The website looks great! Very comprehensive! I'm glad that someone has put spec racing in the spotlight that it deserves! It is,and continues to be,the cheapest form of 6-cell oval racing in existance! But,.....also in that light,let me impart to you,so you can spread this to all,on your website,......that while we have over the years,voted in changes to the class that are track specific,there are certain things that have to remain in the standard to the inception of the class,ie....spec motor,spec batteries,spec chassis,or some equivalent chassis,.....and no wings! We have,even with the cost relevent changes we have made,morphed the class into a much faster,and wilder class than it has ever been,and if we go further by adding wings,then the art of driving this class will be lost! I can almost see the light-weight axle thing,but this is even too much of a stretch when you realize that some will take advantage of this,and if you use a light axle,and no wing,then most everyone will have handling problems.Let's just say that we go with pro axles,and wings,for a moment,.....we might as well go to full graphite pro chassis,and leave the cheap stuff behind,to push the envelope to the max in this class means to eliminate the very essence of what street spec is all about,....fast,affordable racing! And we will lose racers,not gain them!

Street spec is all about getting the most you can,out of the limited stuff you have available,.......not about mounting wings,just to go faster still! If we are going to do this,we might as well just save our money up,and jump into the 4-cell mod classes,or,does everyone want to have to spend lots of money to race? The next possible step would be to use stock motors,then bigger batteries,the last step would be to use Pro chassis,....there we have it! A totally different class than what we are supposed to be running. One of the attractions of spec racing is developing the skill to drive an over-powered,non-handling car,....to have more power than you can get around the track,this leaves the driver with the best set-up,driver skill,or luck,to be on top,........not the one who spent the most money.

I agree now with you on the wing. I took it off the rules page. At first I thought it would be a good idea, but talking to Jay and hearing from you makes me not want to have a wing. The graphite back axle is also just an option if you bend yours or something. I've got a back up car totally ready with extra parts, so I don't see that as being a problem for me. But to get someone through the night, that would be ok. I personally will not be switching to a different rear axle. Hobby World is currently out of stock on that item and a substitute would be warranted for one night. But most likely, someone else would have a spare that they could use.

I definitely want to keep costs down. The few changes we have made should help in that endevour. I've got a bunch of rear tires that I can use now.

Shawn
p.s. if anyone wants to post articles or pictures or just about anything spec for the website. Please email it to me at shawnleary@attbi.com Some old stories or pictures would really add to the page.

Now you are talking! The fact that we can make them go faster is one thing,but if you can't always get that power to the ground, is the great equalizer,and that acts as a deterent to some who would go the extra mile to cheat for domination. This is another thing that can drive racers out of the class.Once again,.....Great website! I'm looking foward to seeing it full of results,and info! Hoping to see my name in the results soon. Looking at the race sheet that you put in there,ya'll are running about the same laps as I did when I was in that class,so hopefully I can build to be competitive again. Oh yeah,tell Jason that he needs a new card-board box,and he will go faster:lol:

Shawn-
On second thought,might be a good idea to leave out the wing deal for now. Might already be too many changes for everyone to digest for this series!
Joe-
The optional emergency fiberglass axle rule was something just in case a steel one was not available,either from fellow racers or the hobby shops. Nobody has to exclusively run fiberglass. But at the same time we wouldn't have to see anybody go home early if their steel axles were bent & nobody has any spares or the LHS were out of stock as in the case of last Friday night when Shannon had bought the last steel axle from HW. If one of us were to go into HW & try to buy an axle that night (After unsuccessfully trying to bum one off of the other Spec drivers!),they would have been screwed! The only option would be to temporarily (and legally) run a fiberglass axle,just to get through the night. Keep running it until steel axle stocks are replenished,then switch back to the steel. Just something to keep the cars running & everybody racing,that's all!
-George

The cardboard acts as an insulator to the high heat of Jason's back trunk. He feels the Tires and battery packs get a good heating inbetween Fridays inside the box. I'm sticking with the box as well.

Hope to see you out there soon Joe.

