By the way, just in case anyone was thinking about it, Carrera DTM cars with stock guides do not run on my track. The guide is too long (wide?) and binds in even the loosest radius corners. So I'll have to change out to a different kind of guide for those cars. So don't think about using those for the IROC (unless the guides have been changed out for shorter ones).

It's that time again, for an IROC race at my place. Again, I've got no cars (4 required) for a single class race. Anyone interested in providing some?

It's likely to be cold again, so I'll get the heaters out. There's more room (we've converted a lot of space in the shop) and there are more things to see: an air hockey table, a ping-pong table, and a "cocktail table arcade game" (60 games including Ms Pac Man and Donkey Kong, for instance) to keep you occupied when not racing.

I'll be providing Carroll Shelby chili again along with soft drinks and water. Parking is adequate for several cars; we just ask that you keep the driveway leading to the shop open for others.

If you need help with anything, my phone is 310-961-0922.

Directions to the property (19560 NE Herring Lane, Newberg, OR 97132):

Directions from Portland (PDX) Airport North:
Start by going northwest on NE Airport Way, taking Airport Way toward the Departures/Ticketing/CheckIn/Valet Parking. Keep left at the fork to continue on Airport Way. In 2.37 miles, merge onto I-205 South toward I-84/Portland/Salem. In 3.07 miles, merge onto I-84 West (Exit 21B) toward Portland. In 5.44 miles, merge onto I-5 South (exit is on left) toward Salem/Beaverton. Stay on I-5 for 7.77 miles until Exit 294 toward Tigard/Newberg. Take the exit and merge onto Oregon 99W South. In 16.5 miles, turn right onto N Main Street in Newberg (Oregon 240). Go 3 tenths of a mile on Main Street, then bear left onto W Illinois Street (Oregon 240). Stay on Oregon 240 for another 2.03 miles until you see a blue sign with four nearby wineries (i.e. Roco, Four Graces); this will indicate the turnoff for Red Hills Road. Turn left onto Red Hills Road (watch for traffic from the left; it's kind of a blind corner). Go about a half mile on Red Hills Road, then turn right onto Herring Lane. Neighborhood directions are below.

Directions from I-5 South:
Take I-5 North toward Portland. When you reach Exit 278 (Ehlen Road NE), exit and turn left onto Ehlen Road. Follow Ehlen Road for 7.04 miles until you reach River Road NE (it will be a "T" intersection). Turn right on River Road (Oregon 219) and follow it for 4.28 miles until you reach N Villa Road (you will bear right at rear of Walgreens and turn left at the light to merge onto Oregon 99W going South). In about 8 tenths of a mile, turn right onto N Main Street in Newberg (Oregon 240). Go 3 tenths of a mile on Main Street, then bear left onto W Illinois Street (Oregon 240). Stay on Oregon 240 for another 2.03 miles until you see a blue sign with four nearby wineries (i.e. Roco, Four Graces); this will indicate the turnoff for Red Hills Road. Turn left onto Red Hills Road (watch for traffic from the left; it's kind of a blind corner). Go about a half mile on Red Hills Road, then turn right onto Herring Lane. Neighborhood directions are below.

Once you've reached our neighborhood:
Our major crossroads are Hwy 240 & Red Hills Road.  On Herring Lane, there are three speed bumps and only the first two are marked (the third is at the crest of the 2nd hill).  If traveling by GPS, it may be incorrect and will claim you've arrived about 1/4 mile before you truly have.  We are located almost at the end of the lane on the left-hand side (white picket fence/gated entrance with grape motif). 

Herring Lane is a typical country road - completely paved but narrow.  There are numerous places to pull over to allow others to pass (driveways and flat carve-outs along the road).  Please be cautious approaching the vineyard on the left where there is a small drainage ditch (about 2 feet deep) following the roadside (It's marked by reflectors for visibility at night).

Ensure there are no dogs visible on the main driveway prior to keying in gate code (there shouldn't be—we'll keep them enclosed during the time of the race).  If those cute furry faces are in view, wait until you speak with us.  The gate code is 1956# and be careful as the electronic gate opens out toward you.

You have about 45 seconds to drive through the front gate before it automatically closes.  Once through the gate, drive to the top of the driveway and take a right at the first opportunity, which leads down our second driveway toward the shop and apartment.  Park your vehicle under the apartment deck or on the gravel to the right (north) of the shop.  Please do not block the 2nd exit gate.

