If the heads-up categories are the champagne of slot car drag racing, then
Competition Eliminator is the vegetable soup of slot car drag racing.  A hearty,
stick to the bones, kind of category.  Champagne is great but you can't live on it,
you need substance to fill the void and a healthy Competition Eliminator
program is just that.  However, Competition Eliminator is so different that no
announcer will try to fully explain the details of this eliminator over a microphone.  
Therefore, this feature is meant to answer the questions you want to know about
SCCEC Competition Eliminator but were too afraid to ask.

Potentially the most diverse and damn-right wicked class in sportsman drag
racing, no category features more variety than Competition Eliminator.  The
motor combinations are just as diverse as the vehicles, from open C-can
motors to spec Super 16Ds.  Most cars are classified using weight, body style
and motor combinations.  

Imagine, if you will, dragsters, funny cars, fuel altereds, factory experimentals,
altereds, street roadsters, coupes, sedans, front-engine nostalgia dragsters,
sport compacts, imports, and trucks racing together in more than 50 classes.  
Although Indexes apply, the main advantage is the “out-the-back-door”, first to
the finish line racing!  And you don't have to have a AA/FC budget to do it.  
Each class is assigned an index based on what a well-built car should run, and
races are handicapped according to those indexes.  There are no break-outs
and cars are built with as much horsepower as possible within the current rules.  

Sound like your cup of tea?  Then let’s race!!!



What kind of cars can run in Comp Eliminator?
Loosely speaking, any car can find a home in Comp Eliminator.  There are
restrictions on motor, weight and body combinations; full details are available in
the current SCCEC rulebook.  If you want to see if your race car would be legal
to race in Comp, look at the classes available and find a category that your car
fits into.  If you are still unsure, contactinfo@socalcompeliminator.com with
questions.

What class will my Mountain Motor Pro Stock (MM/PS) fit into?
SCCEC Comp Eliminator has been designed so most preexisting cars can fit
into at least one class with minimal effort and cost.  In particular, A/Altered (A/A)
has been designed to fit all MM/PS cars with the simple addition of five (5)
grams (A/A runs at 125 grams).  Depending on the body style, some MM/PS
cars may also fit into A/Sport Compact (A/SC); check the SCCEC Accepted
Body List for specific body styles.  Some MM/PS cars may also fit into other
classes with minimal changes (ie. B/A, C/A, D/A, A/PM, B/PM, all Modified
classes).

What starting system does Comp Eliminator use?
Comp Eliminator uses a sportsman (0.500) tree.  For eliminations, the
sportsman ladder is used, where the top half of the field is matched against the
lower half (i.e. for a 32 car field, 1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 17, 3 vs. 18 etc)

How were/are Indexes established for the original/new classes?
The original Indexes were established  based on what similar combinations
might run (precedent).  Using the MM/PS example, a well-built MM/PS runs
about 0.810 on a 1/4 mile, TrikTrax timing system.  Since a class-legal MM/PS
is basically an A/A minus five grams, the Index was set at 0.870, figuring a well-
built A/A should be able to run 0.820 (-0.050).

If no precedent had been established to base an Index from, the following
factors were used to set the Indexes: motor power, chassis design (ie. inline vs.
sidewinder), weight and aerodynamics of the body.

Track owners/race directors can set approximate Indexes specific for their track
length and timing system based on these factors.  Once a race is held, the
“stiffer” Indexes can be adjusted for future races.  Reasonably “soft” Indexes will
be adjusted by the racecars themselves via permanent CIC adjustments.  The
SCCEC would be happy to post Indexes from different track lengths and timing
system on its website.  To post the Indexes on the SCCEC site, or for help
establishing Indexes, send an E-mail toinfo@socalcompeliminator.com.

If Comp Eliminator runs on a sportsman (0.500) tree using Indexes to
handicap the start, is there a breakout?
No, there is no breakout in Comp Eliminator; the first car to the finish line wins.  
Each class is assigned an Index based on what a well-built car should run, and
races are handicapped according to those Indexes.  Comp Eliminator cars are
built with as much horsepower as possible within the current rules to run as far
under their respective Index as possible.  A well-built car should run at least
50-thousands of a second under its respective Index (ie. 0.950 on a 1.000
Index).

I have both kit based model cars, and vacuformed styrene bodied cars
in my box. Which ones can I run in Comp?
Both! Vacuformed styrene bodies are legal in the following classes: Altereds (center steer),
Econo Altereds (center steer), BB/Pro Mod, B/Pro Mod, Sport Compact, Gas Dragster,
Econo Dragster, Altered Truck, Modified, Xtreme Comp, Nostalgia Dragster, Street
Roadster, and Fuel Altereds. 

If there is no breakout, what is to stop me from constantly breaking the
Index?
During competition, the Competition Index Control (CIC) is active.  By running
more than 50-thousandths of a second (0.050) quicker than your Index, your
Index in the following round will be lowered to reflect this.

