Entry vehicle weights...too heavy?

72_Chevy_C10 Tuesday, 1/6/2015

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to mention something that I noticed during the last races...the vehicle weights. I recently picked up a nice little jewelry scale...and some calibration weights...so, I ran all the cars over the scales before they raced. And there were cars that were over.

Now, I'm not pointing fingers...I just wanted to make sure that everyone was aware. Weight isn't super-critical to making a fast car...but, there are advantages to having your car weighted well. .5 grams or even a gram can be attributed to differences in scales...but there were cars that were 2-3 grams over. And on a 35 gram car, that's quite a bit!

As I said, I picked up a set of calibration weights to check my new scale and it is reading .1 gram over, so it's pretty close. These weights are on ebay and can be found by searching for 50 or 100's gram calibration weight...and they are cheap.  

I checked a bunch of cars and almost all of them were spot on, or even light...and the cars that were over owners have been notified :)

Just thought I'd let you guys know.


Discussion

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redlinederby 1/7/15
Site manager

When I have hosted races in the past, I have to admit that I never checked weights. I guess I trusted everyone, but more so I didn't outright say what would happen if car were too heavy. If there are going to be rules, then there should be clear consequences too, whether that be a forfeit or something else...

That being said, in regards to checking weights at host tracks, there should be some accepted variance, like C10 suggested. Whether that's .25g or .5g or up to 1g...I don't know and I think that should get some other input before there is an official decision made. Just know that whatever the rule is, people will try to game it.

And whatever that final ruling is, it should be a rule and not a guideline for hosts...ie, hosts can't choose to overrule it. 

Bottomline, when you setup your rules for a series or tournament, make sure you clearly outline what will happen if someone breaks those rules. I feel that can be left up to the race organizers but it should be stated up front so people don't get upset and loose their shit when their car fails to pass inspection.

Coming from the sport of tractor pulling...where the classes are set by weight...there is usually an allowance of 1% for the difference in scales.

It's not that I didn't trust everyone, I just wanted to make sure everyone was getting a fair shake. It's usually not a big deal to get a little weight off a car (provided that there is lead added to it), so, it should be up to the host to notify the racer and to get the car down to weight.

My 2 cents :)


  • Agreed. If modifications can be made from afar, so be it. Up to both parties. — redlinederby

And now that this has been brought up and talked about, I'm sure builders will check their cars more carefullly. Besides, unless the offending car/s are winning all the time that extra weight does not seem to be helping much...

I try to fall on the low side of 57g...most of my cars built for 57g races come in around 55g...just seems to work out that way. I only have a few that are right on the money. The pro stocks i have been working on were built under 55g even though the weight limit was set at 60g...I was not sure if the series would get off the ground, but did not want to waste a build...this way they can still run a 57g race.

 

Race on RLD!!!


  • I didn't mean to suggest anyone was going over to cheat, it happens. — redlinederby

And if anyone of us as the host of a first race  in any given series are to...........eject any car 2+ grams over the posted weight in the series rules?


  • some racers use an ounce scale... close, but... — model40fan
  • I'd say, notify the racer and try to fix the vehicle weight, it it isn't a huge job — 72_Chevy_C10
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