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John, Very nice work, thanks for posting! It is great reading and viewing!!! Looking forward to seeing & hearing more!!!

P.S. what did you end up using for a windshield in your GT40 roadster?

==========Bill

Would it be "Big Smooth Data" or "Big Data Smooth" ????

Dorothy your influence on the social aspect of NASTE has resulted in nothing but improvements within the group. We have the best photo records of races that we have ever had, not to mention great movie footage! In the area of refreshments and food NASTE is second to none, and attribute a great deal of that success to you and your influence.

One thing to remember about the final race for next season and the Shoot Out for the Championship. Shoot Out day will be an all day event. There will be races held for ALL NASTE racers, not just the top seven in points. My plan for the Shoot Out Race Day includes; trophy dash races for the Novice Division, Intermediate Division, and the Point Series competitors that did not make the top seven.

As far as apologizing to me for your influence in the club's direction as opposed to my vision, I'm sorry but you can't take total responsibility for that one. I did not mean anything negative by my comment, the direction the club has taken is fine. What I meant was if the club truly was MY club, I am quite sure it would be focussed more seriously on the racing aspect of the club activities versus any social activities. The social aspect of the club is something that makes NASTE truly unique and even more fun. I can't and don't take credit for that, that is something the members have accomplished! And YES, it is a GOOD THING!

I needed to revise this post as there are actually two new classes up for consideration and comment.

The first is actually Carrera 1/24 cars as proposed by Chris Kouba. Here's what Chris has to say:  I would propose running non-mag with all stock parts on Paul Gage tires, but "home tuning" allowed- slop taken out of bushes, a little float allowed on the bodies, wheels trued, tires trued, the usual tips.  The only thing I would say we can get creative with is the guide- they suck and we should find a better way.  Braids would be allowed to be modified as well seeing as they're fairly dependent on the guide.

We would probably need to bump up the voltage as they might be a little boring at 10v, but I can wait to figure that out.

Cars that would qualify?  Anything which ran post-1960 and pre-1971:
250 GTO's
330 P3's
512
906
917
Cheetahs
Corvettes
E types
GT40's   ----------Chris

The second proposal:
Some of you probably saw, or even got a chance to run the VW Womp I put together as a test car in preparation for the next NASTE IROC race here at TooBad. This car seems to have stimulated some interest in these little beasts. My question is; would any of you be interested in adding Womp cars to the list of classes we race here at TooBad Motorplex on Odd Thursdays?

I understand we already have quite a few classes, but alternating the classes seems to be working out pretty well. On the plus side these Womp cars are realitively inexpensive to buy used, readily available, and the parts are inexpensive. In addition the cars are generic in terms of available bodies that can be used to change the appearance of the class. Pattos Place has many body styles available that fit the Womp chassis. If there is any interest I could be persuaded to purchase a group of bodies to better distribute the shipping cost.

Feedback?

==========Bill

This is a good discussion. Rico's point is also very good. If you look at the example of this race format scenario using last years finish results, it would be a moot point as to whether the races for the track host were counted towrds their score or not. Ultimately those points would likely amount to less than five in regards to their overall total anyway. Especially when you figure 5 of the top seven were race hosts to start with. The race host's wins may have more affect on the racers lower in the points standings, but there is a pretty sharp cut off in points standings at or below the seventh place racer. Whether or not we count race host's points at their own race seems to be irrelevant. It is just like the example of a racer who only shows up for one race during a season and wins. Some would say it is unfair to the regular racers because he has taken points away from them. In reality it only amounts to one point, and he didn't take it away, he earned it. No one would have gotten an extra 20 points if they would not have showed up!

Thanks Bryan. As far as next season, there will not be points championships for each division. There will only be one, and racers must elect to participate and pay the $5.00 fee to be included in that series. Prizes or awards are encouraged for the individual novice races, but not mandatory. That will be left up to each track owner to decide.

Right now at this point in time I do not forsee the NASTE Point Series Championship going back to just everyone racing together. That format does not seem to suit everyone.

============Bill

P.S. Sorry about the aneurysm. I can sometimes get wordie!!!