Shawn

Shawn-
BTW,your site is looking better each day! I'll bring my digital camera out this Friday (1st night of Winter/Spring '03 series) & will email you the pics Saturday night. Keep up the good work!
-George

George,I understand the axle thing! But all I'm saying is that the fiberglass allows faster spool-up,so I am just warning the fellow racers out there in this class not to let someone say that they couldn't find an axle,when they are hanging on the shelves,you know? On the axle thing,.......there are people at the track that can stock those axles just in case,.....won't mention names,but I'm sure that they could stock about 8 to 10,so that everyone could have a source. Now,the wings,.......sounds like you want one on your car,yes? Can you imagine what would happen if wings were voted in?....I'll tell you,.....you know that I once raced a spec car in the 4-cell mod class,and beat you.and others with it,.......a wing is all that is needed on those chassis to make them handle,.....so what happens next?People go out and start buying all the motors and batteries they can,pay someone to cycle and match them all,every motor dyno'ed,tweaked,twisted for max performance,so,what do you have then?? Another pro class,that looks nothing like the street spec class! That's my point about it all. You guys can do whatever in this class,...just let me know what you are going to do with it,so I don't have to waste money on stuff that won't keep me competitive.We could just go to wings,any stock motor,with the only battery rule being that it has to be a stick pack,due to chassis design,and any fiberglass chassis that doesn't have a shock on it,......and there you go,....6-cell stock! Lot's more speed! And more money,what'ya think?:confused:

I'm not trying to start any kind of arguement,for all of the people I race with are cool,and alot of fun to race with! In short,the essense of spec racing,IMHO,is going as fast as you can,for as little as possible,with a car design that does not reward cheating by handling good to begin with. The ultimate in driver skill,and car set-up being the focus! We have other classes for ludicrous speed,4-cell mod!

Joe-
It was decided not to do the wing deal after all. Also,if HW or anyone else would step up their steel axle stock orders,it would almost eliminate the use of fiberglass axles at any time. BTW-I wasn't trying to pick a fight w/you! It's all good! :thumbsup: Hurry up & get a Spec car! :lol:
-George

Axles ;) :) ;)

You are right about the axle thing! I guess they have a kind of money in-money out thing at the great HW,but they have alot to keep up with anyway. A second source for axles,and front-end plates would be perfect! I'm working on the spec car deal,but you know me,I'm always on a budget,ie-cheap:lol: Seriously,I can't wait to get a spec car! With the new batteries out now,we have been waiting for this for a long time! Metro has got my motor floating somewhere out there too,I think that it is in Jax,.....maybe? Somewhere in the continental United States:lol: just kidding! Oh yeah! Open gearing,running tires down to the plastic,more motor brushes,.......can't wait!

Well shawn set the bar high but I gonna set it higher friday! Turned a 7.9 in practice today and ran quite a few 8.1 and 8.2's also ran an 8.5 on lap 32. I guess I'm dialed.LOL 120/37 and the same motor with R brushes I was struggling with last friday.
Greg

P.S. had 3 witnesses to the 7.9!:D

looking forward to some racing friday.

Metro,

Talk is cheap lets see you race that way. LOL

brooks

Originally posted by metrodog
Well shawn set the bar high but I gonna set it higher friday! Turned a 7.9 in practice today and ran quite a few 8.1 and 8.2's also ran an 8.5 on lap 32. I guess I'm dialed.LOL 120/37 and the same motor with R brushes I was struggling with last friday.
Greg

P.S. had 3 witnesses to the 7.9!:D

Tech,tech,tech!!! :lol:
-George

7.9 Holy Shaving Cream! And that was with no wing? You ARE dialed in. I was using 118/36 for the first two qualifiers and used a 118/37 for the main. I'm going to HW tomorrow night for some practice. I might gear up a little to see if I can drop into the SEVENs!!! Has a spec car ever seen the sevens at HW????

I wish I had a transponder to use when I practiced. Anyone know of a cheap transponder. I have a laptop that I could bring and run software etc.

