Rules | The Fray In Ferndale

Preamble:

These rules are written with the intent of providing a precise specification that will define the cars construction. It is fully expected, and in fact intended, that the racers will adhere to these rules as they design and build their cars. Any breach of these boundaries will result in the car’s disqualification.

The following rules list what can be done to the car. Anything not listed as allowable, is not allowed. For example: No fillers can be placed in the gap between the three com sections because there is no rule allowing it.

To support this principle, the tech committee will gladly answer any of the racers’ questions about the rules prior to tech. The voltage for the Fray is 20 volts. The final rules update for the 2024 Fray will be posted in January 2024. Clarifications, if needed, will be dated and posted in the Clarifications section below.

Changes To Be Aware Of in 2024

All of the tracks will now feature a brake wire hookup

Due to popular demand, there will be a 30 second hot-lap qualifying which will be combined with a person’s prior finishing position for the Friday Individual race event. In other words, seeding will be determined by each persons prior finishing position averaged with their position the last time they competed in the individual race. For example, if a person qualifies 10th out of 80 in the time trial and finished 30th out of 80 the last time they raced, that person would be seeded at or near 20th for the 2024 Individual race. Those competing for the first time, will seeded according to their time trial position.

New Parts Submission Guidelines:

Any new commercially available TJet part or resin body must be submitted to Rick Phillis for approval no later than December 31 prior to the event. All newly approved TJet parts and resin bodies must be commercially available for sale 60 days prior to the event and must be for sale in quantity during Fray practice. Please send all parts submissions to:

Rick Phillis
448 Camp Weott Road
Ferndale, CA 95536

ADDITIONAL APPROVED PARTS FOR 2024

Dash Motorsports – Blizzard Chassis with brass gears for Thursday IROC racing

Dash Motorsports – Aston Martin Bodies

Mark Levoe – Alfa C8 Body

9 Finger Hobbies – Dodge SRT Ghoul, VW Nardo, Pagani Huayra

Right Stuff Racing – C8

Greg’s Garage – BMW M1

Bigfoot T Jet Bodies – Mercedes, NSX Acura, Lambo Galardo, 1985 IROC, Mercedes SL, CTS, Audi R8

OS3 – T Jet pickup shoes, Anchor fronts with new wheels, notched brushes, Typhoon 16, 18, & 20 ohm armatures.

APPROVED PARTS LIST

Complete Car Regulations:

The complete car must weigh at or between 19.0 grams and 24.0 grams.
The complete car must freely pass through a standard 1.3125 (1 5/16) HO tech block.

Body Regulations:

Body: The body must be a copy of a 1:1 car or concept car.
Bodies must be manufactured by either the process of casting or injection molding and be made of resin or plastic. No featherlight resin allowed.
Bodies must be originally manufactured with the intention of being mounted with the two (2) screws via two (2) body mounting posts on Aurora Model Motoring (which includes: Vibrator, Thunder Jet Wild Ones, Tough Ones and XLerators), Bachmann, Faller, Model Motoring Thunder-Plus, Marx, Eldon or Tyco S series HO chassis.
Bodies with cast-in handling pans or exaggerated details such as unrealistic or inappropriate hood scoops, oversized windows, side pipes, sloped sides, or snow plow noses are not allowed.
No Indy style Formula 1 or Formula style open- wheel bodies will be allowed.
No ballast or fillers, other than color pigment, are allowed in the plastic or resin.
Maximum overall body width is 1.200″. Accordingly, the body must pass through our 1.2″ body-tech device.
The maximum thickness of the lower portion of the body, including items such as the front end, rear end, fender flares, and running boards must not exceed 0.125″.
With the body mounted securely to the chassis and viewed from above, the body must cover the chassis except through windows and vents. Unrealistic overly large windows and vents are not allowed.
With the body mounted securely to the rolling chassis and when viewed from the side and/or the rear of the body, the upper edge of the top-plate, minus rails, cannot be above the rear window frame as measured at the rear of the top plate. (i.e. horizontal top of the gear plate (base) cannot protrude above the rear window opening). Put another way : The lower rear window opening must be equal to or higher than the gear plate plane.
Bodies must be fitted with all of the manufacturer’s original or exact-replica bumpers, heads, rollover bars, etc., in their stock locations.
Cracked or broken body-mounting posts may be repaired with the use of glue and/or a plastic sleeve around the original post or a plastic rod/tube in place of the broken post.
Other than the plastic post reinforcements, stated in Body Rule 12, no additional weight may be added to the body.
The body may be lowered and lightened by removing material through the process of grinding or scraping as long as Body Rule 9 is not violated. Bodies cannot be heated or reshaped from the original cast of the body.
Bodies that have a separate roof and windshield casting/molding, and have molded-in interiors (also known as Hardtops, e.g. Aurora’s ’65 Mustang), may have the interior portion of the body completely removed.
Front and rear wheel wells may be opened up for tire wheel well clearance. This opening may be no larger than a 1/8″ drill bit (.125″) around the entire wheel well and tire.
Wheel wells must not be modified in such a way as to allow the use of any other wheelbase than that which was originally intended by the manufacturer of that body.
Any body mounting screw may be used. Nonmagnetic screws are recommended so that a loose screw will not be picked up by a passing car, thus causing damage to the car and/or the track.
Both front and rear screws must be used and must secure the body to the chassis at all times.
The front windshield must be plastic or resin, clear or painted, may be glued in place or molded in, and must fill the frame. Tape windshields are not allowed. Side and/or rear windows may be removed.
Bodies that violate Body Rules 4 and 9 by having illegal openings such as too large or unrealistic windows, missing engine covers, and open truck beds may be repaired by gluing a 0.025″ minimum thickness plastic cover over the opening. The repair must be made so that its thickness can be checked using a micrometer having a diameter anvil.

