Let's Go Clubbing!

(The Seattle RC Racers version of "Heaven on Earth".)

    In the realm of scale-automotive competition, trophies and accolades rule supreme. Racers are suckers for a physical return on their hard-earned investment, thus we see an abundance of "big races" throughout the season. Look around your selective region, and you can bet that you'll find a race with a fancy name and plastic trophies being run on just about any weekend. While it's always a fun bonus to run for an award every time we set our toy car down on the track, it becomes almost routine in a way. We begin to expect the "high stakes" racing that only comes from a major event or series, and anything else is simply not worth the time anymore. Call it a love for "better" competition, or call it "trophy thirst". Either way you slice it, it's a sickness that can be easily cured with a healthy dose of.....

.....wait for it.....

Weekly. Club. Racing. (GASP!)

   (Wednesday nights are for the boys.)

    On any given Wednesday, or Tuesday, or just about any day of the week, racers across the world take part in the weekly tradition of work-dodging, responsibility-avoiding, toy car-flogging that is weekly club racing. It's that one day of the week (or every other week for some of us) where we find the most outlandish excuse possible to ditch work early in order to drive across town and race until somewhere around 2 hours past our bedtimes. It's a compressed schedule, quick rounds, quick turnaround times, and a perfect platform to test new setups or changes. More times than not, it creates the perfect combination of competition and fun on an otherwise mundane weeknight. 

So why the low turnouts and lack of attention?

(Small turnout, big fun. The Hangar 30 Wednesday night season opener.)

    Now, I get it, not everyone can make an hour drive during rush hour traffic to make a club race. I also realize that many of us have lives outside of this hobby. Many of us have families, children, meetings, etc. that make it seemingly impossible to tie up an entire night racing a toy car. Some of us gravitate to higher, more serious competition, and therefore don't put much stock in an average weeknight event. It's true, most club nights are much more laid back than a points race in terms of competition, and this might turn off some fast racers, semi-pros and pros. Why waste the time and parts on a race night that doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things?

In a way, that's what makes club racing so great. It means absolutely nothing in terms of awards or accolades, yet it means everything at the same time.

(Dirty clubbing with good friends. Photo credit: Nick Colander)

    There's something really special about the weekly club meeting. It's no secret that the world has become more polarizing and divisive than at any point in recent memory. Opinions and views become cyber-ammunition and politics have become everyday conversation fodder, whether we like it or not. Add all this on top of an already jam-packed work, personal and family life and we have enough on our plate to drive us to insanity on a daily basis. Now, wouldn't it be amazing if there was something we could look forward to during the middle of our hell-on-earth work week? Maybe an event where we could gather with friends with similar interests for a few hours and just focus on something other than fake news and political shit-shows? 

I've got it! Let's go club racing!

(Wednesday clubbing from the UK. Photo credit: Andy Murray)

(Looking lit at the club.)

    For three to four hours on a weekday night, the dregs of society and the depressing responsibilities of adulthood need-not apply. Having fun and racing hard are the name of the game on a Wednesday night with the boys. There isn't a much more relaxing way to distract yourself from the world around you than to completely immerse yourself in a RC car and race 3 rounds with your closest buddies. Sure, the level of competition may not be on par with a regional or a Saturday points race, but honestly, who cares? It's true, you certainly won't win a National Championship on Wednesday Night, but I'd be willing to bet you'll have more fun racing toy cars for nothing than being a responsible member of society.

(4 wheel clubbing straight outta SoCal. Photo credit: Sticky Kicks RC)

    One last tidbit to consider: Clubs and tracks can't solely survive on big races and regional events. Consistent revenue in the form of hobby shop sales (If your track/club has a shop) and racer entry fees on various club days are required to operate a sustainable program. Take these humble club nights away, and there simply isn't enough left to stay afloat. It's no secret that it's extremely difficult to maintain and operate a RC car facility in today's economy. Far too often we hear of tracks closing for a myriad of reasons, many of which were fixable. So lets support or local clubs/tracks and run on an off night. Let's make the extra effort to race on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. Let's fill up those heat sheets and pack our heat races with intense battles and great times with great friends. So you lose a few hours of sleep on a work night.... I guarantee that fun you'll have racing and wrenching will be well worth that extra shot of coffee in the morning. 

