Not to take anything away from the ROAR Paved Oval Nationals this year, but the idea of a Nitro Paved Oval Nationals has once againg been brought up for discussion. With the soaring cost of a ROAR sanctioned event ($80 per class), it makes sense to look into this. We kicked around the idea of a Nitro Nationals two years ago, but the number of nitro oval racers we had prevented us from pursuing the idea. But, with more racers getting involved in nitro oval this year, maybe this idea is not so far fetched.

ROAR has no interest in Oval racing, and especially Nitro Oval racing. Nitro is once again a Provisional class for the Paved Oval Nationals this year, and once again, ROAR has no rules by which to even run a nitro event. GASCAR rules will again be used for the .12 nitro pan class, and the Carolina Series rules will be used for the .09 pan class (same as last year). It just seems senseless to pay $80 per class to run the same program we run at every GASCAR race, where the entry fee is just $20.

With a couple of major sponsors, and a track interested in hosting the event, I see no reason why the membership of GASCAR would oppose sponsoring a Nitro Paved Oval National Event in the near future. The .12 pan car class, along with the .09 pan car class could work together to host the biggest nitro oval event ever held, if interest contintues to grow. Lets support the ROAR Paved Oval Nats this year at Carolina R/C Complex, but keep this idea of a Nitro Nats hot, if you are interested.

Respectfully,
Tim Smith, GASCAR

As for a Nitro Nationals; maybe “nationals” is a bit ambitious for a title, after all we are not nationwide yet but it could sure be something to work for. However, all good things have to start someplace and the more I have thought about it the more it has become “the chicken or the egg” deal. Do we use a race like this to help nitro racing grow or do we wait until we have enough racers to hold a major race? Personally, I think we should move on with this idea but now may not be the time to call it a “National” event. As I posted on my site; when we can field a 20 car class in both the .12 and .09 then we may be able to call it that. But I think that at this stage of the game, a good race foundation is worth more than a “title”.

Concerning sponsors….that’s a tough one. 99 percent of the RC companies (except for BSR and Proto Form) have no connection with nitro racing. The Chassis companies do but in such a small way (percentage wise) that it may be hard for them to justify any major sponsoring. This will have to be a project for Tim and me but “outside the hobby” sponsoring may be the way to go.

Tim mentioned that ROAR has no interest in Nitro Oval racing. I say let’s keep it that way; I will fight Nitro becoming a legitimate ROAR class tooth and nail. We don’t need to be a part of that political mess. Besides, I think we are doing just fine without them and I see absolutely nothing that they could offer us. If there are racers that will not get involved in what we do because we are not affiliated with ROAR then I don’t think we need those people in the first place.

Oh, just one more thing Tim: it’s the RC-Oval Nitro Series not the Carolina series anymore LOL

I do apologize for mis-naming the .09 Series. Its the nitro fumes that have my brain out of whack.......LOL "Nationals" is a bit presumtious (sp), but my idea of not having to "piggyback" nitro oval on ROAR's back to get recognition, is where I am headed with this. True, we dont have 20 racers in each class, yet, but we could, if we worked at it. Its the availability of nitro kits that hurts us. There arent many, if any, in the local hobby shops. Nitro oval is an oddity, in that you have to have a track to run them, and most nitro owners opt for Touring Cars (in parking lots), or "dirt burners" in their back yards. We have an uphill climb; but its so much fun, that if some of the R/C racers out there, just gave it a try, thy would get hooked on it. its not something that we can solve overnight, but its worth working on to make nitro oval on an even keel with electric oval.

SOUNDS GREAT......... I am all about Nitro now that I have my feet wet again, and am home and stable for a couple years anyway....


Tim and McLin monetary help can come from me and my store advertising fund, get with me if this ever developes into a big deal, cause I can help out as much as I can and am willing to help out I can........

Hopefully with the deals I am working out with the Chassis and Kit guys, I can offer great FULL packages tires and bodies and all to the public.......

I do already carry the tires, bodies and other breaking parts for most of the cars, just working on the rest as we speak..........