Dorothy, I am disappointed you feel the need to assign ownership to our "club". Although I respect and value your opinion, I disagree with you. Based on my history with other slot car groups, it is obvious that NASTE would have much more of a racing oriented focus were it truly MY club. However what I will take ownership of is the NASTE Point Series Championship. I started the series in 1996, and have promoted an organized it for the past 19 years. This racing series is the corner stone of NASTE. It is what NASTE came from. Since its inception NASTE has evolved into more of a social event than an actual slot car racing event. This is not a bad thing, just not what I originally had in mind. Not a direction in which I would have lead a slot car club. The evolution came about through the participants interests and input. The same can be said for rule revisions and changes I have made to MY series. I do my best to make the series appealing to all interested parties. It has come to my attention that not all NASTE members, participants, or whtever you would like to call them are interested in the racing series, let alone the actual race itself. The rule changes I have decided upon for next season (2016) reflect the feedback I have received. With these changes NASTE participants at all levels of interest should find a niche' that fits their interest. As I see it, NASTE is at a crossroads where participants are divided  in areas of primary interest. NASTE has been on its evolutionary journey with course changes influenced by its participants. I will admit I carry some influence in how and what NASTE does and becomes. But I am not the only influence. I would have to say NASTE is as much YOUR club Dorothy as it is mine. Your influence has changed the social aspect of NASTE in a positive way. You have also had more influence on rule revisions and changes in the racing aspect than any other members. I do not want to sound rude or dictorial, but I have tried to hold meetings where participants can provide feedback and take part in the administration responsibilities for NASTE with dismal results. I do what I feel is necessary to keep the NASTE Point Series Championship running.
==========Bill

Thanks Monte for your support. Through the years NASTE has raced under varying race formats. We have tried different things with some working and some not. Systems that have not worked well have been either modified or dropped all together. The changes have come in part to better accommodate the competitors. Things like budget concerns and interest level are major determining factors as to race format. These changing conditions are one reason NASTE has evolved into an IROC style racing series. Slot car clubs come and go, NASTE has been around for over 19 years and our racing and attendance is better than ever. We are doing something right. We have a friendly atmosphere where new racers feel comfortable. We have a relaxed attitude regarding good close competition. We have a point series championship for those that take their racing more serious. We are an excellent venue for all types of slot car enthusiasts! There are other clubs that take the racing much more seriously, and there is nothing wrong with that. I race with other clubs because I also like to race at a more serious level sometimes. Just because someone takes their racing more seriously or shows a higher level of racing skill, does not mean they are doing it wrong, and they should not be ridiculed for it. This new format, whether you like it or not, WILL better serve our wide variety of racers, from casual racer to hard competitor. The bottom line is; if you look around at our races we are ALL there for the fun of it. Our interpretations of fun are as diverse as our racers.

Lookin' good Howie!!!

I'm sure I think about this stuff way too much, and I'm sure Diane would agree with that. I just want everyone with any interest at all, to have a venue to have a good time racing slot cars. I truly believe slot car racing is one of the best hobbies around!

2016 will be NASTE's 20th consecutive year of Point Series Championship racing. Over the years NASTE has evolved into one of the most diverse slot car racing clubs I have ever been associated with. We have racers with all levels of ineterest in slot racing, from hard core builders and racers to those with just casual interest just racing for the fun of it and the social interaction. That is what has made NASTE so successful and in my mind one of the best slot car clubs around! However, it has become quite a challenge to design a racing format that suits everyones interest. I am quite confident this new format will help make our racing for the 2016 season more FUN for everyone! If you're not interested in racing in the championship series, well you're not in it unless you choose to be. It will be each racers option and decission as to which group of racers and experience level they race with. If you're a new racer or less experienced, but you'd still like to take part in the championship series just to see how you stack up, well you can do that while still racing with other racers at your same skill level. The biggest difference between NASTE's new race format and NASCAR is we do this for FUN, not for millions of dollars!

Rico, that was some of the best racing you and I have had together last night!!!  I think we drove each other's cars as much as our own!!!