2013 isra/usa nats?

[Fast Freddie]

Is there going to be a ISRA/USA NATS this year? Has anyone been making plans for one? Have any tracks been mentioned yet? Just asking.

[Mic Byrd]

Fred The USRA Scale Nats are at Speedzone .The North American Isra Championship Hasn't been Discussed as of yet to my knowledge anyway.

[Mic Byrd]

Fred In June the Garden State Isra Club will be hosting The Bash At The Beach 2 days of racing on the Anaconda in Bayville New Jersey

[RonFX]

Racers:
Something needs to be done before we fall into some sort of turmoil like other National Series in the past. Since Lou Pirro is gone, somebody needs to step up and get us organized. We were initially formed because we did not like the way the current National Series was being run. The infighting will only drag us down and stop the momentum we have going now. If anyone can claim a North American Championship date, this will only cause us to fall apart at the local level. How about a meeting at the Nats this April in NJ, we do not need to tread on the USRA, since this is their Big Race, how about a meeting of some kind at a neutral site away from the raceway over dinner maybe? Any ideas?
Thanks Ron Thomas / Tri State ISRA Guys

[RonFX]

Racers:
I bring this up because most of the concerned and interested parties will be in one location, this would be a Great time to get this done. I do not want the job, but someone needs to take charge. Even if it is a temporary post till we get better organized and nominate a leader long term.
Ron Thomas

[steve whitt]

Ron.
I couldn't agree more with you. I am shore i can pull the main Garden State guys together for a meeting/dinner, we will talk more at the nat's.

steve

[larrymatt]

Great idea!

In reality I think you only have five groups racing ISRA-style cars (Nor Cal, So Cal, Great Lakes, Tri-State and Garden State) Are there other groups?

Why not form an Executive committee, with one member from each group, to control rules, major race dates, exchange ideas etc.?

[BSlotcar.com]

Guys, good luck with all of this. Lou was a great at getting the whole ISRA thing going, and it now needs someone, just to grab it by the horns and move it on. Who is well respected by racers and raceways in the area? My suggestion would be one of the raceway owners that has previously held races from the ISRA champs in the past.

I

[Rcg Racing]

Currently the the rules for the Isra/USA North American Scale Championships are held and written by Jerry Herbert. If anybody wants to talk about some national rules I'm sure he wouldn't mind being contacted in a Pm.

[Jerry123]

As Robert said, I have been the gate keeper of the rules for the ISRA/USA North American Scale Championships, I think since 2011. If anyone wants to talk about a set of national rules, please let me know and I would be more than happy to discuss.

[D.Z.]

I would love to see ISRA make a date\location for the next ISRA Nats. I really like the rules and would like to see Lous vision to keep on going. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

[KVAN]

Was there any discussion regarding this at the USRA Nats last month?

[Mike K]

Kevin-
AT the USRA general meeting, I don't recall any discussion of a "merged" championship at the meeting or a change in the D2 rules for ISRA style classes.

[fxgeorge]

Was there any discussion regarding this at the USRA Nats last month?

Kevin, there were no discussions, formal or informal (as far as I know!), of ISRA at the USRA Nats last month.

[KVAN]

Kevin-
AT the USRA general meeting, I don't recall any discussion of a "merged" championship at the meeting or a change in the D2 rules for ISRA style classes.

Mike, a merged championship with everyone pulling in the same direction would be a great thing, but probably wishful thinking.

I was referring to a date for a 2013 ISRA Nationals race and more importantly a meeting of the ISRA leadership to discuss where ISRA USA is headed. As Ronfx pointed out, most of the ISRA regional leaders were in attendance. I just wondered if anything was discussed and if they could share anything with us racers that were not in attendance.

[Mike K]

I did not hear anything, but possibly they met there.

["Dub" Wade]

Great idea!

In reality I think you only have five groups racing ISRA-style cars (Nor Cal, So Cal, Great Lakes, Tri-State and Garden State) Are there other groups?

Why not form an Executive committee, with one member from each group, to control rules, major race dates, exchange ideas etc.?