ThunderJet, Dash, & Wizzard Rolling Chassis Assembly Regulations:

TEAM RACING: Only original Aurora Thunder Jet, Dash Motorsports Gens 1 or 2, and WizJet chassis assemblies with non-plated copper electrical components are allowed. The Dash Motorsports Gen 3 Blizzard may be used in the IROC team racing on Thursday. The chassis and top-plate may be mixed and matched between different manufacturers.

INDIVIDUAL RACING ON FRIDAY: Only original Aurora Thunder Jet assemblies with non- plated copper electrical components are allowed.

The rolling chassis axle, armature, and drive pinion shaft holes may be opened slightly for increased clearance or peened to reduce clearance. Use of fillers to decrease clearance is prohibited. Commutator brush tensioners may be bent to alter brush tension. Pickup shoe hanger plates may be bent. The Truck hole cannot be utilized in any way.
The rolling chassis assembly must not be fitted with bushings. Chassis may have electrical pieces replaced and/or re-riveted. Electrical pieces must be original Aurora un-plated copper or approved equivalent. Rivets must be un-plated copper or brass. Headlights (i.e. Aurora ‘Flamethrower’) are not allowed. Such chassis may be used if the bulb is disabled or removed. The headlight clamp & rivet may also be removed from the top plate.
The chassis may be trimmed slightly (no more than .010) to allow for crown gear tooth clearance.
Only original Aurora 2-Lam TJet pancake gray armatures or Dash Motorsports 3-Lam armatures or OS3 Tornados and 3-Lam Typhoons may be used for all race events, The Dash Motorsports 2 Lam armatures may be used in all team racing events. The arms must be used with their original commutator, and only their original unmodified windings may be used. Armatures may be balanced and trued. A shim may be used between the armature and the top plate to prevent the motor windings from contacting the top plate. Only original Aurora top plate and chassis may be used in the Individual Race on Friday. Approved gear plates and chassis may be interchanged in all Team Racing.
Each armature pole is to be measured across two separate commutator segments. The AVERAGE of all three poles must be 16.0 ohms or greater at 70 degrees F. This armature is LEGAL. All measurements are to be taken at the current ambient room temperature. The warming of either the commutator or the armature is not allowed before/during measuring. The combined total ohm reading of all three armature poles must equal or exceed 48 ohms. We have an armature that tests 16.0 on all three poles at 70 degrees. It measures lower in cooler temperatures and will be the standard for testing arms at the event.
Only CERAMIC magnets may be used which include Johnny Lighting, Auto World, or Dash Motorsports magnets. The magnets may be sanded to fit the chassis. The distance between the magnets must be a minimum of 0.700″. This will be teched using our custom designed, specially fabricated plug. The plug must be insertable without an excessive amount of force.
Magnet shims may be used but they must be plastic or cardstock and may be glued to the magnets to prevent the shims from coming loose. No shims are allowed either under or on top of the magnets.
Any flat top and bottom carbon/copper motor brushes are allowed. Brushes may be scored with one score line or an X.
All brass gears must be minimum thickness of .047″ inches.
Only stock TJet or commercially available stock replacement 14-tooth brass armature pinion gears are allowed.
Only stock TJet or commercially available stock replacement 24-tooth brass idler and driven gears are allowed.
Only stock TJet or commercially available stock replacement 9-tooth brass drive pinion gears are allowed.
