Question for me? Drop me a line at 'eAddict at yahoo.com' (had to change the e-mail format due to a large increase in SPAM)

We had just 5 guys to end the season with.  We have had almost 20 different racers over the course of the season.  Gil had to tweak his computer system to put a few sit-outs in so we had enough marshals. Of course the evening did not go by without any controversy.

Since I had no B Production cars Mark P was kind enough not only to loan me one BUT loan me the one he had been winning with all season.  He was so far ahead in points in this class he could have even sat out. Well, both of his cars ran GREAT during practice but developed a stutter during the race. It seemed not only his bb-b-b-est car was having the issue but his
 b-b-b-backup one as well. He pulled the cars off, did some brush cleaning and other TLC then they would scream for a heat. The next heat though the problem was b-b-b-back. I do thank Mark for the loan of his cars and promise to never burn another on.

So why the Legends photos when we ran B Production and EuroPlastic?  No reason except I do like how they came out.  I missed too many of the races to be in the standings. These are some Lexan bodies that I think I will keep.  It was a fun class.  I hope the club can settle down and figure out how to do a concourse award. We had some great looking cars racing and I'd like to continue to see the effort to keep the standard up.

I hope to see everyone back next year.
Have a safe and happy Christmas and New Years!

I forgot to mention we had some of the closest IROC racing yet! Out of the 5 racers, 4 finished on the same lap - all within a 30' gap! I could have done better had I not come out so much in blue.  Everyone was having a good time in all the lanes *cough*.  Thanks to Gil for hosting a small but awesome event!

We had a smallish crowd - just seven of us.  A few of the regulars, Mark P and Jason, were missed.  The racing was very good, not a lot of track calls (until IROC). There were some close side by-side racing in all the classes. I didn't do as well as I had hoped BUT I had one of the best evenings I have had in a long time.  On the LMP races I was bumper-to-bumper with Gordon for many laps. And when Gil and I got next to each other the racing was just as close! We only lost ground to the other guy when we would de-slot. And THAT, I have discovered, is the key to Ken's racing. He had 3 of 4 flawless heats (at least) for both the Rally and the LMP class.  Not coming out of the slot and staying out of accidents gave him 2 first places for the evening.

I'd like to publicly thank my wife for coming down and marshalling during the IROC.  We would have had FAR more track calls than we did if she didn't come and help. My track is just large enough to need three marshals.

Some discussion occurred on what we should race next season.  I was leaning toward the vintage Formula 1 but after reading about all the repairs that were needed after crashed it may not work out.  I am now leaning toward DTM and Vintage Rally.  We will have to wait and see what the rest of the club decides.

Again, it was a night I enjoyed a heck of a lot.  Thanks to all!

It has been a bad month for me.  Not on the track, but off.  The 27th we to race at Steve's - which the club did - I got called away.  In fact, Steve was about the only one NOT there on time. I didn't race but 2 of my cars did. Last night I didn't race cause I felt like crap.  I think it is a mix of a cold as well as allergies.  I have been messing with Christmas decorations that have been in storage all year.  The mold and the dust finally won and I ended up sleeping most of Sunday trying to get this bug to leave.  I hope to be well by this Sunday since we are racing at my house.

If anyone talks to Gil please have him e-mail the results from the last two races so I can update the results. Also, did anyone take photos last night? Please send them too!

We had seven racers show up, about average these days.  With the season winding down I just wonder if the folks who aren't showing aren't showing cause they are not in the running.  I hope not. I enjoy all the chat when the group is large and diverse. About the only competition left on the road course is who will get 3rd in the EuroPlastic GT. Gil and Gary are tied in points.  This last race is for all the marbles.  Whoever wins wins third place. Don't even get me started on Mark P winning all three classes! Then again I think he is the most serious and consistent driver in the club right now and these results reflect that.  He takes a lot of pride in how his cars run and how he drives and these scores reflect that.

