Class within a class

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

Class within a class

dan · Forum Junkie

Tell us more........

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

dan wrote:

Tell us more........

http://www.trophylite.com/webtldrive200/tldrive200.html this will fill in some of the gaps.

jump1 · Rehab Dropout...

seems a bit like a one make series???

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

jump1 wrote:

seems a bit like a one make series???

It is a one make control series. It will come down to driver ability not down to money. Control motor, Control gearbox, diff, Rims, tyres, shocks, seats, shocks and the list goes on and on they are identical.
The suppliers put up the prize money, people win it and we are all happy.

jump1 · Rehab Dropout...

what are the cost of it? and who builds the trucks ? is there a website for tis series Bosstruck?

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

Go to www.trophylite.com and have a look through. They will be $60,000+Aus depending on exchange rate at the time. It is a 2.2 Ecotec motor, turbo 350 gearbox and 9" diff. Fox shoxs all 4 corners coilover and bypass, KMC wheels, GT tyres,mastercraft seats and the list goes on. There is 18" of wheel travel front and back and all the bug's have been worked out over the last 2 seasons of racing.

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

l was hoping that these post's would have generated some conversation and would help me to know what people would want out of a class like this. We could have this start as early as next year with trucks being delivered to customers by the end of January. Would people like to race the national series or a series with a round in each state for example- Donald, Wakerie, Griffith, Gundy. Being a low cost series would that be better than traveling to Finke and Hyden. Or would the national series be OK with a tri-series format for the TrophyLite 1 plate but prizemoney paid for all 5 rounds. Any comments are welcome.

jones off road · Rehab Dropout...

I hav'nt commented, as it is something that I personally would not be interested in at this time!
I think the idea is really good, and I would like to race this format, but I am not sure that our off-road population would have enough numbers to support it.

I realise that it would be a cost effective way to race, but for racers to fork out 60k plus, would be a big call. I think you would need to get at least 10 people ready, so when the cars show up, they could race straight away and may create more support/orders. Otherwise it would probably fizzle-out, and people would have non-competitive trucks laying around.

The stadium events would also be suitable! It might also be an answer to the trophy-kart demand?

Trekka273 · sponsor

I would have to agree with Jonesy. I think the biggest thing when you are racing in a "one=make" class is that you need to make sure that you are always going to have good numbers to race against. The last anyone would want to do is outlay a fair amount of cash and then the class fizzles out due to lack of numbers within a year or two. The hardest thing here in Australia is that there may not be a large enough racing population to provide the numbers to the class. If I were to outlay funds on this type of thing, I would want some sort of guarantee that there was already a minimum committment with regards to the numbers of cars coming in so that I wouldn't be left with a car that would be forced into a class where it would most likely be uncompetitive.

That said, if the numbers were there it could be a good thing, as it allows everyone to race on an even playing field, meaning the driver and the preparation that each team puts in to the car is what will make the difference. Then again, to an extent we already have that to a certain extent in classes such as Super 1650. Perhaps it would be better if we could get more people to support some of these classes where the investment for a competitive vehicle could potentially be less?

Take my opinion as just that, my opinion. Remember, it is coming from someone who couldn't afford to purchase one of these cars anyway.

jones off road · Rehab Dropout...

Just looking at the website,
What would be the chances of getting second hand units sent over after they have done a U.S. season, could be a way of cutting costs?
Pity they run the ecotec engine, but I guess you need some control motor.(the yanks seem love outdated engine technology)!

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

Both good points Jones and Trekka but the trophyLite guy's are the one's with the sponsor dollars. As we speak Chenowth are pricing up a class 2 car for me it will come in at a good price by the looks of it so far and will have the backing of some of my suppliers. It won't have midboards but will have everything else on it so if that would attract a bigger number of people then that might be a better way to go. All l need is a little feedback to see what people want. If l go the class 2 route then it would be competitive at a national,state and club level which will be good, but will cut prizemoney by 2/3 and won't have the TV series that the TrophyLite guy's want to produce for its class. For the first year the TrophyLite guy's only want 5 cars to compete and the target audience for this class are the newbies to the sport who want a turn key vehical and a guiding hand. They guy's from the states also want to run a hire truck or 2 for the competitors from the U.S. to come over and compete.
Also l have to talk to Chris Hutton yet to see if the stadium series will still be running as part of their series request was 2 to 3 stadium rounds.

