Chris, Beau, and I had a work session at the Scuderia Kouba Shop yesterday. Chris has been hard at work on the MKV and the results reflect his efforts. The MKV is totally awesome and our expectations are high for it's performance! It looks fast just sitting there! One of our goals for the MKI and MKII cars which raced at the PASD last year, is to improve their braking power. As many of you know the bicycle disc brakes we were using were not adequate. The brakes on the MKII had totally failed on our first Dufer run after the test session on Larch Mountain. Those brakes were replaced with an upgraded bicycle disc brake assembly for the PASD race, but those brakes repeated the same dismal results. This year Chris has designed a new brake system using motorcycle ventilated discs and Wilwood mechanical calipers. The Wilwood calipers are designed for emergency brake systems on cars. In addition to the new brake disc and caliper set up I replaced the brake hand grip lever with a longer and more robust model which resulted in an improved grip on the lever and longer throw. After the upgrades were completed on the MKII we took it out for a test run on the hills by the SK Shop. The improvement over last year's brake system was remarkable! After completing a few low speed passes on the smaller of the two test hills, I gave it a full test on the big hill. I found I was able to slow dramatically even on the steepest part of the hill. At the conclusion of the last test run I found I could even lock the rear wheel. On the tow back up the hill I drug the brake to get it good and hot. Even after heating the brake up I had very good stopping power with no brake fade. After the last test the brake caliper cooled down in less than 15 minutes. Now I fully understand that concern over brakes on a gravity car may seem contrary or even misguided. But I will say after my WIDE OPEN NO BRAKES run down Larch Mountain through two hairpin turns this is an upgrade I am very happy to have! Thank you Chris!
2,227 July 6, 2018 3:41 pm
Re: NASTE Odd Thursday Night Racing Rules & Current Thread (2,156 replies, posted in NASTE)
In the meeting we held on February 15th it was decided Can Am and USRRC would become stand alone classes and as such raced separately. When I split the two I added USRRC as our 14th class. Other than that the rules for each class are unchanged.
2,228 July 6, 2018 7:43 am
Re: NASTE Odd Thursday Night Racing Rules & Current Thread (2,156 replies, posted in NASTE)
The official rules for the NASTE Odd Thursday Night Classes have been updated to reflect the changes for the 2019 racing season.
Please let me know of any errors.
==========Bill
2,229 July 6, 2018 7:13 am
Re: NASTE Odd Thursday Night Racing Rules & Current Thread (2,156 replies, posted in NASTE)
Race results from July 5th race at Rippin' Ridin' Raceway:
Classic Sports Car 1
1 Jeff 65.1 Laps
2 Al 64.3
3 Daniel 63.8
4 Monte 63.5
5 Greg 63.3
6 Mitch 62.3
7 Gary 61.6
8 Rico 61.3
9 Stan 57.3
10 Jon 47.7
GT 3
1 Al 69.3 Laps
2 Rico 67.0
3 Jeff 65.9
4 Mitch 65.6
5 Gary 64.7
6 Greg 62.2
7 Monte 62.1
8 Stan 60.6
9 Daniel 60.0
10 Jon 52.8
Open Class
1 Greg 79.0 Laps
2 Al 75.9
3 Mitch 74.4
4 Rico 73.7
5 Stan 72.3
6 Jeff 60.5
7 Jon 52.5
2,230 July 6, 2018 6:58 am
Re: NASTE Race #7 at Howie's (11 replies, posted in NASTE)
I think that would be an excellent option Howie! It would benefit everyone.
2,231 July 4, 2018 9:35 am
Re: Fourth of July (4 replies, posted in Slot Talk)
We'll be doin' the 4th thing here in the sac..........cul-de-sac that is. New neighbors are awesome! Always something going on, parties, BBQs, and just plain B.S.'n. Such is life in the sac!
2,232 June 27, 2018 7:12 pm
Topic: HO Club in the Northwest - Northwest Slot Car Association (0 replies, posted in Track)
Paul from Northwest Slot Car Association found us through Facebook. They race HO on multiple tracks in the Seattle area. Paul invited us up for some HO racing sometime.
2,233 June 24, 2018 9:34 am
Re: 2018 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (45 replies, posted in NASTE)
Hey y'all,
I just received an email from the PASD organizers. Registration for volunteers will be open to the public in a week or so. Registration for volunteers who are volunteering for TEAMS is open now. Folks that volunteer for a team have the advantage of signing up for the more popular volunteer positions. If volunteers wait too long they get stuck with the less desirable positions! Our past experience in acquiring volunteers for our teams has been somewhat dismal. We have a few team members that step right up but I hate to burden the same folks every year. It would be nice to establish a bigger pool to draw from. We need 1 volunteer for each car/team. In all Scuderia Kouba needs 3 volunteers again this year. We have had previous discussions regarding volunteers for this year's race, but I would like to get our volunteer registration completed and have responsible and dependable folks in place. Once we get this step officially completed I can worry about other things! If we come up short I can volunteer for the tow back crew again this year. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering so I can keep track of how many people are interested and or how many people have actually signed up. I can not sign people up they must complete the registration themselves. Also please keep in mind if you are volunteering, in addition to your position or duties on race day, volunteers must attend one of the volunteer meetings held before the day of the race.
