You've got it Mike!!!!! -----------------Bill
5,327 February 3, 2009 7:36 am
Re: Track apron (6 replies, posted in Track)
I've used a couple of methods to get my aprons level with the track. If the plywood or mdf is too thin you can shim it with pieces of cardboard installed underneath. You can also use a thin coat of plaster of paris on top of the plywood or mdf and sand it down to track level (plaster sands very easily). Coat the plaster with primer and paint. Both these methods have worked for me. ----------------------Bill
5,328 February 2, 2009 4:29 pm
Re: Track apron (6 replies, posted in Track)
I have used plywood and mdf for aprons and borders. I just lay the track sections making up the particular curve on top of the wood, mark around the inside or outside edges with a pencil, and then cut it out using a jig saw.
------------Bill
5,329 February 2, 2009 12:58 pm
Topic: PASER Race at The BullRing in Fairview (2 replies, posted in PASER)
This Saturday Feb.7th I will be hosting my first PASER race at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview. We will be racing the PASER 1/24 Sportsman and NASCAR classes on my 6 lane BullRing. I will be opening the doors at 3:00pm for practice, and plan to start racing at 6:00pm. First up will be the Sportsman class followed by NASCAR. ------------------------Bill
5,330 January 31, 2009 4:46 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
Yes, I think that's the kit I remember. $52 ugh, a little pricey to beat up on the track!
5,331 January 30, 2009 6:19 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
I'm holding out for an injection molded body. I know there was an old MPC (I think) model kit. And I've seen a Strombecker slot car listed as a 1/24 scale Ford J a couple times on Ebay (not sure about that one. I've never actually seen one up close).
-----------------Bill
5,332 January 30, 2009 4:09 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
YES, rule bending and J cars!
Haven't seen any 1/43 J cars. Haven't been able to acquire a 1/24 J car.........YET!!!
------------Bill
5,333 January 30, 2009 3:15 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
Best thing about the J was it was hard to get around! The paint chips on the upper rear corners were from getting the body through tech!!! I ran a mildly modified chassis under it with an armature I had rewound. I did win a race with it, but if I remember correctly I was only allowed to race it once.
The Vette was a major mod. Alan Blanchard and I each built one. At the time motor magnets for T-Jets were weak. The only thing available as an upgrade were the 20 + year old blue & yellow hop-up magnets. We had found from racing Aurora Magna-Traction cars that the old Aurora Quadra-Lam armarures really came alive with the bigger stronger magnets. So what we did was mill out the inside bottom of the T-Jet chassis where the motor magnets sat. Then we milled out the underside of the T-Jet gearplate for magnet clearance. With the Magna-Traction magnets in the T-Jet chassis (yes they will fit and I can prove it with photos!) they flew! We also redrilled the rear axle holes higher in the rear of the chassis to lower the car. The car in the photo was rebuilt and the T-Jet gear plate was replaced with an A/FX style gear plate and gears to reduce weight. The A/FX gear plate also had to be milled for magnet clearance. We painted up two lexan Corvette bodies in team colors. The cars were very fast but really hard to control!
-----------------------Bill
5,334 January 29, 2009 9:08 pm
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
No problem Larry. My size 11 mouth has swallowed both my feet more than once.
We're friends, always will be............................................But that doesn't mean I can't nerf you right????!!!!!!!
-----------------------------Bill
5,335 January 29, 2009 9:02 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
Looks like it huh!.......sadly those are what some of the HO manufacturers consider "car tires.........................and you guys wonder why I like "O" rings....
---------------Bill
5,336 January 29, 2009 6:09 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
Here's another ol' beater of mine. She's a little rough around the edges now, but I was sure proud of her when she was new!
The rules for this "modified" T-Jet class read "T-Jet bodies must be used", or something along those lines as remembered by a RACER...Anyway, I didn't like getting the boot from other cars with the wheels and tires hanging outside the body. So I made the body cover the wider wheels and tires. In this photo the body is sitting on a new style Johnny Lightning Thunderjet chassis...
I used two Aurora Ford J bodies to make this car. The left and right sides of one car were cut off and grafted onto the second car. You can see how much wider the new version is compared to a stock Aurora Ford J.
In this rear view you can see how much of the body sides were used. The bodywork has held up well over the last 20 years, but I can't say the same for the paint. I painted it a metallic and pearl red I custom mixed and sprayed over a black basecoat. It looked pretty good at one time........of course, I looked better 20 years ago too!
-------------------------Bill
5,337 January 28, 2009 4:14 pm
Re: Custom cars (27 replies, posted in Cars)
Looks like we got a little off track of what AJ started here. So to help get back on track here's some old stuff!
Back in the 80's I raced with H.O.R.O. (HO Racers of Oregon). We had an "unlimited" T-Jet class that was based on stock T-Jet chassis. You could not use traction magnets of any kind. Alan Blanchard and I built two of these lexan Corvette bodied entries. This #2 car is mine.
5,338 January 28, 2009 11:48 am
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
I agree, the NASTE IROC is a driver's series! Being able to deal with a changing environment and equipment conditions is just as important as going really fast! Anytime you have races with the drivers building and racing their own cars, the equipment becomes a major factor.