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

jones off road wrote:

Just looking at the website,
What would be the chances of getting second hand units sent over after they have done a U.S. season, could be a way of cutting costs?
Pity they run the ecotec engine, but I guess you need some control motor.(the yanks seem love outdated engine technology)!

Second hand trucks are welcome to compete in the series and if someone wants 1 Pistol Pete from the states has 3 for sale 1 ex hire truck in good condition less than 12 months old for $30,000 USD and 2 brand new trucks for $50,000 USD and you can find them in the RDC classifieds from time to time as well.

dessert-people · Rehab Dropout...

boss i hope you can get it up, but we would not be interested , the whole control thing takes away the fun bit, tring to more power. more travel and lest weigth to hold together for a whole race is the best part of racing i think
furious

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

Thanks Dessert.P (was going to put D.P. but thats just wrong). Someone who has raced before will clean up against the newbies for a while but as people get used to racing it should all level out. If we can bring people into the sport it would be great it would just be a end product to all of team taylors hard work.

jones off road · Rehab Dropout...

It might also help to put an article on the off-road site, you will find it reaches a lot more people there!

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

jones off road wrote:

It might also help to put an article on the off-road site, you will find it reaches a lot more people there!

Thanks Jones l will try that. Chenowth and Medeola are excited with the prospect of doing the class down here so all looks good. The cars will be turn key and ready to step into to race. We just have to narrow down to which class it will be. I like the super 1650 idea but motors are scarce on the ground over in the U.S. for it so l might be looking for an engine supplier over here. If anyone in the club would like to put up their hand let me know. If all else fails the class might go ProLite.

Trekka273 · sponsor

boss truck wrote:

jones off road wrote:

It might also help to put an article on the off-road site, you will find it reaches a lot more people there!

Thanks Jones l will try that. Chenowth and Medeola are excited with the prospect of doing the class down here so all looks good. The cars will be turn key and ready to step into to race. We just have to narrow down to which class it will be. I like the super 1650 idea but motors are scarce on the ground over in the U.S. for it so l might be looking for an engine supplier over here. If anyone in the club would like to put up their hand let me know. If all else fails the class might go ProLite.

It sounds good. I guess the biggest thing it comes down to is the price to get into one of the cars. Whatever class is chosen, if it goes ahead it would be a lot more benficial if the car could also slot straight into an exisitng Australian class and be competitive, it would give those purchasing the cars a lot more ocnfidnece to outlay the cash. And if you can geta g aood competitive Super 1650, for example, at a good rpice, then it would be a win for everyone.

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

Trekka273 wrote:

boss truck wrote:

jones off road wrote:

It might also help to put an article on the off-road site, you will find it reaches a lot more people there!

Thanks Jones l will try that. Chenowth and Medeola are excited with the prospect of doing the class down here so all looks good. The cars will be turn key and ready to step into to race. We just have to narrow down to which class it will be. I like the super 1650 idea but motors are scarce on the ground over in the U.S. for it so l might be looking for an engine supplier over here. If anyone in the club would like to put up their hand let me know. If all else fails the class might go ProLite.

It sounds good. I guess the biggest thing it comes down to is the price to get into one of the cars. Whatever class is chosen, if it goes ahead it would be a lot more benficial if the car could also slot straight into an exisitng Australian class and be competitive, it would give those purchasing the cars a lot more ocnfidnece to outlay the cash. And if you can geta g aood competitive Super 1650, for example, at a good rpice, then it would be a win for everyone.

Trekka between you me and the gate post by the looks of it it will be about $50,000 USD which isn't bad for a turn key car.

Stingray 2212 · Rehab Dropout...

I would suggest pro lite might be the go. You are not going to get people to pay $61,000 AUD for a restricted 1650.

