Latest News

8/10/10

It is which much regret that the IRRA™ Board of Directors has accepted the decision of founding member Dennis Samson of Irvine, CA, to step down from the IRRA™ BoD.

Dennis has been a key part of the success of IRRA™ since it began in 2007. The IRRA™ BoD wishes to express its deep appreciation to Dennis for his invaluable contributions over the years, not only to IRRA™, but to slot racing in general. Thank you, Dennis, for your hard work and your always-thoughtful contributions to the BoD's deliberations and decisions.

The remaining IRRA™ BoD members have selected TonyP to join the board, to replace Dennis as the Chair of the Chassis Committee, and he has graciously accepted our nomination. Tony's long history in the hobby, as well as his incredible skills in chassis design and construction, make him the perfect person to sit in the seat Dennis has vacated.

The IRRA™ BoD has also selected Philippe de Lespinay to replace TonyP as a member of the IRRA™ Senior Advisors group and he has accepted as well. The Senior Advisors group is composed of experienced slot racers who contribute to BoD discussions on issues under consideration, but who do not have a vote on the decisions rendered by the BoD.

(posted for the IRRA™ Board by Greg Wells)

8/10/10

For clarification purposes, please note that steel tongues cut from the flexi and wing car chassis are not considered "commercial guide tongues" and are no longer allowed in the Can-Am, F1 and GT Coupe classes where they were previously allowed up until January 1, 2009. All legal steel tongues must be purpose built as steel tongues and meet all IRRA measurement specifications. As an added point of clarification, it should be noted that the same rule noted above applies to ALL scratchbuilt classes.

6/28/10

A new article has been added to the "How To" section titled Making-Mounting Tires written by Jay Guard.

6/13/10

Visit the "Winner's Circle"!!! Our new page to keep track of those beautiful scratchbuilt winners from the big races run under IRRA rules. Updated now through the Retro Palooza!!

5/6/10

Two new articles have been added. "How To Set A Gear Mesh" and the "Top 10 Reasons Why Guys Fail Tech". Enjoy!

4/27/10

Please see the Approved Bodies Section for the latest update on approved bodies.

4/1/10

Please see the Decisions Section for the latest update on the use of glue, oil, tire treatments, braid juice, etc.

1/27/10
The 2010 rules have now been put up on this website. Please refer to the rules section.

1/11/10

Effective 1/11/10 the IRRA BOD will no longer provide assessment of components or commercially made frames / chassis. Those selling these items assume the responsibility to ensure that the items offered for sale will be capable of meeting the specifications as written.

Should a manufacturer wish to still submit something for an opinion, they may do so to the previous personnel designated i.e. Mike Swiss for Components and Dennis Samson for completed frames / chassis.

No reference should be made that an item is "IRRA Approved, or Assessed To be Legal When Used Properly" if it has not been submitted and a formal response sent by the Board of Directors of the IRRA.

Please note that for clarification purposes, the term Commercially Made means an item that will be sold to raceways through the distributor network.

Motors and Bodies must still be submitted as before for approval.

For the IRRA Board of Directors
(Joe Neumeister)

10/31/09 - A number of items are new to report:

- Proformance has elected to drop out as being a motor refurbisher. Work will continue through November only.

- ProSlot has been approved as a motor refubisher. Contact dan@prolsot.com for complete details.

- The IRRA Board of Directors have approved addtional rule changes that will go into effect 1/1/10. This website will be completely updated and all rule sets will include all previously announced changes and claifications as well as the new rules. Please see the Rules Section for details.

9-22-09 - The Tech Sheet has been updated to reflect the allowed use of the Slick 7 motor and some minor typos. You can obtain it on the Tech Sheet page.

9-11-09 - The IRRA Board of Directors has received and assessed the following chassis submissions from Slick 7 for use in races using IRRA rules:

Slick 7 Formula 1 Chassis - Part number S7-642

Based on our assessment of the structures and dimensions, to include bracket heights, guide tongue dimensions, and wheelbases, we have concluded that each of these chassis components can be used to make a legal IRRA chassis for the F1 Class. Final determination of the legality of a completed frame is up to the person constructing it.

Any changes in these items will require another submission for assessment.

