4,926 Reply by wb0s

(13 replies, posted in Too Bad Motorplex)

So here's what's up for consideration:

1. Racing EVERY Tuesday night at one of many tracks in the greater Portland area. Currently BSCC races on Tuesday nights, races at other tracks would be scheduled for the Tuesday nights BSCC does not have races scheduled.

2. The various tracks will decide what car classes they want to race.  For TooBad Motorplex I am considering a GT Class, which would include GT cars from ANY manufacturer, with the exclusion of Slot.It and NSR to help keep costs down. The rules are simple, a. cars must retain their original manufacturer's chassis, b. bodies must retain their overall stock appearance (no major cutting or trimming), c. chassis are limited to one guide flag or pin only.

3. At TooBad Motorplex a list of weekly winners will be recorded and kept. Any racer who has not scored a win will be allowed to run one traction magnet in their car. Once a racer has scored a win they must race non-magnetic traction cars only.

What do ya'll think?     -------------------------Bill

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4,927 Reply by wb0s

(13 replies, posted in Too Bad Motorplex)

I like the idea of the class being limited to a certain make/model of car, not manufacturer of the "slot car"/chassis. I think it would be fun and interesting to leave the rules loose to see what can be done to improve the cars handling without some much emphasis on overall speed from faster motors.

I was also thinking of ways to help make the newer racers more competitive. I was thinking of a winners list versus a racing series. Race winners would be added to the winners list with the dates and details recorded. Cars would be raced in non-magnetic traction configuration however, anyone who had not won yet won a race and are not on the "winners list" would be allowed the placement of one traction magnet on their car. After their first win they would have to remove the traction magnet. This would make it easier for new racers to participate and be competitive right off the bat. Plus it would make the racing much more challenging for the more experienced racers.

So what cars should we start with? What cars do most of us have already? What would be CHEAP to get?

----------------Bill

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4,928 Reply by wb0s

(13 replies, posted in Too Bad Motorplex)

From what I have seen on Ebay and sale or clearance items from online hobby shops, some Scalextric and SCX cars, and most Carrera cars are the least expensive to buy new. Some of the less popular cars like Fly Vipers (or Vipers of any brand for that matter), Fly Starter Series cars, and most brands of F1 cars can be purchased at reduced prices. I don't care much for the Carrera cars, they seem to require too much modification to make them perform well. I'd like to use cars that would be a good durable foundation to start on, that work well out of the box, but can be refined and improved. Cars that have performance parts readily available. I have had good results with Fly cars. Slot.It parts are readily available for Fly cars, and work in most cases without major modifications. I have some Fly Starter Series cars I am working on now. I picked up the Fly Porsche Starter cars for $17 new on Ebay.

I'm planning to have another open track day soon. We can see what types of cars people already have, and try out some different cars to see what looks good. I'll try to have a few different types of cars available to test. I'm looking forward to getting something going for the eastside.

-------------------Bill

Go to forum: Too Bad Motorplex

4,929 Topic by wb0s

(13 replies, posted in Too Bad Motorplex)

TooBad Motorplex is finally up and running! It's been a long two year process but the track is finally operational and race ready. To date there have been two rally event stages run on the track. I learned some things about the Trackmate lap counting system in the course of running the events.

So I'm at a point where I am thinking about having an open door casual race night during the week. Maybe every other week, on a week night. I'm trying to decide on a night, so I thought I'd throw it out to see if anyone is interested, and if so what night they would be interested in. Along with that I'd like to establish a class of car for racing that we could use as the primary class, and keep it active for a long period of time. I'd like the class to be as inexpensive as possible, and easy for new comers to get into.

So here's the questions I'm asking:

What night/evening would be good for a weekday racing night?

What class of car would be inexpensive and fun to race?

What is the cheapest good quality car that can be purchased (retail or Ebay)?

What is the most common car new enthusiasts buy?

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4,930 Reply by wb0s

(18 replies, posted in NASTE)

Monte, Victoria, and Rico - GREAT event! That was a really fun day! Thank you!   ------------Bill

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4,931 Reply by wb0s

(18 replies, posted in NASTE)

TODAY is the day!

7:30 am and I just finished cleaning and checking my track.  The Official NASTE Party Van will be leaving for Autumn Hills in an hour.  I'm ready to race!

-----------------Bill

Go to forum: NASTE

4,932 Reply by wb0s

(18 replies, posted in NASTE)

LOVE THAT VIDEO!  I am PUMPED!

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4,933 Reply by wb0s

(18 replies, posted in NASTE)

That'll work Monte. I will start the NASTE Party Van Event Tour at Rico's in Milwaukie. I can return there after the last round at your place in Hillsboro. It is not really very far out of my way back to my place in Fairview. If anyone wants to board the van prior to Rico's round they can meet me at my house if Fairview before the van leaves for Rico's. I believe we are starting at 9:00am at Rico's, so I will be leaving my house in Fairview no later than 8:30am.   -------------------Bill

Go to forum: NASTE

4,934 Reply by wb0s

(18 replies, posted in NASTE)

Rally point for the NASTE Party Van, any suggestions?