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

Just recieved a email from TrophyLite and they want their series to go ahead down here. They are putting together a prizemoney package, TV package (hopefully through ORP) and will support a stadium series as well. I will have all the pricing soon and there will be press releases in Australia and the U.S. shortly. There will also be a Chenowth ProLite series with details released soon.

jones off road · Rehab Dropout...

I personally like the trophy-lite idea rather than buggies.

The trophy-lite class would easier for sponsorship, and 'stand-out' from the off-road crowd compared to buggies. (same old story)

Also, it would be hard to distinguish between the chenowth class and normal associated buggy class, and possibly cause distress amongst other buggy competitors who cannot compete for the chenowth series (even thought their buggy is equivalent)!

Must admit, I am getting interested in the trophy-lite class, and might even put my hand up for one yet. I think it would be a good class for my kids when they get older (and fun for me in the meantime).
Do you think they could build a more 'proportioned' body (the current style looks a bit weird), and a generic shape?

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

l will admit it looks different but that will make it stand out. We are hoping to run a program where if you race them here you will be able to get a discount on hire of a USA truck for the Baja 500 and 1000 so you will already know the vehical and be able to have the experience of racing the big one. The commitment from the states will be huge for everyone racing here and the class has been developed to a point where all the weak spots are gone. For kids or first timers it will get you going in a safe proven truck and have the advantage of a level playing field. For those wanting to buy a second hand truck from the states we will help with organising the shipping and inspections and you will still be able to compete for the trophylite prize money. All the arms ect will be available here and we will have panels ect as well.

croweater · Powerhouse Poster

I had a lengthy chat to Richard Bennet, before he passed away, about a controlled engine in one of his Rodeo spec trucks. It went along the lines of a Commodore V6, Turbo 400 and a Pajero diff in one of his trucks. The trucks and Pajero diffs are still running strong. We both agreed it would be one of the most cost effective ways of going racing. If the class failed it was only an engine change to race class 4. Unfortunately no one, to my knowledge is building this type of truck, at a entry level price anymore in Australia so it makes it hard to persue further.

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

croweater wrote:

I had a lengthy chat to Richard Bennet, before he passed away, about a controlled engine in one of his Rodeo spec trucks. It went along the lines of a Commodore V6, Turbo 400 and a Pajero diff in one of his trucks. The trucks and Pajero diffs are still running strong. We both agreed it would be one of the most cost effective ways of going racing. If the class failed it was only an engine change to race class 4. Unfortunately no one, to my knowledge is building this type of truck, at a entry level price anymore in Australia so it makes it hard to persue further.

Richard had a great product for his time he had a vision and produced some great equipment l still remember as 16 year old watching his Thunder Truck ripping it up in the first stadium series.
The TrophyLite class will do extactly what you two envisaged. Some people will say 60grand is too much for a race truck but ask spaz how much one of his trucks cost to start racing and to get a truck like his to race at the elite level this is chicken feed. I would like to think that people will but one of my trucks learn their racecraft and then buy one of his trucks to race for outright. It is a low cost form of racing but all Aussie racing will count towards the world cup point series with the USA and Mexico for a prize pool at the end of the year.

jones off road · Rehab Dropout...

Looking through the TL website, I think the biggest problem is going to be lack of power from the engine. None of the videos showed one wheelspinning, let alone a bit of sideways action!
If we want them, they need to be fun to drive!
Hopefully Boss can get one over here to see how well they go in real life!
As I said, I am keen, but I dont want to go too far backwards (although I am getting old)

boss truck · Rehab Dropout...

l have just got a price for the Chenowth package. We couldn't settle on a power package so this is what we have.
Chenowth Chassis
Mendeola MD5 gearbox
ProAm hubs
They are the core parts and the car is complete except motor, computer and fuel pumps. Run what you want in it up to but not including Pro Class. Car and Gearbox and CV's are for limited powerplants 300 HP and down. We can also do a Pro Package but that will be at a greater cost.
Cars start at $53,500 USD with Micro stubs and add a little more for Mid boards.
Call Kev on 0458671970