Kidderminster 2WD

[neiloliver]

Weather forecast here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSPdsPWit0). :thumbsup:

[tdi250]

Ha ha ha!!

Love it!!

[Mad-Wolfie]

Here's hoping this somewhat clement weather is going to remain :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Hard to believe a fortnight ago the mercury was sitting at -3° & peaking at about 12°

[neiloliver]

Looks like a great weekend...

This is an insane number of entries

http://www.brca-midwest.co.uk/entry.pdf

[Yardeeee]

Hi All,


Thanks to a brilliant entry of 108 for this sunday (there have been some cancellations too!) this is a message to you all to say that we need you to all work together in terms of pitting. The whole pitting field is in use, please do not cause any blockages near the gates etc., park neatly and in general use common sense.


The area accomodates 120 racers at Nationals so will be no problem if we are all sensible, however to be on the absolute safe side, if any of you have the opportunity to car share with another racer please do so, we do get a lot of spectators coming to watch at kiddy and the more cars we can accomodate in the sight the better.


See you all bright and early on sunday!

Tom

[RogerM]

Tom, can you confirm the gates opening and booking in starting times please. Just wondering if your going to try and push things forward due to the large entry?

[teapot30]

Hi Roger... We are gonna try and be there for 7am and open the gates, but not sure on starting times, depends on how booking in goes.

[russmini]

That's where its handy if you're a Kiddy Member and know the lock code :D

Unfortunately, I've got to drop the missus of at work at 7, so can't use it to my advantage :(

Oh well, see you all early ish for a hopefully cracking trouble free meeting in the basking sunshine.


:thumbsup:

[Yardeeee]

With some cancellations received, we are much closer to 100 entries now, which means though at the moment it's 11 heats, we will likely only have 10 heats tomorrow, so no need to tweak the schedule too much.

We will try and open booking in at 7.45am depending on how things go with prep in the morning. Practice in heat order starting at 8.15-8.30 dependent on how quickly you guys get booked in. We will look to get quali underway at 9.45am but if not 10am as normal - depends on no-shows, tweaks needed to the heat sheet on the day.

See you in the morning.
TY

[mdb_75]

Great day today, as always at Kiddy! Some brilliant racing today and well run as always. I do think the briefings should mention scrutineering though as a lot of people don't seem to know anything about it.

[neiloliver]

A good day racing but disappointing G final result for me. I improved each round but was just not quick enough through the bends. I love kiddy but struggle to make the car flow through that rear section.

N

[russmini]

Cracking day racing at Kiddy.

Started off terrible, but progresively got better and better.

Really liked the track, the back section was soo tricky though, but i'd happily run that layout again.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day happen.

:thumbsup:

[Big G]

I had a great day. The E final is great for me with 2wd :D

I don't think strutineering should be mentioned on the PA if people haven't been through. Just disqualify them. they won't miss it again. It's not like the scales and box are a new concept...

It was a BRCA event run to the BRCA rules. Just like people who have left the rostrum during the race have been handed penalties in the past.

[tdi250]

I had a great time on Sunday too!

I would have to say though as someone returning to the sport after a 17 year break, (Sunday was my first regional event since 1995) i think mentioning scrutineering on the PA is definately be a good thing for all the people who either haven't been for a long long time or are completely new to it all!

I nearly forgot on a couple of races and had run back down off the rostrum! I think it would be harsh to disqualify someone new cos it had slipped their mind, there is a hell of a lot to remember when it's all new and that mixed with the excitment and anxiety of wanting to do well makes it easy to forget something!

If we treat newbies to the sport like that then they are far less likely to come back.

[Mad-Wolfie]

Great day on Sunday, although one to forget for me, i just wasn't consistent & struggled to do anything other than hover at the bottom end of the tables.

On the subject of scrutineering, i did notice a couple of cars running unlisted motors & LiPo's. Why aren't they being checked along with if the car has 3 non cut-down numbers on, weight & width??

I asked the question at the start of the season if the electrics (for the reasons it's not stated clearly on the website rules page) needed to be BRCA listed as at the time i only had a suitable sensorless system (unless i ran with the 10.5 out of my 12th) & an unlisted LiPo & couldn't really afford to buy new kit.. specifically being told i had to run BRCA listed kit as if it was a national, thus on health & safety grounds etc it was a requirement & I would not be allowed to run otherwise, which meant i had to go out & spend nearly £300 that i hadn't got on new electrics at a time when i really didn't have money to play with due to struggling after Christmas. As you can imagine i'm a tad annoyed to see people using the same unlisted sensorless system i was told i couldn't use & unlisted LiPo's at Kiddy on Sunday! :thumbdown:

[xfactor]

100% agree with you theres also a number of us that have done the same gone out and got BRCA listed lipos only to see others that havent and also lipo bags not everyone charging in them either or has this rule changed that you dont need to use one now.