Only stock TJet or commercially available stock replacement 15-tooth crown gears are allowed. The crown gear diameter must equal or exceed .300″. In reducing the crown gears to .300″, the crown gear must maintain the 90 degree angle to the back of the gear’s top and bottom. The gear cannot be angled, tapered, rounded, beveled, thinned, sliced, diced, drilled, etc. The idea is to allow the stock crown gears to be the same diameter as the aftermarket crown gears. This will be looked at VERY closely. The crown gear boss may be trimmed, spacer(s) may be added to adjust for proper gear mesh within the crown gear box. You can add a small Delrin retainer to the driver’s side rear axle for the purpose of adjusting crown gear mesh with the 9T rear pinion. The diameter of the Delrin retainer must not exceed 0.125″ with a thickness not to exceed 0.070″.
Only metal driven gear shafts may be used. The driven gear shaft must not exceed .065″ in diameter.
Gear tooth friction surfaces can only be deburred by polishing, filing, or sanding.
Gears must not be chamfered, lightened, or relieved.
Only commercially available front wheel, tire, and axle assemblies including Wizzard, Zoomin Motorsports, JW, RTHO, and OS3 may be used with two exceptions. The front and rear axle diameter must not exceed .065″ and the front tire diameter must equal or exceed .300″. Front axle washers (small spacers) are allowed. All front axle spacers/washers must be located outside the chassis or chassis frame rail. Maximum lateral movement in the front wheel assembly is 0.031 (1/32). “Note that the car must still meet Complete Car Regulation #2 with the front wheels extended outward to farthest point.” All unmodified commercially available front wheel, tire, and axles parts may be mixed and matched. See approved parts list for allowable front ends.
Rear wheels must be plastic or Delrin with dished center. No axle weights, wheel weights or hub caps allowed on rear axle or inside the wheels. Note: A small Delrin retainer (ie. front wheel retainers) will be allowed on either side of the rear axle for the purpose of adjusting crown gear mesh with the 9T rear pinion. The diameter of the retainer must not exceed 0.125″ with a thickness not to exceed 0.0700″.
Any stock or approved replacement pickup shoe may be used. These shoes must have a factory formed step and the step must be unaltered except to allow flat pickup shoe contact with the track rail. Ski shoes (shoes with a contact patch in excess of 0.500″) are not allowed.
The “step” in the pickup shoe must remain at a minimum height of .010″ from the top of Bend #2 to the bottom of Bend #3. Bend #2 may be changed slightly so that proper “pickup shoe” to “rail” contact can be achieved. No attempts to “flatten” the “step” are allowed. The area between Bend #1 and Bend #2 may be “flattened” to achieve better contact with the “rails.” However Bend #1 must remain as stock. The front vertical slotted portion of the pickup shoe may be bent to limit shoe travel. The rear hook portion of the pickup shoe may be bent to limit shoe travel and adjust shoe tension. The chassis’ copper pickup retainer may be bent slightly to improve electrical contact.
Pickup shoe springs may be cut, stretched, shimmed, or compressed but must maintain stock shape and configuration.
Any amount of the vertical gear plate rails above the upper horizontal plane may be removed. Also, the cluster shaft column may be shortened to allow for pinion gear clearance when interchanging gear plates. No amount of material may be removed from the gear plate horizontal plane. The serial/patent numbers and letters and/or manufacturer’s identification markings must remain.
Commercially available guide pins must be plastic and must be of a design essentially similar to the original Aurora black plastic front guide pins. They may be cut, trimmed, or bent. Countersinking of the guide pin screw hole is permitted.
Glue may be used on a rolling chassis assembly only for the purposes of attaching gears to shaft, guide pins to chassis, and front wheel axle retainers to the end of front axle or attaching shims to magnets. Solder may be used to attach metal gears to their metal shafts.
The Chassis may be oiled to maximize performance.
The Fray promoters reserve the right to clarify and interpret the rules as they arise for the best interest of the event.

