When HPI introduced their Toyota GT-1 body for the Proceed at the end of 2000, I asked HPI USA to make sure it got on the homologation lists of the various organizations, and especially EFRA. I was assured by HPI that they would take care of this.
Recently I asked about the status of this homologation process. I was told that HPI only applied for ROAR legalization, which would eventually result in IFMAR approval, which would then eventually result in EFRA approval. Knowing the burocratic way of doing things in organizations as ROAR, IFMAR and EFRA, it is very safe to assume 1 season for each approvement, which would mean the body should be EFRA legal by 2003, if all goes well, or even later if there are remarks on the mold. This would mean the body would be long out of production by then, because racers aren't allowed to race it, will not buy it, and then HPI discontinues it because of "lack of market interest".
I was told by HPI USA to contact HPI Europe (UK) for speedy approval of the body by the EFRA, so I did. I sent the following email to Jamie Booth, Product manager of HPI Europe.
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(Sent 20 Apr 2001 9:30)
Jamie, I own a proceed and I would like to race the Toyota-GT1 body with it. Since these races are EFRA regulated (as are most big European races) it needs to be on the EFRA body homologation list. HPI USA stated that they are doing ROAR homologation, which would in time result in IFMAR homologation which would then lead to EFRA homologation. I predict this process to take over 3 seasons, making it possible to race it in 2004 or so. This is far too late. Many racers I know have this problem, and this is probably also the reason why the body sales figures of the Proceed Toyota GT1 are low. Serious racers simply can't buy them no matter how much they like them. Therefore I am asking you to please take the lead in the homologation process of the Proceed Toyota GT1 to the EFRA. All information for body homologation is available at the EFRA (http://www.efra.se/) , or you can look at some pages of the EFRA 2000 handbook at http://www.rolfje.com/efra/index.htm (check appendix 9, (Procedure for Body-Approval (1/8 Track & Large Scale)") To get the body approved for the 2002 season, the body approval procedure must be started very soon (preferably this month). Regarding the detail of the body I see no problems as to why the body shouldn't be approved. Thanks in advance and with kind regards, Rolf Heller |
Jamie reacted very quickly. Being a product manager, he probably also realized that homologation would be synonim to higher sales:
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Received 20 Apr 2001 10:41
Dear Rolf, I have sent the GT1 body to EFRA some 3 months ago, and homologation has been refused. EFRA say that the real car has a separate rear wing and our body has it moulded in. Sorry if my answer is short and direct, I try to reply to technical questions the same day.
Jamie Booth, |
I kindly thanked Jamie for his quick reply and got on to look for the EFRA representative for 1:8 IC track with the EFRA. To my surprise I found that Sander de Graaf, member of the board at a local track nearby, was EFRA executive for 1:8 IC track.
Some people on the forum had correctly pointed out to me that there are other bodies (like the PSE porsche 962) which do not resemble the original car by far and if the HPI toyota GT1 was not homologated then there would have to be a lot of other bodies removed from the homologation list.
With this in mind, I sent Sander the following email:
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Sent 23 Apr 2001 9:34
Mr. de Graaf, I'll do this in English so you can forward it to other members of the board if needed. Recently, HPI Europe offered it's Toyota GT-1 body the the EFRA for homologation. To my knowledge, the body got rejected because it didn't have a seperate spoiler. This isn't consequent with the other bodies on the homologation list. HPI's Toyota GT1 is by far the most realistic representation of a real-life lemans car than the currently homologated bodies. ROAR homologation is in process, anf IFMAR will follow. Why is EFRA rejecting bodies like this? If EFRA is really an organization of promoting the hobby, I think this is not a good move. A lot of people like this body and would like to race it. Lot's of spectators I met also like it and think it is good looking. This means more spectators and possibly more racers... If you like you can review news about the homologation at the end of this thread at the HPI forum: http://www.hpiracing.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000544.html I would like to ask you to please reconsider accepting this body for approval, bearing the the 962 in mind for example. Some constructions are simply not feasable for a lexan body. Enforcing a seperate wing rule would mean lots of broken bodies, and a limited choice of bodies for racers. It seems every EFRA rule is costing us money (like the 3 chamber exhaust rule which suddenly popped up), in stead of promote the hobby and make things more fun for racers and spectators. I hope this negative mood clears up fast so we can focus on having fun with our cars again...
Kind regards, |
Today, 28 Februari 2002, I have still not received an official answer from Sander, nor have I seen one on the several forums and distribution lists I am a member of. I think the EFRA has closed this matter silently. I have noticed that most of the negotiations and discussions in the RC racing world are behind closed doors, intentionally or not. I think it would be good for EFRA to actually use their site to do announcements in stead of publicing the member countries and the meeting notes. Reacting to email will do no harm, either...
Because of personal circumstances I am currently not able to actively persue this matter. I leave it where it is at right now, in the hope somebody else will pick up on it, or some manufacturer actually will produce better looking bodies which will get homologated by the EFRA.
Dissapointedly yours,
Rolf.
Correction: Some people pointed out that Jamie Booth is not a "she", but a "he". My appologies to Jamie, I have corrected this error.
Update: It seems that this discussion had some follow up, which looks promising, but still gives no absolute answer to the homologation of the Toyota GT1. More info can be found in this myRCworld.net article from Sander de Graaf.