T.R.A.C.K. Series

    Thunderjet Racing Association of Central Kentucky

      20013-14 RULES for Tuff Ones Class:

08/20/2013

OVERVIEW:

The following rules are in effect for the TRACK 2013-14 season. The rules committee reserves the right to change the rules in the interest of maintaining fairness.

These rules are based on the use of original Aurora, AFX, Tuff Ones, JL, AW and Model Motoring parts, new parts, after market parts, remanufactured parts and those made by "cottage industries".  All parts must be specifically manufactured for the Thunder Jet, Tuff Ones (JL/AW or Original) or Model Motoring Thunder Plus chassis with the exception of wheels, tires and axles. One of a kind, custom made or home made parts are not permitted.

Before each race all cars entered will be visually inspected for compliance to the rules. The width, weight, body specifications, pick-up shoes, etc. will be visually checked. The top 3 finisher may have their cars disassembled at the end of the race for final inspection.  Random cars from the field may be chosen for final inspection as well. 

Car weight requirement of fully assembled cars must be from 18.00 to 21.00 grams.

Car must pass easily through a 1-3/16” tech block.

If a racer is not sure his or her car is legal, it may be checked prior to the start of the races. If any driver suspects that another car may not be legal, he or she may "challenge" the other car at any time to verify whether or not it is legal.

The rules committee members present will address any questions or interpretations of the rules.  Their decision will be final.

BODIES:

1. Bodies must be of the hard shell variety. (No vacuum formed bodies)  Body “theme” races and restrictions for specific races may apply.

2. Bodies must be complete with windows, bumpers, drivers or roll bars as originally manufactured.

3.  Bodies must be originally manufactured with two screw posts specifically for mounting to a Thunderjet chassis. (E.g. Aurora, Model Motoring, Bauer, Faller, Playing Mantis, etc.) No AFX, Tyco, LifeLike, G-Plus, etc.

4. Bodies must be a reasonable representation of a real existing car.

5. Body must be fastened to the chassis using two screws.

6. Bodies may be hollowed out to lighten the weight but cannot be cut through.

7. Interiors may be removed from bodies that have a roof.

8. Fender wells may be cut only enough to accommodate oversize tires.

9. Fenders may not be completely removed.

10. Wheel wells may not be cut to allow changes to the original wheelbase design of the body.   (Exception: Indy car bodies that were designed for the upper axle hole may have front wheel wells modified to fit long or short wheel base)

11. Screw posts may be cut to lower body.

12. Split screw posts may be repaired using plastic or aluminum sleeves only. No brass.

13. Screw posts may be replaced with plastic only and must be positioned at original location.

14. Windshields or windows may be sanded to allow body to sit lower, but windows must fill window openings, front and rear. Side windows may be removed but the openings must not be enlarged. 

15. Spoilers, scoops, wings, exhaust pipes, etc. may be added to improve the car’s appearance but must remain within the 1 3/16" width limit.

16. Fenders may not be flared unless originally manufactured as such.

17.  Weight may not be added to the body. 

18. No body openings other than side windows and front grills are allowed.

19. Body shape may not be altered from original molding.

CHASSIS:

1. Chassis must be stock Aurora Thunderjet, Aurora silver Tuff Ones, JL/AW Thunderjet 500, Model Motoring Thunder Plus or any combination of these four. 

2. Bearings and bushings are not permitted.

3. Weights and handling pans are not permitted.

4. Chassis cannot be cut, sanded or drilled in any way. The only exceptions will be rule number 5 below.

5. Gear plate rails may be cut or sanded to lower the body.  Flashing from the manufacturing process may be removed and holes may be reamed to free up shafts or axles.

6. Pick up shoes may be any copper or silver original Aurora, AFX, JL, Model Motoring or after market manufactured shoe.  Ski shoes are permitted.

7. Pick up shoes may be bent or flattened to provide better contact with the rails and chassis.

8. Pick up shoe travel may be restricted either by bending the hook where it connects to the chassis or by installing a non-metallic restrictor ring at the top/front of the shoe.     

9. Pick up shoes may not be weighted.

10. Shunt wires, "tiger tails" or other soldering is not permitted.

11. Guide pins must be original design, any color plastic. No rear or swivel guide pins are permitted.

12. Guide pins may be glued to the chassis but two mounting screws must be used.

13. Gear plate clamp may be bent or dimpled but may not be cut.

14. Center peg on top plate may be expanded to tighten the fit of the idler gear.

MAGNETS:

1. Magnets must be original Aurora Thunderjet, AFX (including Super II), Dash, Johnny Lightning or Model Motoring Thunder Plus.    

2. Traction magnets and neo or polymer motor magnets are not permitted. 

3. Magnets may be shimmed using non metallic materials only. Magnets may only be shimmed on their backside (the outer arc side that faces away from the armature).

4. Chassis may not be cut to allow repositioning of magnets.

5. JL magnets may be honed or sanded to allow for a looser fit in the chassis. 

6. Sanding or cutting for the purpose of bringing the magnets closer to the armature is not permitted.      

7. Magnets may be matched.

ARMATURES:

1. Armatures must be stock Aurora (including AFX) stock JL/Auto World or stock MM Thunder Plus.  Super II arms are not allowed.

