5,426

(63 replies, posted in Cars)

Yes...

5,427

(3 replies, posted in Track)

I agree with Rico! Not good for serious racing.  -------------------Bill

5,428

(12 replies, posted in Track)

We have an upcoming NASTE race at Heidelberg on March 21. We will be holding an IROC race on each of Kimm's two  tracks, 1/24 and 1/32. Maybe if you're free you can come and race with us?  -------------------Bill

5,429

(12 replies, posted in Track)

What's boring to the eye is not always boring to race on! We're looking forward to seeing more pictures!

Have fun in Eugene! Who you racin' with?

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

5,430

(63 replies, posted in Cars)

PCH has Parma FCR RTR chassis for $31.99! That's cheaper than the Slot.It HRS RTR chassis!!!!  -------------------Bill

5,431

(63 replies, posted in Cars)

At the PASER race on the BullRing Saturday, Bob Nakamura ran his Parma FCR car around. His FCR was stock other than being fitted with some lead weight up front and on the front sides. A NASCAR snap kit body was mounted on the chassis (the Revell snap kits came pre-painted as did the Revell Pro kits). Anyway his car ran GREAT! It was lapping only .2 to .4 seconds slower than the Econo cars! Something to consider............  -------------------Bill

Nine Sportsman cars raced at TooBad Motorplex today. I met and raced with some new friends, as well as a few of the NASTE and PASER regulars. We ended up racing only the Sportsman class, with two rounds of 3 minute heats. Man, we tore some cars up! Guess they know why I call it the BullRing now!

Thanks to everybody that showed up! I had a great time!  -----------------------------Bill

5,433

(7 replies, posted in Track)

Garage sale......$5.00!!!!

Or try a computer power supply and use a rheostat on the 120 volt side.......

  -------------------Bill

5,434

(11 replies, posted in Cars)

You've got it Mike!!!!!  -----------------Bill

5,435

(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

5,436

(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

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

5,438

(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!

5,439

(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

5,440

(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

5,441

(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

5,442

(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

5,443

(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

5,444

(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!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/tjetwJ4.jpg

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...

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/tjetwJ7.jpg

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.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/tjetwJ2.jpg

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

5,445

(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.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/BBVette6.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/BBVette8.jpg

5,446

(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

5,447

(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

5,448

(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

5,449

(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

5,450

(3 replies, posted in Cars)

I cast my vote............