I like the "max off" rule (assuming you mean maximum number of times you can de-slot?). My concern would be how hard that would be to enforce or keep track of (especially on my 6 lane track).
Personally, I would just as soon leave the IROC races as the points championship races and have the other races just for fun.
--------------------Bill
5,339 January 28, 2009 11:08 am
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
Rico - If we add the second class, such as the 1/24 vintage cars, why not add a class we could run on the 1/32 tracks also? We could pick a class of car that we all have already. For example a Slot.It class, or maybe just a 1/32 production chassis non-magnetic class? Something along the lines of what you, Monte, and I have been experimenting with. We could also run that class on 1/24 tracks for a change of pace.
As far as the point series, There are four choices. The NASTE Championship could be determined by; 1) points accumulated from the IROC races only, 2) points accumulated from the non-IROC races only, 3) the total points from both races, 4) Or the points from both races could be tallied and separate winners in both types of races could be named.
We have grouped racers together by experience or skill level before, and maybe that is something we should go back to. The ability to "throw out" a couple of bad races each season also helps with the "bad race" scenario.
------------------------Bill
5,340 January 28, 2009 6:40 am
Re: Heat race length (6 replies, posted in NASTE)
Hey folks, I took a look here just to revisit this topic. I want to get down some notes for a NASTE rule book for next year. After the last race at Hemi Heights I think we could go with 3 minute heats up to 19 racers. I would like to amend it to read:
Up to 10 racers = 4 minute heats
11 to 18 racers = 3 minutes heats
19 plus racers = 2 minute heats
Race start time is 6:00pm.
-----------------------------Bill
5,341 January 26, 2009 8:28 pm
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
A lot of good points have been made here. Since NASTE was established we have always tried to have a slot car racing experience that is just a little different than the norm. We have accomplished that goal in the creative formats we have raced under, and with the cars we have raced. I feel NASTE has been very successful through the years, and one of the reasons is we have always put FUN ahead of competition. Since 1996 NASTE has had more than 100 participants. Many of those people had not raced before, and may never of had the experience had it not been for our group.
As much work as the IROC series is in regards to keeping cars up and running, it is a proven and successful formula. Take for example the last race at Hemi Heights. There were quite a few people in attendance who do not own 1/24 cars, and some people who do not even own ANY slot cars. But from my point of view it was a great race and a lot of fun! Getting people together and racing is what it's all about. With NASTE people get to try a little bit of everything.
So where do we go from here? I started this dialog because I was feeling like I would like to race my own cars, and I think there are others that would also like to race some of there own cars. One thing I'm hearing loud and clear is the IROC format is well liked. So what about this; NASTE maintains the IROC format for the first and primary race at each event. One round of racing just as it was at Hemi Heights on Saturday night. After the IROC race we could race one round of a particular class where interested racers race their own cars.
I already have a set of 1/24 scale flexi cars that could support races on six lane tracks with spares. Bryan and I together have 4 NASTE Radioshack cars for 1/24 four lane tracks. I have plenty of T-Jet based cars for HO. I will soon have 5 1/32 Carrera cars completed for the race coming up in Eugene. If we maintain an IROC series what I would ask is for a committee or team to be established to repair and maintain the stable of cars.
Food for thought?.................Comments???? -----------------------------Bill
5,343 January 25, 2009 10:12 am
Re: New to the Sport (11 replies, posted in NASTE)
Hey, I dressed in BLACK! What more could I do?????? -------------------Bill
5,344 January 20, 2009 9:13 pm
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
THANKS MONTE!!!!!
-----------------Bill
5,345 January 20, 2009 6:50 pm
Topic: NEW 1/24 Class info from Howie @ Rapid Raceway in Portland! (0 replies, posted in PASER)
David and fellow racers; I have decided to go with true scale racing starting in Sept. '09. I have a few bodies in mind in the GT format such as the Nissan R390 GT1 by Tamiya. I already have four racers ready to give it a try. The chassis is a choice between the Tifosi and chassis #SCH1102001 found on http://WWW.PROFESSORMOTOR.COM under 1/24 parts bottom of page. As you can see this is an angle winder chassis. This will be a spec. car. Motors, tires, bushings etc. will not be an option. What is optional will be a choice between about 6 or 7 bodies, (all hard bodies), gear ratios and how much you want it to weigh, and as stated above the choice between the two chassis. I'm in the process of getting the parts together and do some fine tuning. Decals will be another choice but must be registered with me so we do not have duplicate cars. You could use decals from NASCAR or the Porsche 962's. The decal choices are almost endless and you can paint whatever color you want, but would like it to be in the style of GT cars, in other words, no flame jobs, etc. These are production chassis that are bolted together, so you don't have to be a soldering guru or spend much time building. Also both chassis are adjustable. Let me know if any one else is interested. I have thought about this a very long time and in great detail and have listened to my fellow racers and looked at what racers are doing in Europe. I believe this GT class will go over pretty well once the word gets out. Also Beau is working on a vintage open wheel class that will also be launched at the same time.Rapid Raceway I believe is a good track for this class and the open wheel format.Let's have some feedback. Head and tailights might be fun also. I do not intend to do away with NASCAR or Sportsman. True scale and f1 would be add on classes. Update: We now have 5 confirmed racers. Jan.20,4:40PM.