CONTROLLERS Only the track power supply shall power the cars, A controller cannot store power nor can it interfere with the track power supply or with the operation of another racer’s car or controller.

These rules are an enumeration of what can be done. Doing something not listed as allowed is not allowed.

If you have any questions regarding the rules and regulations, please call Richard Phillis at 707-496-4475 or email phillis@humboldt1.com. Please email phillis@humboldt1.com.
The team entry fee for the Fray is $125.00 per team. The deadline for payment is January 20. Payment must be in the form of a check or Money Order, made payable to Richard Phillis.

Please send your payments to:

Richard Phillis
448 Camp Weott Rd.
Ferndale, CA 95536

RACING PROTOCOLS – GENERAL

All tracks are six lanes
All tracks will be powered with 20 volts
All tracks are wired for brakes
All races will be race to the line format in each heat. Points are awarded in inverse order 1st place 6 points, 2nd place 5 points,……6th place 1 point.
At the end of the race, the team or individual with the most points will be declared the winner.
Tiebreakers: Individual- first tiebreaker is the number of laps, second tiebreaker is run-time Team Event – If two teams have a tie in win/loss records, the head-to-head winner prevails. If the head to head race was a tie, the team with most 1st place finishes is the winner, if there is still a tie it falls to second place finishes and so on down the line. If it remains a tie, the team with the most laps in the head to head race is the winner. The final determination is the overall run time in the head to head race. If more than two teams are tied, and there is no head to head advantage, the tie breaker will be the total points scored between the tied teams in the races between all the tied teams. If two team tie in this scenario, then the two-team tiebreaker will determine the winning team.

RACING PROTOCOLS FOR THURSDAY IROC TEAM EVENT:

Each Team will have six cars color coded to the lanes. These will be standard Fray cars with slip-on rear tires. Wizzard and all Dash chassis’ may be used or mixed with the original Aurora and/or approved aftermarket parts in any combination in which they are approved to compete. The lane colors are Blue, White, Green, Orange, Yellow and Red)
The teams will keep their cars with them. When two teams meet, one team will supply the Blue, White and Green cars and the other team will supply Orange, Yellow and Red cars. These will be the six cars the two teams will compete with.

RACING PROTOCOLS FOR THE FRIDAY INDIVIDUAL EVENT:

Qualifying order will be determined by a hot-lap time trial averaged with a person’s prior years finishing position. Those competing for the first time will begin at or near their time trial finishing position.
Cars will be pre-teched prior to impound which will close 30 minutes before the racing begins. If a car does not pass pre-tech, the driver will be expected to expedite revisions so as to not delay the event.
Each main will consist of six drivers with the possible exception of the first main and the B Main which has ten drivers, of which six will move to the A Main
The top three drivers of each main will move up to the next main with the exception of the B Main as previously discussed.
Each main is 10 laps per heat with the exception of the A Main which is 15 laps per heat.
After the A Main race all six cars will be subject to full tear down by the tech committee.

RACING PROTOCOLS FOR SATURDAY TEAM EVENT:

On Friday evening all team all team cars will be teched.
Teams may enter up to 15 cars.
As cars pass tech, they will be marked.
The cars will be placed in a team box.
The team boxes will be placed in a heated locked room until after the drivers’ meeting (7:45am) on Saturday morning.
After the drivers’ meeting, the team captain will be called to get their team car box.
All teams will have 10-15 minutes track time before the first team race starts for final adjustments.
The only time a car leaves the box is to warm-up or race the heat and the car must be returned to the team box after the heat. When all heat races are over, the team captain will put all team cars back in the team box and they will remain there when he transfers the box to the next track. The cars will remain in the box until the next track is cleared for the next race.
The team captain will supply the racers their cars prior to the heat.
Team racing begins at 8am.
All teams will have 35 minutes at each table to complete their heat race.
During the noon lunch break, all teams will be able to take their team cars to their pit area for maintenance or repairs. Be advised, your cars must still meet all post-race rules and regulations.
All teams must place all team cars back in their team box, which will go directly to tech table at the end of team racing. The top finishing team is subject to a full tear-down of their cars!
All cars on the winning team must fully pass tech. If one or more of the cars does not pass, the ENTIRE team will be disqualified.

We hope you understand our rules. Thank you for your interest in the Fray in Ferndale. This is not a TJet race, this is a TJet racer’s paradise!

Your Hosts,
Richard Phillis & Rick Machado