any crawlers in MN?

[Stormin2u]

That sounds interesting, you should use durabond 90 wall compound it has some portland in it and dries really fast much faster than plaster and if you mix washed sand in you'll get a rock like surface. The washing process takes the silt out.

Watch out for the ranger.

 

[Nicklepimp]

Rules Update

Time for a quick update. So far there have been 2 topics of discussion.

The first topic was from something that happened at the Nationals this year. There was a section that was causing everyone to roll off of the side. Someone drove intentionally drove over their foot to prevent them from rolling. A ruling was made quick and without consulting with the marshals and it was ruled simply a touch. The rules do clearly state that ramping of any kind is not allowed, but there is no penalty connected to it.

The second topic is about repositions. Some clubs have been experiencing competitors abusing the reposition rule to avoid difficult obstacles. I'll use Fishmaxx's example:

I am starting to hear about drivers using repostions to make progess unfairly.

In this highly detailed drawing the drivers take an easier line to point A getting even the gate entrance then move his truck 6 feet to the left to point B getting directly in front of the gate. He then easily drives through the gate making progress

Nothing in the rules stop this from happening:shock:

So the question is how to prevent this from happening. The popular suggestion right now is to place the rig at the exit of the previous gate in the event of a reposition.


Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

[Stormin2u]

Starting over at the last gate seems a bit harsh, the rule could read repositioning allows for the competitor to make a 12"-20" move from current position backwards only in a direct line only (no side to side movement) in the direction of the last gate only.

Driving over you foot you got to be kidding, thats a intentional touch in my book.

 

[bsmiley]

I have hit a few comps and this is my take on the situation. If a rig rolls over, it should be treated like a ”real” vehicle and roll it over back on all 4’s (no lifting, rotating, or repositioning). If it should be reposition in a different direction or position (say the rig will not stay upright after a rollover) you should start over by the last gate. So all I’m saying is pretend it’s a real vehicle.

 

[BigBaller]

Competition is competition boys. I disagree with the Dig coments Storm. To NOT allow it or seperate the trucks only adds more work to the team. Set up of seperate courses and the obvious score totaling. The cost isn't that great to make your own. Some drive line parts and a small $20 servo. If you got the cash then the easy way out is the R2D2 at $100. Or suck nuts like EtypeR and get it for free.:shock: To stay competitive with others I added it. If all of our trucks were equal then why compete let's just follow the leader?

The Fishmaxx picture and drawing from Moab is something that really made me mad this year. I believe the gates were laid out in order to follow the "line" of travel. If you pass the gate, backup and take the "high road" then the challenge is lost. Dean and I will disagree here but it is how he scored higher then me at Nationals."thumbsup" Rc Fags!

Ryan

 

[MaddJack]

maddjack

Like I said before he who has the most money wins:twisted:

 

[Etype R]

Repo's should only be allowed to be place on the path the rig has traveled, no further then the last progress either. So you can set it back as far as you want, and try a completly different line, or start just before you flipped it or lost it.

As for spending money to win, I find that far from the truth. Look at my torsion rigs and how well they have done. I don't need a big dollar rig to win, but I enjoy the hobby enough to put more into it. Most of the money in my rig is in parts that will not break as often, so I do not have to wrench on it all the time. I ran most of this year with a cheap 645 servo, and that did not hold me back at all. The beadlocks do not help me win, nor do the cvd axles. A brushless setup isn't much more then a brushed setup, and my battery packs cost $20-$30.

Dig has also gotten me into trouble before and cost me points because I did not use it correctly. It still takes driver skill to use dig, and it does not always help. If you look at the courses I layout, I do not build them to favor dig, or any particular truck setup. I've built courses that hurt me more then anyone else, and I have been forced to take out a gate marker in order to run the course.

I probably will not focus as much on winning the season next year, and compete with my axial, and scale rigs just for fun.

 

[Stormin2u]

Good place to daw a line on escalating costs.

totaling.]

Competition is competition boys. I disagree with the Dig coments Storm. To NOT allow it or seperate the trucks only adds more work to the team. Set up of seperate courses and the obvious score

How so Ryan in my view all the trucks could run the same course in any order at the same time. OMG the classes would have to be separated on paper.

The cost isn't that great to make your own. Some drive line parts and a small $20 servo.

Tower Hobby 3ch $115.00
Dig collar parts 45.00
JP Customs servo 35.00
SH $8.00 X 3 = 24.00
Approx. Total $219.00

This assumes you have the tools and skills.

[If you got the cash then the easy way out is the R2D2 at $100. Or suck nuts like EtypeR and get it for free.:shock:]

Tower Hobby 3ch $115.00
R2D2 rc4wd 109.00
JP Customs servo 35.00
SH $8.00 X 3 = 24.00
Approx. Total $283.00

[To stay competitive with others I added it.]

Thats my point exactly, so does everyone else.

[If all of our trucks were equal then why compete let's just follow the leader?]

