CAUGHT IN THE ACT: Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout cracks down on spec class cheaters [UPDATED]

0 July 22, 2014, 11:37 a.m.

7/22/2014
By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Brushless motors have done wonders for the world of racing, but one area that has been particularly strained is that of “stock” racing - you know, the supposed-spec divisions that are often the most popular at any given racing event, and are aimed at providing a stepping stone between “beginner” and “modified.” When the original rules package that governed stock motors (cost-controlled, highly regulated motors with limited tuning options) in the brushed era were sent out to pasture as the brushless revolution turned racing on its head, it wasn’t clear how much the change in technology would change everything.

Fast forward a few years, and “stock racing” is anything but controlled. Technology has driven the “stock” class to speeds that make modified horsepower negligible, and even a hindrance depending on track conditions. A class once propelled by motors that could cost only $35 is now fueled by mills that cost three times as much. And perhaps the worst yet - cheating is just as, if not more, common than ever. Alarmingly, many mainstream motor manufacturers offer illegal motors straight from the shelf.

At last weekend’s Hot Rod Hobbies Off-Road Shootout, as many as three drivers were served infractions for violating the “blinky” mode rules enforced in the 17.5 and 13.5 classes. That pales in comparison, however, to the nine drivers that were disqualified for running motors that were not ROAR-legal.

Seven drivers in 17.5 divisions, and two more in 13.5 classes, were DQ’d for various motor rule violations.

Three drivers were caught with illegal motors that were purchased from the hobby shop without being tempered with. One of them was marked as “ROAR-legal” but contained an illegal rotor.
Two drivers were caught with 13.5-turn stators installed in 17.5-turn cans. One driver insisted he had purchased his motor this way.
At least one driver installed a non-ROAR legal stator into a ROAR-legal motor
At least one driver installed a ROAR-legal modified-class rotor into a ROAR-legal spec motor
At least one driver installed a larger-than-legal rotor into a spec motor.
One driver that was called to tech inspection had a motor that had been glued together and could not be torn down for inspection. After being told that his run would be disqualified, the racer cut off the can with a Dremel - and the internals were found to be legal.

Unfortunately, enforcing these rules required diligent tech inspection that including complete motor tear-down by someone that knew what he was doing - and more than one instance instigated a heated argument. The “old days” of illegal motors being labeled by different color cans, armature tags, and other visible markings are over. Kudos to the crew at Hot Rod Hobbies for taking the initiative to enforce the rules and take steps to keep the competition fair and cost-effective.

UPDATE - 6:41 CT:

Gianni Basso, the owner of the motor above originally reported to have been glued shut, clarified his side of the story:

“After finishing the first A-Main in 17.5 SC, they did a motor check for all A-Main drivers. After taking my motor out and having it on the tech table I went back to my pit. After my teammate Martin Johnson came back with his motor he told me I should go over there because they were going to DQ me. I went over there and was told by the tech inspector that he spent 2 minutes trying to take the can off of the stator and would not spend anymore time on it and that I would be DQ'ed. I tried myself, but my lack of motor knowledge did not help.

I tried using some nice pliers and ended up destroying most of the motor in the process. I called Jeff Helms and my team manager Kyle Bergstrom of Aero-Model/Hacker brushless USA to hear from them what I should do. After talking to Jeff and Kyle, they told me the can did not have to come off to check the three things Matt was checking; rotor, stator, and one other thing I can not remember - none of which required the can to come off. After talking to Jimmy (Babcock, Hot Rod Hobbies owner), he told me whatever the tech inspector’s rules were, he was going to let him do what he saw fit. I then called Kyle and Jeff back and they both wanted to speak with the tech guy, who said he was busy and would not talk to them. This left me to do the only thing I really could do - try and break the can/stator off. After having several people call my teammate and I cheaters after setting the fastest laps of the whole weekend in 17.5 buggy and 17.5 SC, I was not going to let people start rumors that we were cheating. After receiving permission from my team manager, I took a Dremel and cut the can and stator (the stator got damaged in the process). After destroying the motor I gave it to tech to check, and it was found to be legal. After fully inspecting the motor, it appears as though the can would not come off due to a sticker on the stator used to keep the can from vibrating. After all was said an done, the motor was trashed, but I got the last word of people knowing that we weren't cheating. That was what it mainly came to.”

Gianni also stated that, although the stator ring showed a slight amount of rust he attributed to running at a local indoor track that is often watered, the motor was not rusted shut as rumored.

Gianni's motor, post-destruction.

Jimmy Babcock, owner of Hot Rod Hobbies, also made a statement on Facebook:

“Gianni and his teammates all drove awesome and were perfectly legal. They earned their podium spots and represented Arizona proudly. They were not singled out and the entire A main was checked. I'm not exactly sure what the deal was with Gianni's motor not coming apart but everyone else's did and that is how we checked them; right or wrong, every motor was checked the same way. I do not regret having my tech inspector check motors as I feel he did a great job. My one regret is not having someone check his motor as we did have other motor builders in the house. The inspector did say, as did others, that he did take his own motor apart and had it on the table for anyone to view/check. As for Gianni, I have no problem personally buying him a new motor and shipping it to him at my expense; his was the only one that I know of that would not come apart. When it did come apart it was found to be perfectly legal. Thanks to all the Arizona guys who made the trip and just realize we were trying to make the race fair and we did that by busting several people for no ROAR approved motors.”

What do you think? Is tech inspection worth it? Should the rules of stock racing be changed? With whom does the fault lie if a racer buys a non-legal stock motor off the shelf - the racer or the manufacturer?

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