Team Associated SC5M not legal for Stock Short Course at Nationals

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By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

If you're packing to leave for the ROAR Electric Off-Road Nationals at SRS Raceway in Phoenix, AZ, this weekend and plan on bringing your brand new Team Associated SC5M mid-motor short course truck to compete in the 17.5-turn stock class, you may want to consider bringing your back-up truck instead.

ROAR has had a long-standing rule meant specifically to protect entrants in the stock (and former Super Stock) classes from getting beat by sponsored drivers using items that are not widely available to the public. Rule 12.4.3 states:

"Vehicles, electronic and functional parts, and accessories used in Sportsman Stock and Expert Super Stock electric classes must be readily available through retail outlets at least 14 days prior to the event."

Now while I'm sure this one particular instance is more than enough to get the Internet all fired up, this rule is a good thing - especially as the saturation of sponsored drivers in lower-level classes has reached an all-time high. ROAR is simply trying to prevent manufacturers from giving their B-teamers access to prototype cars, electronics, tires, and other equipment that could be a huge advantage. And without mandating a 14-day window, there's nothing to stop manufacturers from bringing a dozen kits to the racetrack just to satisfy the retail availability requirement.

Let me be clear - this is not new to the ROAR rulebook, and it's not meant just to negatively affect the dozen or so people who might have possibly thought about racing an SC5M in the one event where it will be disallowed. Unfortunately, since the SC5M went on sale last Thursday, it'll only be halfway to the minimum two-week deadline by the time official practice begins on August 6.