It should be noted that this is not any previously made and sold version. This is a NEW version.

9-11-09 The IRRA Board of Directors has received and assessed the following submission from R-Geo for use in races using IRRA rules:

Samurai II Pan

Based on our assessment of the structures and dimensions we have concluded that this chassis component can be used to make a legal IRRA chassis various classes except JK Spec of course. Final determination of the legality of a completed frame is up to the person constructing it.

Any changes in this item will require another submission for assessment.

It should be noted that this is not any previously made and sold version. This is a NEW version.

8-2-09 - New bodies have been submitted and approved and you can see them on the Approved Bodies page.

7-6-09 - Please see the Q&A section for an important announcement concerning Stockcar rules.

6-30-09 - The BOD of the IRRA has approved the Slick 7 Mini Brute S7-588A motor for use. The Motor Rules page and download contain the specifications and details.

6-23-09 - The BOD of the IRRA has received and assessed the following submissions from Slick 7 for use in races using IRRA rules.

S7 635 Can-Am Chassis

S7 640 Stockcar Chassis

Based on our assessment of the structure and the dimensions to include bracket heights,guide tongue dimensions, and wheelbases, we have concluded that each of these chassis components can be used to make a legal IRRA chassis for the Can-Am and GTC classes (S7-635) and the Retro Stockcar class (S7-640). Final determination of the legality of a completed frame is up to the person constructing it.

Any changes in these items will require another submission for assessment.

5-28-09 - Please see the announcement about ProSlot foil seals in the Motor Rules section.

5-18-09 - Please see the Q&A section for an answer on the use of silicone - silicone coated tires.

4/30/09 - New bodies have been submitted and approved and you can see them on the Approved Bodies page.

3-24-09 - Please see the Q&A section for an answer on measuring a rear tire diameter.

3/15/09 - New bodies have been submitted and approved and you can see them on the Approved Bodies page.

2/13/09 Please see the Q&A section for an answer on the FX and S7 chassis kits.

2/12/09 Dan DeBella at Pro Slot is changing the tamper-resistant seal applied to the sealed Pro Slot motors approved for use in IRRA racing.

The foil seal material previously used is being replaced with a new polymeric material that is much more resistant to being removed and reinstalled.

Pro Slot has supplied sample motors for IRRA testing and the Board is pleased to report its approval of the new seal. Motors carrying the new seal will be allowed under IRRA rules from this date.

Please note that at some undetermined point in the future, approval for motors sealed with the old foil Pro Slot seal will be rescinded.

2/11/09 To further clarify the tire rule, the following is effective immediately and will be inserted in the appropriate sections at the next full rules revision for all classes.

"Speed Rubber is NOT allowed in IRRA competition".

The original wording of the rule was meant to mean the same thing but has become necessary to make this specific statement. Anyone found to be using Speed Rubber at an IRRA sanctioned event will be banned from competing in IRRA events in the future. Its use is extremely detrimental to other racers.

2/3/09 - REVISED 2-12-09 After careful review, the IRRA BOD has determined that the following announcement on a rule change is in the best interests of those participating in racing under IRRA rules.

After careful review, the IRRA BOD has determined that the following announcement on a rule change is in the best interests of those participating in racing under IRRA rules.

Therefore, effective Immediately:

No motor or tire changes will be allowed during a race except as defined below. For those races where there is a move-up from one main to another, motors and tires can be changed and the car will go through a full tech inspection.

Should a racer encounter a damaged tire/wheel (stripped screw, bent hub or chunked tire), the racer will be afforded the opportunity to make the repair under the green and present the car to the tech inspector at the end of the heat for checking before the racer will be allowed to continue.

As a reminder, those racers making a move-up from one main to another and not choosing to change a motor or tires will still be subject to tech inspection for legal tire diameter and clearance.

The previous rule allowing motor changes under the "green" is no longer allowed.

1-30-09 - Please look at the Retro Stockcar rules and note that a clarification has been posted regarding the wheelbase dimensions. The word Minimum has been added.

1-23-09 - New bodies have been submitted and approved and you can see them on the Approved Bodies page. Also, in response to a question posed in the guest book, no Parma bodies on the approved list as none have been submitted.

