Topic: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Howie hosted another awesome Rapid 500 race to start off the 2019 racing season! The 500 is a great test of racing equipment as well as driver skill and endurance. In addition to the competition and camaraderie some excellent pizza was shared. Thank you Howie!

The facility fondly referred to as Rapid Raceway
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7006.jpg

Marty, John Gill, Gearloose, and Ted at the control stations
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7007.jpg

Racer activity
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7008.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Bob Nakamura and his 1/24 NASCAR entry
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7010.jpg

Cars in the pit area
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7011.jpg

Beau Frazier - car builder extraordinaire! 
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7012.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Mitch Brooks with his Early Modified car
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7015.jpg

Down from the Seattle area for the 500, Dennis aka DC Dynamo's pit area
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7016a.jpg

Blake and Dennis DC Dynamo
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7017.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Bob Nak and Stuart aka Stew Meat
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7019.jpg

Mitch, Howie, Blake, and Dennis
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7020.jpg

Ted's super fast number 12 NASCAR entry
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7024.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Bob loaned Stuart his number 99 NASCAR to race. Most of us regretted Bob's decision!
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7025.jpg

Good shot of Howie, although this was much funnier while it was happening....
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7026.jpg

Stuart and Ted hooking up their controllers for their next heat race
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7027.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

The eventual race winner, Marty
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7028.jpg

Bob hooking up his controller
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7029.jpg

Beau
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7030.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Blake finished second
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7031.jpg

Bob and Stuart ready for the next heat to start
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7032.jpg

Two NASCAR entries on the track, both number 99s, and both built by Bob Nakamura
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7035.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

John Gill
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7036.jpg

Action during lane changes between heat races
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7037.jpg

Howie and Blake talking race strategy
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7038.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

In the pits
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7039.jpg

Gearloose and Marty
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7040.jpg

Stuart checking heat results
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7041.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Bob servicing his car between heats
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7044.jpg

Beau in full pre-race focus
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7046.jpg

A turn marshal's view through the catch fence of the number 2 car
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7049.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Howie in the pits
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7050.jpg

Ted in the pits
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7051.jpg

Marty and Mitch hooking up their controllers
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_7052.jpg

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Here's some video I took at the race:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBVN6QKChEU&t=0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OThI_oPt4&t=0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvtQ_1WO_J8&t=0s

13 (edited by howie October 8, 2018 9:14 am)

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Results of the Rapid 500:

Each racer got 1hr. and 4 minutes of racing.

1st......Marty..........739 laps.
2nd.....Blake...........735
3rd......Ted.............725
4th......Gearloose....721
5th......Dennis........709
6th......Stew...........700
7th......Beau...........674
8th......Bob.............664
9th......Bill...............594
10th....Mitch. DNF....414
11th....John...DNF....161
12th....Howie..DISQ.

Thank you to all who participated and to Bill for all those pictures and movies. A fun day and close racing!

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Howie got DQ'd from his own race?  WTF?

"Big Smooth"

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

After just a few laps Howie's car laid down a very impressive smoke screen. The motor totally fried and Howie had to switch to a back up car. Hence the disqualification.

16 (edited by docdoom October 8, 2018 11:28 am)

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

wb0s wrote:

After just a few laps Howie's car laid down a very impressive smoke screen. The motor totally fried and Howie had to switch to a back up car. Hence the disqualification.

looked like a lot fun. didnt get done with work till 630 12.5 hours is a long day.
hey those hand winded motors do that a lot

The secondnidator

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Evidently it can happen with factory arms too! Howie said he thought he had a tire rub.

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Ok, here is the story on the motor: I was too low for tech, so I raised the car up to pass tech and never checked the gears, and that caused the gears to tighten up too much consequently burning up the motor which put on quite show of smoke!

BTW: I have never rewound a motor in my life!

I still had a lot of fun and that is the bottom line to me!

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

howie wrote:

Ok, here is the story on the motor: I was too low for tech, so I raised the car up to pass tech and never checked the gears, and that caused the gears to tighten up too much consequently burning up the motor which put on quite show of smoke!

BTW: I have never rewound a motor in my life!

I still had a lot of fun and that is the bottom line to me!

I have done many in my rc racing days.wasway to much work back then and the motors were huge next a slot car motor.

The secondnidator

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

I used to race r/c cars also, but they were all gas powered back in the '60's and '70's. Still have them all.

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Howie is was great fun, I hope I didn't burn up your other car too badly.  That was the longest I've been out of the house since the stroke, I was running down quickly towards the end, it was probably a good thing that the car got tired too.

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Baby steps baby steps.Mitch

The secondnidator

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Mitch I am glad you could make it to the race, more importantly I am VERY glad you made it as well as you did with the stroke!

After the race I checked the motor, the wire broke loose again! Not only that, the motor was VERY tired to begin with! I will be replacing that motor and probably build a new chassis as that one is a bolt together one that I will use for another class.

Take care Mitch.

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

Oct. 5. 2019, the Rapid 500 that kicks off the 2020 season.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/RRNASCAR1A.jpg

Results:

1st.    DC Dynamo.....................761 laps.
2nd.   Ted.................................750
3rd.    Bob................................749
4th.    Gearloose........................745
5th.    John...............................733
6th.    Marty..............................704
DQ.    Stuart.
DQ.    Beau.
DQ.    Howie.

Thanks to Bill who did not race but stuck around and corner marshaled the entire race in the "hole".

Sad story of the day was Scott who was on his way here and a bad vibration in his Vette caused him to turn around and go back home. Turns out it was a rear wheel bearing.

It was another fun Rapid 500 race day.

Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener

That was a great way to start the season Howie!

Fast and close racing with lots of action!