[RandomConflict]

I'd have to agree with the BRCA legal equipment rule. I to have recently started racing again after a 6/7 year break. When purchasing new equipment, I ensured that it was all BRCA legal, and that my cells are always in LiPo sacks both when charging and storing, just to be extra safe. I think this should all be checked on race day if possible, I know committee members are often busy racing or ensuring the meeting runs smoothly. Perhaps cars could be checked at random during the scrutineering process?

Also, regarding scrutineering, I understand that this has to be enforced, and feel that perhaps an e-mail to all drivers before the event, and it mentioned at every drivers briefing should be enough. People shouldn't have to be reminded constantly throughout the day. Meeting disqualification is perhaps a step to far for missed scrutineering, but perhaps if a driver were to miss it and there car still pass after the race, perhaps a 10 second penalty, or the cancellation of that particular round of qualifying? There are a lot of different views to all of these topics really...

[Mad-Wolfie]

Also i don't wish to sound like i'm whinging but can i add there were a hell of a lot of calls over the tannoy on Sunday for cars that had missed scrutineering, with the same "threats" being called numerous times - sometimes the same cars i imagine - with pretty much every heat having someone that had failed to have their car checked. Seems a few too many were not putting their cars through basic scrutineering & not having their times docked.. what is the point in having these rules if people are not enforcing them & turning what is supposed to be a serious competition into a free-for-all?

At the end of the day the rule is if you miss or fail scrutineering, your time is squashed for that round & yes i can understand Scrutineers being lenient for the 1st round & letting a few go when everyone is still a little sleepy & delicate after the early morning drive to the track or unaware of where the scrutineers table is, but come on, to still be calling out over the tannoy that people are missing scrutineering during the last round of qualifiers or even during the finals, with times not being docked is taking the Michael a little.

[RogerM]

I believe that there was at least one person who DID lose their round score for failing to present the car.

I agree that there were way too many people not going through at Kidderminster and that something needs to be done to tighten that up a bit. I also can't say I've never missed one myself and thus have been greatful of the oppertunity to present the car after a run with just a telling off!

Please remember that our scruitineers are often non-racing people (like Maggie and Sarah at Kidderminster on Sunday) helping out so some things such as motor/cell type may occassionally get missed. That said Sarah also does the national at Kidderminster where she WILL be working to the list provided on the day so if one had been made available I'm sure it would have been used.

[Big G]

Meeting disqualification is perhaps a step to far for missed scrutineering

You only lost your time for that race if you didn't strutineer before the race. It was never said you'd be removed from the meeting.

[The Pookster]

Caught the last leg of the A-final on video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGwb_3rmsnM

[adon30]

Lists for Brca equipment Updated for 2012
http://www.brca.org/?q=content/homologation-lists-2012-updates/14218

[coolcam]

Sunday was a fantastic day racing

regarding strutineering, it is no excuse, but after doing 1/8th nitro rally cross and 1/10th touring car, but also at the neo race they strutineer at the end of the race.

It is so easy when watching the racing and you are on next to put the car down and line up to get on the rostrum as we all know you cannot strutineer until the race before has started. Whilst you are watching it.

It maybe a good idea that you can strutinise cars two races before you are on, which will solve the problem.

[xfactor]

Or go back to how they did it at the old radio race car days where after your had finshed 3 car numbers were called at random you would take your car to race control go out to marshall then collect your car after you had marshalled EASY !!!!! :thumbsup:

[Mad-Wolfie]

Or go back to how they did it at the old radio race car days where after your had finshed 3 car numbers were called at random you would take your car to race control go out to marshall then collect your car after you had marshalled EASY !!!!! :thumbsup:

Seems to work at 12th nationals & TC nationals as well.. you race & put your car (& transmitter) into impound where it is scrutineered while you are marshaling. Then once you have marshaled you collect your car, if you come back after you have marshaled & find a post it note stuck to the car with details of why it failed, your time has gone for that round.

[teapot30]

Thats ok if there is enough room in scrutineering to house 10 cars plus 10 transmitters



Seems to work at 12th nationals & TC nationals as well.. you race & put your car (& transmitter) into impound where it is scrutineered while you are marshaling. Then once you have marshaled you collect your car, if you come back after you have marshaled & find a post it note stuck to the car with details of why it failed, your time has gone for that round.

[KRob]

Seems to work at 12th nationals & TC nationals as well.. you race & put your car (& transmitter) into impound where it is scrutineered while you are marshaling. Then once you have marshaled you collect your car, if you come back after you have marshaled & find a post it note stuck to the car with details of why it failed, your time has gone for that round.

It's not quite that simple now though with Lipo batteries. I appreciate that there isn't a voltage check at the regionals but there are at the off-road nationals (and there was after the introduction of lipos to 12th) so it has to be done before the race.
There's probably an element of sticking with the same process as the nationals to avoid any confusion for those doing both series.

[neiloliver]

I dont think anyone is doing it on purpose, people just get talking and forget, especially at Kiddy where the start line is right next to the entrance.. It is more of a problem since we have had PTs. When we needed hand-outs there was more of an incentive to remember.

