T-Jets

Chassis

1. Chassis must be stock Thunderjet with all copper components.

2. Bearings, bushings, spacers and shims are not permitted.  See #2 under “Tires/Rims/Axles.

3. Weights and handling pans are not permitted.

4. Chassis cannot be cut, sanded or drilled in any way. The only exceptions will be rule number 5 below.

5. Gear plate rails may be cut or sanded only to lower the body.  Flashing from the manufacturing process may be removed.

6. Pick up shoes and springs shall be solid copper and manufactured by Aurora, Model Motoring,

American Line, or BSRT (model 504 only). "Ski" shoes or other pick up shoes where the original contact point has been lengthened are not permitted.  The contact point may not be lengthened.

7. Pick up shoes may be bent to allow better surface contact with the rails but must remain stepped. The step point must remain at its original location and may be only slightly flattened.

8. Pick up shoe travel may be restricted either by bending the hook where it connects to the chassis or by installing a non-metallic restrictor ring at the top/front of the shoe.    

9. Pick up shoes cannot be weighted.

10. Shunt wires, "tiger tails" or other soldering is not permitted.

11. Guide pins must be original design, any color plastic. No rear or swivel guide pins are permitted.

12. Guide pins may be glued to the chassis but two mounting screws must be used.

13. Gear plate clamp may be bent or dimpled but may not be cut.

 

ARMATURES:

1. Armatures must be stock Thunderjet. Thunderjet armatures are typically painted gray and have green, red or gold windings or a combination of all three colors.

2. Armatures must measure 16 ohms or higher when measured from pole to pole.

3. Armatures may be balanced but only by the following means: (1) vertical notches cut in the laminations to reduce weight of the heaviest pole or poles, (2) removing material from solder joint or joints (3) adding weight to the lighter pole or poles.   

4. Armatures may not be rewound or de-wound.

5. Armature spacers are not permitted.

6. Armatures may not be shimmed.

7. Armature laminations but may not be trued.

8. Commutator plates may be polished but may not be shaved, trued or altered in any way.

 
COMMUTATOR BRUSHES:

1. Commutator brushes must be copper/carbon compound.

2. Brushes must be flat surfaced top and bottom.

3. The only acceptable brushes at this time are Thunder Brushes, Wizzard or original Thunderjet.

 
MAGNETS:

1. Magnets must be original Aurora Thunderjet, AFX or Johnny Lightning.  Paint on magnets must be original as manufactured.

2. Traction magnets, neo or polymer motor magnets are not permitted. 

3. Magnets may be shimmed using non metallic materials only. Magnets may only be shimmed on their backside (the outer arc side that faces away from the armature).

4. Chassis shall not be cut to allow repositioning of magnets.

5. JL magnets may be sanded to allow for a looser fit in the chassis. 

6. Sanding or cutting for the purpose of bringing the magnets closer to the armature is not permitted.     

7. Magnets may be matched.
 

BODIES:
 

1. Bodies must be of the hard shell variety. (No vacuum formed bodies)

2. Bodies must be complete with windows, bumpers, drivers or roll bars as originally manufactured.

3.  Bodies must be originally manufactured with two screw posts specifically for mounting to a Thunderjet chassis. (E.g. Aurora, Model Motoring, Bauer, Faller, Playing Mantis, etc.) No AFX, Tyco, LifeLike, G-Plus, etc.

4. Bodies must be a reasonable representation of a real existing car.

5. Body must be fastened to the chassis using two screws.

6. Bodies may be hollowed out to lighten the weight but cannot be cut through.

7. Interiors may be removed from bodies that have a roof.

8. Fender wells may be cut only enough to accommodate oversize tires leaving no more than a 1/8” gap between the tire and the fender.

9. Fenders may not be completely removed.

10. Wheel wells may not be cut to allow changes to the original wheelbase of the body.

11. Screw posts may be cut to lower body.

12. Split screw posts may be repaired using plastic or aluminum sleeves only. No brass.

13. Screw posts may be replaced with plastic only and must be positioned at original location.

14. Body must not exceed original width.

15. Windshields or windows may be sanded to allow body to sit lower, but windows must fill window openings, front and rear. Side windows may be removed but the openings must not be enlarged. 

16. Spoilers, scoops, wings, exhaust pipes, etc. may be added to improve the car’s appearance but must remain within the 1 5/16" width limit.

17. Fenders may not be flared unless originally manufactured as such.

18.  Weight may not be added to the body. 

19. No body openings other than side windows and front grills are allowed.

20. Body shape may not be altered from original molding.
 
Gears

1. Armature pinion, idler gear and driven gear must be stock brass Thunderjet.

2. Armature pinion gear must have 14 teeth.

3. Idler gear and driven gear must have 24 teeth.

4. Final pinion gear must be brass.

5. Final pinion gear may be 9, 12 or 14 tooth.

6. Crown gear must be 15 tooth, original Aurora black/gray or white nylon.

7. Gears may be soldered or glued to their respective shafts.

8. Gears may be lapped and polished.

9. Gears may not be drilled or lightened in any form.

10. Gears may not be beveled.

11. The crown gear “boss” may be sanded or trimmed to accommodate different gear ratios. Shims/spacers may be used on the rear axle: See #2 under “Tires/Rims/Axles.

