I guess I owe Mr. Trachsel a thank you as well.  Thank you Bryan, much appreciated.

I just want to take the time to thank Bill for my "Season in the Toilet" trophy. It means a lot to me that you took the time and effort make said trophy and it is proudly displayed in my display cabinet.  It's these kind of things that make the NASTE group so great.

Thanks again
Rico

Yikes!! Very sorry to hear that, I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Rico

Awesome Job!  I had hoped to make it but we had Gabby's graduation party on Saturday and it didn't seem fair to let Kelly do all the clean up, so I couldn't make it.  In addition, what I thought were allergies all day Saturday ending up being a cold and I was miserable all day Sunday anyway.

555

(9 replies, posted in Cars)

A couple of thing to try regarding masking:

1.) Try putting the tape on a hard surface that you don't care about, then use a straight edge and a sharp blade to cut a new edge on the tape.

2.) Apply tape to car body in desired area and then LIGHTLY spray some clear on the area. The clear is supposed to seal the areas that will bleed.

I have used this method with better results than the stock edge of the tape, but I still suck at these types of projects.

Rico

556

(2 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

I went to the World of Speed Museum yesterday for Fathers Day to check out the Museum and the Indy 500 Tribute.  There is a lot of history represented and there is no way I could pick a favorite.  Here's a few of the pics I took:

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2630_zpsessto5or.jpg
1920's Miller Special

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2626_zpsqlugegqq.jpg
Roadster cockpit, not sure I want to know what the hot water bottle was for!

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2614_zpszfjonkxe.jpg
1968 STP Lotus Turbine

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2613_zpsl8znudzb.jpg
1951 Pennzoil Special driven by Mauri Rose

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2623_zps9s8rtnbr.jpg
Janet Guthrie's Vollstedt Special

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2620_zpstszdbtfd.jpg
1972 Vel's Parnelli Jones driven by Al Unser

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/reek455/World%20of%20Speed%20Museum/IMG_2641_zpsluaxnmss.jpg
Of particular interest to us slot racers

There were many other cars that I'm not posting pics of but you can view them here:

http://s361.photobucket.com/user/reek45 … amp;page=1

I'd like to give a special thanks to Jeff Fields for his contribution to this outing.

Rico

557

(24 replies, posted in Gorge Raceway)

Why no Lancia's?

558

(24 replies, posted in Gorge Raceway)

Porsche only or other Gr. C cars?

Thanks for hosting Bill, what a great night of racing with lots of old and new faces and some great, close battles.  That side by side stretch Chris and I had in F1 was awesome. Open wheels, millimeters apart, good stuff. The BRM race was more like it- banging, nerfing and crashing after the past several more gentleman like Thursday night events.  I still can't believe I managed to triumph in the carnage. How often does your car end up on the floor and you still win? Too fun.

Thanks Bill.

Any body have spare?

562

(9 replies, posted in NASTE)

I'll see what the schedule looks like

563

(42 replies, posted in NASTE)

Quite frankly, I don’t really understand what all the fuss is about.  Yes, there are basically two different groups who participate in the NASTE IROC races, the racers and those who are there more to socialize. So what? I don't see why it can't be both. We have tried to break things down into classes with points for the various classes/groups and this has been moderately successful.  It looks to me like Bill’s proposal is to provide more separation between the two groups. I’m not sure I’m in complete agreement with that theory as I like both aspects: the racing and the socializing. Besides the two groups are already largely separated as the more social group does not tend to show up for the more serious racing on Thursdays.

     This is a slot car racing club and to me that should remain the main emphasis on both the weekend IROC races and the Odd Thursday events whether or not one is there to race seriously or to visit.  I wasn’t there in the old days but I’ve been around for the last 7-8 years where we have always used the IROC style on weekends. After learning about some of the early history I understand why an IROC format is used and while it is not my preferred competition model, I look on it as kind of a necessary evil.  The whole point of using the same cars/controller is to level the playing field so the better car builders/cheaters/money spenders (pick your favorite) don’t always win and to give every racer an equal opportunity to perform well.  Why not just break it down into the two groups, the racers and the socializers and leave it at that?   The racers can race for the Points Championship, which I would prefer to keep, and the socializers could race just for fun without the pressure of competition.

