151

(91 replies, posted in Race Rules)

As I recall, the reason we split up the GT class into the era-specific classes is a consensus of people wanted to see cars that ran together in 1:1 running together in 1:32.  I'm not sure what I think about Can Am running as PGE.  It is aligned with the intent of the GT class re-org, but doesn't seem to be in the spirit of it.

I wrote those rules up strictly based on breaking down the wide open GT class into buckets based on club feedback.  I am equally as happy to amend them to exclude Can Am from the PGE class- again, based on group feedback and consensus.

I would like to keep the rules as simple as possible though and I believe the less regulation we have, the better off the racing will be.

Chris

I have the #20 Martini one in white:

https://www.slotcar-union.com/34086-thickbox_default/brm-mini-cooper-martini-white-edition-n20.jpg

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

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sqJK-5CQ62bgGj0KaFcIW77XimlthlvFQjGgqzYarUeC5SX7XFDETt_54AobxAtJLM2Q3487TrJtZDTbtx_cLuKb72vxE_mZX-YHdttMITfAVY1FDugAbWfgxfugho8_OxGrE4RJegJ0ol_zgIRPZFuwZiGhTJAaK6qGOPRY9WAYTMc0lULTN35h9m2HLj8SWqikeyp_SoJUW66csFzMO4Iib_omD51BphefbGnYevs9VYx2FoZrh3chIRlvXIvuM1ze8dbn-zAoNMoFm4yTSueGXTSXKX_-gNNnRc13x5A6ADugtqCMxkpIbaUWe2In4uhumKQ21qx118njqowhvTbateG9g-Ns_sUAB2Bp8xoxp06S6rHNi5I6CJ81KSq1a-gmJq55S1nnjJWcNbVTNr09T9Dcd_AYt6mbehEFL7m9xuwaQpIG4TSUcA8YaCKhQvokJO4tL3CIVxD_GyJlcS2I7sKDt9TbUTrm0z-lrYdWCEW1yZoQQ8dLyW1r_BiM_5rsja1GEVzOpNAn0OwZl-SJP1vgqqLoBfMb1ASZ6_jyRggC3QTXMTze1HSouy2KXuyOz5i2UNovE-AYksXO7SRRTcz3sllMxUq288-vYMHL5aKLm18sgJ9AneSYsHqUzG5r81L7VEr_umlwFWRTnsQAWujmh8PTV6SL0RjqXqJooMZfNTUCqr4zJJm9QyhQ_WzvBIHqQ_qQP_JYfeANNJnMXy16-WYZgzCGoSn_8f6sbRyr=w512-h384-no

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!

https://slotracer.online/community/attachment.php?aid=5561 

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

153

(7 replies, posted in Slot Talk)

Bill has some new artwork suspended in his shop now...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RLv1EheDxvk6VWvjudq8lXhqDLppurxxEfON7g2WDCKnW0bO_9PKoxvJFr3_mTCdNPr4RinR7tsVDsm6Cv-TpsgX1WBKc5ZgMYBAVweJ5w8wBL3-U-aIeSldbzFoshb7MWZAqE4VyfWJTbL_B05-iwNJVX58wIK7hpKUC4CsgnX0poO5U_ep8ACLiB_m85VH4cOXUCdZ9IzjWXy7tEkzqZobINVUtQ2kyObUtnFJi0Pw-lXrzpoNpbot7-a2mZWcpmFNtkIAHBiZjGy7ZTd9u0ID8vaquiY8ZTh75q_lsnRVgDgftn-ntR9g_DS7ISUpSpZwV0wfaGq8xidjMO7jonVOrtvJ-WYGxoWjBxV5ZNi4oc-S-1RrkTHDI-k18tKNsXfuEfQnDTrA87mpBehDEKO3D50CIVPisWDl0VJg8j7_uian5E1XpfQAQ8JuZVAcRwXzNTgEDGJk1GUku0dmIqM8KR236T2--CyowJIRn9Hn8AChdHMt7jy_8dq17S99yLxkQrjq6bFXJuKxSCWEr2O_3jOXzJnkGaYT9hPoobdTqkOSAdEZQor1PPwK_irL-SowArCLn5j9S18CqIQLOOZTBy3cjWlrLYLDlzDTDRT0Du4H_W9uxdum7oQG7msR2e3R9AXL6AGHbOHOIb7TkJBtX5avQLXYSOdp7MW25t0nuwwVayvTWKblAMXhA3dAp3onGUAlAVDPYKbgnDv5uljvm7g5xHNR-B69p2p4SySRpaceMw=w1077-h606-no

It looks great!  It will have a shop light installed underneath it to illuminate the workbench.  Should be a fantastic conversation starter!