I can't agree with or against about how much roar is interested in us(Nitro Guys), and in a sense i do not care. ROAR has never did anything for me , except cost me extra dollars. But i am all for growing Nitro, i will have atleast two cars at Easely on the 26th, and anybody is welcome to try either one of them. I believe that if we make it a little easier for them to take a test drive maybe that will spark them enough to getum into it. I am not saying you should let them test drive your car for the Nats or anything but just a car that will handle good and give them a true sense of the fun involved with Nitro. Location, is the key for getting a good turn out for a Nitro type Nats, and i believe if everybody puts there thinking caps on that could be solved too. In other words it has to be big enough and wide enough to handle nitro, have an outside pit road,or an easy to access inside pit road, personal transponder compliant, and be in a good location where families can go out to eat, and sleep in a motel with out ants and cock roaches lol . But lets definetly keep this idea going and not give up on it. Later=Benjie Wright:wave:

I am with ya Benjie I should be there got the Airline Paid for ticket and getting the car last minute stuff ready to make the trip, will only be bringing the minimum but hey I will be there......

That's great, don't think we will forget about you when the time comes LOL

OK…picking my words here LOL I’m not saying any of this for any reason other than attempting to make things better. No offense meant to anyone.

The availability of Kits is a definite problem but I can see the chassis maker’s situation. If they can sell 200 electric kits to one gas kit, guess where their priorities go. If I were rich instead of so darn good looking, I would have my chassis on the market but to be honest, I face the same problem as the “real” chassis guys, it’s a big investment to make only to sell three or four kits a year.

BUT, having said all that, it doesn’t take away from the fact that we have an availability problem and not the least of it is in the engines and parts. The .09’s are a little better in that they are plentiful but they do have to be added to with adaptors and exhaust mods. The .12’s have a real problem this year until you guys can switch to the .15’s. If it were not for the Nats I would say go with the new engine now and get the bugs worked out ASAP.

I know this is not a favorite topic but with the addition of the .15 engine next year I REALLY feel that there should be a “standard” with the mufflers. Whether there is a difference or not the “perception” of a difference makes a huge difference in people’s minds. Besides, if there really is no difference …. what’s the big deal about everyone running the same one? Find one that everyone can order on line in the 10 buck range and go for it. I know for a fact that it has hurt the .12 attendance. People have told me that until this is all settled they would not run the .12’s. So, take that for what it’s worth.

Exposure is a major concern when I try to plan our races and I’m sure it is with Tim as well. As I said in the above post ROAR holds nothing for me B UT I will support us being at the Nats as a provisional class just for the exposure. It’s hard to be “piggy backed” onto their nats but for the time being, it’s worth it.

Well maybe I can start building .09 Motors and assembling them or at least someone can, maybe I can provide one or the other and that should help things get along...... when the time comes, I am all for it......... Now that I have a 1/4 scale and Nitro Pans I may never go back to Electric......

Kit availablility I think is a matter of doing a search for them online......... Do one how many websites do you find where a customer can see what they get for their money, none as far as I know....... So on my site I have dedicated a page or two to nothing but the Nitro LOVE...... If folks out there can send basically bare bone pictures of your cars, the way you got them form the Manufacturer, feel free to send them to me and I can post them on the site to give reference to the selling item on the page..... I will not be able to put a button for them due to the availablility of them but I can post something to the effect that they are built as needed or something like that....

So manufacturers and racers alike can help me build that page....... I am gonna add some more pics of stuff as I get them available, my camera charger just got back from Iraq, LOL so its camera time now....

I know I wont be forgotten about, I am the only guy up here right now that I know of, LOL....... So it should not be too easy to forget, plus my name is all over here on these threads, asking questions helping build the knowledge base for us...... LOL

I know I am making an impression on the guys up here, they are asking more and more questions every weekend I run it..... And now I think I have the loose bugs in the cars to really put on a good show for them..... Plus with the addition of a 3rd car to my stable I can possible get some of the TRUSTED few I know up here to run them with me and we can put on a mini race of 4-5 cars........... So its happening, I see it......

Hey Darrell, Looking foward to meeting you on the 26th. I for one appreciate all you are doing to try and help Nitro. Unfortunately the car that i run is like sorda made from two or three different cars, so a picture of it would only confuse people worst.lol But your ideas are good ones and keep up the good work. Later-Benjie Wright

Thanks I am not trying any harder than the others, just have my own website and offering up pages for it to help out as well as my store to offer savings.........

Tim, Check your PM's on my site, I didn't have your email.