I second that TECH, TECH, TECH motion that George made!!! I think you need more than 3 witnesses!! ;)

Shawn

Shawn, I think Orion has a personal lap counter for about 175.00. Guys check me on this please.

As far as a transponder and laptop goes, you will spend over a 1,000.00 just to find an old setup. You need the entire setup for a transponder... Look into a personal counter first.

That's with no wing! And it's expensive to run that fast, Probably only 3-4 runs on a right front green! It just took me a while to find sweet spot in a spec motor with "R" brushes!

Tech Tech away!

Shawn I'm waiting on a new transponder for my lap counter, when I get it you can borrow it. They are accurate to .02 sec.
Greg

hey Shawn
some of your higher end radio's like the m8 and the 3pjs have a lap timer funtion bult in. you have to hit a button just like a stop watch. it is a little hard to do but they do have a timer that can be set to any lenth. I have the 3pjs and when I go out to practice with the touring car I start the clock and at 5 min a alarm goes off.

I know that Airtronics just came out with a new Back lit M8 so you can get the old ones for like $190.00 just the radio and module.


Dave

I've seen Bear and Mike Bean with one of those personal lap counter systems at Tuffy's, 7 second laps in spec are not uncommon,but the real deal is,.....it's not cracking one,or a few,but consistantly running the quickest laps you can,for 4 minutes. What is the track record now? Maybe 29 laps? So,you want to shoot for 30! So,to get 30 laps,in 240 seconds,you have to average 8.00sec.laps. This means you will need enough laps in the 7's to counter the first lap,in the 9's or 10's,no crashes,no letting up off the gas for slower traffic,in essense,...a perfect run! in traffic!:eek: But the fact that you are close to this level of performance in practice,means that you are competitive,and it also means that your driving has gotten alot better! And that is what I will congratulate you for! Way to go,Metro:thumbsup:

Sounds like things are heating up at the track faster than the weather.......just how many spec cars do we have out there now anyway?Should see this continue to build,hope to see two heats again someday soon! Anyone who is reading this thread,who might be interested in this class,but has not bought a spec car yet,should realize that everyone in this class,are out there having this much fun,aren't paying nearly as much as everyone else for their stuff! Batteries,motors,tires,replacement parts are all cheap! Anyone who is thinking about getting started into R/C racing should give street spec racing a serious look,you will not find a better class anywhere!

Tanks Joe,
A wise racer once told me you have to go slower to go faster. That racer is right! Now the challenge for me is to take what i've learned and put it to use in my pan car. I think we have 6 spec racers at this point and possibly 2 newbies running next series as well.
Greg

Don't matter how fast you go in a straight line if you can't turn left

brooks

30 laps here we come!LOL:)

Let me know if your motors come today

brooks

OK

Originally posted by joespec
...... Batteries,motors,tires,replacement parts are all cheap! Anyone who is thinking about getting started into R/C racing should give street spec racing a serious look,you will not find a better class anywhere!

Ditto! Especially in this town! Extremely competitive!!
-George

And with rules were using in addittion to new 1600 packs it's not slow by any means. WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO
Greg

hey just got back from kicking oops I ment practicing with my new l4. just got to say to any one who is going to get on. Do not use the set up in the back of the book. it doesn't work. After some help from Dave Rook I got the car working pretty good and he has showed be the fast way around the track. well my car isn't that fast I mean Jay timed it with a calander but I think that with a little more tweaking that it will be fine. looking forward to banging some doors with you left turn boys


and yes I did kick my car not once but twice to let it know that I wasn't going to take it's sh!!

ha ha


Dave

Dave, dont forget the slam on the bench! I think that made the car listen and drive right... err drive left.

Then it was a quick "punt" and LONG DEEP THROW of the rear wheels over the track that sealed the cars fait. I backed up a few steps after that one.

Im sure it wont be long before you have another award hanging on your wall. Stick with it and keep the "Punting" to the football field and a football.

rain bites:mad:

Jiggy jiggy jiggy slide jump stomp wiggy wiggy wiggy .. do it again

Jiggy jiggy jiggy slide jump stomp wiggy wiggy wiggy

An outdoor track with a roof! Now that would be cool!
Greg

Yes it's called a tent and you race Micros. Couldn't resist.