That would be called a trail ride.

If a new product can just show up and be in competition and everyone has to buy it to stay competitive who is approving that decision. I don't believe that just because a manufacturer makes a product or someone with creative skill builds his own that it should be competition legal or benefits Club growth if it escalates cost. This just seems like a good place to draw a line and develop a unlimited class.

 

[MaddJack]

maddjack

Amen Stormin. split the 2.2 class"thumbsup"

 

[djjiz]

Amen Stormin. split the 2.2 class"thumbsup"

X2

 

[Etype R]

Ever look into the racing side of this hobby? To even have a chance at doing well you need to buy new tires all the time, and multiple sets for different track locations. Rock crawling is pretty cheap if you compare it to racing.

You can also pick up a TQ3 for $40 used, and many people start with a 3 channel radio. You do not need a $35 servo for dig, and the parts are far cheaper then $40, I have looked into it before. Kevin ran it for awhile. And really, dig is not needed to win... Look at Kevin, he has not run dig for months and he has been right up at the top. He could have taken first this last season if he didn't have a few bad days. Its drivers skill more anything, so please stop trying to say its the size of our wallets.

Splitting the class will not fix anything, we have run a open 2.2 class before and it was a dead class. Everyone will flock to the bigger class, its that simple.

 

[freetimecrawler]

I don't see a need for a separate class, but I wouldn't mind seeing dig, or 4ws allowed, one or the other, but not both. It would be easier/cheaper for me to add 4ws to my AX10, then buy an R2 disconnect. And I'd rather have 4ws.

 

[joehein]

i agree with freetime, my whelyking needs a new rear setup anyways that and a rear steer setup can be done manuallty fairly simple. split classes would be nice, but they would be small.

 

[Stormin2u]

Mike,
I simply gave my opinion about what appears to the constant cost acceleration in our hobby do to lack of rules that protect or encourage reasonably priced competition.
I'm not opposed to high tech innovative products I love them in fact. I can't get enough of them. But Mike I have a huge allowance not everyone does.
I will have Dig if thats the only direction we take thats no big deal and quite frankly I refuse to have a $700.00 dollar rig and control it with a $40.00 radio that is not going to happen.
I would also be sorry to see you not build and drive your best in 2008 as you mentioned in your earlier post. It's the high level competitors like your self and others that raise the bar and encorages others to strive for and maybe achieve.
Piece Out
Stormin

 

[Stormin2u]

I don't see a need for a separate class, but I wouldn't mind seeing dig, or 4ws allowed, one or the other, but not both. It would be easier/cheaper for me to add 4ws to my AX10, then buy an R2 disconnect. And I'd rather have 4ws.

Hey Troy, havn't seen freetimecrawler around for a while "thumbsup" I took 4ws off my rig to run with you guys and it's cheap and easy. I think that would be a nice way to level the playing field with dig.

 

[BigBaller]

I agree with Mike, it isn't about the wallet guys. Driving skill is key. Tweak and tune is also a good practice. How many of you rebuild your shocks and look your trucks over before the next comp? How many of you switched out your shock springs, added aluminum (anything), bought rock claws because "they are the best", how many upgraded from a stock TLT tranny, how many have tried anything different from begining of season to the end? I saw ALOT of the same rig as last time ALL season long. The 2.2 class is NOT a "spec" class and will NEVER be. If you guys want to crawl on a budget and not allow this or that then start a spec class and name your pieces. You will not reduce a competitive group of guys and gals to some boring spec class and expect to gain anything! I will still crawl in whatever classes we have."thumbsup"

Ryan

 

[SIRMAXXALOT]

I don't have dig and I still feel splitting the class is not the way to go, heck I think the droops have an advantage too most of the time but it would be silly to say they are not allowed?

I say leave it the way it is!

 

[Stormin2u]

Kevin has asked for input and I would be remiss if I didn't respond. I don't believe this a just a local club problem I think it's larger. Defining what is competition approved and what is not is important for healthy growth. Currently if there is no rule against it it's runnable.

There is also a constant cost escalation with new equipment, that in some cases greatly changes a vehicles capabilities. Along with high equipment replacement cost.

I truly have enjoyed the MNRCRC all of it's members and crawling itself. I like Ryan mentioned will compete no matter what the rules committee delegates. I have not intended to rub anyone wrongly or to minimize their talents but only to deliver a view that exists in all of motor sports 1:1 and scale.

Respectfully Stormin "thumbsup"

 

[Etype R]

The reason they do not have 4ws in the rules, is because it is not allowed in most of the 1:1 crawling classes. They looked at the real trucks to write our rules, and I feel that is the correct way to handle things.

 

[SIRMAXXALOT]

"thumbsup"

The reason they do not have 4ws in the rules, is because it is not allowed in most of the 1:1 crawling classes. They looked at the real trucks to write our rules, and I feel that is the correct way to handle things.