Here is a portion of the email i received from the PASD organizers including the link to the website for volunteers to sign up:
So, that being said…volunteers. The volunteer registration will be open to the public in a week or so. We give the teams the first crack at sign-ups because some of the more desirable positions go quickly. There are very few volunteer positions that are not on race day or during the actual race. We need all the hands we can get on the mountain on race day. I get numerous requests every year to find a team volunteer a position that is not during the actual race. It would be awesome if we could do that but alas, the race must go on. Below you will find the link to register your volunteer for their position. Again, the sooner you register the more choices you have for your volunteer position.
https://fs19.formsite.com/mttaborsoapbo … index.html
Thank you all!
==========Bill
2,234 June 24, 2018 6:44 am
Re: 2018 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (45 replies, posted in NASTE)
The weather situation looked shakey! It was pretty cloudy most of the day but there were some nice sun breaks. It never did rain on us!
2,235 June 23, 2018 7:55 pm
Re: 2018 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (45 replies, posted in NASTE)
Here's Dick Gehrke our soapbox derby veteran from the 1946 race manning the Scuderia Kouba booth at Parkrose Hardware's annual BBQ held at Rossi Farms. We had a great time talking with folks about our team and the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby. Youngsters had an opportunity to try out the driver's seats, and the more senior youngsters had the opportunity to talk shop with Dick. A big thanks goes out to Mitch Brooks, Greg Dunbar, Jeff Jenny Lee Burns, and of course Dick Gehrke for all their help in making this event come together!
2,236 June 22, 2018 6:23 pm
Re: NASTE Odd Thursday Night Racing Rules & Current Thread (2,156 replies, posted in NASTE)
Spoken like a true racer Doc!
2,237 June 22, 2018 7:59 am
Re: NASTE Odd Thursday Night Racing Rules & Current Thread (2,156 replies, posted in NASTE)
Race results from June 21st race at Rippin' Ridin' Raceway:
GT
1 Mitch 78.1 Laps
2 Daniel 76.3
3 Al 72.6
4 Rico 71.2
5 Jeff 65.6
6 Fernando 64.7
7 Amy 62.7
8 Stan 61.5
9 Chris Hammet 61.1
10 Nicki 54.1
Trans Am
1 Daniel 69.9 Laps
2 Mitch 66.5
3 Rico 66.4
4 Al 65.5
5 Jeff 65.4
6 Fernando 64.0
7 Stan 58.9
8 Chris Hammet 56.6
9 Nicki 49.4
2,238 June 22, 2018 7:31 am
Topic: NASTE IROC Series (0 replies, posted in Race Rules)
2018 NASTE IROC Driver’s Championship
Purpose
The NASTE IROC race series welcomes newcomers and encourages new slot car enthusiasts to get involved. These entry level races help beginners learn about slot car racing, with minimal investment.
It is also a forum for those who just enjoy driving slot cars and hanging out with friends around a common hobby. NASTE IROC races are family friendly. Kids who can race, get to race.
The NASTE IROC Driver’s Championship also provides an opportunity for experienced slot car drivers to demonstrate their driving expertise on a level playing field. Drivers compete using host-provided cars and controllers. The winning Division 1 driver receives the NASTE Driver’s Cup at the annual Halloween race.
Those interested in owning, building, tuning, racing and competing with their own cars will also enjoy the NASTE Odd Thursday Night Race Series which includes the NASTE Point Series Championship.
Schedule
Second Saturday
December through October
Doors open at 5 p.m., racing starts at 6 p.m.
Entry fee - $3 ($2 host, $1 series awards)
Format
IROC – two races, host-provided cars and controllers
All racers, random order (no qualifying)
Series
Two divisions – Division 1 and Division 2 (self-declared)
Race points by division – 10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd, 8 for 3rd, etc., 1 point minimum
Total points – total of all races
Awards at Halloween race – 1st, 2nd, 3rd in each division
1st in Division 1 receives NASTE Driver’s Cup
Online Presence
Website - http://www.naste.org/ (official calendar and race results)
Forum - http://naste.org/forum/viewforum.php?id=18 (discussion)
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/northwestslotcarracing/
Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/NASTESLOTCARS/
Outreach
Goals:
• Increase number of regular attendees (20 per event)
• Increase number of host tracks (10 tracks)
Strategies:
• Publish series schedule on website
• Publish timely results and race stories
• Promote upcoming races with weekly emails and Facebook posts
• Post flyer at local hobby stores
• Encourage regular attendees to “invite a friend”
• First-timers get free first race
• ?
