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Last call....  If you are interested in running a car down the hill this year, this is "last call" to express interest.  I am to the point of needing to commit my energies or move on to the other projects I am presently juggling.

There is the fleet of streamliners in which one may (or may not) fit that are available, and there is the as of yet still under construction SpecKart which I am building for those with a distaste for claustrophobia.  Pics and propaganda for them are here:

https://www.facebook.com/homebrewedrace … 335390557/

If you are interested in fielding a team, I am happy to provide hardware support.  Time is running out to get organized and registered.  Reply here by the end of the week (3/14) if you're interested.

Chris

Because I keep going back to read them, here are the rules currently:

"Class 15 - Sportscar Era Class - Pre-Ground Effect (PGE)
Pre-Ground Effect (PGE) Era - Full-fendered sportscars from 1968 through 1980 which ran in FIA, IMSA, or SCCA sanctioned events. Any motors (22k limit), tires, driveline configuration, or chassis material may be used. Bodies must be injection molded or resin cast and not vacuum molded. Thunderslot brand RTR cars are NOT eligible for this class, but their driveline components (wheels, axles, gears, tires) and guide assembly may be used for tuning"

From our rules page: http://www.naste.org/racerules.cfm

I don't really have a strong opinion on this.  We split the eras up based on club feedback, not anything I personally wanted.  I am happy to support group consensus again, but the intent was to have era compatible cars on track with each other.  It seems like that is happening, despite the same cars having a class in which to play by themselves.

CK

Yeah, thought about that.  Might be a decent compromise for the situation.  I don't intend to require roofs for the other two divisions as I want a space for the Audi TDi's and similar cars to run.

I have the #20 Martini one in white:

I also have a yellow Opel Kadett with a bunch of rubber marks on its roof and sides....

The Mini went to Zack post-event, the NSU went to some other dork but can't remember who.  Maybe they'll pipe up here?

Really want to get an Escort to go along with them as well... and just looked up the Alfa as well- looks great!

I need to get another track built so I can justify some new cars!

Scalex: finnicky, twitchy, a bitch to tune, easy to break, guide & wires suck

Policar: better

As someone without a track these days, I'm in if I'm free!

Bill- If this is a go (and I support it), you know what car I will need.

Based on my limited experience with them, a new set of shoes will be required if we stay at 10V. 

I really like the idea of dropping the voltage as part of the package, but we'll have to see where that puts the entertainment factor.

Chris

Tom - The moulds for several cars were passed between companies or the companies were bought out or whatever, but long story short is Revell, Monogram, and MRRC models all share a certain percentage of parts.  The bodies and wheels are model specific but most (if not all) of their offerings come with the Sebring chassis underneath them.

There are some which don't (GT350, Cobra Daytona) but there are many which do (Cheetah, 64 250 GTO LM, 904, 910, King Cobra).  All of those are by memory, but Bill would be the man who can confirm as he probably has multiple of all of them.

And by "probably", I mean "definitely".

Despite not being around much lately, I feel I have a dog in this race.

Please don't rule out a car model because of one manufacturer.  Is anyone running the tables with something other than a Slot.It?  You all know my addiction to white, red, and the GT40, and I admit to being highly biased, but I would like to see the Fly and Scalextric versions stay legal- if they fit the class eligibility. 

Don't want them at all?  Change the eligibility years, but yeah- make sure you go to 1963 because they were around in '64 already.  I read that on the internet.

I would like to see us continue to allow podded cars with the pod locked down as I think we would do a disservice to beginners if we eliminate that option.  It also allows a broader selection of eligible cars and I like that.

If you're worried about unfair advantages for podded cars even with the pod screwed down, have a sunset clause like we do/did for magnets.  You can run a locked down podded car until you win with one.  Flat chassis only after that, so you better be building and tuning while you're running the pod car.

Since it was intended to be cars from the 50's, let's make it cars from the 50's.  That would bring new life to the D-Type I've had buried and doing nothing for years.  But if we did that, would we have to worry about the XK120 and the 55 Vette becoming the new GT40?  There will be cars which will have inherent design advantages, but I don't think we should go chopping out the top performing car in each class.  There's another one right behind it.  The king is dead, long live the king.

If this class is really to be about skinny-tired, slow-motored cars then let's make it that: stipulate a single piece chassis, skinny tires, 14k motor, whatever year range we choose (but not necessarily all agree upon though), and let's get on with the racing.  If we want to include locked down pods (and I do), note this as well and move on.

And lastly, for a reality check: we do this for fun.  We need to make sure our objective is to maximize the fun and minimize the BS.

Chris

You're a warped and twisted man, Doc!  Thanks and have a great Christmas too!

In fact, EVERYBODY- have a great Christmas.  May you get all the slot stuff you need!

CK

Yep, third as Monte says, but to clarify, we were third on total distance as well as points.

It was a fantastic effort and validates the improvement I had seen on our last venture northward (prior to the McLaren Lighting fiasco of 2017).  Alan goes through great efforts in trying to please everyone which can have a knock-on effect of appearing to move the goal posts.  In the end, whether scored on distance or points, the order remained identical in all eight places, which was nice to see.

It was still a very fun event and having the three different cars was both good and bad.  Switching between them required us to tune all three and adapt to the new cars as we progressed through the event which was nice, but it also eliminated some of the challenge of actually getting your car through the actual 24 hours of the event.  I am pretty sure that all the teams only changed their braids once of ONE of the cars (although they all looked pretty ratty once we looked at them at the end).  There were no motor changes (good thing!!), no guide changes, and there would have been no tire changes without the mandatory exchange during the 24th heat of the entire event.  Running three cars shifted the feel of the event from a 24h marathon to three 8h sprints- and sprints they were!

Things went very well for the event this year though- all the light kits worked well, the cars all handled great and they all ran incredibly comparably to each other.  They are quite fun cars actually and would make a great addition to what we run.

As for the caliber of the team, it was one of the best we have shown up with to date.  Everyone ran the laps we needed when we needed them, and the internal team support was fantastic!  Having Zack around to build and tune with was awesome, and running overnight with him and Ray was one of the best 8 hour stints of slotting I have had the pleasure of recording.  Both Monte and Tony turned in good laps times, with Monte specifically channeling his inner nickname and running smooth, consistent laps while those around him were sprinting and flopping out.  Everyone pulled their weight and helped each other carry their burdens as well.  Many thanks to my very competent teammates!

I will be putting together a team again for next year.  Plan on it if you're interested.

Chris

Look up Zack on FB.

Or, try mine here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AgPbfDqcxHvdD8qdA

More uploads eventually.