This week, Australian governing body AARCMCC sent a proposal to all of its clubs seeking a decision on two things.
The first is to fast-track the introduction of LiPo batteries to sanctioned AARCMCC events – making the forthcoming approval for national and other state events 1 Oct. (note that in Queensland, spec classes are already running LiPo). This would be only a small change, as the newer battery technology was set for approval at 1/1/2009. It would mean, however, that LiPo packs would be legal for the Nationals in Canberra in November, and NSW Champs at the huge new Eastern Creek track in October.
Of perhaps more interest, and certainly a more controversial proposal, is the return of 6-cell NiMh along with LiPo to modified touring cars. Both would run at 1500grams, and the proposed rules don’t seem to make allowance for 5-cell to continue with a weight break (though I might be reading that incorrectly).
The proposal has gone to AARMCC clubs for a quick response.
Personally, I support both moves. A high proportion of people are already running LiPo. The rules have been demonstrated in Queensland to work (the proposal follows the US ROAR rules already adopted here), and it saves lots of guys having to buy fresh NiMh packs just for one or two more sanctioned race meetings.
On the modified side of things, again I think allowing LiPo (and 6-cell) is a good move. Modified touring is in trouble, and continuing with 5-cell will only make the problem worse. Allowing LiPo at least leaves it open for those running stock/superstock to experiment with modified.
It will of course change the motor choice, with LiPo guys likely to be running 4.5 or even 5.5 turn motors (except on the biggest tracks) where the 5-cell guys often run 4.0 or 3.5 turn motors at the moment.
Looming on the horizon is some sort of realistic decision about weight limits. By the end of next year I reckon we’ll be faced with more than 90% of guys running LiPo packs, and to me it makes no sense to continue with a 1500gm weight limit, when 90% have to add more than 100gm to make weight. I’d be giving notice now, that from 1/1/2010, weights all round drop to 1400gm. I’d continue to allow NiMh packs, but recognise that the primary power source (at least for the next couple of years) is LiPo, and re-weight the cars accordingly.
All that aside, make sure your club knows your views on the AARCMCC proposal, so that the national rules truly reflect the wishes of the racers, and clubs.
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11 responses to “5-cell on the way out?”
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problem is the unsponsored mod drivers get raped in the process.. again.
in the short term people will get stuck with 5 cell packs, 5 cell chassis’ and motors.
if the 1400g passes aswell even 6 cell nimh’s will be impossible to sell.
im not saying it wont be for the best in the long term..
but it’s a bit hard to take when you’ve just gone for a 5 cell kit and stocked up on 6 packs thinking it’ll get you through the states and nationals.. and have some hope of selling it after that.
it’s just another big hit making it hard to keep running the class after losing a heap of money on brushed and the early brushless systems.LikeLike
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Tones has raised some very good points and we certainly would need to clarify if the modified class can choose between running 5 cells or 6 cells for at least the remainder of this year.
I guess this will bring back the over heating issue in Modified with cars shutting down in the closing minutes of the race with thermal issues…. wasn’t one of the benefits of the 5 cell rule to help protect the equipment?LikeLike
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most brands should be okay with going back up to 7.4v – only a couple would be a bit dubious.
i’m not sure going to 6 cell / lipo is going to magically fix numbers in the short term.
the reality is under 7.4v / 1500g the cars are very quick, requiring more maintenance with higher levels of wear and tear.
for example; the roar nationals this year was run as 6 cell / lipo in modified… they had a whopping 12 entries.
just have to hope that in the end lipo / 1400g gives the class its best chance of growth in the long term. weight seems to have been the biggest factor in the reduced wear and tear under the 5 cell rules.
im not against the changes but rather the timing of them. having just stocked up assuming upcoming events were to be run as per the rules they’ve had all year, now they move to change them at very short notice to both the nationals and nsw titles. le sigh.LikeLike
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hmmm, i think you may be right. While I do support the introduction of lipo into modified tourers, holding the change of until 1/1/2009 might be wise. It’s a big change to make at such short notice.
That said, I’d probably opt to continue the 5-cell option at 1400gm as well for the time being – no point in forcing people to change if they are geared up for 5 cell. I would definitely look at lipo/1400 from 2010.
Actually, to be honest, I’d look at going to 1400gm from 1/7/2008. I reckon that’s enough notice.LikeLike
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The timing of the proposed changes seems to be more of a “quick fix” reaction by the governing body due to the overwhelming acceptance of Lipos at a club level. It is probably best if they left the changes till the 1/1/2009. We have to buy NiMh just to run the State titles after throwing all our Dead ones out Jan this year and just running two Lipos all year. I aggree with you Tones that it sucks when you have to pay your own way and when you get set up the rules change halfway. At least we all knew 1 Jan was the change date.
I can add also that buy running Lipos all year our maintainance costs have dropped due to running right on the 1500 weight limit and will probably be the same or less running a lighter weight. We have also not experienced a thermal shutdown since changes ESC and better cooling. Also our club (SCRCCC) has had an increase in mod drivers with two of our juniors stepping up and a gas driver taking the plunge. All due to brushless and Lipo.LikeLike
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It is perhaps worth pointing out that this particular rule proposal has come from an AARCMCC member club, rather than from the executive/association itself.
This is of course the way AARCMCC is supposed to work – but not necessarily the way it has worked the last few years.LikeLike
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Will ORRCA Qld Follow ?????????
Mod 5 or 6 cell or Lipo but keep the weights the same for 2009. Then 2010 bring in lipo and lighter cars.LikeLike
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Shayne or Shane.. (I forget which, sorry), if you keep the weights the same then what advantage is there to running 5 cell 😯 .
Flea, if you accepted one of those sponsorship deals with Magic and Top Scythe your issues would have been solved 👿 …LikeLike
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Peter D (Shane)
5 cell should stay at reduced Limit
That way 5-6 or lipo could be used depending on track driving style.
Only 6 & lipo will weigh in at 1500LikeLike
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peter- even then could i ever hope to hang with the likes of factory boy A.K.A. semi-pro?!
the 01/01/2009 rule changes only covered the classes currently running 6 cells. it’s only this new proposal moving to include mod tc aswell.
i’ve already had to order a 6 cell chassis and rethink what i’m doing battery wise just on the basis of this proposal being put forward and the dates it contains – if i want to go to the NSW in early october i cant take the chance of waiting to find out how the clubs have voted.
if (when) this passes Qld might aswell rip the bandaid off and move on to 1400g as it’ll keep the cost of racing under that of running at 1500g. once lipo is legal nationally there is little merrit to dragging out the crossover period locally.
i’ve never been a fan of allowing 5 cell to run with 6/lipo. just the fact the choice is there is another hassle / expense you have to be prepared for as a modified driver, as the optimum format changes from track to track. i don’t mind either way, aslong as its a fixed format.LikeLike
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I think the biggest problem we have here is that we are seen as remote from the rest of the racing community. Anthony, if you were racing in Melbourne on a regular basis you would have been sponsored a few years back. There are no importers here in Qld and if you are not on the local scene were they are you miss out.
Qld has been the first to take up new technology and then it spreads to the rest of the country. Possibly because of the lack of sponsored drivers here whose sponsors need the locked in rules to sell their products and benefit their team drivers.
The impact it has is the drivers here who push the adoption of new technology get hammered when the Southern State bodies rewrite the rules to suit their sponsored drivers and sponsors.
You need to move interstate Anthony, get some sponsorship and then come back and cleanup the ARMCC QLD State TitleLikeLike
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