I think that first offence of the day should be allowed with a warning and the second time you should loose your time. Saying that the next person to do it will result in you loosing your time is a bit unfair in my opinion (unless it is made clear at drivers briefing).

N

[_JP_]

To be honest I nearly forgot but remembered just before going on and I have been racing far too long :p

It's all too easy to forget sometimes and for new racers who aren't used to it maybe we need to remind them more over the PA?

[Mad-Wolfie]

I think that first offence of the day should be allowed with a warning and the second time you should loose your time. Saying that the next person to do it will result in you loosing your time is a bit unfair in my opinion (unless it is made clear at drivers briefing).

As i said, i can accept leniency during the 1st round to a degree as people are probably still not "with it" after the drive to the track & being thrown into non familiar surroundings where they probably get a bit muddled - we've all been there i'm sure, however this does not excuse the same thing happening so late into the meeting as the last round of qualifiers or the finals.

[matdodd]

If people have seen other drivers not using equipment on the BRCA list and feel so strongly about it why haven't they informed a BRCA or club official about it on the day?
If they don't know they cant do anything about it!

I personally think you should be allowed to run what motors and esc you like at regionals to help with costs for new racers but I think lipos should be from the EB list.

[tony12795]

Not worth it.

[matdodd]

Not worth it.

Not worth what big boy?

[Mad-Wolfie]

If people have seen other drivers not using equipment on the BRCA list and feel so strongly about it why haven't they informed a BRCA or club official about it on the day?
If they don't know they cant do anything about it!

While I agree with the logic, surely the job of policing the event comes down to the racers to turn up with the equipment the rules say you should run & once the meeting starts it's then down to the organisers of the event to ensure people comply with the rules which they have set.

[RLGfx]

have you ever worked a scrutineers desk for a meeting? I have, and believe me it's a thankless job, especially when you have to get motors pulled apart because you believe them to be illegal (oh the joys of touring car racing!)

Any help a scrutineer gets would be appreciated, even if it's just a heads up to say that you believe a car is running illegally, and to take a closer look. It just makes things easier!

[RogerM]

As stated before the girls in scrutineering at this event are not racers ... They know the rules are written BUT telling one brand of motor from another without a reference guide is not easy for those that don't spend much of their time thinking / reading about RC.

If there was a potential issue they would have appreciated the heads up.

[RLGfx]

exactly what i meant Roger, and if they thought there was an issue, or a concern was raised by another driver, I'm sure one of the guys in Race Control would've kept them right.

[matdodd]

While I agree with the logic, surely the job of policing the event comes down to the racers to turn up with the equipment the rules say you should run & once the meeting starts it's then down to the organisers of the event to ensure people comply with the rules which they have set.

That's the point how far do you want the organisers to go with enforcing the rules and how serious do you want it to be?
There putting there trust in the fact people will read the rules and turn up with the right gear. Should we start pulling peoples motors apart to check there running legal rotors?
I still don't understand why you wouldn't just have a quiet word with someone from the club, even Mr EB board PW was there I'm sure he would of looked into your concerns.

The scrutineers that gave up there free time at kiddy are mums/partners of racers.
I know my partner wouldn't be able to identify over 100 different variations of motors that are on the EB list! and I'm sure if I asked here to learn how too, then sit in a field for 10 hours with no thanks she would say no chance.
Maybe you could help inspect some motors at the next regional if the club needs any help?

[RLGfx]

Actually, I say BALLS TO IT!!! Lets just play with toy cars and have fun :D:D

I love being controversial...

[matdodd]

Ive missed you logic mate :thumbsup:

[RLGfx]

Giz a cuddle....:D

[Mad-Wolfie]

& to answer an earlier question... (which i think was aimed at me)
have you ever worked a scrutineers desk for a meeting? !

yes i have :p

How hard is it to print off the current EB list for motors & LiPo's etc - or even store them on a laptop & put them on the scrutineers table & then do random checks on cars?

Also it doesn't take a genius to spot an un-sensored brushless motor when it's hanging out the back end of a B4 or similar rear motored car with the motor on full display at the arse end of the car & knowing that sensorless motors are not on the list & it just takes a quick walk around the pits to see who is charging without LiPo sacks.

[Battle_axe]

Lads please put the handbags down. This is my first time in this region and to be honest im really not liking it im not sure all this fighting pettiness and brutal enforcement of the rules actually makes it something I want to take part in. if you want all that go do on road :thumbsup:. This is meant to be a fun sport where we encourage newcomers to the racing I think that at 20 I must be one of the youngest at any of the mid west events I have gone to and to me that's a sad point.

Like it has been said the people doing the scrutenering are volunteers and they are doing a great job but Ian its people like you who just makes them want to give up. im going to stay off the lipo sack topic as i think using them is just as dangerous as not but hey that's my view and as long as the rules say we have to use them I will do.