Are there any particular classes that are considered ISRA-style cars?
I believe ISRA is F1 Euro, 1/32 Euro and 1/24 Euro. Plus Production. USRA races 3 of those classes basically copying ISRA rules.
Not sure, but doesnt Nor Cal race Nascar, Nastruck, LMP and GT12? Are those "ISRA-style cars?"

Im just curious, sounds like D2 nats were a success, why not support them and continue the growth?

Consolidating sounds like a great idea. Maybe get everyone who races in; USRA and ISRA-style cars (Nor Cal? So Cal, Great Lakes, Tri State, and Garden State) together for 1 huge race each year.

I hear D2 nats were fun, wish I was there, but this wasnt the year for me. 1st time in a few years.
Next year I will be attending. I have a feeling it will continue the trend of the last couple years and continue growing, specially if EVERYONE can agree that Scale racing is fun no matter the rule book.

Jim is a great guy, hopefully differences can be put aside for him and his race. Im looking forward to racing ISRA style cars with everyone.

I do believe there is knowledgeable and respected racer heading a committee that control rules etc... George Russell is the D2 prez.
Everyones Ideas are great, but there already is a National Committee, the USRA is it.

The ISRA-USA Rules are great for Regional races and series races and such. Great idea to have traveling series in your area. Nor Cal has great Success with the SCRA with huge turnouts every month. If the regional series's continue to grow Nats will continue to grow.

Wish I lived closer to a series like Nor Cal SCRA.

There is a PNW Scale series I hope to participate in as much as possible. Willing to drive 7 hours to participate in a series, i'm sure people in other areas are willing to do the same.

I dont think any set of rules need to be consolidated. As far as I know, the differences in rules between all the regional series are not that different from each other. They have the changes needed to make your series what you need. Therefor the changes required to make your cars legal for Nats is not that much. Furthermore, just because a set of rules works for 1 regional series, doesnt mean it will work in another.

My concussion is; lets all enjoy the series we have, but all try to meet up at the 1 big race a year and have a great time. I hope to see everyone who races scale cars in Edgewood next year! Hope to meet some new friends.

[wbugenis]

Look at the simplicity of the ISRA- USA open 12 rules and compare them with the complexity of the USRA GT12 rules and recognize there is a PHILOSOPHIC difference that is not easily overcome.
If you favor the USRA rules as they stand, you wllll not be easily swayed to adopt ISRA rules.
If you are an ISRA USA partisan, you will not be willing to give up the freedom you have for the constricting nature of the USRA riulebook.
Many pages can be written advocating for each siide, but again, the PHILOSOPHic differences will not be easy to overcome to reach a unified set of rules.

["Dub" Wade]

I dont think there should be a unified set of rules. I like Nor Cal SCRA rules, I like PNW AMCA rules, I would have fun racing the ISRA USA rules. The point is, USRA D2 nats are getting better and we should try to keep them growing, for the hobby.

For 1 race a year we should all be able to show up and have fun racing with each other.

["Dub" Wade]

The NJ region doesnt necessarily favor the USRA rules, but the turnout was good. I just thought it was a good sign for the future of the hobby.

[wbugenis]

Great - just show up and race. That's what all the east coast ISRA racers did for this year's USRA Nats.

["Dub" Wade]

Great - just show up and race. That's what all the east coast ISRA racers did for this year's USRA Nats.

Agreed! Wish I was there.
Wasnt a good year for me closing the raceway, but Ill be back in the swing of things for next Nats.
The intent is to go to every nats and drag some Idaho guys with me each time.

[KVAN]

All I asked was if the ISRA leadership got together to discuss a date for a 2013 Championship Race or a direction for the future of ISRA USA.

If not, fine, I'll just continue to race our GL ISRA series, but my question was just a follow up of the OP.

[Greg N]

I was at the D2 Nats and really had a great time. I will continue to attend them every year. I did not discuss an ISRA Nats with anyone while in New Jersey. Actually, I didn't talk much about ISRA at all. That said, I would support an ISRA Nats race or an ISRA National Series (one big race in each of the 4 or 5 areas) for that matter.

