Red RC » Industry

November 24, 2006

ROAR thinking about 4 cell touring

ROAR

It seems ROAR are at it again with their unpopular decisions, this time contemplating a switch to 4 cells in touring car class for 2007. There is quite a vocal discussion on the RC Tech forums about this decision with the majority of racers pretty pissed about any move to 4 cell but especially annoyed that, being seen as not in touch with modern racing, ROAR are not fit to make decisions of this magnitude without consulting its members. ROAR seem to be loosing, or have already lost, any credibility amongst the racing masses with a lot of racers claiming to be only members because their track requires it for insurance reasons and not because they wish to race in their sanctioned events. The move is also seen by some as a way to block any move to reintroduce Lipo cells in an effort to support the NiMH cell importers who some believe have ROAR in their back pocket. I think BadBoy on rcracing.com sums it up best:

I say ROAR excomm get your head out of your ass and make your organization have value by building a race organization instead of a political good ole boys club wearing knee pads and getting tea bagged by the importers.

A decision on this matter will take place in next couple of weeks and we will keep you updated on what happens.

Source: RC Tech [rctech.net]

November 20, 2006

US Magazine RC Driver goes on the offensive

RC Driver magazine

We were sent an e-mail today, in which contained a statement from US magazine RC Driver that essentially accuses leading US magazine Radio Control Car Action of copying the styling of their magazine and was therefore unfairly trying to confuse potential buyers into buying RCCA. The single design element in question that they claim RC Car Action has effectively stolen from them is the red block at the top of the page in which the magazines name is displayed.

RC Pro Series showing LiPo cells some love

RC Pro Series

Carlton over at the RC Pro series dropped us a mail to give us a heads up about the new regulations for the Electric Off road classes for their Winter series. The new rulings declare that LiPo are essentially allowed for all classes but Stock, which is cool, and whilst in the Brushless Truck Class and 1/18 Open there are no limitations in MAH, in the Mod 4wd, Mod Truck and Mod Buggy there is a cap of 4300 MAH on the cells used.

After being outlawed by ROAR it’s good to see a major race series adapt a sensible non alarmist ruling and allow the opportunity for anyone who wants to run LiPo’s to be able to do so by running in modified class.

You can read the rule changes after the jump… content

November 16, 2006

ROAR offer clarification on LiPo cells

ROAR

We reported earlier this week about the decision by ROAR (US governing body) to ban all LiPo cells outright. They now offer some clarification on that decision and whilst their ruling on banning LiPo’s powering electric motors is final, they are still investigating whether or not to ban LiPo receiver cells or not on the grounds of safety.

For 2007 Lithium Polymer batteries are not permitted to compete with NiCad or NiMh batteries in electric class racing because the voltages are not equivalent nor do the pack dimensions match those currently observed by ROAR and IFMAR. This rule does not currently affect receiver packs at this time, however ROAR is concerned with the overall safety of these cells when located near or around flammable/combustible materials. ROAR will investigate this further.

So you can, for the moment, continue to use LiPo receiver cells at ROAR sanctioned events. We will keep you posted on any further developments.

Source: ROAR [roarracing.com]

November 13, 2006

ROAR bans LiPo cells in all RC classes?

Lipo Cells banned

At last weekends ROAR (US governing body) meeting it seems a rule was passed that outlawed the use of LiPo batteries in all R/C cars that run at ROAR sanctioned events. Although not stated, the reason was probably down to the safety issues with these batteries having been known to explode if not charged and handled properly. This is unfortunate as the benefits of LiPo are clear (weight, size, longer runtime) but i think this move was more a case of covering ROAR’s ass in the event of an injury brought on by an exploding LiPo. The move however seems a bit extreme as danger is present in all forms of RC racing, particularly burns and cuts and the mis-use or bad treatment of any power sources will always result in an injury.

The ruling however does not just affect Electric class racers but also gas racers who have installed LiPo cells to power their receiver. The judgment makes no differentiation between uses of the cells, but instead just bans their usage in all classes outright.

From the minutes of the meeting:
A proposal to outlaw Lithium Polymer batteries in all r/c vehicles was discussed. This item was adopted.

You can read the full minutes of the meeting here (PDF).

November 8, 2006

Recent EFRA IC Track rulings

2006 EFRA AGM

As we are now all aware, the European Governing body EFRA, had their annual get together last weekend in Brussels, Belgium. At this meeting the much talked about 5 cell ruling, that i mentioned in my previous posts, was brought in. But changes took place for IC Track classes too, changes that seemed to have slipped under most peoples radars.

EFRA 1/8th A-list published

Danielle Ielasi Car

Just before this weekends EFRA meeting in Brussels, Sander de Graaf of EFRA published the 30 driver A-list which is based on results from EFRA events and also IFMAR World Championship. As with the 1/10th version we mentioned before this ranking really only tells us whose not allowed race at the EFRA ‘B’ events and beyond that has little merit except perhaps braggin rights.

View the full list in ranking order… content

November 2, 2006

Protech facility destroyed by fire

Protech

Buggy-Sport.info have the bad news this morning about the Protech facility in Belgium being destroyed by fire last night.

Last night, a raging fire really burned to the ground the brand new factory situated in Olen near Antwerp of Promodels, better known as Protech, the belgian distributor and manufacturer of hobbyproducts, like the Enigma serie of buggys.

UPDATE: Neo-Buggy have images from the fire here.

Source: Buggy-Sport.info [buggy-sport.info] Image: RC Driver [rcdriver-online.com]