I have been thinking about this a lot lately. With the direction of NASCAR, our local 1/18th scale track, the SPEC classes and discussions of what to do for new classes.

I can see a need for it for "beginner classes" or so-called "budget classes". But not as an overall goal.

We are RACING afterall. I for one do not want all of the cars to be "equal", not to the point where it stifles ingenuity and creativity.

I personally believe that having "class rules" that limit the type and voltage of cell, type/wind of motor (unless it is an open class) are rules enough.

If we take this sport to the point of NASCAR, dictating the body, what can be done under it to the 'enth degree is just going to far.

Some of the best things that have come along in this sport have come from racers pushing the envelope and finding an edge.

In the pan-cars, I think as long as it meets weight/cells/measurment, no front shocks, solid rear axle, motor and battery requirements it should be left alone.

I guess what really has me thinking about this is NASCAR. IMHO, they are stifeling the creativity of the teams. Why not just hand out all the cars on Sunday and let them race them. That would save a ton of money for the teams. Everybody would show up and just climb in a car and go race. Kind of like renting a go-kart.

What do you guys think?

NASCAR is about as far from having parity this year as any racing series there is.

Well, they are trying. They want the COT to be the same in every garage so there is no "edge".

Having that "edge" is what drives racers to be racers.

I think and feel the purpose of Parity in RACING is to showcase DRIVING Talent, NOT engineering Talent.

Engineering Talent only showcases MONEY - and the MORE SPENT, the MORE WINS

BUT Driving TALENT can NOT be bought - it has to be LEARNED.

Now, I say this with the "NATIONAL" caliber CHAMPION R/C Racers in mind, as well as a F-1 Driver or a Cup Driver...or a ARCA ReMAX Series Driver - Champ Car/IRL or just a Saturday Night Dirt Late Model.

You can put a GOOD Driver in THE BEST Car vs. Putting the BEST driver in a Medocre Car - In most cases MY Money would be on the BEST driver, because HE'LL adapt to his surroundings...and give the car what it needs.

...You can put a GOOD Driver in THE BEST Car vs. Putting the BEST driver in a Medocre Car - In most cases MY Money would be on the BEST driver, because HE'LL adapt to his surroundings...and give the car what it needs.

I see what you mean. But in our sport, I should have limited my commentary to our sport, I feel it is a majority of preparation. Sure good/great equipment makes the difference, but you still have to build the car to go fast and handle well.

If you put a good driver in a well maintained/prepped chassis, in turn put the factory guy in a car that has been neglected that good driver will prevail.

Maybe it is just me, but I for one really enjoy coming up with the better mouse trap and do not want to see that go out of our sport.

Maybe it is just me, but I for one really enjoy coming up with the better mouse trap and do not want to see that go out of our sport.


ME Either, but my hopes are ingenuity and parity can find a medium to work Hand in Hand...

I don't think we need parity in R/C as much as we need to set the rules so that anyone can be creative.

What I mean is that if someone wants to make custom parts for their R/C car they shouldn't need a super expensive machine for a 1 off part that may make them .001 faster per lap. What has always bothered me about this hobby is that there are those people with too much money and not enough sense that are able to push the limits. I applaude anyone's efforts to engineer a better car, but the result shouldn't be so exotic that it drives away their competitors.

Let me give an example where I think creative thinking is good. I know by the rules we aren't supposed to run a shock on the front end of a pan car. However with 2 balls studs and a micro shock I can modify a stock 10L front end. Does it make my car better on a very bumpy track? Yes. Can anyone do this modification? Yes.

I've seen some of the modified front ends for pan cars. Some use off the shelf products, but a lot use speciality parts. I think if anyone who is creative can buy or modify EXISTING parts to make a better direct drive pan car, then I'm fine with it. However, I shouldn't have to have access to a foundry, cnc lathe, or mechanical engineer to stay competitive with a toy car.

I think there is room in open modified for anything goes. For the rest of us who choose not to run that class, we at least want to feel that our competitors are playing by similar rules to us. Not everyone races to win, but I at least don't want to bring a Yugo to the track when everyone else is running a Corvette.

Here here! 2nd that.