I've started scheduling next season. I promise not to have an oval-ish race like I did this one.  Boy did I catch heat for scheduling an Oval race on Steve's road course! I started laying out an idea for an oval at my place and may have it done before the beginning of next season.

Kudos for the new guys Keith and his son Michael! Great racing with you and hope to see you at more races.  Keith was a bit overwhelmed last night when we started helping him plan for next season.  It seems like a lot of loot (OK, it is!) but since we race the chassis over and over hopefully he will see the payoff.  Buying cars for oneself can get pricey - buying pairs get worse. Buying 2 controllers gives even more of a sticker shock! Don't worry Keith! You will get your money worth soon!

We had the usual size crowd of 9 show.  Paul and Michael were 2 of regulars we missed. Paul will be sorry that he missed the race cause it dropped him out of a podium position.  He has been playing a lot of private clubs and such on Sunday nights.  Hopefully he won't forget about the club!

The track worked flawlessly this time.  No power shortages around the track at all.  In fact, Gordon made a comment that it seems like a surge on one of the straights-but it was OK since it was going toward the finish line.  It is where I have one of the power taps.  I would have more but since the track is not permanent it is hard to add all the extra wiring.  We race at my place on Dec 12th so I have a bit of time to do more with the wiring.  Ken R was the only vocal person who said anything about putting the drivers stations in rotation order so vs lane order. I think the majority, Ken included, don't really care.  I just think it makes it easier for everyone just to unplug the controllers and move down a station. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

There was a lot of discussion after the racing so expect to see some new copies of the rules from Ken R again (public thanks for doing all that great work!).  I also think it seems we are leaning toward the Abarth car. A few of guys had them and they ran pretty well being stock. We might even run them with magnets.  Since we are nearing the end of the plastic season I guess I need to get going on the voting again...

Mark P has volunteered to help me build my next Lexan car.  I forgot to get a WOMP chassis to Gil last night so he could cut it up and make it the right size.  I also need to get an order in with him for the Lexan NASCAR body and decals.

I have decided to move my blog back to the base website BUT still keep my photos at photobucket.  I will probably move the photos back some day.  The reason for the move is that the blog would not be able to be archived on the CD I make at the end of the year.  Sorry for all the confusion.

The race last weekend was good for everyone but me - again.  Now it seems I am having issues with my controller. My normally very fast GT car was crap with my Professor Motor controller and I Didn't bring a backup.  In the middle of the third heat I just unplugged my controller and stopped my car - that is why the crappy 49 laps.  I borrowed another controller for the B Production and the IROC and did much better.  I need to probably send my controller in for a once-over.  Been using it for over 2 years.  Might need some maintenance. Having the crappy race also took me out of contention for any podium position for any class on the road course.  There are still some guys within a few points of each other so nothing has been locked in.

We also voted in the next class of cars.  Head over to the rules section to see what they are. Then come and race with us darn it! Oh, and if you see me on Friday (the 11th) don't forget to wish me a Happy Birthday!

 Well, I finally did it. I managed to win a race with my 1/24 ProTrack NASCAR. It was completely unexpected but very enjoyable! I need to keep this car clean and tuned and maybe I can move up in the rankings before the end of the season. My 1/32 Legend car, on the other hand, is always ending up in 4th place! The guy who is in first drives well and has an excellent car! Last week he finished 20+ laps over 2nd AND 40+ laps over me in 4th! I couldn't drive faster! I had full throttle on 2 lanes and he was still passing me! I asked for help and got some great ideas from the guys in the group. If you haven't joined the online discussion group you need too - even if you just lurk.

