will find a location and date to hold the contest. I hope that my comments will not be brushed aside as I've seen done with other posts, but rather taken as constructive criticisms that are in the interests of both R/C Car Action and the participants in the competition.


Best regards,
James

[kwong2001]

I don't see the problem with anyone from the magazine participating. It's not like they're gonna change the rules or rig it. As long as they stick by the same rules, there shouldn't be a problem. Maybe you should complain everytime a hobby shop puts on a race and their employees enter also?

As for oval vs. straightline. It makes alot more sense to strictly have it straightline. Oval brings in handling, and that's not what this contest is about, it's about how fast an r/c can go. But you have to remember, Steve's trying to keep costs down. That's his biggest problem, everything costs money. He's trying his best to make it cost effective. I'm building a car strictly for straightline, but you know, i'm not gonna complain if it's on an oval. I'll just set it up differently and live with it.

For breaking the world record, they will have all the equipment to do it, but it won't be very easy to get Guiness to actually show up or recognize it. Don't count on anyone actually getting crowned the world record holder.

Personally, I think people are taking this contest WAY too personal. Like Steve said, it's ALL IN FUN. If you're not having fun with it, don't show up, simple as that.

[Craps]

What rules? 40" maximum length wheel driven with a fail safe and looks like it has a cockpit! Simple and what is there to enforce to amount to anything?

Let'm race too!

[TrickSpeed]

Radar doesn't lie.

[Combatcm]

The only problem I have is with the people that think they have to attend the event to get a record. These people have no self motivation and are only doing it because someone tells them where you have to run it to get a record. Mall parking lot? Desolate road?

[studysession]

Combatcm - I am with you. One of my sponsors asked me - why am I going to this event? Why not just do it here in the UK. I said I can do it here in the UK and still have fun by going to the event.

The event is supposed to be fun - I am willing to come with my Micro RS4 and give it a try for the worlds fastest 1/18 scale! :) :eek: ahahhahah -- It is all about having fun!

[ducati777]

Well it is all about fun, but its difficult to have fun when the rules and competition change. I agree that this competition was announced way too early.

I also agree that straight line takes a lot of engineering out of the cars... Now its just big motor, point straight. Blah.

[studysession]

I am all for the straight line -

[Craps]

If you want a world record to be recorded by Guinness, it has to be an organized event for them to even consider it. They will not even consider individual attempts or records unless it is from some a sanctioned event by some type of organization to be official. I think some of us has found this out by applying to Guinness directly.

[kwong2001]

Quite frankly, it makes more sense to have it pure straightline. Sure by changing from an oval to straightline, you will lose much of the engineering aspect. But remember, the origins of the contest never involved handling, at all. It is a pure test of straightline speed. You won't be able to truely see what speed r/c's are capable if you run on an oval. Running on an oval would basically be like any other club race on an oval track...except the rules are MUCH more relaxed.

[cool head]

there's plenty of enginering just to go in a strait line. you guys think it's gonna be easy contoling a 40"rail at 120mph? no friggin way. you ask anyone who has topped 90mph and they'll tell you its a bich to keep it strait. to go realy fast, you'll need to be very aerodynamic and that takes plenty of enginering. also a world record speed run on 1/1 vehicles are done on a dry lake bed in a STRAIT line. i've never heard of a record speed run on an oval. thats just stupid. :cool:

[studysession]

Personally - No matter what RCCA does, I think there will be many unhappy people. I just hope I am ready before the competition and air fare is low enough to allow me to go. ;)

[glassdoctor]

I think there are a few oval racers here that want some advantage of running it on an oval.

That's the only reason anyone would really complain about a nice flat straight "track".

If you can't get your car up to max speed within the range of an r/c radio system... too bad. It's an "r/c" contest, so it should be designed within the natural parameters of radio control cars.

I've never run a r/c on a 1/4 mile track... I suppose that would work pretty well. But so should a drag strip, airport runway, etc.

[Craps]

This site is getting real quite again!

[GordonFreeman]

I found out about this contest a few weeks ago and got all excited about it. Drew up my top speed car (over zealously), now I see they don't know if it's going to run on an oval or a dragstrip. Hmm....seems to me those are two entirely different objectives. Am I supposed to compromise the design so that it will be a "jack-of-all-trades" car and "master-of-none"?

Had I already started building something under the earlier assumtion (as it seems some people have) and then the rules change (up in the air or whatever) I'd be pissed.

Is there any knowledge about what is planned? Oval, dragstrip? I'll keep thinking about the designs, but I just can't start building until I know the rules.

