Vince's thoughts on his hobby.
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)

I woke up to the house smelling of Butter Braid, coffee, and turkey.  Family arrived shortly after.  It looks to be a great Thanksgiving at our home and I hope at yours as well.  I count among my blessings the friends I have in the local slot car clubs as well as my on-line friends that I only know via the web.

The first is a WOMP based Daytona Prototype.  Since we ran the Fun Cup bugs just a season back most people would just have to come up with a body ($15) and maybe a new club motor ($2).  Tires are always an issue but since only 2 seasons back they can't be too bad.

The second is a LARGE World Of Outlaw Sprint car.  Once I saw the car on one the many forums I hang out I knew I wanted to race them.  Better yet, they would follow the rules of the Dirt Modified AND require the same hard rear tire.  There, for about $10 you can run another class. 

Thanks to Scott VA and another order I have all the borders I need.  I did the wood work this morning and am getting ready to install the track and make it runable.  I am going to go get some finishing nails and tap them in like Gil F suggested.  With any luck it should be drivable tonight.  I think I have settled on the start/finish location though it will require the drivers to set up the cars.  There are a few tough spots to marshal but I think the track is more interesting now.  I'll post more information as the night goes on.

We ran 4 cars this past weekend, all SCX, as a IROC sort of race out at Craig S. new track.  He has a 80' or so 4 lane NINCO track that turned out to be a lot of fun to run on.  There was a learning curve in running the track as an event, driving, and marshalling.  Overall it went OK.  I think the club is looking forward to adding this track in to the rotation.  And thanks to SCX (Dave Kennedy) for allowing us to beat up on some cars.  I will get a write-up on that as soon as I hear from all the drivers.

I, too, have been busy.  I purchased a few DP cars and tested them as a possible class for the plastic season.  I have also been working on my track.  I have the layout complete now (thanks Scott VA).  I am working on borders and wiring this week.  I hope to get something runable before the end of the month.  Like Scott VA and others I also plan on copper topping the rails.

I know I took more photos over the last three weeks and have more to chat about but I can't recall right now.  I really need to find a better blogging/reporting tool than straight HTML.  Send your suggestions to VinceL at mgpmrc.org. The biggest requirement would be that I can download it and add it to the club CD that I give away about every year. I also have results to post and event photos and videos to post.  Maybe a lesson in time management is due...

I had brought a few of Scott V's things to sell and sell they did.  I need to take inventory of what I have left of his to sell and post it to the club. There are a few things I am not sure of but I am sure that the club members will not try to rip Scott or I off if I just ask for an offer.  We do miss having Scott race though.

The Indy Roadsters were up first.  We had a good field and a wide range of performance.  Steve T's car would have probably been quicker pushing it around while Paul's was burning up the track.  Seems we have been getting a rash of bad K&B motors since only the older motors have any performance in them at all.  I got one from Paul last night (from Brandon from Mark) and I am going to put it on my tach and see what I can do with it.  I'd like these cars to be closer in performance for then the race is more fun.

Speaking of close racing, we finally broke out the new IROC cars.  After everyone was done giving me crap about the colors we were ready to race.  the club had purchased some ready to run Womps for the oval. The older womps had taken nearly 3-4 years of beating and needed to be retired.  These cars ran fast and close.  Gil is going to thin the rear wheels a tad more so you have to drive them. Though he adjusted things to make them be driven rather than wide open the green car could still be just held wide open.  It will be interesting to see these on the TriOval.

The final race of the night was the Dirt Modified.  I have never seen so many wrecks nor the number of cars that went over the wall.  Tom G's was the worse.  His car flipped off and landed on it's tail shattering the roof supports. He ended up running the remainder with duct tape!  He still managed a first over Gordon and his hot car.  I will have video up as soon as possible splicing together all the interesting events of the races.  It is turning out to be fun class to run and I need to get off my butt and get mine built!

We have tentatively decided on dates for the Forums Cup.  Look for those dates to be announced as soon as I get the final OK from the track owners.

After I got done with the flexi cars Paul asked me paint his roadsters.  I had the bodies for over three weeks and finally got around to painting it the night we raced on the oval. I still need to do some decals/labels for him but that should not be too hard.  The hard part will be guessing the sizes unless he e-mails me with specifics. One was white with a chrome fuel tank.  The other was blue with a yellow nose.  I think they turned out OK but of course I didn't bother to take an after shot!

The race at Jim's was interesting as my equipment started failing.  One wire split and Jim had to fire up the soldering iron.  On the next race, my SCX car was not keeping contact and was racing very poorly.  I tried hot gluing the contacts down but that did not help.  I ended up running a loaner car from Jim.  I really wish SCX would either make it easy to put in a wood guide or make a wood guide.  I did get some advice on making it run better so hopefully I can apply the fix before this Sunday.