      I feel this situation need not be so complicated with qualification, using the top qualifiers cars, points for fast qualifier, moving Points Championship to Odd Thursdays. I like having the IROC and Odd Thursdays separated and prepare for each differently. I like the K.I.S.S. method (I think we all know what this is) and all this just seems overly complicated and to what end? There are still going to be those who are more serious about racing than others and I’m not sure any amount of legislation/rule/format changes is ever going to change this fact.

     In the current IROC format I have used cars I have prepared just for that event and do my best to make them equal so the competition is even and fair. Just like Monte said they are given up for dead when they hit the track and I’m okay with that, but I’ve seen you all race and would prefer not to use individual racers cars for IROC racing as I’m not really comfortable giving up my more serious race cars for dead or for that matter potentially damaging someone else’ pride and joy.  I am also afraid that ramping up the level of competition a notch on Thursdays with points could lead to a loss in the level of camaraderie that currently exists. While I show up to every race with the hope of doing well, I would like to think I have moved beyond getting too upset if I don’t.  After all, I didn’t get the name ‘Chet by doing well.  I’m just not sure the current process is as broken as some make it out to be and if you don’t like it or enjoy it then why choose to participate at all?

Competition by nature is serious but the trick is to not take it too seriously and thereby not making it enjoyable for anyone.

564

(137 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

Mine looks the same or worse

565

(14 replies, posted in NASTE)

Sorry I had to miss out, Dominic had a soccer game at 12:30 and Kelly & I had a auction/benefit/fundraiser dinner to attend for a former co-worker who has had to have two surgeries to remove a massive brain tumor.

Bill, thanks for hosting last night. We had a good turn out and some pretty good close battles.  The Cox thumb controllers were over the top. Brutus didn't like the one in the white lane so much but took a liking to the other two.  Also, thanks for letting me shop at Bill's slot car emporium, I may have two new Over 50 cars next time.

567

(7 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

Thanks much Stan

568

(7 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

Me too!

569

(8 replies, posted in Penguin Point Raceway)

Not a new car at all, just the Black Arrow Ferrari 458 you've all seen and raced.  It was Monte with the new purple MR Slotcar McLaren.

570

(8 replies, posted in Penguin Point Raceway)

So, did you enjoy running your new toy? ;-)

571

(8 replies, posted in Penguin Point Raceway)

Thanks to Monte and Victoria for hosting todays race.  The small turnout did not diminish the amount of fun we had and we certainly had WAY more than enough food.  After eating Victoria's fiesta all afternoon, Kelly made flank steak, grilled cauliflower and artichokes.

I'm in such a food coma...

Thanks again
Rico

Again?

Looks like you all had fun.  Looks like Monte brought a knife to a gun fight especially in the Classic Sports car class.

574

(16 replies, posted in NASTE)

Thank you to everyone that came out and raced yesterday.  I was a bit worried about traction issues early on but the track eventually rubbered in and the racing was back to normal with the Hills providing some close and exciting action.  Once again the Fiats proved they are up to the task and really are a blast to race.  Some cars are always difficult to race and only the most experienced can get a handle on them but the Fiats just love to be pushed hard and it's just so easy to do.  At one point I think Bryan had all four wheels off the track but somehow managed not to deslot. I'm with Bill and love the Punto's too or was that Punta's?

I originally had planned to run Revell Lola T-70 CanAm bodies with Slot.it GT-40 chassis but I ran out of time to finish the second car, so the Fly Porsche GT-1's were pressed into service.  They proved a little difficult for some but performed flawlessly.

I want to thank Kelly for laying out such a nice spread of food.  That pork went in the oven Saturday evening and cooked all night long. Smelling most delicious the whole time.

Thanks again to all that showed up, it was fun. 

Rico

575

(42 replies, posted in For Sale or Trade)

I thought for the most part all of the Fly classics took the same tire?

And you guys are pretty good at retreading this tire(d) puns.