(5 novices on a Wednesday night, this is what it's all about.)

#letsgoclubbing

    

Mark Your Calenders. - The 2017/2018 NW Indoor Schedule.

    It's that time of year. The once-lush green leaves and warm temperatures are starting to fall around the Pacific Northwest, as is the dreaded rain that forces us toy car racers indoors for the duration of the fall and winter months. It's that annual ritual of dark days and Northface jackets that we Northwesterners enjoy oh-so much (Insert sarcastic eyeroll).


   
    Fear not fellow hobbyist, there's a plethora of indoor racing venues to scratch that racing itch during the doldrums of Fall and Winter. Here's a list I've compiled of everything from carpet on-road to dirt off-road, the tracks that provide it, and the dates they race. I feel as a whole, these are the best months to be a racer around here. With so many great clubs and tracks in operation during the cold months, there's a place for every taste. Just have a look!

On-Road:

Seattle RC Racers:

(Carpet On-Road)
www.seattlercracers.com


Seattle RC Racers speaks for itself in many ways. It is quite simply, the bread and butter series during the indoor season, with racers frequently coming from Oregon, Canada, etc. just to throw down. While the "Saturday Series" runs out of the ultra-plush Magnuson community center, the "Wednesday Series" holds true to the roots of the club, and resides at the original Hangar 30 location.

Magnuson Park Indoor

Onroad club racing happens at Magnuson Park, in Seattle.  click here for directions.

Our Wednesday night program is in Hangar 30.  We begin each race night by gathering at Hangar 30 at 5pm to build the track.  Practice begins immediately after the track is done.  The first qualifier goes off at 7pm.  At the end of the mains we tear down the track and return it to storage.

Our Saturday program is in the Community Center gymnasium.  On most nights, we gather at 5pm to build the track.  Practice begins immediately after the track is done.  The first qualifier goes off at 7pm. At the end of the mains we tear down the track and return it to storage.

2017
Saturday, September 30 (CC) 30Sep2017 Race Report
Wednesday, October 4 (H30)
Saturday, October 14 (CC)
Wednesday, October 18 (H30)
Saturday, October 28 (CC)
Wednesday, November 1 (H30)
Fri, Sat, Sun, November 3, 4, 5 Big Chill (Chilliwack, BC)
Saturday, November 18 (CC)
Wednesday, November 15 (H30)
Wednesday, November 29 (H30)
Saturday, December 2 (CC)
Wednesday, December 13 (H30)
Saturday, December 16 (CC)
Wednesday, December 27 (H30)

2018
Fri, Sat, Sun, January 5, 6, 7 IROCC WCICS (Sydney, BC)
Wednesday, January 10 (H30)
Saturday, January 13 (CC)
Wednesday, January 24 (H30)
Saturday, January 27 (CC)
Saturday, February 10 (CC)
Wednesday, February 21 (H30)
Saturday, February 24 (CC)
Wednesday, March 7 (H30)
Saturday, March 10 (CC)
Wednesday, March 21 (H30)
Sat, Sun, March 24, 25 Emerald City Classic

Rose City Scale Racers:

(Carpet On-Road)

http://www.rctech.net/forum/northwest-racers/997280-rose-city-scale-racing-17-18-indoor-schedule.html

If memory serves me correctly, this will be the inaugural season for the Rose City Scale Racers in this location. They promise to have a great surface, inheriting the carpet used in this year's International Indoor Championships. Should be fun to see the progress made.

Place: Yacolt Elementary School. 406 W Yacolt Rd. Yacolt, WA 98675. NO Smoking on school grounds

Track setup time: 8:30 am (may change) Should be finished by 5:00 pm

Race Program schedule; TBD

Race Dates;
November 11th (swap meet also)
November 25th
December 9th
December 23rd
January 6th
January 20th
February 3rd
February 17th
March 3rd
March 17th

Classes;
SS/VTA, 25.5 Blinky, 1400gr, Gravity or Protoform tires
Sedan 17.5 Blinky, 1350gr, Spec tire selected after Dec 23rd
12th Scale 13.5 Blinky, 730gr. Purple stripe tires
F-1 21.5 Blinky, rubber tire

Tire sauce: TBD

Class fee: Flat $25.
$5 off if you if you are present (to help setup the track) when the trailer opens and another $5 off if you help tear down the track until the trailer is closed back up. You will receive poker chips as payment to use towards your race fees

NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO SETUP THEIR PITS UNTIL TRACK IS SETUP!