2. Armatures must have an average measurement of 5 ohms or higher when measured from pole to pole.

3. Armatures may be balanced.

4. Armatures may not be rewound or de-wound.

5. Armature spacers are not permitted.

6. Armatures may not be shimmed.

7. Armature laminations may be trued.

8. Commutator plates may be polished, shaved and trued.

COMMUTATOR BRUSHES:

1. Commutator brushes must be copper/carbon compound or silver.

2. Brushes may be domed and notched (i.e. JL or original Tuff Ones)

GEARS:

1. Armature pinion, idler gear and driven gear must be stock brass Aurora Thunderjet, Aurora Tuff Ones, Model MotoringThunder Plus, or JL/AW gray or black plastic or stock replacements.  CNC machined gears will not be allowed.    

2. Armature pinion gear must have 14 teeth.

3. Idler gear and driven gear must have 24 teeth.

4. Final pinion gear may be 9, 12 or 14 tooth.

5. Crown gear may be 15 teeth original Aurora or JL/AutoWorld 15 or 18 teeth.

6. Gears may be soldered or glued to their respective shafts.

7. Gear shafts must be OEM equipment – steel.  No oversized, stainless steel or non-ferrous after market shafts.    

8. Gears may be lapped and polished.

9. Gears may not be drilled or lightened in any form.

10. Gears may not be beveled.

11. The crown gear “boss” may be sanded or trimmed to accommodate different gear ratios. Shims/spacers may be used on the rear axle: See #7 and #8 under “Tires/Rims/Axles.

12. Smaller diameter or “specialty chassis” crown gears will not be permitted.

13. Identical replacement gears are permitted and must be made of the same materials as the stock parts.

TIRES/RIMS/AXLES:

1. Allowable front hubs are: (1) stock Aurora Thunderjet, (2) stock Aurora Tuff Ones, (3)  JL/Auto World Tuff Ones (4) Aurora AFX or JL/Auto World X-Traction (5) MEV (6) HO Reproduction or any other reproduction of stock hubs.  Double flange front hubs and after-market independent front sets are not allowed.

2. Allowable front axles are Tuff Ones (Aurora or JL/Auto World), Aurora Hot Rod, stock Aurora Thunderjet, AFX or JL/Auto World X-Traction.

3. O-Rings may be used as tires on the front hubs.

4. Front hub/axle may be allowed to float from side to side. Lateral movement may not exceed 1/32" (.03") and total width may not exceed 1 3/16".

5. Allowable rear hubs are stock Aurora Tuff Ones, JL/Auto World (Tuff One or X-Traction), AFX or after market plastic double flange.  Other after-market plastic hubs may be approved upon pre-race inspection.  Only slip-on silicone or slip-on rubber tires are allowed.  Tires may be ground down to a smaller diameter. 

6. Allowable rear axles are stock Aurora (AFX, Tuff Ones, T-Jet, Tomy), JL/Auto World and drill blank axles. 

7. Axle spacers must be kept on the outside of the chassis.  Exception: Shims/spacers may be used on the rear axle both inside and outside the chassis. 

8. Spacers must be made of plastic. 

9. Overall width of wheel/axle combination cannot exceed 1-3/16". Cars must pass freely through the tech block.

10. All four tires must touch the track.

11. Metal "Hub caps" or other wheel inserts are not allowed.

12. No additives are permitted on the tire surfaces. E.g. belt dressing, tire dressing, oil, etc.  Tires may not be “recapped” with silicone or any other coating. 

 

CONTROLLERS:

1. Any controller is permitted (see #2 for exceptions).

2. Electronic or digital controllers that store power after track power is turned off are not permitted.

GENERAL RACING RULES:

1. Race formats will be announced before the events.

2. Drivers will be given ample time to run practice laps prior to racing. It may become necessary to limit the practice time of each driver should there be a large number of drivers.

3. No one will be permitted "free track power for just a second" to test their car after the practice time has ended. (Test strips, or nine volt batteries are often available.)

4. Each driver will race all lanes in a rotating order, laps will be recorded and completed sections will be added at the end of the each race.

5. All drivers will be expected to take their turn marshalling the track while not racing.

6. A driver will not be permitted to marshal his or any other car while he is racing. Violations will result in penalties.

7. Between heats drivers will be allowed one minute to clean their tires, pick up shoes and make any other adjustments necessary without disassembling their car.

8. Warming up cars before heats by any means including batteries will not be permitted.

9. If a driver experiences a mechanical malfunction during a race, the race will be stopped and he will be allowed three minutes to rectify the problem.  Examples of mechanical malfunction are: slipping gear, missing tire, meltdown, inoperable controller, etc.  Racing will be continued after three minutes. There will be a limit of two repairs per rotation for each driver.

10. A call of "Track!" will stop the timer and power to the track.

11. "Track!" may be called by turn marshals or drivers to stop the race in the case of multi car accidents, de-slotting out of the reach of a turn marshal, cars accidentally switching lanes or crossing the lap counter in error.

12. "Track!" will be called for any car that goes completely off the table.

13.  Turn marshals will do their best to replace cars to the track in the least amount of time.

14.  Turn marshals are urged to attempt to replace the "first off" car "first on" for simultaneous wrecks. Exception: If a driver takes out another car while de-slotting the taken out car should be replaced first.  

15. A false start will be declared if one or more cars fail to start. Cars will be returned to the starting line and the race will be started again.

16. Only one false start will be declared per car per rotation and cars may be “push started” from the starting line.

17. A backup car may be used but only in the case of mechanical failure of the 1st car.  See rule #9.

18. All drivers must show good sportsmanship and display a good attitude during the races.  Prior to beginning the races an invocation prayer should be pronounced.  Good-natured trash talking is permitted but purposely distracting other drivers, personal insults or using profanity is prohibited.  Remember: It's just a hobby and they're only little toy cars!