We can use Rico's track as the pick up point if that works best for everyone, or..........?

Who is interested in riding in the van to all the tracks? I can seat about 9 to 12 adults.

-------------Bill

Go to forum: NASTE

4,935 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

This is Victoria Saager, the NASTE Scrabble Champion for 2012, and the official recorder for the SCX Proxy here at TooBad Motorplex.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1928.jpg

This is Rico Locati the other driver for the SCX Proxy.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1929.jpg

Pictured on the left is the infamous Monte Saager, or to us local racers The Big Smooth. Personally I like just plain Smooth. On the right is my long time friend  Gary Gossett. Gary and I have raced slot cars together for 30 years. I met Gary through slot car collecting, and he introduced me to the PASER Club in the Portland area.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1930.jpg

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4,936 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

AJ Locati was one of the driver's for the SCX Proxy Race at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview Oregon.  The head in the hole is Russell Flood, an up and coming slot car hotshoe!
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1922.jpg

These are some of the die hard NASTE Racers that were able to make it out, Terry Abbott, Greg Petrolati, Dorothy (AKA Hammer) Abbott, and Tracy Flood.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1923.jpg

A photo of one of the Proxy cars headed for the upper section of the track.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1924.jpg

Go to forum: Track

4,937 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

I'd like to thank everyone who was able to make it out to the open house Saturday. I had a great time, and it was good to see some racers on my track! I apologize for not updated my invitations to point out the SCX Proxy race had been added to the agenda. I hope the racers entered in the Proxy are happy with their results. I was able to snap a few photos:

This is my newly (somewhat) finished track. I have worked on this track on and off for two years to get it to this point. Now the fun can start!
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1918.jpg

Here is the field for the SCX Proxy Race.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1919.jpg

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4,938 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

Dorothy,  thanks for the pictures and video, proof that I finally got the track up and running!    -------------------Bill

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4,939 Reply by wb0s

(11 replies, posted in NASTE)

It will live forever!!!!  Diane and I will be putting that platter out as a reminder at every event here at TooBad Motorplex!!!!

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4,940 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

Thanks Dorothy, sorry about the lack of track time. Diane and I were talking today and I think I'll do another open house soon!

And HEY, your treats were most excellent and greatly enjoyed again!!!! (I think I'm startin' to like the Kahlua better than the chocolate!).

Stayed turned for another open house!!!!    ---------------------Bill

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4,941 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

Thanks Rico, it sure has been a lot of time and work!.....................................I am sore and stiff from working underneath that thing for 3 days!!!!

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4,942 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

I am happy to announce that as of today TooBad Motorplex is up and running again! I've spent the last three days completing the wiring and hooking up the Trackmate computer system. It has taken me two years to get this project to this point. I am pleased with how it operates. I tested all three lanes today, running a Scalextric non-mag Porsche at 11.0 volts. The best laps I turned were in the 11.4 second range. I haven't tried 1/24 cars on it yet. I think it is going to be too tight for most 1/24 cars, however I should be able to test my 1/24 cars in the center lane ok. Look for an open house day to rubber this baby up soon!   -----------------------Bill

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4,943 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

I put in a good 8 hours on the track Tuesday (ok maybe there was a little playin' that took place).

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1857.jpg

Mostly what I saw during that period was from this perspective:

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1861.jpg

But the good news is all 3 lanes are functional. Today I will try to finish up the jumper wiring, and the lap counter wiring.

---------------------Bill

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4,944 Reply by wb0s

(11 replies, posted in NASTE)

Well that explains one thing!!!!!

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4,945 Reply by wb0s

(11 replies, posted in NASTE)

UPDATE:  It is not looking good for next years champion as far as the best trophy goes!!!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1856.jpg

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4,946 Reply by wb0s

(11 replies, posted in NASTE)

I can't promise that this year's NASTE Points Champion Trophy will still be around for a new champion next year!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_1855.jpg

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4,947 Topic by wb0s

(11 replies, posted in NASTE)

A fantastic race and and the perfect finish to an awesome NASTE season! What fun, I had a great time! Rico the track was challenging and fun as always! The food was AWESOME (tell Kelly thanks again!)! Dorothy your treats are fantastic! And if it wasn't for the Kahlua I don't think I could have hung onto 3rd place!

My thanks to all the NASTE racers for their participation in the 2012 season (our 16th year of racing)! It is our people that make NASTE such a fun group!

-----------------------Bill

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4,948 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

CORONAs, .............you got CORONAs?????

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4,949 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

YES, I will be there on Saturday!!!!

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4,950 Reply by wb0s

(178 replies, posted in Track)

No doubt!!!!

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