Chris

Mt Goat wrote:

Why does it seem like everyone dislikes F1?

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

Policar: better

I can probably make next Thurs work for me as well (the 6th).

156

(4 replies, posted in NASTE)

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

I think the DTM would likely be a better entry-level class too.  Very robust (apart from wings maybe) and the motors were designed for 18V so at 10 they are pokey already.  Swap on some BOSA's or whatever, toss in some lead (maybe?), clearance the chassis, slack out the screws, and see what happens.  How could it possibly go wrong?

The only downside is we'd end up paying retail for cars because I think I heard Bill doesn't have any.

And with all that being said, I would also absolutely support the Goose Cup concept.  I know he had a Cheetah that was hard to beat-ah.  It could be fun... at a lower voltage.

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

Just realized I never actually answered Tom's question directly:  The cars which were sold invariably between the three (or more) companies are called Mono-Vells or Rev-ograms, or whatever conglomeration you can make with the collective syllables from the companies' names.

It refers to all the cars, not just the Sebring chassis'd models.

Examples are here: https://www.electricdreams.com/Shop/slo … c-168_214/

...but DON'T BUY ANY without talking to Bill first.

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".

Mt Goat wrote:

...What if we raced a class every odd Thursday that was for a cheap car (only 1 car would be legal so everyone ran the same car and only legal mod was tuning). This would be so brand new people could buy and race their own car the very first time they came to the track. I would think something like the Scalextric Start F1 car which handles decent out of the box and is $25 shipped to your door. If the club carried 2 or 3 all the time then they would be available for purchase when new folks showed up. And the new folks could leave with a car to tune before the next race....


Literally, ANYTHING BUT an F1 car and I'm in...  If we only knew someone with a whole bunch of cheap cars who could leave a stash at Al's.  Hmmmmm....  If only.

My vote for something like this (and I do like the idea) would be for a MonoVel class with Sebring chassis'd cars.  Yes, it'd probably mean a different set of tires but they are cheap and plentiful and a whole bunch of bodies come on the chassis so you can run whatever style you want.  We would need to take stock in a lead company though as we'll probably need a LOT of it to make them run well.

Chris

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

Is anyone interested in actually participating in the 2020 derby? 

I keep telling myself that I will not be running the event this year, but I can't seem to bring myself to walk away from it.  I know I will not be building a new, "form-fitting", absolute-top-speed entry for this year, but if all goes to plan I will have a Speckart built for an unrelated event in April (and Jeff has one built already too).

If anyone was interested in running it down the hill, I would be happy to make it available.  There would be no podium pressure as we know they are not top 5 runners, but if someone were interested in it I would happily make it available.  They are sized as such to support a wide variety of statures, and much more amenable to anyone of a different size than me.

If you would be interested in running one of the fast cars, let me know as well.  It is an option.

The only deadline we have for this is derby registration in April, so we'll need to have things figured out by the end of March.

Chris

164

(13 replies, posted in NASTE)

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

165

(3 replies, posted in Modifications)

I would recommend a Parma gear if you're replacing the crown on an inline chassis.  They are much more robust and tolerant of shock loading.  There is also a wider range of number of teeth available.

All Parma gears are permissable under NASTE rules but you'd need to be stock if you race at Tacoma.

166

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

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

167

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

After 3+ hrs, we're in 3rd, 10 laps out of 2nd with 1500 total laps booked so far.

168

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

docdoom wrote:

Mmm maybe a link

Look up Zack on FB.

Or, try mine here:

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

More uploads eventually.

169

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

Cars are prepped and seem to run well. To make Monte's day, they are yellow in livery, so he's excited!

Should be a fun run, need to manage ourselves to run consistently but I think we have potential to finish top half of the field.

Check out Zack's Facebook account for pics.

Chris

170

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

We'll miss you there as well Stan but I understand the priorities.  Look forward to getting over to check out your track.

Chris

171

(38 replies, posted in NASTE)

Also, if anyone else is interested in participating, any and all are welcome.  Please come on up.

I might not make it to Tacoma until late Thurs afternoon or early evening, but there is plenty of racing to be had and we'd be stoked to have more people along.

Chris

wb0s wrote:

The Man himself, Tom Street.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/OSCARTW050.jpg


It was nice of Danica to show up for the race as well.  She looks quite happy to be there!

173

(20 replies, posted in Modifications)

Man does that white and red car look good!  I knew it could go as fast as it looked good, just don't have the time anymore to mess with them.  THANKS!!

174

(27 replies, posted in Track)

Thanks for a fun time Mitch.  That's a fun track to run!

175

(27 replies, posted in Track)

need an address for me too please.

ck