This area will contain the decisions by the Board
of Directors to questions posed regarding a rule clarification to the current rules. These are posted on SlotBlog but
we realize that not everyone will visit that site for information.
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.
Q: Can the Chicagoland "Backagra"
piece be used in build a JK Spec car?
A: No, not as configured for its intended use. While the JK Spec class
does allow for strips of brass to be used within the confines of the bracket for weight/bracing, this piece would be considered
taking the level of the intended simplicity of the class to a more high tech area which the BoD feels is not the intention
for this class. It is also not part of the JK Kit. Now some may say strips aren't but then again neither are the pin tubes
and a legal JK Spec chassis can be built by just buying the the bracket and the pan while using your own piano wire to make
the main rails.
(Posted for the IRRA™ Board by Joe "Noose"
Neumeister)
Q: I understand no glue
is allowed but can tires be treated with other compounds such as Zip Grip, Sticky Fingers, etc.
A: Yes,
they can but at no time can a racer use such items and leave the tires wet so that there is residue evident on the track.
To add further clarification to the Track Condition section of the General
Rules, racers cannot leave any residue on the track from either braid juice or oiling of the car. Braid juice is to be used
sparingly on the car's braid and is not allowed to be placed on the track's braid. Racers should not oil their cars over
the track's surface or use excess amounts that can leave a residual amount on the track's surface.
It should also be noted that No Glue means No Glue at all. A previous decision was posted noting
that glue boards are not allowed.
Anyone found to be in violation will
be disqualified.
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)
7-6-09
The IRRA Board of Directors has voted to restrict permissable chassis for the IRRA Stock Car class
to centered-motor designs ONLY, beginning on January 1, 2010. Additionally, the motor bracket specification will also be revised
at that time to require U-shaped bent motor brackets incorporating the rear axle supports.
Offset-motor chassis
designs will continue to be allowed under the current IRRA rules through December 31, 2009.
This prior notice of
forthcoming revisions to the IRRA rules is being given in order that racers can adjust their plans and chassis builds for
a smoother transition to the more restrictive rules.
5-18-09
Q: Are
silicone-coated or silicone tires IRRA-legal?
A: No, only natural rubber
foam tires are allowed. Tires made from, or coated with, silicone, urethane, or other similar compounds, may not be used in
any IRRA class.
3-24-09
Q: Does the entire diameter of a rear tire have to meet the stated specification?
A. Yes. The tire diameter must meet or exceed
the minimum specification across the entire width of the tire.
2/13/09
Q: Are the Slick 7 and FX Retro chassis kits legal for use in IRRA? They are
being sold as Retro chassis.
A:
The FX kit was submitted as required to the members of the IRRA Board. By a vote, the IRRA Board has determined that the FX
kit will not be allowed to run in the established classes because it does not reflect the organization's vision or the spirit
of a retro racing scratchbuilt chassis. The BoD will in the future explore the interest of its use in either a separate class
within IRRA or perhaps another organization running similar type frames.
The Slick 7 kit has not been submitted for approval and therefore should not be considered
approved for use. If one is submitted as required, a full review and vote will be conducted and the results shared here on
the blog and on the IRRA website.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Joe Neumeister)
2/12/09 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.
(posted for the IRRA board
by Greg Wells)
2/3/09 (Revised
2/12/09)- VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL CLASSES
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.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Joe Neumeister)
1/30/09
Q: There seems to be a conflict with the wheelbase rule for Retro Stockcar and rule 19 requiring
the centering of the wheels in the wheel arches.
A: Correct, as we have learned that with certain approved bodies it is not possible to meet both of these requirements.
Therefore, for clarification purposes, the word "Minimum" has been added to the 4.50" wheelbase requirement.
This will align it properly with rule 19 that requires the centering of the wheels in the wheel arches. The guide lead
requirement of .750" Maximum remains the same.
Q: Now that January 1, 2009 has past, will there be a rule change on the use of Flexi guide tongues?
A: We will post the following on the IRRA Website today:
"As a reminder please note that steel tongues cut from the flexi
chassis are no longer allowed in the Can-Am, F1 and GT Coupe classes where they were previously allowed up until January 1,
2009"
Q: Is a brass tongue cut from a commercial
chassis (Parma Brass Kar, Brass Womp, etc) allowed? Limits to size of piece that can be used, etc??
A:They are allowed and there are no dimensional limits in any of the scratchbuilt classes.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Joe Neumeister)
12/4/08
Q: I have a question on the bracket of a JK Spec Chassis. What does "minimal trimming or notching
to facilitate chassis assembly" actually allow? I have a standard bracket and cannot decide how to use it. Can you attach
the motor and then trim the bottom of the bracket at the motor area to let the motor drop on the endbell end, so as to lower
the CG, but maintain the gear mesh? The trimming would be the side of the bracket that the motor is attached, and the sides
near the motor. The motor will not be perpendicular to the track, just slightly angled. The motor would remain in the unchanged
mounting holes.
If this is not legal, can the brack
be trimmed to drop the motor to the location is a hypoid bracket was used?
A: According to the JK Spec class rules:
"The motor bracket must be used as-is, in unaltered shape and form, but minimal trimming or notching
to facilitate chassis assembly or to accommodate bracing is permitted."
The IRRA board's opinion is that the modifications described are in excess
of what is allowed in the rule, as the trimming would change the position of the motor in the chassis from the stock position
and the lowering of the holes would change the position of the motor in the bracket.
These modifications will therefore not
be allowed for the JK Spec class, but are of course legal for cars entered in CanAm or Coupe classes. The use of the JK hypoid
bracket (also in unmodified form) is legal for the JK Spec class, so this provides an alternative to the process requested.