I think maybe Zack was talking about the 11/7 date for OUR odd Thursday rather than Tacoma?

November 7th is the first day of pre-races in Tacoma before the 24-hour race...

Happy to host! I'll put up a post for directions and parking, etc. after I get back from vacation (Sept. 20-30).

256

(1 replies, posted in NASTE)

I can host on 10/12, if we hold the race around 4 pm. We have guests leaving at 11 am, so we can be done with the cleaning by 4.

257

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

Six people on the team makes it much easier...not so long standing up!

258

(6 replies, posted in NASTE)

Finally!! Those of us chained to our houses over the weekend were dying to hear ANYTHING about the race. With Antifa and the Proud Boys sucking all the air out of the news cycle, it's as if nothing else happened in Portland on Saturday. Congrats to the entire Scuderia Kouba effort! They're going to have to retire the trophy!

Thanks, guys. I have one on order.

With regard to the Carrera DTMs, are they going to be raced stock, or will there be mods allowed? I would prefer stock, since I'm cheap...

Zack, I'm never ultimately disappointed racing in Tacoma. The only really negative thing was a couple of years ago with a lighting issue, and I doubt that will come up again. As I said, if we expect to have some kind of "issue," we won't be surprised if there IS one. And at any rate, the worst day slot racing beats the best day of almost anything else! Even if it's just you, me and Chris, we'll have fun!

Doc, we need your steady hand and expertise! The more the merrier, and I have no doubt we have equal or better drivers than any other team we can expect. That being said, Alan will likely be his usual, unpredictable and frustrating self (we got hand-out tires for the BRM Trans-Am and Mini race without any forewarning), but as long as we expect to be frustrated, things should be okay.

Thanks, everybody! Good news, Chris...I think with the caliber of drivers that we have here in Oregon, we should be real contenders in the 24-hour. Looking forward to November!

I was very fortunate to be paired with Pat Clifton ("Cartnick" on the message boards), one of the best of the Washington racers. I raced with him once before in one of the pre-24 hour races in Tacoma, and we finished 3rd, so this was an improvement. It also helped that we raced one of Al's brilliantly prepared Porsches in the Group C race (we finished 2nd). All in all, we finished 3rd once, second once, and first in 3 of the races that were run. It was a great time (for me, especially—I hope others enjoyed it as well), and was something I hope we can repeat. The Tacoma tracks are a lot of fun. It just made me nostalgic for the fun (?) of the 24-hour race in November...anybody interested? It will happen on Nov. 8-10 this year.

Zack— I will see you at 7:30 on Saturday morning at your shop. Thanks!!

Zack, a few questions:

1) Do I need to bring car(s)?
2) What's the address of your shop, and could I carpool with you?
3) What time do you expect to be back in Portland?

I have permission to participate...so I'm ready to go!

Stan

267

(5 replies, posted in Allenbrook Speedway)

I will be out of town, dang it! Love your track!

..we have no bananas?

As usual, racing at Al's was a blast. I want to especially thank Zack for loaning me his McLaren for the evening; it's a rare treat for me to drive a well-prepared car, and I found that I could actually be relatively competitive. Just have to emulate some of Zack's speed secrets on my own cars, and see if I improve at all...

I am in. It's on my calendar. I can take one other person if needed.

271

(11 replies, posted in Allenbrook Speedway)

Echo the kudos for the track, Mitch! Lots of fun, fast, tricky and great to drive. And the proxy cars were a hoot.

272

(17 replies, posted in NASTE)

Bill:

Would Goose have had a Strombecker Lotus 19 by any chance? That you'd be willing to part with?

273

(13 replies, posted in Modifications)

Excellent post, Zack! It's not often a racer will share his "secrets," but you have done us all a favor.

I know many of you must be sick of me talking about "the old club in SoCal", but we solved the "classic" car issue by requiring cars to be "box stock," i.e., just as they came from the factory, with just weight and typical tuning (trued tires, etc.) being the only mods. Sure, the cars were slower than they could have been with the "right" modifications (pods, aftermarket tires, etc.), but then again, they were also "class competitive." That means that they were as closely compatible as they could be. Slow, yes. Squirrely, yes. But also very closely matched, which led to some very tight racing.

Perhaps such rules might be introduced here?

(P.S.—also cheaper than modifying your cars up the kazoo...)

275

(6 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

I can't remember whether it was Road & Track or Car & Driver that had an article about how the GTO was comparable to a contemporary Ferrari at the time. Always wanted a GTO...