The basement is moving along too.  I am thinking I will be ready to start putting the track up by next week.  I'll post photos once I get the lions share of the boxes and crap out. AND we have to get ready for the SCX IROC!

The night started off a little slow as one of the newer racers, Ben, was having problems with his car.  The gear mesh was obnoxious and often the car would not even move.  I changed out the braid for some new copper braid.  Gil even tried to adjust the motor.  No luck.  The gear was not happy.  Gordon loaned him his back up car and off we were.

Gordon and Craig were the ones to try to catch in the GT series.  Gordon's stock scaley was screaming fast with Craig right behind in his Ninco Mosler.  My Ninco had gear issues.  It was fast BUT IT WAS LOUD! Need to figure something out before people develop perm. hearing loss!  The IROC in the middle worked well and was close again.  Nice to see the race be tight not so much based on equipment.

The Flexi race was fast and fun.  First recommendation: Ben needs to spend as much time on the track BEFORE the race with his Flexi to improve his driving.  He ended up taking a lot of people out a lot of times, esp his Dad.  Take it from a person who has been there before with these fast cars: practice practice practice.  No harm in spending the 30-40 min before the nights events putting some laps in.  Mark's unpainted car was the one to catch.  I will next time I hope.  Just have to be assigned heats with him.

I had painted a pair of cars for Paul and I to run as a team.  The decals ran a bit when I used the Parma FastColor paint. I don't have a problem with the other brand and may have to go back to it though it isn't a water clean-up.  I think I would have done better had I not been the recipient of many wrecks.  My car was running smooth and fast thanks to the engineering of Jim S. He did two other chassis for me so I can get some backup cars built.  I think Paul would do better if he didn't have such HUGE tires, I think 686B, and therefore about an inch of clearance.  Oh well, we looked good on the track.

We had our last oval race of the season last night at Bretts.  OK turn out, in fact two new guys showed up.  They watched the main events but took part in the IROC.  I hope Paul and Ben liked it enough to return.  I am still awaiting for them to join the discussion group.  Meeting in person makes for an overwhelming experience trying to give information about the cars, the tracks, etc.  Maybe we need to work on a hand-out to give to new guys with the list of cars, sources, and other advice to get the going faster. Only one more road race of the season as well.

Next season is coming faster than I could imagine.  I have my chassis for my 1/24 but there are already a few folks with ready to run cars.  I need to REALLY work on my cars this week.  Just get them built and THEN tune them. 

Cars have been last on my mind as we have been busting our butts at our home to get the basement remodeled.  I put in a double wide pre-hung door and did other wood work.  The wife made curtains, helped with the door, painted, and bough furniture.  We head out to order carpet today.  I have to get a few replacement ceiling tiles and pick up and paint 65' of trim as well.  In the meantime I am trying to get my race room ready! I need more time!

What is going on you ask?  Well, after our basement flooded last year we sort of put the remodeling on hold.  That included my track/racing area.  Recently I purchased a automatic generator and am getting it installed today.  The generator installers were out yesterday and did all they can and now it is the Gas companies turn.  They have to run a much larger gas line to the generator than the house currently has AND upgrade the gas meter outside.  There should be a test firing sometime this afternoon.  After that all this pent up remodeling should start again.  We will be stimulating the local economy and I will be busy!

Don't forget! Slot car show this Sunday!  Come out and say hi to the guys manning the track and the doors.  I'll try to remind folks to wear their MGPMRC shirts.  We are then racing up at Bills that night as well.  My first time for my NASCAR and modified on the TriOval.  I have heard stories now I get to live them.

The Vintage F1 class has been a blast to run! All the cars are real close in performance and it makes for good action.  I don't have the fastest car in the class but I am in there - if I could just learn how to drive! Anyway, John E using Paul H's Vanwall gave me a run for my money.  Every time we met in a turn and touched tires I was always out.  I was a tad faster than John but could not stay in! Argh!  I need to put my BenHur wheels on for the next race.  Overall I think I did better on Jims track than I have done in the past.  My EP Classic did OK and I did OK in IROC too.

Our turn out has been great!  We had 11 folks this past weekend and that is with missing 4 regulars (if I counted right).  We were still getting done early.  I do appreciate all the guys keeping the chatting during the heats to a minimum.  There is plenty of time to chat before and after the races.  Having the race directors really keeping things moving is working well too.  Also kudos to the Tech of the day Bill S for doing a good job under the watchful eyes of Ken W and Gil F.  I think sharing the tech duties amongst the club members will be a good way for folks to learn about the cars.  I appreciate how all the guys have been helping the newer guys get their cars running, giving driver tips, and generally being accepting of them.  Great to see the club growing!