(posted
by Dennis Samson for the IRRA Board)
11-13-08
Q: When building an Iso chassis,
is it permissable to use a transverse hinge to allow movement of a solid front axle independent of the main chassis rails?
For clarity's sake, here's an example of a chassis with that style of movement, built by Keith Van Atta.
Iso Chassis
A: The applicable regulation from the IRRA rules
is:
"Hinged Movements: Other than a drop arm,
all hinged movements must be oriented in only one direction on any individual chassis. A chassis may have transverse hinges
(examples: Iso-fulcrum hinges and plumber hinges) OR it may have longitudinal hinges (example: side pan hinges) but the chassis
may not have both types. The number of individual hinges is not restricted."
In the chassis shown, the plumber and the Iso hinges are oriented in the same direction. The plumber
rails could have side pans solidly attached but cannot have side pans hinged from them, as that would constitute hinging in
a second direction, which is not allowed.
Keep in
mind that the front wheels must support the front of the chassis at or above the mandated front clearance, which suggests
some sort of spring arrangement will need to be used.
(posted for the IRRA board by Greg Wells)
9-22-08
Q: I have two sets of front tires/wheels
from two different manufacturers that claim 5/8" diameter, however both sets are smaller than 5/8" diameter. This
appears to be the accepted manufacturing standard but by the letter of the rules, these wheels are not legal.
A: It is a well-known fact that the 5/8" front wheels from
one prolific slot car parts manufacturer typically measure quite a bit smaller than 0.625". The USRA revised their rules
to spec .600' diameter front wheels some years ago and after discussion, it has been decided to implement the same standard
in the IRRA rules.
Note that the revised 0.600"
diameter specification ONLY applies to O-ring fronts used in the Flexi GT class.
The IRRA rule set will NOT be revised simply to make this minor change; however the specification
is applicable immediately and will be incorporated into the IRRA rules during the next revision.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Greg Wells)
9-17-08
Q: Can the windows
be cut out of the body in the Retro Stock Car Class?
A: While it may be realistic in some cases, it has
been decided that in the interest of keeping things simple for the racer and for the safety of marshals, the removal of windows
from these bodies will not be allowed.
Q: How will clearance be checked for cars with drop arms since
they will drop down if placed on a test block on all four wheels without the guide.
A: Cars with drop
arms will/should be tech'd on a test block having a guide area that is typical of the depth of the track for the race where
the car can be placed on the block with the guide in and the four wheels touching. For example, at the Sano, any cars having
drop arms will have the clearance checked on a Backtrack guide block that has multiple depths. It is anticipated that the
.015" guide slot will be used there as this is announced braid depth for the race. Other regions should be prepared to
do the same thing and ensure racers are aware of the braid depth prior to a race.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Joe Neumeister)
9-13-08
Q: The JK Spec rules say that the axle tube must pass through the motor bracket. Do I have to use axle tubes
or may I place the bushings directly in the mounting holes in the bracket?
A: Rear axle bushings may be
soldered directly to the motor bracket without the use of axle tubes, if desired, and minor reaming of the holes in the motor
bracket to allow the installation of axle bushings in this manner will be permitted.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Greg Wells)
9-2-08
Q:
On the last two JK Spec chassis that I built, the chassis as provided, uncut, measures 3.140" wide across the
width of the pans at the rear. Since it is within the rules to run the car without cutting the pans off for hinging, is it
then OK to file or sand the outer edges of the pan to satisfy the width rule of 3.125" or will this be overlooked?
A: Filing and/or sanding the uncut JK Spec main chassis plate to reduce width to the specified 3.125" specification
will be allowed.
(Posted
for the IRRA Board by Greg Wells)
Q: Will inline frames be allowed to compete in
the new IRRA anglewinder class?
A: No. Just as Anglewinders and full Sidewinders are not allowed in the
Inline classes, Inlines and full Sidewinders are not allowed in the Retro Anglewinder Class.
Of course, what might
be allowed at any individual raceway for a local race is beyond the control of the IRRA Board, but our position is that these
drive configurations should not be mixed.
(Posted
for the IRRA Board by Dennis Samson)
8-18-08
Q: Why weren't all the classes changed to .050" clearance?
A: We had input from several raceway owners wanting to raise the clearance
due to conditions at their tracks or to ease tech inspection. While it could be easier to have just changed all the classes
(except perhaps GT Flexi) to the same front end clearance spec, we felt that there were many, many cars already built to the
existing specs for Can-Am, GT, and F1 and to change it would place an undue burden and perhaps cost on our fellow racers.
Someone who has good chassis building experience would probably not find this a problem but others might. Also, there are
a number of commercial chassis with the .015" front clearance.
Q: First, can
we use axle bushings instead of tubing in the front uprights for the axles?
A:
Yes.
Q: Can
the position of the axle height be modified for .050" front track clearance?
A: Yes.
Q: Also, since the rules state either the standard or hypoid motor bracket may
be used, can we modify the standard bracket if that is what was in the kit, to accept the hypoid setup?
A: No.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Joe Neumeister)
8-18-08
Q: At a recent race, during each lane change, one driver took his car to his pit box, did his normal maintenance,
then ran his tires across a glue board. He returned to the track and ran the tires on the track in the braking zone of the
deadman on his lane, leaving two visible glue lines in the braking zone about 6 inches long. Is this allowed under the IRRA
rules?
A: No, this practice is not allowed under IRRA regs, which currently state: "Drivers are prohibited
from gluing the track before or during any races." Additional wording will be added at the next rules revision to specifically
state the procedure mentioned above is not allowed.
(Posted for the IRRA Board by Greg Wells)
8-15-08
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.
(Posted for the IRRA Board
by Joe "Noose" Neumeister)