 What does one do when one is out of town for work?
October 20, 2005

 Look for local racers! Well, I did and they are hard to find here in Colorado Springs CO. I ended up going to a really neat store called "The Compleat Games and Hobbies" which carries far more than slots (as the name implies). They have a small 2 lane track set up and a display case with about 50 or so cars from all the various manufacturers. Wandering around in the same spot I got the attention of Andrew Holder, an employee and a slot car racer. He not only let me shoot photos of the store but he had a few of his cars there as well. He likes to take 1/32 models and put a chassis in and race them. If there isn't a chassis to fit he makes his own! (I should have taken a photo of the under carriage of his jeep). He had an older Batmobile, Speed Racer car, and a Jeep. We talked for a bit about clubs and he seemed a bit bummed that there was no organized club in all of Colorado Springs. He said there are some folks who have tracks in their homes but they just race their buddies. Wow. I am glad St Louis isn't like that! Andrew then showed me a nice 1/32 kit that he was going to make into a slot car - which I promptly bought the kit out from him as well as another from the store and some Carrera people. If you are ever in Colorado Springs stop in the game store and say hi to Andrew. It is a great hobby store and he was great for putting up with my impromptu interview! I'll add the photos this weekend when I get home.

 My track currently used to look like this photo.  I have modified it and added some scenery for this weekend's race.  I'll post them AFTER the race.  I like to give the guys something to ponder.  Actually it hasn't been just me working on it.  Amanda and Kasey, my two daughters, have been helping too.  They are looking forward to seeing what the reactions will be.  So here are some hints.  I have been to the following stores to get stuff:

• Micheals
• Art Mart
• Lowes
• Clear Neon

I was just reflecting on my last comment.  I even thought that maybe I should take it down.  Then I just decided to clarify my feeling about the sport.

I don't want to give the idea that racing sucks or the people in the club are bad or anything like that. I was the one who had an issue and took to a less than professional way to solve it. In fact, many of the club folks have offered again, as in the past, to help me build a car.  I just thought I knew enough - but I don't.

I still plan on racing.  I still plan on having my track available to the club.  I still plan on supporting the hobby. I race with an awesome group of guys and would miss the Sunday evening activities.  They are what makes the racing fun - and I just might take one or 2 of them up on building my next car.

Last night I felt like Matt Morris pitching for the cardinals for their last game of the season.  In case you weren't there - he gave up not 1, not 2, but 3 home runs - back to back to back.  My racing/cars last night put me in the crappiest mood yet.

First, my GT car was tech'ed too low.  I was going to put a spacer in to separate the guide from body a bit but we were running late and all the guys said just go ahead and race like that.  Well, I should have taken the time to do the tech myself before showing up and I would have seen that the lead was too low. You can see from the photo where the lead was hitting the track.  The entire piece was black when the race started.  I HAVE to but the spacer in ASAP if this car is going to run well.

Which leads me to my next point - how much I hate Lexan cars. It started with last week when one of my motors seized up (a new Falcon IV).  I ended up having to run my backup car. This week my B Production, which I didn't touch since the last race sounded HORRIBLE during my few warm-up laps.  My gears had gotten way to tight.  I adjusted them only to have them strip during some more warm-up laps.  Luckily we were at Steve's and I got a new pinion gear.  It ran slow but OK for a few more warm-up laps.  Then during the race it just died.  Apparently when I swapped pinion gears I didn't tighten the motor all the way so the gears separated and the car died.  I didn't even want to run my backup car.  All the other cars that night were WAY faster then my backup.  About the only thing I could do as run for points.  I decided not too.  I decided to DNF.

That led me to my next childish action (as defined by my wife).  I can't seem to tune a car worth crap.  I can't seem to keep one running EVEN IF I DON'T TOUCH IT.  And when I do try to tweak it I destroy it.  So I did just that.  I pulled the bodies from my 2 B Productions and made sure I could not run them again.  I then disassembled both chassis and have the parts in my parts bin.

Childish? Probably.  Do I feel better? Yes.  Now I don't have to have a frustrating night of racing.  I can either go and chat/marshal or not go.  I'll get the same points. What about next season? Well, I plan on bringing ALL my lexan bodies to the show for a clearance sale.  Maybe all my hardware too.  I have finally admitted to myself that I just don't have the time/patience/talent to build or tune a car.  Europlastic I can make somewhat good.  Brass/Lexan? Not for me..

No More Lexan