I am also trying to make the cars I do drive a bit more interesting.  I had 3 white Scalextric cars at the beginning of the season.  All three were out the other night with custom paint jobs.  Tom G did the number 2 (Black #3 car).  I used most of the decals that came in the sets to do the other two.  they came out OK.  I also did another Late Model.  It didn't race because the tires came off the rim during practice.  I need some of Bill S' super tire glue.  I also need it for these COTs as I was spinning the tires around the wheels and had little traction.  Tom G had his tuned in and won the race.

Oh, and we had a GREAT turn out at Gils!  The group is growing thanks to the hard efforts of the folks who ran the track at the auto show.  If we get more, say double, then we just might need to find a place.  THAT would be awesome! And yes, I am behind on posting the results.  I am missing some photos of results and will get them from Gil as soon as I can.  I just have to remember to give him his Compact Flash card back!

Here is the D3 car I built. Chassis is based on the Mike Steube DVD, TrueScale body. Ended up at about 130 gm with body, ready to race. Need the correct wheels which Steve should have by next weekend. Then I can really evaluate the handling and see if it needs tweaking.

Nice piece of work.  Some folks are trying to get a scratch built class going. I think Gil is off to a good start.

Tom G and Steve T were the first victims to see how the whole thing was going to run.  We didn't have any issues the first morning after setup.  We did eventually turn the power down, per Tom G suggestion, to make it easier to race.  We figured the amount of power to run the green lane (outside) full throttle and not come out.  The rest of the field you had to drive.  Other folks came out during the weekend: Gordon P, Mark P, Jim S, John E, and Craig S.  Everyone came out as much as we needed them.  Saturday morning we had our first and only major problem: The PC we used for the timing software died.  I drove home to get the one I use on my track and we were back up and running.  Sunday we had an IROC controller go south.  I had my controllers there so I taped up all the knobs and put it out.  Gordon P and I carried the track out at the end of the show while Jim S kept a watchful eye on my illegally parked van. Long weekend? Yes.  Worth it? I think so.  We have been invited back to the 2010 one.  I need to work on a better schedule so people don't have to pull 10+ hour shifts.

I did miss racing Sunday though.  My youngest turned 11 and we had a family party.  I look forward to getting back in the swing of things this Sunday on the oval. I hope to finish my NASCAR COT today or tomorrow or I'll end up running another all white one.

I was watching the other drivers when I was marshalling and I noticed that (a) they drive deeper into turns and (b) they don't slow down ANYWHERE as much as I do.  I need to work on smoother corners and then I think I will do better.  I usually have a great heat when I am in with a better driver because I sort of leech off of their performance. They either push me to keep ahead of them or I am trying to catch up.  Not that all the drivers in our club aren't great - there are some folks worth watching.  That and more practice time on what I am trying to do. 

My F1 was running much better since I put it at the correct width.  I was running over 1/4" thinner than need be.  I didn't realize how much better a wider car runs.  It also tends to run into other folks though too!  I can't wait to get back on BIR or Steve's.  I think I still have an issue with Webster. Too many corners for me! Har!

I also brought some new toys for a show and tell.  I picked up a 1/32 Plafit Chassis as well as a IRRA legal D3 Formula One.  Maybe we can run these in the future.  I like using the IRRA rules because if I ever happen to wander up to Chicago I can race there without having to build another car.  Also, if we use the rules here then it opens things up for those folks to visit too.   I need new rear tires to really test how it will go but I think they look great.

The club has really raised the bar on concourse.  No longer are we racing plastic blobs.  The cars look like they should.  And even if the paint scheme is a fantasy livery they still look great!  I wish everyone in the club would get a concourse award.  Mark P and Scott VA have not only led the way with their pieces of art they have inspired others to do well too!  Thanks guys!

I didn't make the first oval of the season.  I did hear that my name was being said an awful lot.  Some folks seemed to not like the tire choice for the Late Models others like the challenge. It will be an interesting season with such large cars that seem to have little to no traction.

I have been asked to post more photos and will do so once I get the site stabilized.  Seems that when I get one thing going another thing breaks.  My biggest fear is losing the domain by accident.  I could just see the site going over to some spammers (no offense Jake) or adult entertainment.  Patience on your part as well as gentle reminders now and then will help.

My first purchase of the new year. I ordered it from England and it got here rather quickly.  Yes, Mike H, it is destined to be a shelf queen.  I have all 4 of these funcup cars and since you can't get them in the states I don't want o break/bust them.  They look awesome!