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Fast Electrics in the UK II
By Ian and Lee Pearsons
Hi , this is the second article, I hope you liked the first?
Lee thought we could put a "tip" in for junior racers ( and old timers too) to
help them to sharpen up so here we go with 2 of them, One for the last article and one for
this.
1. While you are waiting to race, you got your boat ready, you are near the lakeside or
jetty, hold the transmitter in your hand (switched off of course), look out onto the race
of the heat in front of you, pick out a boat in the race, hold your transmitter and
imagine that you are driving it yourself, use the sticks, see if you would do anything
different, focus on what is happening, this will help you to get ready for your next
race!!.
2. Your boat is out on the water racing, YOU HAVE ROUNDED THE FIRST BUOY and is going
straight, look ahead to the next buoy, then glance back to the boat, then back to the
buoy, back to the boat until out of the corner of your eye you can see both the boat and
the buoy, back the throttle off and round the buoy, accelerate away, then repeat the same
routine all over again, and for each buoy or boat you come across during the race.
I said I would talk more about the UK Fast Electric scene, the main issue for many of the
top UK racers is the World Championships, this year in the Czech Republic at Duchcov (the
last home of Casanova the famous, ladies man?..) well the date gets close and preparations
are gaining momentum.
The classes that the UK will be entering are various, with the great debate being the
"BRUSHLESS or NOT to BE BRUSHLESS"? Controversy for the 7 and 12 cell classes.
The motors from the European manufacturers, (Kontronics, Pletenburg and Graupner, are
being designed specifically for NAVIGA class racing, (4 and 5 min. racing), but are very
expensive even here in the UK! but these motors seem to be the choice of the Germans,
French and Italians.
Some of the English, (including myself) have gone with the AVEOX even though the company
have little experience with their motors for this "enduro" type boat racing, and
those who have gone Aveox brushless have all got various motors here in the UK, they have
all gone with something slightly different, some are finding it a struggle to make the
clock (330 sec’s) with a drain of more than 24 amps! so to get the runtime they
are having to get smaller than 40 mm diameter props, which as they get smaller become less
and less efficient but less load on the motors!.
The opposite seems to be the case with the milder softer winds, as there is a surplus of
amps, big diameter props are needed to get the speed and to overcome their low R.P.M. per
Volt, this causes unusual handling and prop walking to overcome due to this, still, it
seems that there is a general exchange of ideas and results between these guys and
hopefully it will sort itself out.
The 1997 World Champion 12 cell Mono was a Czech who ran with a Aveox motor, although the
actual type seems to be a secret (I don't blame him!), but I bet the other European
manufacturers are hot on his heels this time.
This seems like a good time to talk about the type of racing here in the UK, over the
other side of the pond its called "ENDURO" racing, (but even then I dont think
the race time in the US is 5 mins.), here in Europe its 4 min hydro and 5 min mono, Hydro
1,2,3, and Mono 1,2,3, not forgetting the Eco classes.
These races are preceded by a "MILL" time, This is the lead in time to the start
of race after the signal from the Starter to "go", Ill explain, the boats are on
the jetty, and what the starter would say…. "Are your boats ready".
"Place them into the water". "At some time in the next 10 seconds I
will give the signal to start". (The starter will decide on the delay time he wants),
Then say "GO!". He will count down from 15 seconds like this,"
"10"5,4,3,2,1,GO" or "clear", The race boats have until the 0 or
clear to get to the line but must not cross it!, if you do your first lap will not start
until you cross the start line again, or, at the end of the race 1 lap is deducted from
the final count.
The idea of this type of start is that it helps to eliminate the usual first buoy
"pile ups" from a drag start, there are some who would say that after watching
both type of starts there is little between them in respect of collisions!!!.
Perhaps the answer is a 5-second-staggered start, with electronic timing to sort it all
out at the end would be the answer? Still would that REALLY BE RACING!!!! Or just time
trialing.
Hopefully there should be some photos of last year’s boats, two of them in
action.
Well that's it for now, as before this article is only my ramblings, hope my views haven't
upset anyone, and look forward to your feedback.
Cheers for now, Flat out, turn right.
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| 7 cell Mono1 Sabre (stepped and lowered in
freeboard, geared) Note the long outdrive!, at speed and riding on the prop and transom. |
12cell mono 2 "Batboat" rounding a
bouy
at speed. |
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Lee's 1998/9 race boats and last years trophys from the
national race
series. |
This Article was written by Ian & Lee
Pearsons Exclusively for Rum Runner Racing. Use of this article is prohibited
without written permission from Rum Runner Racing.
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