March 18, 2014

Evolution Not Revolution

Evolution Not Revolution

The Formula One championship got under way this weekend in Australia. Whether you’re a fan of F1 or not, anyone with any sort of interest in motorsport can’t have avoided the news throughout the winter “off season” – a huge change in the rules bringing about changes in car design and engine configuration – and with that uncertainties over who would adapt best and who may struggle to get to grips with such a huge shift in rules.

Such a big change happens every now and again in most categories of full-size racing, such as the change in cars recently in both the NASCAR and Indycar series, new categories being introduced in MotoGP and so on. As is often the case, I started trying to link this idea to RC racing. We have never really experienced a complete change in rules in any class as far as I can remember. Yes, there have been general evolutions to our rule sets over time – for example, the move towards brushless motors and LiPo batteries in the electric classes, and the movement towards control or handout tires in the on-road nitro classes recently. Those changes have often been slow, and in the case of brushless motors, there was a period when both brushed and brushless ran alongside each other – until the technology in brushless motors improved to a point that they became clearly dominant.

That ‘evolution rather than revolution’ usually works best because it allows people time to adjust and change or upgrade their equipment as it comes to the end of its normal life, rather than being forced to make a major wholesale change overnight.

With all that said, one big change I’ve really noticed recently was also highlighted to me this weekend, by an event that probably couldn’t be more different to the Formula One Grand Prix in Australia – the Cactus Classic – specifically, the 2WD part of this event. Surely, over the last few years, the biggest change in RC racing has been the 2WD electric buggies, moving from the traditional rear-motor configuration that has existed since the birth of the class, through to the mid- and front-motor variants that are now becoming the norm.

There’s been no regulation changes which have prompted this change, but perhaps the events surrounding the 2013 World Championships really stepped things up a gear. With the off-road circuits having more and more traction, thanks in part to the sugaring that is now becoming increasingly popular for dirt circuits, teams and drivers have been able to investigate and refine these alternative car designs. This has also translated over to the indoor carpet racing which is popular in Europe at events such as the EOS, where again the mid- and front-motor cars dominate.

We don’t need huge sweeping rule changes to generate changes and new cars in RC, but the constant evolution has a similar effect. And, unlike full size motorsport, where last year’s F1 cars and engines are now useless, drivers who want to keep up with the latest designs can often pass their previous year’s car on to other racers, keeping the hobby moving.

Have an opinion on the topics discussed? Leave them in the comments below.

Oli Meggitt is a race organiser, announcer, RC racer and has also been known to stand and talk in front of a camera. Now a columnist for Red RC you can read his thoughts, insights and ramblings fortnightly.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author.



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