Greg

[KVAN]

Before the big flood out east, I was talking to Lou about the feasibility of a "ISRA Triple Crown Championship" to be made up of 3 already existing major ISRA events.

Mid-America's "ISRA Masters", "Lou's Birthday Race", and a yet to be determined west coast race. We had talked about Dub's race, a Seattle or Cali race to make up the 3 point races. The hope was to encourage the travel of racers between those races and give those races a more national flavor rather than the regional races they were becoming. We wanted to keep each race to a 2-3 day event, not the week long marathon the D2 nationals had become.

As we all know, talk is easy! Didn't go beyond that.

["Dub" Wade]

Triple Crown? Interesting. Like a National Point Series? Sounds way cool, maybe could encourage racers to travel out of their region.

I can picture a scenario of the 1st race being out east or out west and some racers do really well, it might be motivation to make the next series race on the opposite side of the country. Since the racer already made 2 races, why not make the final 3rd at Rogers. Or in any order of course. It would have to be promoted well to get alot of interest. Hopefully it can grow into something great. Never know unless you try.
As for rules, like I said before, I dont think rules will be a problem. I know if whoever takes the leadership and sets everything up, most racers around here don't mind setting cars up for a particular set of rules just for the series or for whatever rules are run regionally. Either way would be fine I'm sure.

Let me know if you continue talking about it Kevin.

[MikeC]

The USRA rules aren't a whole lot different than the rules we use in NorCal... There are different "Allowed" bodies... But, for the most part, I don't think there are a lot of differences with the chassis. If anything, I think NorCal's rules are a little more restrictive.

While the USRA rules might be more "Detailed", they don't seem to be overly restrictive... What can you do in ISRA that you can't in USRA?

Please forgive me... We haven't been racing long enough to know all the background politics between the USRA/ISRA pissing contest. Seems like the IRL/CART split back in the 90's... Not good for either "league".

[madtes6i]

Just look at USRA GT-12 to ISRA OP12. USRA has a max price of 6x.xx for a chassis. ISRA any chassis. USRA gp12 motor has a max price, can bearing, plastic endbell, no gold hardware, etc. ISRA any C-can. USRA bodies are different for AM and PRO. ISRA for GSI we run the R10.

[MikeC]

OK... So, even with that, what's the big deal? You can't find a chassis that fits the USRA rules? You can't run a gp12 motor without gold hardware? Different body for AM/Pro... Really? That's a big deal? You know which class you are before the race, right? Most people I know show up with more than one body for GT-12 as it is... You're probably against handout motors too, right? :-)

I still don't see the big deal. ISRA sounds great. USRA is great. I don't think either's rules are better/worse than the other. They just are what they are. I'm hard pressed to think of any racing organization in the 1:1 world that doesn't have some form of rules, and each organization has different rules than the other, and each thinks thiers is the best.



But, that's just me.

[Wallbasher]

If something like this happen it would be great. But ask yourself just how many are going to travel to 2-3 races a year all across the country? Plus the USRA nats, plus the local series?

We at Great Lakes are kicking this idea around. Run the 4 World ISRA classes (so no arguing or changing of rules) 3-4 times a year. Masters in Feb, late spring, middle of summer and fall. Simple. Run our monthly race on Sat with 1/24 ES & Sunday run the other 3 classes.

[madtes6i]

OK... So, even with that, what's the big deal? You can't find a chassis that fits the USRA rules? You can't run a gp12 motor without gold hardware? Different body for AM/Pro... Really? That's a big deal? You know which class you are before the race, right? Most people I know show up with more than one body for GT-12 as it is... You're probably against handout motors too, right? :-)

I still don't see the big deal. ISRA sounds great. USRA is great. I don't think either's rules are better/worse than the other. They just are what they are. I'm hard pressed to think of any racing organization in the 1:1 world that doesn't have some form of rules, and each organization has different rules than the other, and each thinks thiers is the best.

But, that's just me.

Mike,
YOU asked a question and I gave you a answer!!!!!!

