Questions on Racing

[ChazMan]

Hey, I was wondering if someone could help me out here for a minute, I'm sure most of you can...I would like to know just how a race is ran. The whole thing, qualifying, moving on, choosing start postitions, classes and all that. If some could just give me a crash course in it, and how most are usually ran I would much appreciate it!
Thanks!!
dachazman@hotmail.com
ChazMan

[jboyce13]

i would like to know too, also about channels, what if you do not have extra crystals and someone is on your channel, is it first come first serve. how are transponders hooked into the car, wire tie??
i have never raced, but am wanting too this summer. thanks

[Nitro Burner]

I'll leave this one for someone who likes to type a lot.

But if no one response I’ll suffer thru it and type the info for ya.

I type slow so it would take me forever.

[joe]

different clubs, different procedures

go to a race and find out 8^)

[Grant Tokumi]

Entries broken up into classes, like
stock 2WD truck (stock motor)
mod 2WD truck (any motor)
4WD buggy
1/10th scale gas truck
1/8th scale buggy
etc

Qualifying
In each class, they usually run up to 10 cars in a qualifier. If there are 30 cars, they break up the class and run 3 qualifiers with 10 cars each.

Most places run 4 minute races. You try to make the most laps in that 4 minutes. After the 4 minute buzzer rings, you finish the lap you are on. Fastest time with most laps is the winner of that qualifier.
e.g.
car 1: 10 laps - 4min 10sec
car 2: 10 laps - 4min 20sec.
car 3: 9 laps - 4min 1 sec.

ranking order from 1st to third place is
car1 , car2, car3. Note that even if car 3 finished the race (crossed the finish line) before car 1 and car 2, car 1 and 2 beats car 3 because car 1 and 2 had one more lap than car 3.

They usually run 2 or 3, 4-minute qualifying rounds (you get 2-3 chances), where you try to make the most laps and best time.
After the 2-3 rounds, they take the best times of each of the 30 cars in your class and rank them 1 to 30. Top 10 goes into the A-main, next 10 goes to B-main, and last 10 goes into C-main. Note that because they do this, winning a qualifier doens't mean winning a race. The mains are the "main event", the one you really want to win. The top finishers in the mains are the ones who win the prizes.

Boy, this did take a long time to write. My lunch hour is over, I'll let someone else continue.

[This message has been edited by Grant Tokumi (edited 04-06-2001).]

[TCorzett]

Grant Tokumi covered most of it. There are also different levels of each category Like there will be novice (new people), intermediate (less new people), sportsman (old guys), and pro (paid people). This way all the new people drive together, and as you get better you move up to race against better drivers. Starting position for the qualifiers is random (or based on the # that's already on your car). The second heat you just reverse the order. The main event is started in the order of qualifying. As for the main, first one across the line (with the most laps) wins!

As for channels and extra crystals most of the time people with the same frequencies can be split up in the heats. If there's a problem with frequencies in the main the person with the best qualifying get the choice of frequencies. Most the time it's not a problem if you have 1 or 2 extra crystals. And I'm sure that if you didn't have any the person would switch. Transponders are attached to the car using a body clip. If you don't have a special transponder holder a whole in the body/windshield works fine.

The best way to learn about racing is to just go and do it. The first few times you'll have to get use to it, but after that you get into a rhythm. As you become a better driver and win a few novice races you can jump up levels. It all depends on how much you want to get into it. I know people who race C-main novice every week and are happy with it. Personally, being very competitive, If I don't make the A-main I'm disappointed (hasn't happened yet though... knock on wood).

Hope some of this information helps, and look forward to seeing you on the podium!

-Todd...

[ChazMan]

Hey Thanks a lot guys!! I had a lot of the basics, I was just making sure that I could pick up on some more specific stuff and make sure that I wasn't missing anything. Thanks again for all the typing!!

ChazMan

[ChazMan]

Ok...one more question and then I think I will leave ya guys alone...does anyone know where they get those lap counters and software to run all that stuff??

Thanks Again!
ChazMan

[digex]

The back of Car-Action has some AMF software ads. Thats a pretty widely used package for lap-counting.

[ChazMan]

Alrighty! I found them on the web! Thanks a lot guys for all your help!!!

ChazMan