My vote is vote drag strip. I think it should be a top speed contest. Actually that won't really be a top speed contest, that will be a traction/speed/who can see thier car contest. But I'd settle for that. Oval would just be too similar to what already exists, like somebody else stated.

Frustrated.

[Craps]

I hope it is something of at least a mile long so we can use maximum radio range standing in the middle like an airport runway or a back straight at some super speedway that has walls and fences to contain a freak run a way from getting to the spectators.

But if they make it a 1/2 mile car oval, that's ok too. It will just knock off the record speed by at least 50 mph.

I just hope it is not a 1/4 mile drag strip making it a drag race and not a speed run that requires a little more run up space to obtain maximum speed.

[Dallas]

may sounds stupid, but what about the salt flats? i know its really rough but with some grooming can't you get its smooth.

but salt would be a big issue. just an idea

[kwong2001]

Won't work, the cars are too low to begin with, and traction would become a real issue.

[perez1410]

How many of you out there feel comfortable spending time and money on an event that is uncertain right now. If the location is uncertain, then the event should be postponed until a date and place is established. Otherwise you guys are spending lots of $ and time for something that may not happen. Just my 2 cents.

Carlos

[ducati777]

Might not happen, but its satisfying a lot of curiousity for people. If I had the resources I think I'd try to build a triple digit car.

[Toyotatogo]

For secondary what about the Rialto Airport. I think they run 1/5, and 1/4 scale cars out there for drag racing from time-to-time.

[StevePond]

It will happen. We have a couple guys scouting the locations, and we are taking suggestions into consideration. I'm moving forward with my plans to build one or two cars. See ya there. ;)

[kwong2001]

Steve, I realize socal is r/c central, but what about considering Arizona?

[Hard Case]

TTT

any news?

[StevePond]

Just talked with the guys in LA last week and they're still on the prowl. Stay tuned. We're hoping to have something selected soon.

[DJ1978]

Have you checked with Indianapolis Raceway Park? They have both the quarter Mile and the paved oval. You could do both speed runs at the same time.
http://www.irponline.com/
There is also Toledo Speeway in Toledo OH.
1/2 Mile high banked oval.
http://www.toledospeedway.com/
And Flatrock Speedway 1/4 mile oval.
http://www.arcaracing.com/flatrockhome3.html

[Craps]

I quess Southern California is still the target area for the great weather they have, but I quess nobody has been watching the news about the record rainfall the last 2 months equals more than any 1 year record in history. The houses built on the mountains there are now in the valleys there!

[incr]

steve any awswer on the location yet.. i need to no to make my visa im coming from australia for this event...

[cool head]

i'd like to know too! STEVE, if you would like, i could make some calls to a few locations and get some info.

[cool head]

i have a line on a go cart track that has great surface and a good 2/5 mile strait in santa maria ca. i have another lead on a private air strip with new asphalt apx 40 east of fresno. would you like me to check availability. or do you guys at RCCA have any leads at all?

[InitialVelocity]

I am starting to have actual doubts about getting to this event now. I had planned to go to California and base my trip to this event around a little vacation. I dont have a date to start planning, which is starting to cause planning issues. Any new information Steve?

[Craps]

It is probably very difficult to find a location that is consider to be safe from a run a way out of control RC running around 200 mph that weighs 30 to 50 lbs. Scary thought on who or what would stop this thing!

[studysession]

True - but at 30 - 50 lbs, that must be a 1/5 scale or bigger LOL.

I personally am not worried about comign to the event anymore. To late for me to plan to come this year. I would have needed much more notice before thinking of something like this. So I am having my sponsors setup up something here in the UK for me to do it.

My car is finished and ready - I ordered a radar gun and now looking for a long smooth straight to do practice runs at. It would be nice to have a couple of extra motors to mess with.

[microrcdude]

IV is right, we need a location, or this event needs to wait a year. I am waiting to see if its even going to be socal. If not, theres no point in wasting my time and money to build a car only to find out i cant go to the event cause its on the other side of the US.

[italiannitroman]

Wow alot has changed scince I left. Just give Steve some time you guys. He will be able to sort things out and get you guys the best possible location and time frame to do this in.

[Jbrother7]

I just wanted to say something about the guys saying no one does high speed runs on an oval. The "Official" top two fastest production cars both reached their record speeds on a high speed OVAL. The fastest car, the Konegsigg CCR ran 242 MPH; the other car is the Maclaren LM. Although it is thought that they each would gain anywhere from 5-10 mph on a straight run. You guys are right it is probably best to run in a straight line for the overall fastest speeds, but it can be done on an oval and is typically.

