After a little practice Margo decided it was more challenging to run two cars at once!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QP1adAT4gE

Our son Greg and our granddaughter Margo stopped by today. Greg had repaired the old DOS computer that runs the SRT program for Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway. Greg had checked out the computer and made some repairs after it failed to operate. Greg said he wasn't positive it would still run, but he had it hooked back up and operational is less than 20 minutes!

After the computer was back up it was time for testing which gave Margo and Greg a chance to get in some laps!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3873margo.jpg

THANKS Greg!

Dave Smith had this awesome 1/24 Ford listed on Ebay. I missed out on it losing in the last 2 seconds of the auction......

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3866dave.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3868dave.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3871dave.jpg

Dave's Womps run so smooth it is hard to believe they are Womps! His recipe for Womp success is pretty simple, H&R 18K motor, 9 tooth pinion gear, 27 to 29 tooth crown gear, stock front wheels & tires, and a maximum of 1/2 inch wide rear tires. No bracing or modifications of the chassis, and no weight added.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3848womp.jpg

Some WOMP video porn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lnA0Uv1FIs

Dave Smith and Brian Tooley came up to visit from the Woodburn and Salem area. Dave brought with him a small fleet of Parma Womp cars. Now I have always enjoyed racing Womps, but Dave has these things dialed in! They run great and I can see where they would provide some very close fun racing at a low cost. At some point I was planning to have some sort of a Womp class as part of the racing program (whatever that ends up being) here at Inslot's Checkered Flag. Talking with Dave and running his cars I think I am close to having a set of rules to put to paper.

Here's some photos of some of Dave's Womps.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3849womp.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3850womp.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3851womp.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3852womp.jpg

1,056

(2 replies, posted in Cars)

Ah yes. Life before the Dark Times!

Thanks for posting Mitch!

1,057

(49 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

Get 'er built Doc, I'm around!

Thanks Stan! It's pretty easy to make it look good when SRT does such a nice job on their "board" for the relays and all the electrical connections.

Last night I found the Trackmate components off of my old track in Fairview. I will try to get it installed and running this week.

Thanks Rico!

As a track owner/race promoter there is one thing I hate worse than anything else. It's when there is some sort of operational problem with my track. Especially on a race day! I have attended races where there have been track issues and I'll say the issues bother track owners even more than racers!

So the other day I went out to the shop to fire up the track for a practice session. Much to my dismay the computer would not boot up. After spending most of the day trying to get the computer to work, along with help from John Gill, we finally gave up on it. That evening I took the computer over to our son Greg for his expertise in solving its issues.

Since the current lap counting / timing system is DOS based, and the computer in use is old, I made the decision to put backup equipment into place. I decided I wanted to be able to override the computer controlled race system and be able to turn the track on manually. In addition I want the ability to easily switch from one computer system to another in case of a computer problem.

Today I started work on the project and here is what I came up with. I built and installed a switch panel with four, single pole double throw toggle switches. The three position switches will give me three options for track operation. With the switches in the up or on position the track lanes are powered manually. Each lane can be manually activated individually, all together, or whatever combination is required. With the switches in the down or off position the track can be operated on a computer system that utilizes a single relay to activate track power. I plan to use my Trackmate timing/counting system for this setting. Since it is Windows based I will use a second, much newer computer to run it. The middle position of the switches will be used for the current SRT DOS track system running on the old computer (Greg called and said the computer's hard drive checked out fine, and he thinks he can get it running again).

So once I figure out where I put the Trackmate hardware from my old track in Fairview and get it installed, Inslot' Checkered Flag Raceway will have a second computer and operating system as a backup to the original SRT system and old computer. With a flip of four switches I will be able to switch over to a different computer, which will give me the option of three different operating systems, SRT, Trackmate, or Race Coordinator (SRT will still be the primary system). In addition I have the option of turning on one or more lanes manually.

Here's the switch panel:
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3783ICFR.jpg

Here it is installed:
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3784ICFR.jpg

1,061

(3 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

Cool Zack!

1,062

(42 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

That looks great Rico!

1,063

(11 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

John lives in Clackamas by Kaiser Hospital. It's a small track, just something he can use mostly for testing. Four curves and two straights, one of which is about 13 feet. It is a simple track very similar to the one I had in the late '90s.

1,064

(11 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

John Gill and I routed out a 4' X 16' 3 lane track yesterday.

1,065

(31 replies, posted in Cars)

Rob stopped by yesterday for a little track testing and to show me a couple of his newest restorations. Anyone who collects vintage 1/24 slot cars has them. The old half destroyed cars that were either put together by someone with poor building skills, or cars that were abused. Rob took two more of his "junkers" and turned them into the beauties you see here! He then put them through their paces on the track.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3463rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3464rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3465rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3467rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3468rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3470rob.jpg

1,066

(31 replies, posted in Cars)

There is a lot to look at when visiting Rob's track. He has some really cool displays!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_2744rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_2745rob.jpg

1,067

(31 replies, posted in Cars)

This seems like a good time to show some photos of Rob's home track set up. He has a nice space over a large machine shop just a bit north of Vancouver. His track is plastic sectional Eldon 1/24 track. This track is a blast to run on, nostalgic for sure!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_2738rob.jpg

Rob scratch built this really cool pit area building.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_2739rob.jpg

There are some really nice detail items Rob also scratch built like these signs.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_2740rob.jpg

Rob is the master at restoration work! Check out this cool art Rob created using an old cardboard box logo!

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_2742rob.jpg

1,068

(31 replies, posted in Cars)

These vintage Porsche 904 cars by Monogram are sometimes overlooked. Rob did an awesome job on this build.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3397rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3399rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3400rob.jpg

1,069

(31 replies, posted in Cars)

Rob dropped by the shop with some of his newest builds. Here's a 1/32 Slot.it McLaren, his first 1/32 build.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3388rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3389rob.jpg

Rob built this 1/24 Monogram Ferrari from a NOS body kit and a used chassis.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3392rob.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3395rob.jpg

You're welcome Rico, and thanks for the positive feedback!

Thanks Mitch & me too!

1,072

(5 replies, posted in Cars)

Mitch58 wrote:

Nice,  is this oscar/pacer specs?

Yes Mitch. Beau built it for the PASER/OSCAR Clubman Class. Although on Beau's build he used wheels and tires closer to True Scale specs. the Clubman class does allow shorter wheel/tire combinations.

A short video of the practice session on December 31, 2020.

Beau's Clubman Corvette and Howie's Sportsman car in action through the new section of the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9p7Yh4Iuts

1,074

(5 replies, posted in Cars)

Beau and Howie stopped by yesterday to run a couple laps. Check out this Corvette Beau built for the Clubman Class as raced by PASER & OSCAR. Beau turned the fastest lap of the day with this car at 4.99 seconds.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3286beau.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3287beau.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3288beau.jpg

1,075

(2 replies, posted in Cars)

Nice job Mitch, that looks fantastic!