Tim, you guys just let me know when and where.

Give me plenty of lead time and turn me loose and I will line up sponsors for the race. Remember the door prizes we had at the start of 07 GASCAR? That was from not even heating up the e-mail or phones.

Sponsorship is not a real big problem, just turn me loose.

I will not get into a debate over ROAR and Oval, I have a confilct of interest at the moment.

But, do I think that ROAR wants the Nitro-Pan cars at the Nats? No I do not, I do not think they could care less. The reason, the ONLY REASON, is Donnie and the work he did to get us there and to help give us some exposure.

As far as calling it a NATIONAL, I say that is EXACTLY what we call it. Here is my reasoning from a "marketing" perspective.

If you want people to know it is a big deal, you have to make it a big deal. Look at it like this.

The winner of the First Annual Nitro-Pan Oval Nationals was Lin Vaughn in the .12 class. Not only did he Top Qualify but he had the field down a lap by lap 100.

There will only be ONE FIRST. So I say let's call it what we are wanting to aspire to and grow into it.

The Oval Nationals did not drop the title just because they had lesser entries.

WOW nice.................

Darrell -- you will be first on the list I contact!

You gonna make the Nats?

Okay, we have some interest going here. I think its up to the nitro racers and nitro manufaturers to work together to make nitro oval the best format for R/C. We have KSG, Hyperdrive, Coyote and Bandit. Lets not forget Team Phenom. Scratch built cars are also included in this. Nitro kits are not a thing that LHS are going to stock. So, we have to promote the idea of nitro oval, get racers interested and get them into a car.... easily from electric. Either a conversion kit, or a sportsman kit that is less money.

No Nats this year but gonna make the Pre Nats at Easley on the 26th.........

Tim, you are kicking around an idea that I have been thinking about for a while and we are at a point where we could not only get some of this done but also help our nitro supporter.

It’s easy to understand why hobby shops cannot afford to stock a lot of nitro parts. I think that The Hobby Connection is the biggest supporter that I have seen. BUT Mitch with his Mobile Hobbies trailer comes to all of the .09 races and is also getting his stuff ready to run .12 as well. What I’m getting at is we need a central location to point people to when they are interested in Nitro Pan Car. Why not make it Mitch. If we all pointed inquiries toward him, then he could afford to stock and ship all the parts they need.

Now Darrell, I’m not forgetting about you either. When the northern racers start getting their interest stirred, then we should point them to Darrell for their parts. If we stay with these two dealers, then they could afford to keep parts on had to supply our needs. Sort of a co-op.

It’s like the rest of what we do; we can’t rely on anyone but ourselves to get the job done.

I will stock what ever the nitro racers will buy. I will help sponser "Nitro Nats" if we wish to try it next year.

Shoot i can work with Mitch, I would divert Customers to him not a problem, he can get the Motors and stuff, so between us I am sure we will have god only knows what you all will need, LOL...............

That's great guys. RC-Oval.com will help sponsor it too.

Look at this Tim .... 3 sponsors already ......... we "don't need no stinking commettees." LOL

I agree with Mclin on having one or two central locations for purchasing nitro parts. Mitch and Darrel sounds good to me as long as they can get along o.k..
I do believe that we need to get moving on having only one muffler being legal. Also only one fuel tank being legal, Mclin would need to make sure all the .09 rules are ironed out to a perfect flat spot. Along with Tim needing to do the same. As far as the Nitro Nats part, Location, Location, Location is a big factor to me. I am sure Darrel would like to be there and maybe he can get a couple of guys too join him by the time we actually have one. In other words have it in a location that nobody has to travel more than 8 hours in any direction. Hope all this can get ironed out in plenty of time to allow people and sponsors etc to get ready. Later-Benjie Wright

Sorry, about mentioning the fuel tank , I meant to say only one fuel tank for both classes, that way its easier for a person to build cars for all classes. Just my thinking.Later-Benjie Wright :wave:

I will travel anywhere time and space will allow, I work for an airline so bring things with me would be of the minimum, but I can just about fly anywhere in the world, so travel for me is not the question........

As far as Mitch and I getting along, I believe we can not a big deal there.... We are both small and want to see Oval survive in both sectors north and south......

I am sure that the location of the track will be at one that a majority are very familiar with...... GA NC SC VA TN does not matter to me.....

