ROAR and Trinity speak on the "D3.5 Agreement"

  

Yesterday, breaking news of an agreement between the United States R/C racing sanctioning body ROAR and Trinity Corporation was announced after months of controversy between the two. The controversy started after Trinity produced their D3.5 17.5 brushless motors. The motors were first inspected and approved by ROAR for competition use in ROAR sanctioned events, but were later removed from the approval list after further inspection.

 

After a meeting between ROAR President, Steve Mruk, and Trinity Corporation CEO, Ernest Provetti, the two came to an agreement which will once again put the D3.5 17.5 motor on the ROAR Approved Motors List until the first quarter of 2014. At that time Trinity will be releasing the D4 series motors (which will be required to undergo the ROAR approval process), and the D3.5 will be removed from the approved motor list.

 

We were able to talk with both Steve Mruk, and Ernest "Ernie" Provetti about the agreement and their overall thoughts in a short interview with each.

 

LiveRC: Steve, you stepped in as the new President of ROAR just as this controversy was taking off. The press releases states "ROAR will also put in place new rules and standardized procedures for the product approval process." Can you tell us a little about these new rules and procedures?

Steve: ROAR wants to avoid any similar disputes in the future. Accordingly, ROAR is starting the process of reviewing its rules with the intent to eliminate ambiguity with regard to technical specifications. ROAR is also going to provide affiliate members with an opportunity to be more involved when rule changes affecting product approval are under consideration. Similarly, ROAR is committed to modifying rules to improve communication with affiliate members with regard to the testing associated with product approval. ROAR intends to develop a rule to provide affiliate members with information regarding the testing equipment to be utilized by the independent testing service. The rule changes I have just mentioned are under consideration now or will be in the very near future.

  

LiveRC: Ernie, ROAR mentioned new approval procedures and rules in the press release. What sort of procedures and rules do you feel would better the ROAR motor approval process?

Ernie: I think the biggest move forward is they are rehiring Bob Ingersol as the Independent Lab to test all of ROAR's motor submissions. I cannot think of anyone with more experience to do this job. Since he has been doing for ROAR as well as IFMAR Equality and even playing ground is all anyone can ask for and I believe Bob will fit the bill for this position 

  

LiveRC: Are you satisfied with the outcome of the agreement?

Steve: The agreement is a settlement agreement. It puts to rest contentious litigation that distracts ROAR from fulfilling its purpose of being the sanctioning body for RC racing and restores and improves ROAR’s relationship with its affiliate members and was entered into for the ultimate benefit of individual racers. So yes, I am satisfied with the settlement agreement.

 

Ernie: Like every settlement or negotiations no one is happy with every outcome but experience tells me (with lawsuits) that when both parties have worked hard to reach a solution and they both feel they did not get everything they wanted...it's normally a very good agreement. 

  

LiveRC: How do you feel this agreement will effect the upcoming ROAR National events?
 
Steve: I do not expect any major impacts for the upcoming 1/10 Electric Off Road Nationals in August.

  

Ernie: It should not effect it at all. We ran the Revtech Kill Shot (our newly ROAR legal 17.5) and beat the same people. There are a lot of factors that go into winning, car, battery, the amount of dedication and work the manufacturer does for their drivers before the event with testing etc., having a standard and ongoing race program and last but certainly not least...the driver and there is always the luck factor. 

  

LiveRC: How do you think this will change future development of motors for companies that are "pushing the envelope" to have the fastest motor on the market?

Steve: By eliminating any perceived ambiguity in our technical specifications and providing affiliates with information regarding the specific testing equipment that will be used ROAR believes that motor manufacturers will be more careful in “pushing the envelope” on technical specifications.
 
Ernie: I am very confident with the new leadership in ROAR. Steve Mruk did an excellent job for ROAR, racers and the manufacturer's in these negotiations. He inherited an issue which was not his and calmly looked for a solution. When you have smart, unbiased and willing participants in the EX Comm of of ROAR......it is the best we can ask for. I look for ROAR and our industry to grow! I think this new leadership has already opened the doors of communications with their affiliates for their input and that should also be a very production aspect for the industry.

LiveRC: Overall how has this effected ROAR as an organization?

Steve: Like all litigation, the lawsuit, for a short period, distracted ROAR from its core purpose of being a sanctioning organization for RC racers as we put together our response. However ROAR is now fully focused on its core purpose. We believe the changes we are making are in the best interest of all of ROAR’s members, both individual racers and affiliate members. In the long run the changes we are making will make ROAR a stronger organization and will grow the sport of RC racing.

 

LiveRC: Overall how has this effected Trinity and its affiliates?

Ernie: Again like I said above, I feel the new leadership and ideas ROAR has and is trying to implement should do well for everyone. In my opinion manufacturer's do not want to "tell ROAR how to run their races", they just want a voice to share their input and since they have the most invested and to lose I think this is fair. Then it is up to the Executive Committee to vote in what they feel is best for racing and the growth of our industry. 

 

The varying opinions of R/C racers worldwide on the agreement between ROAR and Trinity have flooded forums and social media sites over the past 24 hours. While this agreement may or may not suit all racers and their opinions, the controversy has come to what we would call a "peaceful ending". 

 

 

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