Almost always at full throttle

Created: 01/16/2022, 15:24

By: Dietrich Limper

Hot duel in the Ruf-Arena: the electric cars, which do their laps indoors on the track covered with ETS carpet, are up to 60 km/h fast.

© Limpers

Fuchstal – Werner Ruf is beaming.

The 53-year-old President of MC Welden looks at the project that was recently completed and is extremely satisfied: the brand new indoor smooth track in the specially built hall just outside of Fuchstal.

The Modellsportclub Welden has been committed to remote-controlled cars since 1988 - regardless of the season.

The outdoor route "Fuchstalring" is also known far beyond the Landsberg district thanks to its unique banked curve. But this course cannot be used in winter and when the season ended in October, MC Welden had to resort to makeshift solutions. For a few years, drivers were able to use a track in Merching near Augsburg, but that ended in 2019 and good advice is expensive.

"One of the things that matters is that we want to keep in touch with the members during the winter months," says Werner Ruf. "After the closure of the facility in Merching, that was no longer possible. So we started planning our own hall and it was ready in the summer of 2020.” The power supply for the 540 square meter jewel comes from the photovoltaic system on the roof. The underfloor heating is fed by the neighboring biogas plant, so that it has a pleasant 20 to 23 degrees in winter.

Almost all the work was carried out by the approximately 100 members themselves. 32 “screwdriver stations” were created with the necessary tools for fine tuning and repairs on the small cars. A raised driver's platform from which the racing cars are controlled and a professional catering area for catering to members and guests. "In Bernd Kern we have a chef in our ranks," says Werner Ruf with a grin, "and he planned and built our kitchen and everything around it perfectly."

For the inauguration, the members gave their President a large sign with the inscription: “Ruf Arena”. "Actually, I don't give a damn about a personality cult, but this gesture really touched me," admits Werner Ruf, who gave the name. What was still missing was the actual route. Planning began in June last year, initially in a small circle. MC member Robert "Robby" Leydolph presented a first layout. In the end, they agreed on a final version with twelve corners and a 20-meter-long straight. The total length is 111 meters. "We built everything ourselves, a friend from Stuttgart only helped us with the carpentry work," says Ruf. "Especially the electrics and permanent timekeeping should be unique in Germany." As soon as the light goes on in the hall,the timing for the laps on the track is also running and is displayed on a large television.

Liquid route

A special ETS carpet, which is standard on all indoor tracks in Europe, serves as the track surface.

“It is important that the drivers find the same conditions everywhere,” explains the President, “otherwise there could be distortion of competition.” The crash barriers are made of wood and the curbs in the curves are made of flat metal plates.

Werner Ruf estimates that around 450 hours of work and 10,000 euros went into the line.

The result was a "flowing route", as they say in model racing circles.

I mean: there are no curves that require you to brake completely, the small cars are always on the move.

Buggies are driven outdoors on a scale of 1:8, which have a mixture of 78 percent methanol, 4 percent castor oil, 8 percent synthetic oil and ten percent nitromethane, which acts as a chemical turbocharger, in the tank. These internal combustion engines would not only be far too unhealthy in the hall, but also cause a noise that would be almost unbearable. Inevitably, only electric cars are on the new indoor track, but they can also reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. Pancars on a scale of 1:12 or touring cars on a scale of 1:10 are driven. In "stock races" all cars run at the same speed under the same conditions. However, if the rule is "Modified", the speedsters can be tuned and screwed on as much as the material allows.

“With Simon Lauter, we had a real champion as our guest, who drove over 600 laps here.

He was enthusiastic about the track and his best time in stock mode is still valid,” reports Werner Ruf, his eyes shining.

The best times can be read on the "Wall of Fame" board, on which Simon Lauter is positioned at the top with 10.379 seconds.

"But we are sure that at some point the number nine will be in front," says the President, looking to the future with a laugh.

Expensive hobby

Meanwhile, Robby Leydolph has prepared his car for the track and is doing one lap after the other. Buzzing like a hornet, his green racer flies through the curves and gets breakneck speed on the straights. It is important to avoid accidents because the material is not cheap. After umpteen laps he presents his worn tires and shakes his head: “The tires are no longer usable, I have to put on a new set. They cost around 30 euros.” With a sigh, he sits down at his screwdriver station and carefully and expertly dismantles the vehicle.

A used electric racer including remote control is available for around 500 euros on relevant stock exchanges.

A new car costs about twice as much.

"But you should be prepared to learn a lot at the beginning, because it's not easy to steer the cars," warns Ruf.

"Only when you no longer have to think about operating the remote control, but act intuitively, have you made it."

Guest drivers are always welcome at MC Welden.

President Werner Ruf urgently refers to the prevailing conditions in times of the corona pandemic: "We are always happy to have visitors, but we urgently ask that you inform yourself about the current measures on our homepage beforehand".

MCW President Werner Ruf puts his hands on his hips and lets his eyes wander through the hall: “Finally there is a place for all members where they like to hang out and meet.

Not only have we built a great track, but also a beautiful clubhouse.”