About the Club

TimR · Site Admin Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 298

The club race 1/10th scale electric and nitro 200mm touring cars on sunday mornings between 8.30am and 1.30pm. The last Sunday of evry month we also run 1/12th circuit cars, numbers being enough
We Race at our track in Easthorpe on a purpose made track for Colchester Model Car Club. Click me for directions to the Race Track Nearest Postcode is CO59EZ
We race both stock and modified classes for electric, and .12 size (2.1cc) in the nitro touring car class, all nitro cars must be fitted with an electronic failsafe.
We welcome both newcomers, and the more experienced racer.
Further info can be gained either by coming along on a sunday or by asking on the forum.

Club Information

Club racing Times
Sunday Opening Times
approx 8am-2pm
Every Sunday unless marked on Race Dates as no racing
We aim to have the track layout ready to use between 8.30 and 9.00am.
We are currently running a same track layout for 4 weeks period at the moment for setups to be tried and to be run with the Championship Points .
We Race in general To all BRCA rulings regarding class rules more info found here B.R.C.A

We do ask that all Persons who are on the track either as marshalls or pit crew to be B.R.C.A members to cover any liability.

There will also Be open Practice on the day before A Summer Championship Points meeting ( Saturday) Apart from the First Round In April ... Times will Be confirmed and the cost will be £3 buy a peg format.

Wednesday Evenings
Times TBA
We also run a Wednesday Evening Off Road/on Road Practice night during the Summer Months were you Buy a Peg for the evening that covers your frequency ~(cost tba)~
You can Race 1/8th Trucks/buggies ,1/10th Buggies,1/10th Touring cars (electric & nitro),1/12th Cars, basically run what you got with no class restrictions

Let’s go racing!

Pit Area
Winter Pitting is to the rear of the Rostrum/Race Control . There is no electric hook up so either 12v batteries or Generators ( nice quiet ones though that are placed so not to interfere with anyone ( if possible along the hedge next to the A12) and it is recommended all generators are earthed using an earthing stake and that RCD~ (circuit breakers)are fitted and all trailing extension leads are clearly marked/routed to not be a hazard.There is ample space for vehicles.You will also need a table to pit on there are quite a few on the market to choose from from folding picnic tables to the roll up variety.Have a look around the pits for ideas
Summer Pitting is in front of the Pit Stop Cafe (green caravan) due to the off road track being laid out .
Again Generators please placed out of the way to reduce the noise levels please ( area TBA)

BOOKING IN
Booking in open will be called over the PA system.
When you arrive at your club on race day you will have to book in at race control (this is Race Control / Rostrum at the club), which is an area that is set aside for administrating the days racing. Ask another club member where this is if it is your first visit. Booking in takes place well before qualifying begins and is where you tell the race director that you wish to race. Remember to take some money with you as a small fee will be charged for you to participate in the racing. When you book in, you will need to tell the race director your name and all the frequencies that you have available. Please have at least 3 frequencies with you. The entry fee varies For Members £5 and non members £6 ( maximum of three visits before joining). If you think you will be racing regularly at the club, you will need to become a member the cost is £32 inc Brca insurance; again ask the Race Director about membership of the club.Or click here to download Membership Forms

PRACTICE
Race-Control will then announce when practice is open and If you want to practice, you must first take the peg that has your frequency number (or colour) on it and if possible replace it with a peg bearing your name (get some wooden clothes pegs from your local supermarket .The pegs are located on a board near or on the driver's rostrum. This peg entitles you to switch your radio on and use your car for practice. When you have finished, please return the peg to the board, as other drivers may be waiting to use the same peg. You must not switch your transmitter on at any time unless you have the correct peg. If the peg is not on the board, either ask the drivers on the rostrum, or go to race control inform the Race Director.
Race-Control will announce when practice is over and when the heat listings have been displayed

DRIVERS BRIEFING
Before the racing begins, a driver's briefing will take place. You MUST attend this, and listen to the instructions that are given. This will explain the start procedure, marshalling duties, etc and any special procedures for the day. If you have any questions, please ask.

A list of all the heats will be displayed on the back of the driver's rostrum. You should check this as it has 3 important pieces of information on it.

Your heat number.
Your car number.
Your frequency.
NOTE: You may have to change frequency. The preferred choice that you give the Race Director may not always the one that you will end up racing on. If you give a choice of frequencies at booking in, please make sure that you have them with you and that you can change to them if necessary.

The car numbers are available from race control, as are the handout transponders, which will automatically count your laps. If you do not have a Personal Transponder, you will need to borrow one of the clubs Handout Transponders which can be collected prior to your race and must be returned immediately after your race. They should be securely fixed to the car. Most cars now have a special transponder mount fitted to the radio tray, if not it should be securely fitted to the inside of the bodyshell. You will need to drill an 8mm hole and have a spare bodyclip. The windscreen or side pod away from the engine are favourite. Never allow the transponder to come into contact with the hot engine / exhaust, or any rotating gears / shafts, as they will be damaged. Each transponder costs over £60 to replace.

