ROAR Bans LiPo Batteries

[PaulH]

This is interesting for its stupidity. Now that LiPo and brushless R/C cars, trucks, and buggies have become popular, ROAR, in it's infinite wisdom (:roll:) has decided to ban the use of LiPo batteries for "safety reasons". What makes this even more idiotic is that they have changed their ruling twice in one week!

Here's the original:
http://www.redrc.net/2006/11/roar-bans-lipo-cells-in-all-rc-classes/
Short version: LiPo is not allowed as a power source in electric racing, nor is it allowed as a receiver power supply in gas racing.

Second ruling:
http://www.redrc.net/2006/11/roar-offer-clarification-on-lipo-cells/
Now they say it's okay to use them as a receiver power supply, but will not allow them to compete with Nickel-chemistry batteries.

One racing organization doesn't agree with this and has allowed LiPo batteries to be used in non-stock racing with appropriate limitations to keep things competetive:
http://www.redrc.net/2006/11/rc-pro-series-showing-lipo-cells-some-love/#more-449

Gimme a break.

Okay, I'm done ranting now. :)

[smspiker]

These guy's must really be old!! Mabe next week they'll forget everything?

Carlton is one cool dude!

Stevo

[ClayK]

NiCD and NiMH can explode as well from improper charging or handling.

Nitro fuel is flammable as is regular gasoline but they don't ban that.

That ruling is ignorant.

[DebianDog]

:FThat

I would just stop going to ROAR events.

[ClayK]

If the concern is the power to weight ratio, they should make classes for those types of batteries/motors. ROAR is ignorant, period.

[spork]

Any of you guys watch NASCAR? Remember a couple years ago when the lead driver was taken out of the race by a fire inside his car?

You wouldn't believe the precautions we'd have to take to put lithium batteries in any of our systems - or how big the fines are if we fail to package, label, transport them, etc. according to all regulations. Heck, you can't drive a shipment of lipos over most bridges.