10-28-08 - Approved refurbishers of the Pro Slot 4002/4002B motors are not allowed to offer so-called "pre-furbished" motors for sale, either directly via websites or direct order, or via distribution to raceways.

Refurbishers are approved for refurbishing only.

The only allowable new motors for commercial sale are those with the Pro Slot seal, distributed directly as fully-assembled motors from Pro Slot via normal distribution channels to raceways.

Individual racers are free to send newly-purchased Pro Slot-sealed motors directly to one of the refurbishers for their services if they so desire.

This decision has been taken to control the over-the-counter cost of new motors and to ensure that there is no perception created about motor blueprinting or selective assembly from large supplies of component parts.

This decision has been discussed with, and is supported by both approved re-furbishers, and will be a condition of approval for any future re-furbishers.

10-21-08 - The IRRA is pleased to announce that Proformance Racing, Inc. has been approved as the second motor refurbisher for the Pro Slot mini-motors used in IRRA competition.

The approval of ProFormance as a second IRRA motor refurbisher is the result of a four-month process encompassing extensive testing of the quality of ProFormance's refurbishing work and tamperproof motor seal.

David Liebenthal, proprietor of ProFormance, will be in attendance at the Sano and will be consigning "pre-furbed" motors to Chicagoland Raceway for purchase at the event.

10-14-08 - Please refer to the new page titled About Our Logo for information on its use.

9-29-08 - New bodies have been submitted and approved and you can see them on the Approved Bodies page.

9-24-08 - Check out the new "How To" article by Mike Swiss. Mike builds a JK Spec chassis and gives you all the details.

9-22-08 - Please refer to the Q&A Section for an announcement / decision Flexi i GT front tire specifications.

9/17/08 - In consideration of the fact that the term "NASCAR" is a trademark owned by a familar racing sanctioning body, IRRA is removing the term from the title of its recently-introduced Retro Stock Car class.

Henceforth, this new class will be officially called Retro Stock Car and all IRRA rules and other materials are currently being revised to reflect the new name.

IRRA is proactively making this change on its own volition, not as a result of any complaint of contact from the 1:1 racing organization.

9/4/08 - Please refer to the Approved Bodies Page for a reminder message concerning body thickness.

9/2/08 - Check out the new "Tech Sheet" page where you can download a handy specification reference sheet!

8/28/08: A new page has been added titled "The Basics" in the How To Section. Here you will find an easy reference for parts.

8/25/08: The new Retro Anglewinder Rules are now compete and have been put into the rules section. You can print them directly or you can re-print the complete set which now has all the updates included.

8/20/08: A typo was discovered in the NASCAR rules. The Front Clearance is .050 not .015 as previously stated.

8/18/08: JK Spec Class Eligibility To Race: The JK Spec Class is intended for those new to scratchbuilding and/or race competition. The JK Spec class is for non-expert/non-pro racers and eligibility for the class will be determined as follows:

For large IRRA events it is up to the organizer and/or raceway owner

For local events it is up to the regional director/board

The criteria that will be used to determine eligibility for entrance is to be announced well in advance of the event.

An example of the criteria that could be used nationally as well as regionally is that those racers having had a podium position in any other scratchbuilt class during the prior 12 months would be ineligible to run in the JK Spec Class.

8/15/08: A question was posed concerning the main rail for the JK Spec Class.Q: Can the main rail be cut in the U to make the bracket easier to fit? A: Yes, it can be. The chassis must stay a monorail. The rails must be soldered in the original slot location and stay straight and parallel to the motor (up to the bracket). The U section does not have to be used.

8/11/08: The JK Spec rules have been updated. The new version shows a date of 8.11.08 and is Rev 1. The changes are shown in red. There is new wording for the chassis construction and spoilers.

8/8/08: A new "Tools of the Pros" article has been added in the How To section.

8/8/08: Details on how to get the Mike Steube Scratchbuilding DVD have been added to the How To section.

8/6/08: The JK Spec rules will have a minor revision made to them since publication on 8/3/08. The Board of Directors are working hard to get this done ASAP. Nothing major is being done. The wording is being redone for better clarification.