80% or more of the GSI racers run USRA legal chassis. All of my motors have gold hardware as for I run an aluminum endbell. Bodies!!! I don't think the bodies are an issue. It's just 7.00 dollars. I don't think anyone has a problem with that!!!! You can run both AM and PrO GT-12. (As long as you qualify as a AM driver) Personally YES I am not a big fan of hand out motors.

For this years nats over 90% of the GSI racers were there if not ALL of us!!!! So don't be so quick to judge the ISRA racers.

I believe the rule issues go a lot deeper then I know of. I am only speaking of my personal experiences. I have 2 USRA price legal chassis and I did not run one of them since it was not built the same exact way that Richard Mack submitted the built chassis. I was going to run it but if I would have ran it and got teched after the race it might have been a DQ for this guy. Which I believe something like that happened in PRO Gt-12 this year. (Not 100%'sure thou). When I run that chassis at an ISRA event it is 100% legal.

["Dub" Wade]

Koford Gold hardware is legal in USRA

["Dub" Wade]

I would have no problem building an Aluminum endbell for ISRA USA or just running a plastic endbell.

I think a national series is awesome. Use the USRA nats as a center piece. If it is on the west coast, have the other 2 races in the midwest and east coast. If it goes to midwest have the other 2 on the east and west coasts etc.

1/24 Euro, 1/32 Euro, F1 Euro and GT12 at nats, OG12 in the ISRA region, GT12 AMCA/Nor Cal style when Nats are not out west for points.

As has been said, turnout might be an issue. Sounds fun anyways :)

["Dub" Wade]

I would also use Existing races. Like if it were next year, Nats for West coast, Masters for Midwest and Im not sure what the east coast has, I know there use to be Lou's birthday race.

Depending on dates, they may be too close to each other and not be enough time between races. Im sure there are enough Major races that there are plenty to choose from to spread it out over the year.

Sorry for so many posts, I post before I'm done thinking... haha

[madtes6i]

Dub yes the koford hardware is legal but it does not fit on the Cahoza plastic endbell. Either way its not a big deal. A new complete Cahoza endbell is not that expensive.

[Casey Scott]

Does anyone know if there have been talks of where the Nats will be held this year and when they will be?

["Dub" Wade]

Dub yes the koford hardware is legal but it does not fit on the Cahoza plastic endbell. Either way its not a big deal. A new complete Cahoza endbell is not that expensive.

I have used Proslot hardware on a Cahoza plastic endbell with great success. Very reliable hardware.

By the way, when is M/A Masters? I think I want to go..

[KVAN]

I have used Proslot hardware on a Cahoza plastic endbell with great success. Very reliable hardware.

By the way, when is M/A Masters? I think I want to go..

It is in February! I don't think the date has been firmed up yet. Sure hope you can make it!

[RonFX]

Racers:
2013 is almost half over and no ISRA Nats info yet. Let me throw this out, Tri State ISRA is looking to host the 2013 ISRA North American Championships at Washington Slot Car Club located outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. The UK Black is being completely redone w/ new braid and epoxy paint surface and wiring as well. There are a ton of hotels in the area as well as a CASINO less than 5 miles from the raceway. I am sure something can be worked out w/ affordable rooms for you guys. Ron Culp has hosted numerous races over the last few years and runs a great program, there is plenty of room for pit space as well. Our series was host to this race in the past at Raceway Hobbies in Mineral Ridge, Ohio and it was a huge success and a lauchpad for our series that is starting it's 10th season this fall. Our racers have traveled to several of Lou's Birthday races in the past and have been a big supporter of ISRA Racing and we get along great w/ you guys and would love to be the host series again!! Leta hear the input from you guys.
Thanks Tri State ISRA & Washington Slot Car Club

[Wallbasher]

What happened to Bristolville?

