Legality of the Dash chassis

Or could the Dash chassis be a platform for a new class?

The short answer is no, but here is why.

Currently no ruling has been made to accomdate usage of the Dash (T-Dash)
chassis in any of the NTRA classes. One reason being is they did not exist
until now, though they have been a long time coming. Now that they are an
actual reality considerations are be pondered as to how they will best fit
among the NTRA classes and rules.

Let me begin with my first inclination is that we will not have the T-Dash
chassis as eligible for the 2014 NTRA racing season. My reasons for leaning
in this direction is that they have no performance record outside of that
provided by its' creators. Then there is the question of availability. This
first production run the creators have stated they will be producing 10K of
the current configuration:

Dash Magnets
Dash Pickup Shoes
Dash Copper Gearplate
Dash gears
Dash Plastic crown gear
Dash Rims
Dash Armature (tri-lam / 15 to 16 ohm for the first 10,000 chassis)
Dash Gear Plate
Dash Chassis Bottom
Dash Axles (non-magnetic stainless steel)
Dash Electrical Connectors
Dash brushes

All parts should be interchangeable with the original Aurora chassis.
The wheelbase is identical also.

People who have been on waiting list are just now starting to receive their
orders. Many of them are only getting partial orders. Current availability
is limited to three sources, all of which have waiting list to satisfy before
they go into retail selling. Of course opportunist will soon be hawking them
on ebay and who knows what the pricing will be like?

10,000 units, is that a lot? Doesn't sound like a lot, but I don't know the demand.
If it is a lot, that's a good thing, because at some point anybody that wants one
should soon be able to get it. Being readily available is a key consideration in
allowing new components to be included in NTRA rules. If it is not a lot, that may
not work out so well as the next production run plans are to go to bi-lam armature
and chassis base and top-plate is proposed to be made from a different material.

So those are my main reasons for not rushing in to make the T-Dash chassis a part of
the NTRA rule book. At best I would consider the chassis in classes based on its'
own platform to run as exhibition races until the chassis becomes readily available.
At thta point I would be more likely to consider integrating the T-Dash chassis
with the current NTRA classes and rules.

--------------------------------------------------------------
The small print.
The above are the spewing of some guy that from time to time touts himself as
Race Director of NTRA. His judgements are primarily driven by his insistence on
wanting to be fair to all across the board. Often his rulings come off as being
unnecessary or without reason, but what can you expect from a guy like that.
--------------------------------------------------------------

As a slot car racer, I think the chassis are cool. It has nice clean look, especially
being all black. Gears and copper used for electricals all look well machined. To
look at it, it appears to be a quality machine. That's as far as I can comment on them
as I just received it as I was writing this post and have not looked inside of it yet.
A little disappointed that they choose to make the wheel the same as the original
Aurora wheels were instead of a mag type wheel that was shown on a prototype they
original displayed. So far I like 'em and appreciate the effort Dash has went through
to get these produced.

Have to figure this phone out. Buuuuuut, if we kept stock as is, the Dash could be Pro-stock? Brain fart for future cosideration---

A minor reversal on Legality of the Dash chassis.
(Kind of, but not really.)
I previously stated that no NTRA classes currently allow use
of the Dash chassis. That fact remains, however as Bracket
Racing allows any chassis, any build, the Dash chassis is
legal within Bracket Racing rules. So if you got 'em, run 'em.
(Besides I really would like to know how they perform for our purposes.)

Reviews from racers on the other network have been very favorable.
Some minor complaints like wheel not pressed on all the way, tire
came off, but no actual performance issues. One racer found that
the motor brushes in his chassis spun and did not lock in place as
designed. The Dash brushes are dome shaped and are slotted on the
bottom where the brush spring is shaped to lock them in place. He
is the only one of about half dozen reviews to note this. But he
also states that it can be corrected by either widening the slot
in the brush or narrowing the bend in the brush springs to fit the
brush slot. Either way minor problem with solutions. Distribution
is still slow and will probably be that way for the next couple
months. They have begun to appear on Ebay now with the stock chassis
going for about $18. Another seller has mounted aluminum wheels on
a Dash chassis and is asking $35.

(Let me put my lawyer's jacket on.)
T-jet is a term associated with Aurora. Allowable brands and types are
also stated in the rules:
"This is meant to include original T jets, Wild Ones, Tuff Ones and Johnny
Lightning or Autoworld T jet Type chassis as well."

As long as there is an availability issues the Dash chassis will not be
permitted to run in specific classes this year. More important is will
this first run of T-Dash chassis continue into the second production run
or will the second run be a totally different creature. The creators
themselves have hinted that the second run may have bi-lam arms versus
the current tri-lam arms. And the possibility that a different material
will be used for the chassis in the second run. What does it all mean?
I don't know, but when a major new product such as a chassis is introduced
we should insure that it's availability and consistency is available to
everyone.

(The Dash chassis is a near exact replica of Aurora's T-jet chassis. The creators
choose not to use the nomenclature T-jet and instead went with T-Dash. Most likely
to avoid any legal ramifications that could occur.)

Aurora vs. T-Dash ET Comparison



Thanks Jeff for running the cars.