I know! Hard to believe huh!?

Tom's World in Bend was host to the OSCAR Super Stock Race on Saturday November 14th. There were 10 entries for this race, with 4 of the competitors being members of the PASER group from the Portland area. The trip from Portland to the race in Bend was a carpooling event, with John Gill volunteering for the driving duties. The trip included snow and ice on the trip there, with a large dose of rain thrown in on the return trip. I can't thank John enough for taking on the driving duty. he did an awesome job!

The racing itself was exciting and very competitive as is the norm at Tom's World! The racing was highlighted by the lunch break spread and goodies for snacks! There were many great on track battles. In the end the local Bend "home team" racers filled the first four spots on the podium but, John Gill finished a solid fifth despite having a couple trips to the pits for major repairs.

Tom's track is a very challenging course. It took me many years to finally make it over to Bend to race with those guys. Having been there once I am hooked! I enjoy the challenge in trying to learn Tom's track, and the group of guys that race there are fantastic! I've made new friends and challenged myself as a slot car racer. Thanks Tom for putting on these great events!

Here's some photos of the field:

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3099OSCAR.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3100OSCAR.jpg

Bob Nakamura's #39 Chevelle won councours.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3098OSCAR.jpg

Here are the finish results:

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3102OSCAR.jpg

1,203

(139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

Hang in there Doc. There may be opportunities coming!

"Must be that new chassis"

DEFINITELY helps!

1,205

(139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

Doc, I think we finished racing by 5:30pm or so.

1,206

(139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

Here are some videos I took of some of the Sportsman class heat races:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na4LpSMySNs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rixe9V8EI7E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZDbOipD6V0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2PT-56g-ig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9omueRd1CA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whc4DcEg-dA

I'm not surprised!

1,208

(139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

Thanks Howie for another awesome race at Rapid Raceway yesterday!

1,209

(139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

We should have a pretty good turn out. Bob won't be there with parts.

1,210

(12 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

Yup.............still gluing braid down here.....................

1,211

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

Missed ya Doc!

1,212

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

We held the first NASTE Halloween race in 1995 I believe. There has been only one or two years since then that the annual Halloween race was not held.

1,213

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

Here some video from the 2020 Halloween race:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow6HbJFzhb4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrJSU5oEVho

This heat was run in darkness........duh...........it's as confusing as the racing was!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV1XYse4oBw

1,214

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

We had seven entries on the grid for the NASTE 2020 Halloween Race.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3040NHR.jpg

Many competitors showed up with the proper COVID 19 safety equipment.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3041NHR.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3042NHR.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3043NHR.jpg

This racer was a little confused.....

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3047NHR.jpg

1,215

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

Not even COVID 19 could stop the NASTE Annual Halloween Race! Although the pandemic did have some impact on attendance, the race was completed without incident....well, without any "unusual for the Halloween race" incidents..........Of course there were plenty of "on track" incidents. It was the Halloween Race! The seven racers in attendance had a great time!

There was PLENTY of food and treats! There were two racers in the "Halloween Rookie" ranks. I believe they learned a couple lessons in regards to the NASTE Halloween Race; 1. You really do NEED some sort of lighting on your car! 2. That lighting NEEDS to be independent of the track power! One of the rookies, Bart Ouchida took the win this year!

Congrats to Bart on his win! Thank you to Monte & Victoria for the pizzas they sent to the track! Thanks to Dorothy Abbott and Bart's wife for the Halloween treats! Thanks to everyone that brought food! And most of all thank you again Howie for hosting our annual NASTE Halloween Race!

Here's the race results:
1st Place Bart 125 laps
2nd Terry 117 laps
3rd Bill 116 laps
4th - TIE - Scott 114 laps
4th - TIE - Rico 114 laps
6th Dorothy "Hammer" 100 laps
7th Howie 99 laps

Thanks Doc. I think it would take more than just Red Bull!

I've been working on laying the new braid. It's a tedious, messy, time consuming, nasty job, and I don't like it! I have finished laying the braid on the section of esses I had separated from the rest of the track. Today I reinstalled that section of track and the corner section leading into the underpass. Next I will bondo the cracks and screws holes making the course complete again.

I figure this track should outlive me so a little advise in advance to the next owner after I'm gone. Unless you end up owning this track somewhere in the future you can ignore the following information!
When it is time for re-braiding re-routing the braid recess is definitely the way to go. To complete the task there are two sections of the track that need to be removed from the tabletop to gain access to complete the job, the esses and the curve leading into the underpass. Use a magnet to locate the screws that hold these pieces in place.  There are 8 screws securing the esses section, 7 through the top of the road bed with the heads Bondo'd over, and 1 screw from the underside at the entrance to the underpass. The curve section leading into the underpass has 12 screws securing it in place, 10 from the top and Bondo'd over, and 2 from the underside also in the location of the underpass entrance. All of the screw heads that have been Bondo'd  over were first covered with paper to ensure that the philips screw heads would not be damaged for removal.

The new braid was layed on the esses section
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3021IFC.jpg

The sections I had separated from the rest of track are now re-installed. The course is complete again, just more braid laying to come.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3034IFC.jpg

The screws heads securing the track sections that must be removed for re-braiding are covered with paper before the Bondo is applied over them.
http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_3033IFC.jpg

Mitch, Bob Nak may have all the correct track pieces for the demolition derby figure eight. If not I know a guy in Spokane that has an extensive Eldon collection. He maybe able to set you up. He ships.

I understand fully Howie!!!!.....I have braid to glue down.....................besides, you really need more to do........ha, ha, ha!

Go ahead and open it Howie. There are probably thousands of unopened kits exactly the same out there that the collectors have never opened. I just saw 9 on Ebay most at $20 or less.

1,221

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

Spot on assessment Mr. Kouba!

1,222

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

Nice Rico! I'm still up in the air as far as a car......

1,223

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

With the renewed interest in the NASTE Annual Halloween Race I have been questioned in regards to "the rules" by some folks interested in attending for the first time. So I decided to do some research on where the rules for the Halloween Race are located and what exactly they say. Well as it turns out I couldn't find any written rules listed anywhere. Seems we have been doing this for so long everyone that has attended in the past has kind of had a general understanding of the rules or lack there of. So I guess I thought I'd give it a shot at putting the "rules" into a written form.......

Here's what I understand the rules to be, please feel free to post any questions you may have as far as clarification!

1. All cars must be of a Halloween theme.
2. A car's width may not impede the travel of other cars when travelling in a straight line (cars cannot be too wide as to block other cars from passing when going down the straights).
3. Rapid Raceway is a commercial type 1/24 routed wood track with a maximum underpass clearance of 3 1/2 inches. Cars must pass through the underpass (this rule is subject to builder/driver's discretion as far as what part or parts of the car may be dislodged or removed from the car when negotiating the underpass).
4. Cars must roll on tires and NOT drag the track (chassis or HARD parts must not drag on the track or cause damage to the track surface).
5. At least one segment of the race will be held in total darkness (cars equipped with lights will have an advantage!).
6. Racers MUST have FUN (this rule is non-negotiable and will be enforced!).

SPECIFICS:
Chassis : ANY
Wheelbase : YES
Scale : ANY
Motor : ANY
Tires : ANY
Body : YES - ANY
Ground Clearance : YES - A minimum of .050 inch is advised!
Lights or some sort of illumination : NOT REQUIRED BUT DEFINITELY SUGGESTED!

as of 10/18/2020

1,224

(41 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)

Could be...could be..............

1,225

(26 replies, posted in NASTE)

Hmmmmmmm.............now there's a thought Stan!!!!