Last edited by howie on Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:36 am, edited 3 times in total.
5,346 January 20, 2009 5:54 pm
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
I am the one that started the discussion on alternative classes to the NASTE IROC series for next year. Bryan, that's a good idea, lets start a poll to see where everyone's interests lie. Monte, can we set up a poll on this topic? Something along the lines of; What type of racing would you like to do as a NASTE racer next season? NASTE IROC as it has been? Racer owned cars for each scale HO, 1/32 & 1/24? Racer owned cars HO & 1/32 (1/32 cars on 1/24 tracks also)? None of the above?
One more issue I'd like to discuss. If we end up with another IROC series, I would propose that some of the regular NASTE racers donate one complete RTR car to be used for the IROC series. The cars would be used for the entire season, and be maintained by their owner. This would mean we would need a minimum of six complete HO cars, six 1/32 cars, and eight 1/24 cars. Those numbers would provide for spares/backup cars also. The NASTE treasury would be used as a source of funds for replacement and repair parts for the cars.
---------------------------Bill
5,347 January 20, 2009 3:48 pm
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
So that's the real challenge, finding a class of car that EVERYONE is interested in racing. That has always been one of the challenges, but something NASTE has always been good at finding solutions to. Since NASTE started we have always promoted racing with the emphasis on new racers. We have always tried to make it easy for new people to get up to speed and feel comfortable. I feel that is a goal worth keeping. My feeling is a new class such as the vintage chassis or whatever, would stimulate the racers in our group who are ready for more of a challenge.
I would say the majority of the racers that race with NASTE right now are primarily 1/32 scale enthusiasts. My tentative plan is to come up with a 1/32 car class that can be raced non-magnetic on 1/24 scale tracks as well as 1/32. In additon to that class I would like to have an HO class (probably Aurora T-Jet style cars) to compete on our circuit of HO tracks. Lastly a class of 1/24 scale cars that would be raced on the 1/24 tracks (of course). I would propose the races on the 1/24 tracks would be one round with the 1/32 cars, and the second round with the 1/24 cars. With this format racers would need only 2 cars to participate in ALL the NASTE races, with the option of having a third 1/24 car if they desire. I would also venture to guess there would be "loaner" cars available for new racers, which has always been part of the NASTE program.
So as far as a 1/24 class goes, we have plenty of time to do some testing and decide what we like, and what works best for the group as a whole. Everybody likes something different, everybody has their own ideas, coming to concensus is what NASTE is all about.
--------------------------------------Bill
5,348 January 20, 2009 2:51 pm
Re: New to the Sport (11 replies, posted in NASTE)
Mike, NASTE is an informal group. We don't really have memberships. Our numbers vary from race to race.
There is one club with a track in the Springfield area, Pelican Park. They have been oranized and racing steadily since the 80's. There is a link to their website on our "links" page under "Northwest Clubs, Tracks".
Another in your area are the tracks owned by Kimm Marshal in Eugene. You can get more info regarding his tracks on the OSCAR website which is also listed in our links.
----------------------Bill
5,349 January 19, 2009 4:52 pm
Re: New to the Sport (11 replies, posted in NASTE)
Hello CascadeMike, Like Monte said, WELCOME!
Oakridge, is that just east of Eugene/Springfield? If so, you have racers in your area!
---------------Bill
5,350 January 19, 2009 9:51 am
Re: Potential Classes for NASTE Racing (63 replies, posted in Cars)
Thanks guys, it was fun. As far as which car I preferred, that's a hard question. For a faster action type of class (something based on the Econo, FCR, or Pro-Trac), I like the idea of racing the Parma FCR cars. Like Bryan said the price is right, and I think with a little bit of tuning they would work well. The FCR chassis are 4.5" wheelbase cars, and model car bodies can be mounted with clear packing tape. The chassis appear bullet proof!
I really like the Classic vintage car. I would enjoy a vintage type class using lexan bodies. Actually the Classic car can be put into the same category as the Econo, FCR, and Pro-Tracs when it comes to overall speed (depending on motors). I ran my car with the brass pan modification Larry made, and without. The car is faster and better handling with the pan, but it works well without it also (just more challenging). These cars with Jel Claw rear tires are great fun to drive! The issue again with these is parts availability.
That brings us to the EJ's and Carrera cars. The 1/24 Carrera car worked surprisingly well right out of the box! It's slow and slides but it is predictable and a lot of fun! The only modification this car would require is shorter front tires to get the guide flag to sit deeper in the slot. Then there's the EJ's car, which to start with was my favorite. But right out of the box this thing does not handle. On my track the tires did not hook up at all, and when I switched to Jel Claws they hooked up too well, and then the motor overpowered the chassis. I'm going to give this one a little more work (not giving up on it yet).
So at this point here are my favorites (not necessarily the best cars) in order; 1- Classic, 2- Carrera, 3- FCR.
These ratings may change! ------------------Bill