Enterprise guides...scale series legal

[pawatson]

THESE ARE LEGAL,NOT CUT-DOWN FOR ALL LMP & GTP cars w/o integral guide holders.

[aquavelvis]

Following up on PA's original post:

Rules section 2.E states, "Cut-down guides are not allowed. Exception: (they) may be used only in Pro GTP and only on chassis where the guide tongue is on the same plane as the rest of the chassis as is typical on a wing car."

• Based on the Exception, if you have a cut-down guide on a Pro GTP car with a wing-car type chassis, you're good to go.
• If you have a cut-down guide on a Pro GTP car that doesn't have a wing-car type chassis, it will need to be changed out prior to Sept 24.
• If you have a cut-down guide on an LMP car, you'll need to change it prior to Sept 24.

The history of it is this: Through 2020, any guide was OK but there was track-owner concern that too-low clearance in the front of the chassis might damage track surfaces. So, the rule was revised in 2021.

However, because some tracks are less likely than others to be damaged by lower clearances, this could change in 2023 on a track-by-track basis. I'll consult with track owners between seasons to see if they will allow cut-down guides or not, and that part of the 2023 rules will be revised accordingly.

The picture shows a cutdown guide on the left compared with a standard guide on the right. Difference between the two is about 30-thousandths of thickness. Cutdown guides are more typically used on wing cars where the guide tongue is on the same plane as the rest of the chassis. Standard guides are more useful on Flexi chassis and GT chassis where the guide tongue is raised up from the remainder of the chassis.

The rules could've specified a minimum front clearance which would then allow use of any guide including a cutdown as long as spacing shims were added to meet the minimum clearance. But I was told by Jim and PA that as long as a standard guide was used, 1) the front clearance would be OK without adding shims, and 2) therefore there would be no real need to check the front clearance...making the car easier to assemble and faster at tech.

So, that's what I went with.

Again, this rule will be revisited between seasons and might be revised to allow cutdown guides on all cars at some tracks in 2023.

Thanks.