Heritage Class discussion/petition VONATS 25'

[Charlie don't surf]

So with all the 2WD Re-Re cars this year alone, AE/Kyo/Shumacher/etc we should really consider the Heratige class model that is being used on the vintage racing scene over the past 18 months to be added to the VONATS

Rules were easy to follow, basic cars can be competitive right out of the box. Add your 21.5 stuff, tune what you have and your not going mach-stupid and tearing stuff up.

Were missing a huge group of guys that would jump in with lower costs and reasonable competition in a chill environment

[scr8p]

It's been discussed with the only one that can add it. It would be hard not to do so this year. It's becoming too popular of a class.

[stickboy007]

It would be a challenge to convince Erich to add this. I can highlight a few reasons, looking at it from his perspective.

1.) First and foremost, VONATS is about having fun. Adding another competitive class is thematically inconsistent.

2.) Fitting it in would be a challenge. Saturday is already full. You could drop down from 3 qualifiers to 2, but we made a big stink about 3 qualifiers for those classes in the past. That means putting it in Sunday, but it would still require giving something else up. Although there would be enough time given that Sunday is "lighter," I recall something about the track owners not wanting to run a full day on Sunday, which means we have to finish a little early.

In my personal opinion, I'd love to have a 21.5T heritage class. Even from a business perspective, it could attract more people than, say, the Heavy Metal class. But again, dropping a class like that compromises the roots of the event. My personal preference would be to ditch the wheelie class and possibly even the door prizes to make enough time for a 21.5 class which would surely have several mains of entries. Most of the wheelies people run aren't even vintage (e.g., a Comical Grasshopper isn't vintage or even re-re vintage. It's just a modern take on an old theme), while dropping door prizes would mean less work for Erich chasing down sponsors. That **could** work, but really it's up to Erich.

[scr8p]

The time constraints on Sunday this year was they were all at the beach for Jacob to propose to his girlfriend and Lee needed to get there. So it may not be an issue next year.

I would be good with ditching Wheelie.

[Charlie don't surf]

I'm not trying to take any classes away, and I like the feel of the event-

I also think as the original event, it has the ability to lead the way in what just might be the newest and most potential for growth class.

[scr8p]

I pitched the basic idea of what became Heritage to him prior to the 2022 Vonats. I thought about calling it Classic 2wd to play off the Classic 4wd class. Older year cut-off, a step down on motor (21.5, or even a sport tuned handout) It stemmed from the restructuring of the Classic class and removing the RC10, JRX2, Ultima, etc. There were guys that were bummed that they no longer had a place to race their cars, and there were a few guys in the process of building cars for the class when it was taken away. He gave a few reasons against it at the time and I left it at that.

Then Nick throws the Heritage class out there at the following NC race. Dirk had it in MD. It's starting to grow, which I knew it would. I feel it will need to be added at some point. I think we could get it in on Sunday.

[RogueIV]

I pitched the basic idea of what became Heritage to him prior to the 2022 Vonats. I thought about calling it Classic 2wd to play off the Classic 4wd class. Older year cut-off, a step down on motor (21.5, or even a sport tuned handout) It stemmed from the restructuring of the Classic class and removing the RC10, JRX2, Ultima, etc. There were guys that were bummed that they no longer had a place to race their cars, and there were a few guys in the process of building cars for the class when it was taken away. He gave a few reasons against it at the time and I left it at that.

Then Nick throws the Heritage class out there at the following NC race. Dirk had it in MD. It's starting to grow, which I knew it would. I feel it will need to be added at some point. I think we could get it in on Sunday.

There's 1 issue with the Silvercan motors, they don't fit in a lot of cars due to the bushing area being slightly larger and not fitting in motor plates. also Tamiya has comically short motor shafts. If you want to do handout brushed motors I suggest Core23 from Core RC granted the bushing area is still a problem the motor itself is more durable, has a built in fan, and is cheaper.

Honestly going to 21.5 is probably the best for constancy though and keeps the old cars going at an appropriate power level without the fuss of break-in and maintenance, people finding the secret stash of comm drops, ect.

[Frankentruck]

There's the option of using a spacer so the big bushing motors could fit. The big bushing is annoying though.

[RogueIV]

There's the option of using a spacer so the big bushing motors could fit. The big bushing is annoying though.

There in lies the problem with Tamiya motors, the shaft is too short so normal pinions won't work once you put a spacer there, heck sometimes normal pinions won't work even without a spacer.

[scr8p]

We already have the class. It's 21.5. It's a matter of having it at Vonats.

The spacer wasn't a big deal. We all used them with the sport tuned handout in the Classic class in the RC10, Jrx2 etc. before the class was reconfigured.

[Chewbacca]

Interesting and valid arguments.

Now how many people participated in the comical class? Are the recent boom of comical conversions allowed to race there? Or is it just Wild Willies, comical Grashoppers and other factory available cars?

What cars compete in the heavy metal class? Clod Busters, Midnight Pumpkins and Lunchboxes?

Which of all the classes had the least attendance. To be honest even if I wouldn’t participate in either of the 2 they do sound like a fun class where things aren’t taken so seriously. So either way, should a class be sacrificed it would be a tough choice, one way or the other.

[stickboy007]

Interesting and valid arguments.

Now how many people participated in the comical class? Are the recent boom of comical conversions allowed to race there? Or is it just Wild Willies, comical Grashoppers and other factory available cars?

What cars compete in the heavy metal class? Clod Busters, Midnight Pumpkins and Lunchboxes?

Which of all the classes had the least attendance. To be honest even if I wouldn’t participate in either of the 2 they do sound like a fun class where things aren’t taken so seriously. So either way, should a class be sacrificed it would be a tough choice, one way or the other.

The modern comical cars are allowed in the Wheelie class, provided you don't put oil in the shock bodies. That's supposed to level the playing field with the Midnight Pumpkins and Lunchboxes which have undamped shocks.

Heavy Metal is Clobusters, Blackfoots, King Cabs, etc. Probably the lowest turnout class while Wheelie is actually fairly popular.

[Phin]

Since I'll probably never attend one of these races I won't weigh in on what classes should or shouldn't be run at the VONATS....but being a compulsive nitpicker I can't not point out that the rules for the Heritage Class at the JConcepts Race states a 1990 cut off date but also lists the Triumph (1991) and the Pro X (1993 or `94) as acceptable cars.

[stickboy007]

Since I'll probably never attend one of these races I won't weigh in on what classes should or shouldn't be run at the VONATS....but being a compulsive nitpicker I can't not point out that the rules for the Heritage Class at the JConcepts Race states a 1990 cut off date but also lists the Triumph (1991) and the Pro X (1993 or `94) as acceptable cars.

That's probably more to do with illiteracy with regard to production dates than whether those are appropriate cars for the class. I can see making a case for the Triumph or Super Astute (1992 I think), but the Pro-X is a stretch.