Chairs will be provided but you will need to bring your OWN table and power strip/cord

NORA On Road (Skagit Fairgrounds):

(Carpet On-Road / Carpet Oval)

NORA has been around for many years, and new director Jim Glasgow, along with his crew, have spent a great deal of time revamping the program. I hope to make at least one round this season. Jim is a great guy, so it's to be expected that his program will be top-notch.

OverGeared RC Racing (Vancouver, B.C. Canada):

(Carpet On-Road)

http://www.rctech.net/forum/canadian-r-c-scene/996687-overgeared-racing-2017-18-winter-season-vancouver-indoor-onroad.html

OverGeared Racing is the main On-Road program in the Vancouver BC area, and have a great setup. Many of their racers head south to join us at Magnuson Park, so I can attest to the level of competition coming from our neighbors in the Great White North.

Scheduled Dates
Oct 14
Oct 28
Nov 3,4,5 Big Chill(chilliwack)
Nov 18
Dec 9
Dec 16
Jan 5,6,7 IROCC Victoria No OGR
Jan 13
Jan 27
Feb 3
Feb 17
Feb 24
Mar 3
Mar 17
Mar 24,25 Emerald City Classic (Seattle) no OGR
Mar 31
Apr 14
Apr 28

Location
• All dates except Big Chill will be held at our home venue:
Peace Mennonite Church
11571 Daniels Rd Richmond BC

New CRC Black Carpet
• Overgeared has made a large investment in CRC Black Carpet. RUBBING WILL NOT BE IGNORED…. If it rubs.. fix it.. or it will be removed from the track…

Classes
• Touring Stock 17.5
• Touring Modified
• 1/12th scale 13.5
• 1/12th scale Modified
• Formula 1 Rubber 21.5
• Big Block Scale Spec 21.5
• Tamiya Euro trucks / Traxxas 4tec Spec

All races are 6 minutes in duration with the exception of the 1/12th Scale cars at 8 minutes.

Touring Stock 17.5
Motor: 17.5 Brushless motor ROAR Approved
ESC: (BLINKY) No ESC timing or boost.
Battery: 2S Li-po hard case batteries only
Tires: Spec Tires TBD
Weight: Minimum weight 1350g
Bodies: Top of wing on touring cars must be equal to or below the roof-line in race ready position.
Ride Height - 5mm minimum

Touring Modified
Motor: Open
ESC: Open ESC
Battery: 2S Li-po hard case batteries only
Tires: TBD Spec Tires
Weight: Minimum weight 1350g
Bodies: Top of wing on touring cars must be equal to or below the roofline in race ready position.
Ride Hight - 5mm minimum

Big Block Scale Spec 21.5
Any on-road 1/10th scale RC vehicle FWD cars will follow the same rules and weight
Motor: Any 21.5 Open Gearing
ESC: (Blinky) No ESC timing or boost.
Battery: 2S Li-po hard case batteries only
Tires: HPI VTA Spec/ HPI D compound or Gravity R/C USGT Spec Tires or new Protoform line of tires.
Weight: Minimum weight 1400g
Bodies: anything scale appearing with fenders but not a touring body.
Ride Height - 5mm minimum

Tamiya Euro Truck / Traxxas 4-Tec
BOX STOCK. Only bearings allowed as upgrade. all other parts nust be from the kit. Silver can or Titan motors only. Maximum 6200mah battery.