2,239 June 22, 2018 7:16 am
Re: Saturday Series Tire Cleaning (13 replies, posted in NASTE)
Well......obviously I am confused...............
2,240 June 22, 2018 6:33 am
Re: Saturday Series Tire Cleaning (13 replies, posted in NASTE)
I'm glad your open track day went well and everyone had a good time, but Terry you send mixed messages. When you talk about the "grown men whine and pout and act childish when their car doesn't work well or they get nerfed or the corner marshall isn't fast enough" we can only assume you are talking about something you witness when racing at the venues you declare you no longer race at because you don't like it. At the same time you comment about "racers" that take it too serious but now you say "IROC is "serious" and real competition". I really don't understand exactly what you're trying to say. I've seen you during a race and I can see you are trying hard to win and you take it just as serious as anybody else on the track. When you say the only races where the cars are truly equal is in the IROC races I must say you are wrong. The cars are not equal there, the only difference is all the drivers use the same cars. For some racers trying to make their cars better for the next race is part of the fun. It's true that some cars are better in some races, but if you look at the results of the races at Rippin' Ridin' Raceway and at Rapid Raceway you would see that the margins of victory are just as close or even closer than those of the NASTE IROC races. For me it would just be nice to see you quit beatin' your drum about fairness, who's cheating, and what your version of slot car racing fun is. We all have our own version and our own ways of having fun in this hobby. You race and play with slot cars however you want but you should let other racers do the same. And don't kid yourself Terry, the best drivers emerge at ALL the races.
2,241 June 21, 2018 9:46 pm
Re: Saturday Series Tire Cleaning (13 replies, posted in NASTE)
OK enough is enough! I'm not trying to cause trouble here, but I have heard enough of this. I race at the Odd Thursday Night races and I resent the inference that the Thursday night races are not fun and it's just "grown men whine and pout and act childish when their car doesn't work well or they get nerfed or the corner marshall isn't fast enough". That statement is not fair and does not reflect the activities of the Thursday Night races. There are approximately 20 racers involved with the racing going on Thursday Nights and I am sure everyone of them would disagree with that opinion. A higher level of competition and car construction IS fun for many slot car enthusiasts and NASTE has always promoted and encouraged all types of involvement in the hobby. I myself might lose interest in one type of activity in the hobby for awhile and move to another type but I always have fun, and I surely do not berate other groups or individuals for how they enjoy the hobby. Some racers do take it more seriously than others but like you said if that bothers you just don't race at those venues. Just because they enjoy building and tinkering with their cars and enjoy a little more serious competition doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. Actual RACING is like that whether it is toy cars or real cars! The other side of that coin is some people just really don't care at all, or at least say they don't, which if you think about that it's fine but; why even have a "race"? If that is seriously your interest just put cars on the track and run them around without a lap counter or timer. And if that is truly the desired format, why score points and have a champion at all? If you are in a "race" where half the field doesn't care and isn't even trying, what the hell are you winning anyway? When I first started promoting and holding races, at the end of the session I would mail out questionnaires to gauge interest and see how people felt about how the season was run. I would use that feedback to plan for the next season. Up until a few years ago I would do the same with NASTE but in an open verbal format at the year's end meetings. It got to the point where people did not even have enough interest to participate in any discussions concerning the next season. It might be interesting to use a questionnaire before planning next season's IROC series just to see where everyone stands. One thing I can tell you for sure is the Odd Thursday Night group has already provided me with plenty of feedback which includes some rules updates and the introduction of some new classes. Sure sounds like they're having fun to me?
2,242 June 21, 2018 9:08 am
Re: Saturday Series Tire Cleaning (13 replies, posted in NASTE)
But seriously....Good call Monte, I agree!
2,243 June 21, 2018 9:08 am
Re: Saturday Series Tire Cleaning (13 replies, posted in NASTE)
Hey wait a minute....NOBODY is going to castrate me!
2,244 June 19, 2018 8:14 pm
Re: 2018 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (45 replies, posted in NASTE)
That would be great Mitch! I know I will need some help getting the cars off of the trailer!
Thank you very much! See you at 8:30am!