Muffler is of new concern to me but still in my head about what one to get so I am holding in that pattern for a few more, but adding .09 to all the cars I now own to get them all running and ready for action......

I love it, boogity, boogity, lets go racin boys.................................

Dagumit, I hope i don't get charged for all these extra post. I also wanted to mention that someone should get in touch with Bandit Racing to make sure they are still in business, Not trying to start anything just don't want people thinking they can get something from them if they are not open. As far as me knowing anything, I never was an actual team member so i do not have any idea. Later-Benjie Wright

According to my communication with Charlie at Bandit he is still open and still has the ability to make cars and parts....... Oh yeah and of course bodies.........

You guys probably already know that I'm completely in on this Nitro Nats idea. I think its great. I like the page of rules that each series has instead of ROAR's bible. We don't need that in nitro; they don't need that in electric. I would have to think that Easley may be a good location for this event because Donnie has said that he likes the nitro stuff and is glad when we come. Also, it seems to be a track that both classes work well on. I would love to see it at C&W if it is still around, but even .09s are hard to get hooked up there, and there is little racing room, but I'd still love to see that. Plus its only 5 minutes from home, lol. But Easley can provide good racing and, possibly most important, some good exposure for the event, because there would definitely be a lot of spectators there. If some electric guys see a successful event they might want to join in on the fun.

We do not need to forget LPR. LPR has hosted alot of GASCAR events and is a great facility as well.

Okay guys, I need some input on the format for the .12 pan class at the Nats. Since we are using GASCAR rules, we can set our own format. Last year we ran a 100 Lap "B" main and a 250 Lap "A" main. What if we ran a 60 Lap "B" main and two 65 Lap A" mains. But run the two "A" mains an hour apart. if a racer breaks or drops out of either one, he stil gets a chance to win. The fastest overall time in either "A" main heat is the overall winner. The A main consiste of the top 10 qualifiers, so they deserve to have two changes to win. This would eliminate the need for pit crews, and still leave the fuel mileage factor inplace, and 65 laps might be a stretch for some cars......... what do you guys think?

Tim Smith

Here is a "hint" of something that is being worked on. How about a VELODROME race in South Carolina in 2010?

Keep checking my site. I am awaiting permission to re publish an article from another site and should have it in a day or two.

If the RC-Oval group can be a part of this, I would suggest that we use the same rules format as we are going to do at the Paved Nats by the “other” organization this year. We only require a one tank race so we can run first and help marshal the .12’s

About the two race deal, I would like to give that some more thought first before I open my big mouth and stick my foot in it but that does seem to be something that the .09’s could do as well. Let me think on it because my first impression is that it could become a scoring are re-start fiasco. Computers are wonderful things though. LOL

I keep the Hyperdrive gas kits in stock. I can get a KSG kit, just takes a few days. Last time I tried to get Bandit parts it was tough, not sure he's building them any more??? Tim, I guees the Coyote folks are all going to you.

I say keep it like last year. 100 B and 250 or 300 A. It was a 300 lap race last year. If you want to have sprint racing then run triple mains instead of two. But my vote is for the longer race. I know Brian, Casey, and Roger would agree. It is a national stage and run it like a grand event. Last year was a good race. Only mishaps was with break downs, no wrecks in the main.

Tim, you are kicking around an idea that I have been thinking about for a while and we are at a point where we could not only get some of this done but also help our nitro supporter.

It’s easy to understand why hobby shops cannot afford to stock a lot of nitro parts. I think that The Hobby Connection is the biggest supporter that I have seen. BUT Mitch with his Mobile Hobbies trailer comes to all of the .09 races and is also getting his stuff ready to run .12 as well. What I’m getting at is we need a central location to point people to when they are interested in Nitro Pan Car. Why not make it Mitch. If we all pointed inquiries toward him, then he could afford to stock and ship all the parts they need.

Now Darrell, I’m not forgetting about you either. When the northern racers start getting their interest stirred, then we should point them to Darrell for their parts. If we stay with these two dealers, then they could afford to keep parts on had to supply our needs. Sort of a co-op.

It’s like the rest of what we do; we can’t rely on anyone but ourselves to get the job done.

I think if you are at a track that has a hobby shop, the racers should buy from them first, if then and only then the shop doesn't have what you need then you buy from the mobile shop.

