Stock Batteries: Why are they Nicad?

Because stock is essentially about running a class which is easy to start in. With Nicads, you can charge them off a 12v car battery using a direct connection. NB: I am not recommending this. They stand up to relative abuse that NIMH doesn't and this abuse would cause NIMH to vent.

Also, It keeps the class even. as everybody is limited by batteries which when compared are quite similar. The Abuse that we put our batteries through is quite horrendous. when you look at the recommended charge rate for a 1300mah, 130mah, and figure out that we are charging at 34 times that and then figure out that we are discharging them at about 15 amps, you realize that what ever battery you have will not last long. But NICADs do it the Best. When my father and I came back to racing, the only batteries we had were 1200mah Sanyo Nicads that were 16 years old from when my father raced originally. These had been discharged and well looked after while he was racing, but afterwards they had been sitting in an attic for 12 years and then under a damp house for another 2. We cycled these, with a slow charge rate and they came back to life. These cells then went on to last us another 8 months.

If these had been Nimh, and yes I know Nimh were not around in those days, they would be heavy paperweights.