Qualyfying rounds are 5 mins duration and normally over 3 rounds

QUALIFYING ROUNDS (nitro)
An announcement will be made over the PA system, calling drivers for the next heat. Each qualifying heat will be run using a "Rolling Start". Once the previous heat has finished and the drivers are off the rostrum you may turn on your radio and start your engine. An announcement will be made that there will be a certain amount of time before the next heat begins; at this point your car may exit the pit lane and you are now on the track. There will be a few minute countdown prior to the start of each heat, with announcements at 3 minutes,2 minutes, 1 minute, and 30 seconds. During this time you should be getting your car's engine warm and get used to the track. You are not racing at this stage. During the countdown, your mechanic (if availble and not a neccesary requirement as other members are willig to help )should call you back into the pits to re-fuel your car before the heat starts. The suggested time for this is around the '30 seconds’ announcement; however the actual timing is up to you. You must drive your car around into pit lane. Never drive the wrong way around the track or into pit lane from the wrong direction. If you have just started a new lap, when called in, continue the lap and enter pit lane. When the computer starts the race, an audible sound will be heard, and the next time that your car crosses the start finish line, your individual 5 minute heat will start. If you are approaching the start/finish line and the 10 second announcement is made Do not stop your car on the track. You must continue at race speed, around the track and start another warm-up lap.

Qualifying Rounds (Electric)
It is a standing start from the Start/Finish line the start of the heat is staggered in one second intervals and you start the first round when the computer calls your allocated number.In subsequent rounds you start in the order that you have qualified within your heat.

Don't forget: - Qualifying is against the clock not other drivers. If during the race, a faster car comes up behind you, do not block or crash into it, instead you should pull to one side and allow the faster car through. Try and follow the faster car, you will learn the correct lines and corner speeds. Remember "slow in fast out", by this we mean enter a corner slowly, choosing the correct line, will allow you to exit the corner faster and achieve faster lap times. If you are going faster than another car wait for them to pull over (or make a mistake), and pass them cleanly. Accidents will happen, but do not deliberately crash into other cars.

Race-control will announce when each individual car has finished,and when you hear your number you should pull to safelyonto to the CMCC marked area in case others have not finished.Please remain on the rostrum until race-over has been called

Once Race Over has been Called collect your car turn off your car and transmitter, return the transponder and quickly go to your marshal point. You only have to marshal the race following your own, and you should stand at the numbered post that corresponds to your car number. Whilst marshalling you should remain alert at all times and be as quick as possible getting to cars that need assistance Marshalling Information . However, never put yourself at risk, such that a car can hit you. Remember these cars are travelling at high speeds, and if they do hit you, they can break bones.

The heat results are published and put up on a board near Race Control after the race. When you have finished marshalling, you can check the results, clean your car, alter the set-up etc. Don't be afraid to chat to other drivers. We are all very friendly. Look around the pits and see if anybody else is driving the same car as you. A 5-minute chat could save you a lot of frustration, as well as time and money.

FINALS
At the end of all the qualifying rounds, please inform the Race Director if you are intending to leave before racing in your final. Some drivers cannot stay all day and this would leave gaps in the finals, so it is preferable to know who’s staying and who’s going, so the finals can be re-sorted to produce a full field of cars.

The finals listing will be put on the back of the driver’s rostrum. You should check this as it has 3 important pieces of information on it.

Your final .
Your car number.
Your frequency.
Just as you did for the heats, check this listing and make sure your car has the correct number and frequency. When your final is called, you should collect the transponder (if needed), and make your way to the rostrum.

Nitro Final Starting Procedure
The final's start procedure is slightly different from the heats, as you start from a designated starting grid and all at the same time. A countdown from 10 begins and when it gets to 3, your mechanic must put your car on the ground and step back and remain out of the way of other cars until it is safe to move off the track ( after the last car has passed but paying attention to the track at all times). The final is started and You all go on the "warble" paying attention to cars in front who may not have moved and cars to the rear of you who may be moving quicker and paying close attention to the first corner DO NOT STOP ON THE START FINISH STRAIGHT IF THE RACE IS STOPPED KEEP MOVING AND PULL ONTO THE CMCC AREA AS OTHERS MAY NOT STOP EITHER . The finals vary in length according to your success in qualifying, but may be reduced during the winter due to the weather and shorter days. Due to the length of these finals, your car will need to be re-fuelled by your mechanic. It is up to you and your mechanic to decide when to come in for fuel. Remember that most fuel tanks will only last for about 5 - 7 minutes. The mechanic must stand or kneel outside the pit lane whilst re-fuelling the car to allow other cars along the pit lane and then step away from the track edge to allow other drivers a clear view of the pit lane.

Electric Final Starting Procedure
It is a Grid Start your position determined by your number Car 1 has the option of the inside or outside lane and other cars to correspond to them ( evens/odds).You all go on the "warble" paying attention to cars in frontwho may not have moved and cars to the rear of you and paying close attention to the first corner.
When the final has finished return your car to the pit lane and turn off your transmitter, return the transponder to race control and go quickly to your marshalling point.

Conclusion

That is the end of your days racing. It may see a bit daunting at first, but once you have been, you will soon realise that it is not as complicated as it sounds and is very VERY addictive!

Things may not always go right at first, but do not get disheartened, there is always next time. Remember, we all had to start somewhere.

We hope to see you trackside, and good luck with your racing.

10 GOLDEN RULES
1. Arrive at the track early.
2. Attend the drivers briefing and LISTEN, If not sure ASK!
3. Ensure you have the correct frequency.
4. Return the transponder.
5. Marshal the race following your own.
6. Never turn your transmitter on in the pits unless you are racing.
7. Listen out for announcements over the PA.
8. Do not crash into other cars.
9. Observe the safety rules.
10. Enjoy your model car racing at CMCC.

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