No problem there. I am the track Hobby Shop for C&W and Fox Mountain. I don't sell anything at Easley without permission, only like if he is out of something that a person needs right then. The Hobby Shop at Easley is cheaper on the Futaba, AP and OS stuff than I am. They have a distributor that carries it. I pay retail for it and keep it so we can have it to race, when we need it. On tire, bodies, electrics, most other things, they can't sell it as cheap as I can, due to overhead. But bottom line is, most tracks that have a hobby shop depend on each other, we have to support and respect the local shops.

I am all for triple A's and a 100 lap B,. No need for pit guys, Smurfs don't have to worry about that type of stuff, seeing as how they have there own pit/ fan club,bla, bla,bla. But whatever the majority wants to do, i'll be O.K with. Later, Benjie Wright

Good reply Mitch.

JONW1020 - You should for sure support your hobby shop but most do not stock Nitro parts or kits if there is one single place we could go to and know we could get what we need, it could make it easier to get new racers into Nitro racing. Besides, Easley is the only track on the .09 tour that even has a hobby shop lol. (besides Rock Hill of course)

Yeah I agree support the local places I even do and I have my own like Mitch's Mobile Shop............

Nitro is rough I agree with Mitch and McLin having one place to get it all is great, just like my distributors sometimes I have to do the same as Mitch and get things retail just so we will have it at the track...... All track I go to have given me permission to sell there, now of course once I leave the state I am not allowed to sell in person, but thanks to the internet guys liek Mitch and I can sell anywhere we want......

Back on subject though, not ever having been able to run that many laps I can not say, but I was one for moving to 5+ Min races or lap races in electric oval for years.....

So to me the more the better, cause if you break you have a chance to make a come back or at least gain some ground....... Shorter races if you break you are pretty much finished so just pull the car off the track and wait for the next round......

Check new thread for Nitros at the Nats as far as format of the race goes.

Been thinking on this race format thing and while I am still not too excited about the double mains, I have to say that I just don' have the race experience to justify a good opinion.

Gonna pass the buck on this one.

Mclin, I'll take it. Every dollar helps man.Later Benjie

2-4 Lap Qualifying, 25-50 Lap Heats, 100-250 Lap Mains..... Just my two cents worth.....

Kinda like your local short track.....

Sounds good anyway, LOL

Something that has always bothered me about any event like this that we have ever had, be it call a National or Championship or whatever, is that a person can (theoretically) go buy an car, enter the race and become a Champion in that ONE race. Electric racing is the proof. To win a Nationals is only saying that you were good one time in one race.

I said that to say this, we are two different series combining to form one big race; our entries to this race should come only from the racers that committed and ran the whole series or at least a good part of it. We are not ROAR and we don’t have to “cater” to anyone.

Run our series, run the Championship race. Don’t run the series…..run the ROAR Nationals.

I have trouble editing these post lately so I'll just add to it.

The way you finished in the points race should be the "seading" to how the qualifiers are run. ex. 1-6 first heat - 7-12 second heat and so forth.

Nice post, I could agree to that and I am planning on this from way up north I will be there next season as much as I can travel to them anyway......

I can sorda understand where you are coming from Mclin. However i enjoy racing against stiffer competition, I mean if Humpty or panzeca, Mike Bush or any of them guys want to get a car and just run the Nats and spank me, I am o.k with that. I just like the thought of going up against better competition. Who ever it be. I guess i look at it like this, they may be better than me at RC Racing, but i will not roll over and play dead for them. They will have to beat me. Later=Benjie Wright

Good response Benjie I can agree with that as well......... Lord only knows how many times I have been beaten by them guys.............

I see your point and in hind sight your way works better because the "newbie" or average Joe is not going to buy a gas car just for one race.

Damn anybody got a recorder, i can't believe me and mclin agreed on something, and he saw my point, DVD RECORDER would work best. Damn i can't believe it. Say it again Mclin---Please. lol man Later,Benjie Wright:woohoo:
Heck that's better than beating him on the track anyday, i think i will consider that a victory. I need to think my sponsors, Me Racing, My wife, And anybody else i might be forgetten. Thanks Again, Oh yeah and thanks Darrell for agreeing also. Later

LMAO you guys are great........

Benjie........Don't get use to it!