 

12. Smaller diameter or “specialty chassis” crown gears will not be permitted.

13. Identical replacement gears are permitted and must be made of the same materials as the stock parts.

 
 
Suspension

1. Any tire/hub combination is permitted.

2. Axle nuts, spacers or springs must be kept on the outer side of the chassis.  Exception: Shims/spacers may be used on the rear axle both inside and outside the chassis.

3. Spacers must be made of plastic, aluminum, brass, or steel, no lead is permitted.

4. Overall width of wheel/axle combination cannot exceed 1-5/16". Cars must pass freely through the tech block.

5. All four wheels must touch the track.

6. "Hub caps" or other wheel inserts are acceptable provided they fit entirely within the rim.

7. Front tire/axle may be allowed to float from side to side. Lateral movement may not exceed 1/32" (.03") and total width may not exceed 1 5/16".

8. No additives are permitted on the tire surfaces. E.g. belt dressing, tire dressing, oil, etc.

 
 

CONTROLLERS:
 

1. Any controller is permitted (see #3 for exceptions).

2. VHORS tracks are not wired for brakes requiring a two wire hook up only.

3. Electronic or digital controllers that store power after track power is turned off are not permitted.

 
   

GENERAL RACING RULES:
 

1. Starting positions will be determined by qualifying times.

2. Drivers will be given ample time to run practice laps prior to racing. It may become necessary to limit the practice time of each driver should there be a large number of drivers.

3. No one will be permitted "free track power for just a second" to test their car. (Test strips, or nine volt batteries are often available.)

4. Each driver will race all lanes in a rotating order, laps will be recorded and completed sections will be added at the end of the each race.

5. All drivers will be expected to take their turn marshalling the track while not racing.

6. Drivers are not permitted to marshal any cars during the races. Any violations will result in penalties.

7. Between heats drivers will be allowed one minute to clean their tires, pick up shoes and make any other adjustments necessary without disassembling their car.

8. Warming up cars before heats by any means including batteries will not be permitted.

9. If a driver experiences a mechanical malfunction during a race, the race will be stopped and he will be allowed three minutes to rectify the problem.  Examples of mechanical malfunction are: slipping gear, missing tire, meltdown, inoperable controller, etc.  Racing will be continued after three minutes. There will be a limit of two repairs per rotation.

10. A call of "Track!" will stop the timer and power to the track.

11.    "Track!" may be called by turn marshals or drivers in the case of multi car accidents, de-slotting out of the reach of a turn marshal, cars accidentally switching lanes or crossing the lap counter in error.

12. "Track!" will be called for any car that goes completely off the table.

13.  Turn marshals will do their best to replace cars to the track in the least amount of time.

14.  Turn marshals are urged to attempt to replace the "first off" car "first on".

15. A false start will be declared if one or more cars fail to start. Cars will be returned to the starting line and the race will be started again.

16. Only one false start will be declared per car per rotation and cars may be “push started” from the starting line.

17. A backup car may be used but only in the case of mechanical failure of the 1st car.

18. All drivers must show good sportsmanship and display a good attitude during the races.  Prior to beginning the races an invocation prayer should be pronounced.  Good-natured trash talking is permitted but purposely distracting other drivers, personal insults or using profanity is prohibited.  Remember: It's just a hobby and they're only little toy cars! 

OVERVIEW:
 

The following rules are in effect for the TRACK 2007 season. The rules committee reserves the right to change the rules in the interest of maintaining fairness.

These rules are based on the use of original Thunderjet parts, new parts, after market parts, remanufactured parts and those made by "cottage industries". All parts must be specifically manufactured for the Thunder Jet chassis with the exception of wheels, tires and axles. One of a kind, custom made or home made parts are not permitted.

If a racer is not sure his or her car is legal, it may be checked prior to the start of the races. If any driver suspects that another car may not be legal, he or she may "challenge" the other car at any time to verify whether or not it is legal.

Before each driver has qualified for a starting position, his or her car will be visually inspected for compliance to the rules. The width, body specifications, pick-up shoes, etc. will be visually checked. The top 3 finishers will have their cars disassembled at the end of the racing session for final inspection.  Random cars from the field may be chosen for final inspection as well. 

Car weight requirement of fully assembled cars must be from 19.00 to 24.00 grams. Any car weighing over, or under the weight limits, will not be allowed to participate in an official T.R.A.C.K. event.

The rules committee members present will address any questions or interpretations of the rules and their decision will be final.