[Mike174]

Just something I’ve been thinking about while doing the dishes today. What would it take, organisation wise, to put on a 5/6 round national (hosts from around the country) ‘clubmans’ proxy series while we can’t get to clubs. It could be for any range of cars (80’s scalextric, rally, gt etc) based on cars that can be obtained for around £10 and under or most people will have at home already. It could run like the current rally sprint but could be: send cars to round 1, have the event, return cars to competitors for fettling ahead of sending to round 2 etc.

By clubmans I mean both running at peoples houses, on a permanent/semi permanent/home built for that event track rather than a ‘pro’ club track (I’ve seen some awesomely landscaped home tracks) and also fairly basic cars (or a range of classes from standard to highly modified) allowing for ingenuity and building rather than who has the biggest wallet. The event could even have a ‘guest support category’ each round (eg lmp on round, trucks the next, rally next round etc) to give people maximum chance to run as many different cars as they like.
Due to the couple of month gap between events the host could take their time over an event, rather than 6 hours on a Sunday it could be one class a day or 5-10 cars a night for a week or so. 

Like I said this was just a thought while doing the dishes. I have never run a proxy so wouldn’t know the issues involved, just with so many people enjoying this rally it might give us something to look forward to and could turn in to a yearly thing?

[Scuderia_Turini]

Reference: "Like I said this was just a thought while doing the dishes. I have never run a proxy so wouldn’t know the issues involved, just with so many people enjoying this rally it might give us something to look forward to and could turn in to a yearly thing? "

Before there is a mad rush of people offering to host events, lets get one thing straight - it takes a lot of time and commitment to get the event run promptly:
Checking the cars when they arrive.
Ensuring that the track/layout is robust.
Having a reliable timing system.
Running the cars in a fair way so as not to disadvantage any.
Tightly administering the event so that the cars do not get mixed up.
Feeding back some details to the entrants and assembled spectators.
Publishing photographs so that the entrants feel engaged with the event.

Essentially, consider it as a job to be done in a professional manner.

Leo

[Mike174]

I know it would be a huge undertaking, I was just wondering if it’s something that was even possible? I know people would have to give up a lot of their own time and the organisation would be massive. It was just a day dream thought while I was washing dishes that’s all.

[woodcote]

I agree with Mike's observation - these strange old times offer exciting possibilities to do things differently - and with Leo's caution - that proxy events take plenty of graft and even more organisation. Our four rally-sprint stage hosts - Simon, Oli, Jean and me - all have experience of running 'live' club and/or home racing events. Plus my experience of running the HO drag racing proxies - and watching the Wye Valley proxy slot rally events - has proved very useful. Even so, this is still a steep learning curve for us!

[Mike174]

Yes i’m Sorry for putting it on here could you delete it so not to distract from the rally. Apologies.

[woodcote]

Even better - I will move them into a new thread

There are more proxy events happening than usual at the moment. I will have a look round and try and come up with a proper list with links.

On SlotRacer we've had reports of our HO drag racing, the 1/43 scale Little Monte Carlo Hillclimb and forthcoming ProNoMag 2021, the 1/32 scale International Proxy Series, Wye Valley Summer and Winter Stages and the WHO Winter Rally-Sprint. There are more out there.

[OXO cube]

personally i have never hosted a proxy stage 
but having seen multiple videos on the tube , i am fully aware of the time factor and the logistics involved 
that being said , i have a 20m permanent 1/32 Scalextric sport track languishing in my garage with timing etc 
that is screaming out to be used 
reporting feedback/ pictures/videos to the forum/entrants will only take up the already free time during the wifes nightly soap opera blackout

so as may have already been deduced , i am more than willing to host a proxy stage at 'Goldrock' ( play on silverstone from my childhood )
or a 1/43 stage made up of the 4 Carrera 'GO' sets i have accumulated 
or a HO stage on the recently purchased AFX 4 lane Jaguar Challenge set ( yes i have an understanding wife ) 

not only would i enjoy it , it is a unique opportunity for some industrial espionage to further my own proxy efforts (ulterior motive revealed hehehe)

so if an extra stage/track is required ... feel free to PM me 
btw , location  NW UK area , Burnley .

[woodcote]

Just a few rambling thoughts...

Although proxy races don't appeal to a lot of club racers, I think the idea is getting more attractive. And then there's all the home tracks around the country that are - as you say - screaming out to be used.

My only pre-Covid proxy racing was HO drag racing in the States - with an established group of respected hobbyists. Then Covid arrived and it seemed a good opportunity to do something around WHO to keep some racing going. What's interesting about our proxy events is the huge enthusiasm from those who get involved - but they are a small minority at the club. A few more enthusiastically follow the action. The events have been successful because other racers from around the country have got involved - most of them not involved in club racing. Most of the 'outsiders' already had some links - either personally with me or via WHO.

The basis of a proxy is sending cars to a venue to have them raced. There is some trust involved - especially if there's an entry fee as well as postage costs and the value of the car. The cheapest way is if the cars go to race at one venue or a few venues that are close by (and on the route of essential travel under lockdown). To safely post or courier a large number of cars between venues makes me nervous - and would also add to the expense.

The cost of the HO drag racing events had been buying some cheap medals (£1 each!) for the race winners - and that has kindly been shared out by some of the other racers. Otherwise, competitors pay postage to and from the venue. Small prizes and goodies have been donated by racers or supporters. We have built a nice little community.

I like my slot racing to replicate real motorsport - so proxy racing sits fine with me as drag racing, rally stages and club sprints. Of course the element of driver skill is removed, but everything else is still there. And I've always loved the coverage - whether it was the Nitro Slots HO drag racing, the 1/43 Monte Carlo, the 2020 Wye Valley proxies etc. There's a good opportunity to take photos, a little bit of video and some storytelling. The host has to try and entertain those following the event. I am sure there's plenty more creativity to explore.

There's some truth in 'Build it and they will come', but capturing people's imagination and offering something 'professional' - as Leo said - does always help. It's worth borrowing ideas that work, but also stamping your identity on it and trying new things.

It could be a long while before 'things get back to normal' - and we might discover ways of doing things that we want to carry on doing. We certainly want to carry on with regular HO proxy drag racing and are seriously considering making the Winter Rally-Sprint a regular event.

[KensRedZed]

I look forward to proxy HO drag racing and sending my first car all the way from Toronto, Canada. A clunky T-jet from a small, dusty collection.

I'm too late to enter the next HO drag race. It's never too late to be late. That gives me time to locate spare pick-ups, solder braids, get tires from FrankTheRacer, make a test track, test my car(s), etc...

I don't own any Scalex HO. I need to start looking at where to buy, etc.

What is this thing you call "Rally Sprint"? My humble apologies, but we don't have many of those in Canada. 

[Nonfractal]

What is this thing you call "Rally Sprint"? My humble apologies, but we don't have many of those in Canada. 

https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=1853
The who rally sprint proxy underway right now.