There was some talk about the NASTE Halloween race at Rapid Raceway yesterday after the Sportsman and NASTRUCK races. Sounds like we may have a pretty good turnout this year after all! See ya all there!
1,227 October 18, 2020 4:02 pm
Re: NASTRUCK. (41 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
That's nothing Doc.....I farted and the batteries were dead!!!!
1,228 October 18, 2020 9:23 am
Re: NASTRUCK. (41 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
Unfortunately this was all the video I got because my batteries died!
1,229 October 18, 2020 9:03 am
Re: NASTRUCK. (41 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
Here's a few photos I took of some of the NASTRUCK entries before the racing began:
Had there been a concours competition, I believe it would have come down to a decision between these beautiful trucks! I don't think I could have decided between them which was nicer!
Bob Nak's truck:
Beau's entry:
Zack's truck:
Bart's truck:
1,230 October 18, 2020 8:58 am
Re: This is the Sportsman page. (139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
Ted is always a top competitor and a threat to win.
Dennis also came down from the Seattle area with his fast cars.
Rico's Olds was extremely fast!
Bob brought out a new Sportsman car to compete with.
1,231 October 18, 2020 8:54 am
Re: This is the Sportsman page. (139 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
Racing at Rapid Raceway is always fun and yesterday was no exception! The competition was extremely close and there was lots of "rubbin'"! I snapped a few photos of some of the entrees before the racing began.
Bart's Sportsman team cars:
Zack's Sportsman entry:
Craig brought this car down from the Seattle area:
Beau built this beauty:
1,232 October 11, 2020 8:38 am
Re: NASTE Annual Halloween Race 2020 (26 replies, posted in NASTE)
The date for the Halloween Race has been changed to Friday October 30th. The doors will open at 5:00 PM. This is a pot luck event as usual, so please bring snacks, food, or drinks along. Although I did not receive many responses to the date change proposal I did receive at least two comments that Friday might work out better. I’m looking forward to another great Halloween race in the typical NASTE fashion! Something new for this year………….the expanded role of the MASK?
1,233 October 10, 2020 9:15 pm
Re: NASTRUCK. (41 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
It looks great Rico! I really like the wheel inserts! Hopefully we can have a close battle again!
1,234 October 10, 2020 10:58 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
So here's the two pieces of track that form the underpass. Now I can do a skim cut with my router to clean up the braid recesses and then repaint them. I will install the braid on the esses before I reconnect them to the rest of the track since that is the section with the least amount of clearance.
1,235 October 10, 2020 10:55 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
This piece of the track did NOT want to come up! I kept thinking I missed some screws. But after some persuasion it finally popped up.
My hammer and a wedge made for a great persuader. Persistence does pay off!
1,236 October 10, 2020 10:53 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Believe me, I studied this area of the track construction very well before I started this procedure! The underpass section of the track consisted of two pieces. I used magnets (I guess slot car traction magnets are good for something!) to locate the screws holding the track sections to the tabletop. I then used a knife to dig into the track through the wood filler to expose the screws heads. The screws were removed with a screw gun where access permitted. A couple were removed by hand. The tricky part came when I realized there were some screws that secured the track from the underside of the tabletop. Luckily I found this out while digging for one of the screws heads and found the pointy end instead!
1,237 October 10, 2020 10:47 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Here's the problem:
My router will not fit under there to clean up the braid recess. Not to mention having access to install the new braid! So here's my solution: if you can't remove the overpass, remove the underpass.
1,238 October 9, 2020 4:21 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
And here she is in all her naked glory!
1,239 October 9, 2020 4:20 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
They just might work as a flute, but they're kinda small..........
So today I quit waffling on whether or not to replace ALL the track braid. It's ALL gone!
I put in a good 7 hours today! That's like a full week of work for me! My original plan for the day was to start rerouting the braid recess with just a skim cut to prepare it for new paint and then new braid. To be honest it went so fast I finished pulling off all the old braid and rerouting the braid recesses on the entire track! The skim cut really was the way to go. I know from experience I would have spent at least a week trying to hand scrape and clean the recesses in preparation for gluing down the new braid, and the final outcome would not have been nearly as good. I do still have one area of concern, the underpass. My router will not fit under the banked overpass, and Kirk Smith already warned me about trying to remove the bank or any portion of it. I have an idea that I will research tomorrow.