[RonFX]

Rob:
Bristolville is still there.
Tri State ISRA

[RonFX]

Racers:
Sample schedule for 2013 ISRA/USA Nats
Friday evening- 1/24 INDY
Saturday- Open 12 1/24 Eurosport 1/32 Eurosport
Sunday- 1/32 Formula 1 B Production
$20.00 entry fee for each class $20.00 Pit Pass includes track time and lunch/dinner, multiple meals on saturday. Club has a full kitchen, so the food would be great. The raceway is located right off the freeway for easy access to anything you could want. Camping could also be provided depending on the race date as well for free or CHEAP. They are located approx. 6 hours from Chicago and NY/NJ Metro area as well, schedule allows for early travel on Sunday so racers could get home at a decent hour on Sunday night. If anyone else has a proposal, lets hear about it, the Tri State gang has always supported ISRA/USA and traveled to several major races. How about it guys! If anyone has input, post it here or PM me, your choice. Lets see if we can make this happen.
Tri State ISRA Guys

[RonFX]

Racers:
Forgot to mention box plaques for everyone and trophies/plaques for podium finishers, prizes for concours and top qualifier in each class, maybe even a gas card for the farthest traveler if that would help you guys decide.
Tri State ISRA

[GT1]

I would be interested in attending depending on the dates.

[Rcg Racing]

Is there any hotels around there?

[Mic Byrd]

Ron
Great Idea talked about moving the championship to a few of our racers earlier this year . I'm in just 1 suggestion you run g-10 Friday before JRL.

[RonFX]

Robert:
There are a number of hotels in ALL price ranges less than 5 miles from the raceway, there is also a Major Casino which means prices are very competitive in the area. Anything you could ask for or need is right down the road.
Thanks Tri State Guys

[RonFX]

Mic:
Anything you guys want or need can be taken care of, a GP10 race is very doable before the Indy race, we could use USRA Rules or whatever the majority of you guys want to use. Most of you racers still have the cars raced recently at the Nats and would require virtually no changes to the chassis setup. We are open for dates as well, we want as many racers there as possible, so the dates are flexible as well. Just let us know what it takes and we will do our best to make sure it happens.
Tri State Guys

[wbugenis]

A September race might be good?

[Jerry123]

I would suggest using the ISRA Group 10 rules that have been used at the Nats the past two years.

[fxgeorge]

A September race might be good?

I just did a quick check of Southwest Airlines and the prices go down in September. Nice they have flights from Oakland to Pittsburgh.

[madtes6i]

Sept is a good month for me. It's right before I get real busy at work. I'm sure I can make the trip out.

[Rcg Racing]

Any pictures of the track?

[wbugenis]

It's the UK black with a longer straigt. Dan Artman's Mineral Ridge track, right?

[Greg N]

I think it would be fun for us to race on a UK Black again. It's been a while!

Greg

[RonFX]

Racers:
Yes it is the UK Black from Mineral Ridge, it being given a complete makeover. This track has DEEP roots in this area of the country, it was the host track for the 1998 USRA Nats at Fast Track in Newark, Ohio as well. It is one of the nicer UK's in the country and has been the stage for several of the greatest races in Scale Racing. I am in talks w/ Jerry Herbert about the rules and finalizing the schedule. Hopefully this is a done deal, if anyone else wants to throw their hat in the ring, please do so ASAP. Alot of work needs to happen fast to pull this off, but that is NO problem, we are willing to do whatever is needed to make this a success. If there are no other Raceways that want to try, I hope to have everything finished and posted by the end of the week, that includes a travel agency, hotel info, rules, warmup race dates, race payouts and such. Please keep the input coming from the left coast as well about good travel dates and any thing you guys would like to see happen.
Thanks Tri State Guys

[RonFX]

Racers:
The dates for the 2013 ISRA/USA North American Scale Championships are as follows:
September 13th GP10 and Indy
September 14th B Production Open12 1/32F1 Euro and 1/32 Euro
September 15th 1/24 Eurosport
Doors will open at 8:00am all days of the race and will remain open till at least 11:00pm and possibly later, depending on turnout.
Pit Pass will be $15.00 per day w/ food included with both lunch and dinner on Saturday since it will be a longer day.
Entry fees will be $20.00 per class.
Payout and other important info will be posted soon.
Warmup race race will be in early August, exact date to be posted shortly.
Once again, Thanks Guys