======Bill
2,245 June 19, 2018 1:07 pm
Re: 2018 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (45 replies, posted in NASTE)
Just got the timeline for the BBQ on Saturday. We need to have the cars unloaded and set up by 9:30am. I am planning to arrive at the event at 8:30am. Our sponsor is setting up a canopy for our use. The event runs from 10:00am until 4:00pm. I could still use some help unloading and reloading the cars on the trailer. Any help would be appreciated even if you can only make it for a little while in the morning for set up or a little while around 4:00pm to reload the cars. ======Bill Bostic
2,246 June 18, 2018 5:36 pm
Re: 2018 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (45 replies, posted in NASTE)
Hello All,
The date for this year's PDX Adult Soapbox Derby is rapidly approaching. Chris has been hard at work on the NEW MKV while I have been doing absolutely nothing to help. That aside, one of our sponsors (Parkrose Hardware) has asked if we could possibly have one of our cars at their annual BBQ. I just found out today that their BBQ is this Saturday June 23rd. I know it is really short notice, but I could use some help delivering our cars to their site in NE Portland. After talking with Chris the plan is for me to head out to Chris' tomorrow morning and get the cars re-assembled to a point they are somewhat "show" worthy as far as representing a functional gravity car. Chris and I can load two of the cars on my trailer, but I will definitely need help unloading and re-loading the cars at Saturday's event. Any help any of you could provide would be greatly appreciated! I'm hopin' we might even be able to ingest a little BBQ for our trouble? Please let me know if you are interested in helping out!
Thanks in advance!
========Bill
2,247 June 15, 2018 4:02 pm
Re: NASTE Race #7 at Howie's (11 replies, posted in NASTE)
Testing before hand is a good idea. I have seen on my old track how varying weather conditions (temp & humidity) can affect available grip on a track, especially when using hard rubber or urethane tires. Using the natural rubber tires and some traction compound on the track surface as is the routine at Rapid Raceway, the effects of those variables would be lessened.
2,248 June 15, 2018 3:24 pm
Re: NASTE Race #7 at Howie's (11 replies, posted in NASTE)
We had a problem with racing the '55 Chevy's when the track was "tacked up" with traction compound. The front tires on the '55's would pick up the traction compound once the tires got hot. This caused the cars to bounce and vibrate and actually de-slot even on the straights. After that race we started the process of cleaning the track off completely before a NASTE race where the '55's were going to be raced. This was not a perfect solution because the hard rubber tires on the '55's provided very little traction on the bare track. I think the best solution would be to build up a set of IROC cars just for racing at Howie's. I would build the cars using Flexi type chassis powered by H&R motors. I would use Team Bluegroove bodies because of their durability, and run the natural rubber tires typical of what the Rapid Raceway racers use. The only down side is the tires would have to be replaced at each race as they will probably not last between races. The tire's shelf life is somewhat short, but can be extended by storage in a freezer, which is something that could be experimented with. With this setup the condition of the track could be commensurate to the normal races held at Rapid Raceway for the True Scale racers. No additional track preparation would be required.
2,249 June 14, 2018 1:52 pm
Re: NASTE 2018 Point Series Championship (127 replies, posted in NASTE)
Congrats to Al for winning the 2018 NASTE Point Series Championship!
Chris, I'll be needin' to pick up that trophy plaque for engraving!
2,250 June 14, 2018 1:51 pm
Re: NASTE 2018 Point Series Championship (127 replies, posted in NASTE)
Official Results - NASTE 2018 Point Series Championship Race No.16 @ Rippin' Ridin' Raceway - FINAL RACE of 2018 Season
Le Mans Class :
1 Monte 70.6 Laps - 10 points
2 Rico 70.1 - 9 pts.
3 Al 69.9 - 8 pts.
4 Gary 69.2 - 7 pts.
5 Jeff 68.5 - 6 pts.
6 Mitch 67.7 - 5 pts.
7 Greg 65.7 - 4 pts.
8 Victoria 58.1 - 3 pts.
9 Terry Redeau 55.7 - 2 pts.
10 Jake 53.6 - 1 pt.
FINAL Standings for the 2018 NASTE Point Series Championship After 16 Races
1st Al 120 pts.
2nd Daniel 103 Points
3rd Mitch 87 pts.
4th Rico 80 pts.
5th Chris K. 73 pts.
6th Jeff Fields 57 pts.
7th Gary 55 pts.
8th Greg 47 pts.
9th Fernando 36 pts.
10th Monte 34 pts.
11th Stan 32 pts.
12th Terry Redeau 19 pts.
13th Jeff Burns 17 pts.
14th Jake 15 pts.
15th Chris Hammett 14 pts.
16th Victoria 7 pts. - Best Finish = 7th
17th Amy 7 pts.
18th Bill 6 pts. - Best Finish = 8th
19th David 6 pts.
20th - tie Vinny 1 pt. - Best Finish = 9th
20th - tie Jimmy 1 pt. - Best Finish = 9th
22nd Nicki 1 pt.