[trailranger]

***For Everyone Else, Pressure Steve Pond to Relocate the Event to the Middle of the USA.****

Steve Send the Speed to Missouri. Small Track Ovals are big here! Would 3/4 mile high banked asphalt oval be great or what? And 1/4 mile drag strips are here to. These should be great since the are small enough to maintain radio contact. Since we are country boys, I'm sure money wouldn't be a big deal, just feed us and bring some of those SO-CAL girls.
Ok check this out Steve :cool:
http://www.racingonline.com/I44speedway/ and :eek:
http://www.racingonline.com/speedwayusa/ and :D http://www.ozarkdragstrip.com/ :rolleyes:

Steve, come to Springfield, Missouri its a day drive from anywhere in the USA. Being able to drive to an event means you can come prepared!!! We have Branson just 20 miles from the Ozark Drag Strip, BassPro in Springfield, Awesome lakes to have fun at. If you don't want to pay, talk to Bolivar, Missouri's Mayor and ask him if you can use the recently abandoned airport. No matter what track, bring leaf blowers to dust off the track, and some VHT!!!

[trailranger]

I might as well hook up with an ex just to use her parents dragstrip....I will take one for the team.....NOT But I could work on social networking to see what it would take to let a few guys run some toy cars on a full sized race track. We will need to set up our own chronographs, speed traps, radar guns, ect since we are not using a normal race car. I have to warn you, Fridays are spoken for by the locals since it is race night for Late Models.

[trailranger]

Do like the olyimpics, new location every event. So every year...just change locations to help gain attention and accpetence from the general pubilc. Get out of your bubble and show eveyone how fun it is to make toys go fast!!!

[Phil Slater]

Hi,
I have only just worked out how this forum works (a bit).
I am designing a 4 engined car, 4 x 0.25 cu in approx 10 hp.
1/5 scale wheels, suspension and most drive gear from 1/8 buggies.
I am at a transitional point in the progress.
I have decided that 4 engines will be to difficult to tune. All 4 engines are in the car, no radio but all i see are problems.
I have a 1/10 car and thought about putting a 0.3 cu inch Collari engine in it.
i.e, smaller but only one engine to tune on the day. etc.
I have not gone to print with anything yet but wondered where you are and without you disclosing to much, your approx ideas.
It is only today that I have seen some other photos of cars.
I dont know what is going on with location or timing anymore.
As you say, in the uk a record is a record, we dont have to have a jamboree to create one.
Anyway, nice to know someone in the UK is working on it.















True - but at 30 - 50 lbs, that must be a 1/5 scale or bigger LOL.

I personally am not worried about comign to the event anymore. To late for me to plan to come this year. I would have needed much more notice before thinking of something like this. So I am having my sponsors setup up something here in the UK for me to do it.

My car is finished and ready - I ordered a radar gun and now looking for a long smooth straight to do practice runs at. It would be nice to have a couple of extra motors to mess with.

[rcdemon1]

Hey Guys. Why NOT JUST DO CLASSES 1/10 1/8 1/5 GAS AND ELECTRIC.BUILD WHAT EVER YOU WANT AND RUN IT. WHY NOT EVEN DRAG AND OVAL IF THEY FIND A PLACE WITH BOTH. LETS JUST RUN THE DAM THING. BY THE WAY I PERFER OVAL I HAVE TWO CARS BUILT AND READY TO GO

[Toyotatogo]

Has anyone tried looking into the California Speedway in Fontana ?

I think they rent track times ..... ?


Dangnabbit .... let's block off the 405 freeway a good 2000ft. and have it there .. :p j/k

[FifthScaleRacer]

Hold if at the Bonneville Salt Flats http://www.scta-bni.org/

[sinister]

Hold if at the Bonneville Salt Flats http://www.scta-bni.org/yea 1/10 scale cars are gonna run great on that :rolleyes:

[Toyotatogo]

yea 1/10 scale cars are gonna run great on that :rolleyes:

lol .... :D

I predict a big dust cloud and lots of tire spin

[NitroDad]

So trailranger do you fly to? I live in Ozark. When I go to an air field I go to the one north ot Fellows lake.

[trailranger]

So trailranger do you fly to? I live in Ozark. When I go to an air field I go to the one north ot Fellows lake.

I don't fly I'm too broke paying for college. I lived in bolivar so I iknew about the recently unused runway.