How does the Competition Index Control (CIC) work?
CIC attempts to regulate run-away Index situations to make racing more
competitive.  Ultimately, the effect of the CIC should be to limit quicker cars to
running no more than 50-thousandths under the class Index.  CICs are in effect
only during eliminations.  Should a car win a round and run more than
50-thousandths under its class Index, that car’s Index in the following round will
be adjusted by the amount the car exceeded 0.050 in the previous round.

Example: A C/EA wins the first round and runs 0.949 on the 1.005 C/EA Index
(-0.056).  When that car comes to the starting line for the second round, its
Index will have been lowered by 6-thousandths (0.056 minus 0.050 = 0.006) to
a 0.999.  Assuming the car runs another 0.949 in the second round, the CIC will
have been effective in restricting its performance to -0.050.  CICs affects only
that car, not any other C/EA in competition during the current event.

How does the CIC keep me going quicker than the index?
By continuing to lower the Index, eventually there will be a point at which the
Index has been pushed so low that it difficult to qualify well (if even at all) and
win rounds.  Usually, this is a big enough incentive to keep racers within 0.050
of the Index.  Generally, you will find during eliminations, where CIC hits and
permanent Index adjustments apply, racers tend to aim no more than 0.050
under their Index, to avoid carrying a CIC penalty into the next round (or worse,
a permanent Index adjustment).

If I “bomb” my index during eliminations, how does that affect other
cars of the same class?
It doesn’t have any effect on other cars during that same event.  However, any
car running 60-under or more during eliminations, in addition to taking a large
CIC hit for the following round, will cause the respective Index to be
permanently adjusted following the event, affecting all cars that choose to enter
that respective class.  The breakdown for permanent Index adjustments is as
follows:

Runs 0.060 - 0.069 under the Index – permanent Index adjustment of 0.005
Runs 0.070 - 0.079 under the Index – permanent Index adjustment of 0.010
Runs more than 0.080 under the Index – permanent Index adjustment of 0.015

Permanent Index adjustments, like CIC hits, are not considered during
qualifying, losing runs or races featuring two similar class cars (ie. B/A vs. B/A).

What happens when two cars in the same class meet during
eliminations?
Regardless of any CIC penalties being carried by either car from previous
rounds, a heads-up race will occur when two similar class cars meet; CICs and
permanent Index adjustments are not considered in these races  This provides
an added competitive edge between racers in the same class, and pleases
racers who enjoy heads-up racing.  

How does qualifying work?
Qualifying is ordered by the best ET relative to the class Index.  The car running
furthest under its respective Index receives the number one qualifying position,
continuing to the car furthest from its Index.  To see the qualifying order from the
Comp Collision @ the Park, click here.

Why are the Indexes inputted into the computer one-tenth of a second
(0.100) quicker than the actual Index?
Since there is no breakout in Comp Eliminator, inputting the actual Indexes into
the computer system would yield breakouts when cars run under their Index.  
Like bracket racing, the handicapped start is a necessity…however, unlike
brackets, the car reaching the finish line first is declared winner, regardless of
ET or Index.  The system the SCCEC uses to combat this is to enter the
Indexes into the computer system as one-tenth (0.100) of a second quicker.  
This allows for a handicapped start reflecting the class Indexes without showing
a breakout for the either car at the finish line, giving the win light to the car
reaching the finish line first (note: this assumes the winning car doesn’t run
more than 0.100 under the index, in which case, it should obvious to the race
director which car reached the finish line first).

Example: A D/SR (1.050 Index) and a C/T (1.000 Index) are paired up; the
handicap start calls for the D/SR to receive a 50-thousandths head start.  The
Indexes are inputted into the computer as 0.950 (D/SR) and 0.900 (C/T).  This
allows the 50-thousandths head start by the D/SR and the illumination of the win
light in the lane of the car to reach the finish line first.  At the finish line
(assuming the reaction times are identical), the D/SR runs 0.995 (-0.055) to a
0.955 (-0.045) for the C/T; the win light should be illuminated in the lane of the
D/SR with a margin of victory of 0.010.

Do I need to be from California to become a member of the Southern
California Competition Eliminator Club?
Absolutely not.  With the current state of slot car drag racing seeing a large gap
between the bracket racers and the heads-up racers, the SCCEC was created
specifically to bridge this gap.  While originating in Southern California, the
SCCEC looks to add members and member tracks from all over the country
and the world.  The SCCEC rules and Indexes can be freely used at your local
track for weekly, divisional or national events.  If you are promoting a Comp
Eliminator race, the SCCEC encourages you to send an E-mail to
info@socalcompeliminator.com so your race can be promoted and race
results/photos posted on our website.

I have another question that doesn’t appear here…what should I do?
Do not hesitate to send and an E-mail toinfo@socalcompeliminator.com to ask your
question.