Here's some more things I learned today:
1. Don't use staples on anything that may have to come off in the future. It's a B removing staples from wood!
2. When routing braid recesses on a finished track use a router with a small diameter base. The smaller diameter base will keep the recess more consistent through portions of the track that are not perfectly level.
3. Don't ever build an overpass with less than 12 inches of clearance!
Here's why cleaning up the braid recess with a router is the way to go:
It probably would have taken me a week to clean all the braid recess by hand. I did the whole track in 7 hours!
1,240 October 8, 2020 9:04 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
NICE RICO!
YES! These are to be used for common connection points of the negative contact braids for each lane at each power tap. One hole on each end for mounting points to the underside of the tabletop, four tinned holes for braid connection points, one tinned hole for a jumper wire to the controller hook-up for brakes, and one ear for connection to the main ground that runs the length of the tabletop. This is all just further development of a track wiring system Hugh Ellsworth designed in the early 1980s.
1,241 October 8, 2020 4:52 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
I've been kinda waffling back and forth over re-braiding the entire track or just the new section. After performing some closer inspections today I've decided to bite the bullet and re-braid the entire track. A lot of the existing braid is still good but, the braid adhesive is so old, and has been subjected to so many chemicals in the form of cleaning solvent and tire compound, the adhesive has pretty much lost its adhesive qualities. It many spots it is just kind of an icky goo under the braid, and in other spots it is a crispy, brittle, thin coating. After much research I am going to perform a light skim cut of the braid recess using my special bit for that task. I have been asking a professional track builder for suggestions all during this renovation process and he recommends a skim cut, just a couple thousandths or so to get down to clean wood for the new braid. I can use my router to do this everywhere but under the overpass. I will have to clean the recesses in that area by hand as best I can. Using the router will be much quicker than trying to clean the recess by hand! After the skim cut I will have to re-paint the braid recess, but I still think it will be a better and quicker process than just trying to clean the recess.
So here's an extra credit question: What will these two parts be used for? (A hint: I will need a total of 6 of these).
1,242 October 8, 2020 4:34 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Today I finished wiring up the controller hook-ups at each driver's station. This was my view for most of the morning. One improvement today over Tuesday, I did not fall asleep on my creeper today!
1,243 October 6, 2020 6:10 am
Re: NASTE Annual Halloween Race 2020 (26 replies, posted in NASTE)
I would like to suggest we move the Halloween race date to Friday October 30th. Does anybody have any objections?
1,244 October 4, 2020 5:52 pm
Re: NASTE Annual Halloween Race 2020 (26 replies, posted in NASTE)
Thank you Howie! We really appreciate you hosting our Halloween races and being so flexible!
SO.......would there be a better day or time to reschedule the Halloween race so more people can participate?
=========Bill
1,245 October 4, 2020 5:49 pm
Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener (33 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
Here's some great race photos taken by Howie:
1,246 October 4, 2020 9:04 am
Re: RAPID 500 Seasoner Opener (33 replies, posted in Rapid Raceway)
Howie, it was another great event at Rapid Raceway! Really good turn-out and some awesome competition! Thanks for puting on another fantastic Rapid 500!
Send me some photos and I'll get them posted!
1,247 October 3, 2020 9:25 pm
Re: NASTE Annual Halloween Race 2020 (26 replies, posted in NASTE)
So far, counting me and I will have to leave at 7 pm if it's a Saturday race, we have 2 for sures and 3 maybes.
1,248 October 3, 2020 9:22 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
I'm ready to start reinstalling the wiring. I'll be rewiring some of it.
Then I will be ready to rebraid the track. I'm thinking I will be rebraiding the entire track. The track is 18 years old now and most of the glue holding the existing braid down is giving up, it's old and brittle with little to no grip. The braid pulls up easily and is prone to damage during races.
After I finish laying down the braid I need to repaint some of the lane striping.
Then reinstall the side boards and the under skirting.
Then it is break in time!
1,249 October 3, 2020 6:56 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Thanks Doc.