Formula 1
Motor: 21.5 or Silver Can
ESC: (Blinky) No ESC Timing or Boost
Battery: 2S Li-po hard case batteries only
Tires: Rubber Only
Minimum weight: 1050g
Body: F1 style with Moulded Wings. No Lexan Wings.
Width – Maximum 190mm
Ride Height - 4mm minimum

1/12 Stock 13.5
Motor: Roar Approved 13.5
ESC: (Blinky)No ESC timing or boost.
Battery: 1S Li-po hard case batteries only
Tire – Striped WGT Style Spec Tire
Weight: Minimum weight 730g
Bodies: 1/12 cars must run Can-Am/Lola style bodies.
Ride Height - 3mm minimum

1/12 Open
Motor: Open
ESC: Open
Battery: 1S Li-po hard case batteries only
Open Tire
Weight: Minimum weight 730g
Bodies: 1/12 cars must run Can-Am/Lola style bodies.
Ride Height - 3mm minimum

Minimum 4 Cars for the Class to run… (we need minimum 4 Marshals for the next race, you must have coverage if racing back to back)
Classes will be combined only if the majority of the racers in the combined Classes agree to it in a Live Vote.


Race Day Schedule
Doors will be open for track setup this season to start at 6am with practice to follow. The quicker the setup, the more practice time there will be. We will plan for 3 rounds of qualifying based on entries and Single Mains. Our Scheduled end time is 6PM. We must be cleaned up and out by this time.

Help us with Setup
Doors will open at 6am with Setup commencing immediately. Practice will begin when the track is 100% complete. Many Hands Makes Light Work. Registration will open at 8:30 and Close at 9:30… a 5 minute warning will be given. If not registered by 9:30 you will miss the first round. If you are going to be late TEXT someone to add you into your required class and a spot will be kept in the lineup for you. Pay an OGR Board Member when you Arrive….
A general drivers meeting will be called at 9:45… please ask any questions and address any issues during this time….
Races will begin 5 Min after the completion of the Drivers Meeting.

We are expecting a large turnout of new Drivers this season… PLEASE remember this is a HOBBY and these are TOY CARS… PLEASE help out the new guys as much as you can. We want everyone to enjoy the hobby and by being the open and welcoming group we have been for the last few years, we can hopefully grow our hobby as much as we possibly can.

Off-Road:

DieHard RC Racing (Indoor Carpet):

Indoor carpet off-road is gaining popularity all over, and now there is a place in Washington to enjoy some jumps on the rug! This looks super fun, and I wouldn't mind giving it a go....

Tacoma RC Raceway (Indoor Clay Dirt):

TRCR is THE premier Off-Road facility in the Northwest, no questions asked. Below, you'll find info regarding their weekly club racing and ever-popular Northwest Indoor Series (NIS).

"At Tacoma R/C Raceway we hold racing events 4 times a week.  On a race day practice time is included in the entry fee for racing.  We generally run 2 qualifying heat races followed by a final race, but on Sunday we run 3 qualifying heat races for each class.  All vehicles are limited to 2S LiPo batteries or 6 cell NiCad/NiMH batteries for stock class, mod classes may also use 7 cell NiCad/NiMH batteries."

---

Track Use Fees

Practice:  $5/HR, $10/Day

Racing:

Tues Friday Saturday Sunday

$16 Novice, $18 Stock & Modified $16 Novice, $18 Stock & Modified $16 Novice, $20 Stock & Modified $16 Novice, $20 Stock & Modified

Racing Schedule

Tuesday Friday Saturday Sunday

Open to All Classes Open to All Classes ShortCourse Only Open to All Classes

Racing Starts @ 7pm Racing Starts @ 7pm Racing Starts @ 7pm Racing Starts @ 1pm

Open Practice

The track is open for practice every day until races start.  On non-race days the track is open for practice from 10am-8pm. Everyone is welcome to use the track for a $5/hr or $10/day fee.

Weekly Racing Results

Weekly racing results are posted to RC Stats website after each scheduled racing event.  This site also contains a searchable database of recent racing results for a few different facilities in the NW. Check us out online at www.liverc.com

There you have it. Enough choices to fill up each weekend of the miserable Northwest winter, yet become the cause of a divorce all at the same time. From carpet oval, to clay off-road, we truly have it all in the PNW. Enjoy, racers!

If I've left a program out, be sure to leave a comment and I'll make sure to add it in. The more the merrier!

Peace & Fast laps.

-JRoy386