8/10 brushless rules

[axeman]

1/8th Electric Off-road

1. AIMS
To provide a uniform format for 1/8th scale electric powered off-road cars to compete with each other, and if required, with nitro-methanol powered off-road cars. The intention is to allow all commercially available 1/8 electric cars, including conversion kits, whilst still encouraging experimentation and innovation with the aim of developing the class further.

2. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
A: Dimensions – to abide by the main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate)
B: Power source
[a] Only electric motors are allowed. Motors do not have to be sensored, and motors designed for helicopters and planes may be used. There is no motor limit.
[b] Only battery packs with a (nominal) voltage no greater than 22.2V may be used. This is simply to comply with rules laid down from other governing bodies (ROAR for its unlimited class in the USA). Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) packs are allowed, though the use of LiPO (lithium polymer) packs is encouraged. LiPOs may be softcase or hardcased, All softcase lipo’s must be enclosed in a rigid hardcase. These can be purchased and fitted to the vehicle, this is to stop a Lipo being punctured during an impact, these are to be checked upon booking in by an official.
[c] A battery pack MUST be retained in an appropriate box, tray or case, that offers some level of impact protection. The battery must be a 'snug' fit inside its battery case, so that it cannot move or slide around inside the box.
[d] There must be some way of preventing the battery pack from being displaced from the battery box in the event of a crash. Velcro wrap-around straps are suggested, but a more traditional style battery strap as widely used in 1/10 scale may be used. If Velcro straps are used, the pack must be retained by at least two straps.
[e] Any commercially available electronic speed controller (ESC) can be used, though it is suggested that it is a speed controller designed for cars, as they will offer more linear throttle control, and stronger, more consistent braking over a plane or helicopter ESC.
[f] Mechanical brakes may be used in place of ESC brakes, should the driver wish. This is the only circumstance in which a 3rd channel may be used.
[g] It is suggested that some type of clutch (preferably a slipper clutch) be used to protect the motor and driveline, though this is not a requirement.
[h] A separate battery pack may be used to power the radio system, but it must be retained in a safe manner, and abide by the ruled laid out in sections 2A(b-d). The red wire from the ESC MUST be removed if the ESC has an on-board battery eliminator circuit (BEC).
[i] The motor should be directly soldered to the ESC if possible, though if not possible, then connectors of the same capabilities as 4mm Corally-style gold tubes or better must be used.
[j] The battery cannot be directly soldered to the ESC. Connectors of the same capabilities as 5mm
Corally-style gold tubes or better must be used. Deans-type connectors can be used, but more capable connectors are preferred when using above 4 cell Lipo’s. The use of connectors that are polarity-protected is strongly advised.
C: Tyres – to abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).
D: Wings – to abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).
3. APPEARANCE
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

4. RADIO CONTROL EQUIPMENT
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

5. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

6. OFFICIALS
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate) with the following addition:
[d] A technical inspector who will check cars upon booking in at the start of the meeting, to make sure they meet the technical specifications (2B) above. It is the technical inspector who decides whether a car is fit to race or not.
7. DRIVERS BRIEFING
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

8. TRANSPONDERS AND LAP COUNTING
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate). Obviously, at club races, a handout transponder may be used, and should (if possible) be provided by that club.

9. PRACTICE
Practice will be run as either, a separate 5 minute round, in heat format, before qualifying, or a 10 minute 1st round of qualifying, with the latter 5 minutes timed. This decision is at the race director's discretion.

[axeman]

10. QUALIFICATION
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

11. FINALS
Sections [a – p] to abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate), with one exception: All finals will be 10min.
These following rules have been written so that clubs who receive small entries of electric powered off road cars can include them with the main nitro competition should the number of electric cars be too small for their own dedicated heat or final. If this is the case then the following rules are suggested:

[q] If a final is to last more than 20 minutes, any competitor with an electric car must be called to the pit lane for a 'forced pit stop' to aid fairness to nitro competitors. The car must stop moving, be picked up and raised above the head of the mechanic, before being allowed to rejoin. This ensures that the race director or referee can see that the stop has taken place. It is suggested that one penalty stop be imposed for each stop that the driver on pole must take. I.E, if the competitor on pole must stop for fuel twice, then the electric cars must stop twice for the penalty. This assumes that the electric car will not have to do a pit stop of its own, to change batteries. If the electric car must stop to change batteries, or for any other reason after the half-way mark, the penalty system will not be enforced on that particular car.
12. TROPHIES
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

13. RACE INTERRUPTION
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

14. PROTESTS
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

15. PENALTIES
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

16. CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

17. TRACK AND SAFETY
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

18. ORGANISATION
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

19. EFRA AND IFMAR MEETINGS These two organisations are yet to realise 1/8 off-road electrics as a class for their own championships, however, when they do, the section rules must be abided by (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

20. SECTION CONFERENCE/BRCA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To abide by main section rules (1/8 rallycross or 1/8 truggy as appropriate).

[axeman]

Please note change to rule
2B
b] Only battery packs with a (nominal) voltage no greater than 22.2V may be used. This is simply to comply with rules laid down from other governing bodies (ROAR for its unlimited class in the USA). Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) packs are allowed, though the use of LiPO (lithium polymer) packs is encouraged. LiPOs may be softcase or hardcased, All softcase lipo’s must be put into a rigid hardcase. These can be purchased and fitted to the vehicle, this is to stop a Lipo being punctured during an impact, these are to be checked upon booking in by an official.

[DaveG28]

Batteries wise, is 2x2s ok rather than a single 4s pack?

[gnr racer]

Yes that would be fine

[jasonwipf]

Looks good guys.

The only snafu I can see is the required pits matching nitro racers. We had lots of debate on that one since some nitro guys could only make 5 minutes, most made 7 and some made 10-12. So do you do a mandatory pit at 5, 7 or 10?

We ended up saying a pit is required for every 10 minute segment of run time or a physical battery change every 30. So a 10 minute race had to pit once (nitros avg 1 pit here), a 15 min race also 1 pit (most nitro avg 1 pit at 7.5), a 20 min race 2 pits (nitros would normally pit at 7.5 & 15) & 25 or 30min races a battery change (which was usually required) would count as all your pits since it took 20-40seconds to do and that was comparable to nitros 4-5 pits durring the same period.

What was cool about us doing our fake pit when ever we wanted we could pit on lap 1 to avoid starting traffic and/or when we were coming up on heavy lap traffic again to spread out. This was looked at unfairly by some nitro guys but fact is us pitting when they did not made for less crowded pits which was safer and faster for the nitro guys and us pitting on the starting lap eased traffic for them too! Strategy strategy hope you guys use what works good for you.