There you go with that touring stuff again! Oval Oval Oval! Will get you brain washed yet!LOL
Greg

tell me ya'll didn't race last night,because of the rain and all? I almost went to the track last night,but I hit rain on the way home from work,so I stayed home. Did you find my spec motor? Save me a couple of spec packs! You the man!:thumbsup:

Joespec,
No racin' and I was ready too. Got your motor and packs. Did you find a spec. yet? Figured out some power and handling secrets that have helped me and the correct gear ratio range to use.
Greg

I was so focused on kicking spec ass on Friday that I didn't notice myself turning on the windshield wipers!! Doooh. by the time I got to the track people were running for cover. Can't wait till this Friday. See you guys then! I will most likely be out there Thursday to practice. Can't go two weeks without driving and expect to run in a points race!!

Shawn

Nah,I haven't obtained the spec car yet,hoping to turn up one soon,speaking of chassis,.....what is the stance of the current spec racers as far as an equivalent chassis,ie,...a sport 2000? I know that J.Pilgrim ran one a year ago in spec,and he did well with it,after some tuning. With the scarcity of used spec chassis right now,we might see the acceptance of chassis that use the same basic design parameters,ie......fiberglass,no shock,flat front end plate,etc.That's why I'm asking,for it is not for me alone to decide,especially since I'm not running yet. I'll get the packs from you however,for I can get what is available now,which will save time in the long run.

Joespec

I had the Trinity chassis for you at the track Friday. If the monsoon hadn't come maybe you would be Putting the finishing touches on it now. I am looking forward to racing with you and if you want the heavy, awkward, sport 2000, we have one of those too. Just let me know. If you don't want to wait till Friday,LMK, I am in Jacksonville every day.

Oh yeah!! My e-mail is jhadnot@mindspring.com I would meet you at your convienence anytime this week! It would be good to get a car rolling before friday night,seeing as though we have several guys shooting for a track record. It's just like I said before,you will not find a closer,more exciting race than in street spec! Man,I feel for you having to drive all the way that you do to go to work,must be a good place to work! Are you going to make every friday night? E-mail me back and let me know what is convienent for you,Thanks! I would be interested in either chassis!

Joespec

YGM

I thought this only happened in the summer time. Forcast isn't looking good for this Friday. Hopefully it won't rain.

I'm not going to make it to practice on Thursday, so hopefully I will get there early on Friday to run a pack or two.

See you all lata.
Shawn
http://home.attbi.com/~shawnleary/streetspec/spec

I do!! Picked it up the other night,Thank you Chuck and Shannon! It's almost built,just got to get batteries,and a body. Not enough time to test and tune,so I'll just throw down friday night,and see what happens.Looking foward to racing spec again!you see,I've always been a major advocate of spec racing,but there have been times that I have gotten out of this class,mostly because of 18+ years of R/C racing experience that has provided for me an advantage that I saw as a detriment to the others in that class. Here lately,I have seen a bunch of veteran racers out there,racing spec,and having alot of fun with it! Time to get back in! Especially now that I'm behind the curve to the others,........just love a challenge! Here's to,dollar for dollar,the best class in R/C!:thumbsup:

Originally posted by joespec
I do!! Picked it up the other night,Thank you Chuck and Shannon! It's almost built,just got to get batteries,and a body. Not enough time to test and tune,so I'll just throw down friday night,and see what happens.Looking foward to racing spec again!

Joe-
It's about time! Setup's the same as it ever was,just playing w/ a different cast of characters! See you Friday night!
-George

Have Spec.... can I come out and play?

See Ya friday..............:dude:

Bring it on joe malin,
The more the merrier. We are all having some fun with it and I think we all would appreciate you joining us. Just no pink cars!LOL
Greg:lol:

bring it on! would be good to have you out there! The rain ran through early,and it should be a fun night!

save me a couple of spec packs! Bring my motor too,please! Thanks:thumbsup: