NEW JERSEY T-JET SHOOT-OUT

 

OVERVIEW:

The following rules are in effect for the VHORS 2002 NJ T-Jet Shoot-Out. The rules committee reserves the right to change the rules in the interest of maintaining the fairness of the majority of the competition.

These rules are based on the use of original Thunder Jet parts, new parts, after market parts, remanufactured parts and those made by "cottage industries". All parts must be specifically manufactured for the Thunder Jet chassis with the exception of wheels, tires and axles. One of a kind, custom made or home made parts are not permitted.

If a racer is not sure his or her car is legal, it may be checked prior to the start of the races. If any driver suspects that another car may not be legal, he or she may "challenge" the other car at any time to verify whether or not it is legal.

Before each driver races, their car will be visually inspected for compliance to the rules. The width, body specifications, pick-up shoes, etc. will be visually checked, then cars impounded for the balance of the racing day. The overall top finishers will have their cars disassembled at the end of the racing session for final inspection. Each car will be weighed and the weights recorded for statistical purposes only. No weight limit rule will be enforced.

The rules committee members present will address any questions or interpretations of the rules and their decision will be final.

 

CARS:

1. Each racer/participant may "tech-in" only TWO cars for the entire event. There will be substitutions or replacements unless the Rules Committee makes an exception under extreme circumstances. Such as, if a car burns up, has a melt down, or is physically unfit for participation as deemed by the event Rules Committee.

2. Car weight is not enforced, however an obviously heavy weight car will be challenged by the Rules Committee, and is subject to fail pre, during and post race tech inspections.

 

 

BODIES:

1. Bodies must be of the hard shell variety. (No vacuum formed bodies)

2. Bodies must be complete with windows, bumpers, drivers or roll bars as originally manufactured.

3.  Bodies must be originally manufactured with two screw posts specifically for mounting to a Thunder Jet Chassis. (E.g. Aurora, Model Motoring, Bauer, Faller, Playing Mantis, etc.) No AFX, Tyco, LifeLike, G-Plus, etc.

4. Bodies must be from a production run of 100 or more pieces.

5. Body must be fastened to chassis using two screws.

6. Bodies may be hollowed out to lighten the weight but cannot be cut through.

7. Interiors may be removed from bodies that have a roof.

8. Fender wells may be cut only enough to accommodate oversize tires.

9. Fenders may not be completely removed.

10. Wheel wells may not be cut to allow changes to the original wheelbase of the body.

11. Screw posts may be cut to lower body.

12. Split screw post may be repaired using plastic or aluminum sleeves only. No brass.

13. Screw posts may be replaced with plastic only and must be positioned at original location.

14. Body must not exceed original width.

15. Windshields or windows may be sanded to allow body to sit lower, but windows must fill window opening. Side windows may be removed.

16. Spoilers, scoops, wings, exhaust pipes, etc. may be added to improve the car"s appearance but must remain within the 1 5/16" width limit.

17. Fenders may not be flared.

 

 

CHASSIS:

1. Chassis must be stock Thunder Jet with all copper components.

2. Bearings and bushings are not permitted

3. Weights and handling pans are not permitted.

4. Chassis cannot be cut, sanded or drilled in any way. The only exception will be rule number 5 below.

5. Gear plate rails may be cut or sanded only to lower the body.

6. Pick up shoes and springs must be stock copper Thunder Jet parts. Pick up shoes can be any copper replacement but "ski" shoes are not permitted.

7. Pick up shoes may be bent to allow better surface contact with the rails but must remain stepped. The step point must remain at its original location.

2. Magnets may be shimmed, however chassis cannot be cut to allow repositioning of magnets.

3. Magnets may not be sanded or cut.

4. Magnets may be matched.

 

 

ARMATURES:

1. Armatures must be stock Thunder Jet. Thunder Jet armatures are typically painted gray and have green, red or gold windings or a combination of all three colors.

2. Armatures must measure 15 ohms or higher when measured from pole to pole.

3. Armatures may not be balanced.

4. Armatures may not be rewound or dewound.

 

COMMUTATOR BRUSHES:

1. Commutator brushes must be copper/carbon compound.

2. Brushes must be flat surfaced top and bottom.

3. Stock or replacement copper/carbon brushes such as Aurora, Life-Like, Thunder Brushes, Axel's, etc. are acceptable.

 

 

GEARS:

1. Armature pinion, idler gear and driven gear must be stock brass Thunder Jet.

2. Armature pinion gear must be 14 tooth.

3. Idler gear and driven gear must be 22 tooth.

4. Final pinion gear must be brass.

5. Final pinion gear may be 9, 12 or 14 tooth.

6. Crown gear must be 15 tooth, original Aurora black/gray nylon.

7. Gears may be soldered or glued to their respective shafts.

8. Gears may be lapped and polished.

9. Gears may not be drilled or lightened in any form.

10. Gears may not be beveled.

 

 

TIRES/RIMS/AXLES:

1. Any tire/hub combination is permitted.

2. Axle nuts, spacers or springs must be kept on the outer side of the chassis. No collars permitted.

3. Spacers must be made of plastic, aluminum, brass, or steel, no lead is permitted.

4. Overall width of wheel/axle combination cannot exceed 1-5/16". Cars must pass freely through the tech block.

5. All four wheels must touch the track.

6. No traction magnets are permitted.

7. "Hub caps" or other wheel inserts are acceptable provided they fit entirely within the rim.

8. Front tire/axle may be allowed to float from side to side. Lateral movement may not exceed 1/32" (.03") and total width may not exceed 1 5/16".

 

 

CONTROLLERS:

1. Any controller is permitted.

2. VHORS tracks are not wired for breaks requiring a two wire hook up only.

3. Electronic or digital controllers that store power after track power is turned off are not permitted.

 

 

GENERAL RACING RULES:

1. Lot will determine starting positions of drivers.

2. Drivers will be given ample time to run practice laps prior to racing. It may become necessary to limit the practice time of each driver should there be a large number of drivers.

3. Each driver will race all lanes in a rotating order, laps will be recorded and completed sections will be added at the end of the fourth heat.

4. All drivers will be expected to take their turn marshalling the track while not racing.

5. Drivers are not permitted to marshal any cars during the races. Any violations will result in penalties.

6. Between heats drivers will be allowed one minute to clean their tires, pick up shoes and make any other adjustments necessary without disassembling their car.

7. No additives are permitted on the tire surfaces. E.g. belt dressing, tire dressing, oil, etc.

8. If a driver experiences a mechanical difficulty during a race, the race will be stopped and he will be allowed three minutes to rectify the problem. Racing will be continued after three minutes. There will be a limit of two repairs per rotation.

9. In the event of a multi car accident, the timer and power will be stopped to allow the marshals to put the cars back on the track.

10. A call of "Track" will stop the timer and power to the track.

11. "Track" may be called by turn marshals or drivers in the case of multi car accidents, de-slotting out of the reach of a turn marshal, cars accidentally switching lanes or crossing the lap counter in error.

12. "Track" will be called for any car that goes completely off the table.

13. Turn marshals will do their best to replace cars to the track in the least amount of time.

14. Turn marshals are urged to attempt to replace the "first off" car "first on".

15. A false start will be declared if any car deslots before completing the first series of turns as determined for each track. Cars will be returned to the starting line and the race will be started again.

16. A false start will be declared if one or more cars fail to start. Cars will be returned to the starting line and the race will be started again.

17. Only one false start will be declared per race/rotation.

18. The track surfaces should be "wiped down" prior to the start of of race heats and before the start of the final heats.

19. Following completion of their heat races drivers are required to marshal the next set of heats.