Trans-Am racing returns to Electron Raceway on 6/6/22 as a stop on the McFarland Memorial Track Tour. Below is a link to the race flier.
http://slotblog.net/...-electron-6622/
This blog is divided into three sections:
- Electron Raceway Description and images of the Track
- Trans-Am Cars Description and images of the cars
- Nostalgia OSCAR Trans-Am Race Reports for 07 and 08 (includes narratives and many images of the racers and their rides)
Electron Raceway is a custom, wood routed track and constructed in 2006. The Track resides in a finished/heated shop area of about 1,000 square feet within a 2,400 square foot metal sided pole barn.
Track specifications are described below.
- Track Footprint 24x18 feet
- Track Surface MDF finished with epoxy paint
- Number of lanes - 4
- Lane Spacing 4.5 inches
- Lane length 90 feet
A track schematic and a few images of the track are shown below.
This event will feature a mix of machinery including both OSCAR based or True Scale Trans-Am cars. OSCAR based cars are characterized by in-line, scratch-built, brass and wire chassis powered by 16D type motors. Minimum rear wheel diameter was set at .790 inches. See images below for a few examples.
True Scale Trans-Am cars are based on H-Bracket production chassis with one-inch rear wheels powered by Deathstar or ProSlot 16D motors
The early 2000s were truly the halcyon days for OSCAR events. Racers from all over Oregon gathered at private tracks around the state to compete for bragging rights. It was not uncommon for these events to attract twenty five or more participants.
Back in 2007 Electron Raceway hosted the first ever OSCAR Trans-Am race. A total of twenty racers participated; quite a few for a brand new track and new venue for OSCAR. Participants came from the Pelican Park club in Eugene, Portland, Bend, and of course Roseburg.
Electron Raceway became a race venue on the OSCAR circuit for the 06-07 Season hosting both Trans-Am and Econo events. At that time there were five tracks hosting a total of eight races. The tracks included.
- Rapid Raceway in Portland
- Electron Raceway in Roseburg
- Checkered Flag Raceway in the Portland area
- Spare Time Raceway in Roseburg
- Toms World in Bend.
For the 07-08 Season, Heidelberg Raceway was added as an OSCAR circuit and 10 races were scheduled. For the 07-08 Season, Electron Raceway hosted two Trans-Am events, the first in September 2007 and the other in May of 2008. The September race attracted thirteen racers while the May event attracted eight racers.
The table below shows the race roster for each of the three Trans-Am events held at Electron Raceway during 06 and 07.
Below are re-prints of the narratives. Sometimes, the original narratives failed to link the images of the cars with their owners, so, in some cases I had to guess. I apologize in advance for any errors.
Trans-Am - Electron Raceway - 3/3/2007
Thanks to all that participated in the first annual Trans-Am Championship at Electron Raceway on March 3, 2007. Thanks most of all to my wife, Susan who was a wonderful hostess and prepared a spectacular meal.
For a change of pace, we ran a different format than the typical OSCAR race. The format consisted of several one heat five minute races (with random lane choice) for qualifying. The qualifying races determined which of three classes participants would be a part of - Hooligans, Best of the Rest or the Championship division. Each division held its own Main and Consi. The Main and Consi races consisted of 4 participants running 5 minute heats on all four lanes. Below are the detailed results. I think that the new format provided for exciting head to head racing where participants and spectators alike could see who was winning, losing, or catching up.
The format ran smoothly except that I underestimated the time it would take to set up and re slot racers into their prospective divisions. As a result we didn't finish until about 7:30 P.M. - everyone's slot racing trigger finger had been worn out by then.
Trans-Am - Electron Raceway - 9/8/2007
Highlights
- Firebird Trans-Am dominates the class
- Racers stuffed with homemade Chinese feast
- Hanna, Scott, Trachsel and Joe duel it out in the Championship race
- Heat format provides close competition and excitement for participants and spectators alike
September's Trans-Am event attracted thirteen participants from Portland, Roseburg and Southern California. Bob Scott traveled 750 miles to be a part of this event - and made the Championship race (top 4) with Rich's loaner Firebird Trans-Am. Again, we used a heat race format (one heat per race - 8 heats total) to seed the group into to Top 8 and the Hooligans categories. From there, the top eight were divided into two groups of 4 (semis) by random draw. The top two finishers in each semi proceeded to the Championship while the bottom two from each semi proceeded to the Consi. The semis, Championship, Consi and Hooligans ran one time through, 5-minute heats (4 minutes for the semis).
I would like to thank my wife for a great home cooked meal and for the tasty cookies, brownies and muffins for snacks. No one left the table hungry. In fact many wanted time to take a short nap before resuming the racing.
Firebirds dominated the field - 8 out of 13 entries - Only Firebirds made the Championship race. These bodies are wide, have large wheel openings and a relatively long wheelbase. A rule change is being contemplated to allow for more competitive diversity.
Hooligans
Since there were five Hooligans, a Hooligan 1 race was held to determine which of 4 Hooligans would race head to head in the Hooligan final. Bill, Gearloose, Dave and Jack raced to qualify for the Hooligan Final. Jack finished last and was literally put on the trailer (Bryan's slot truck trailer see image below). This put Ron, Bill, Gearloose and Dave in the Hooligan Final - Three Birds (Firebirds) and one Fish (Barracuda). Bill's Barracuda prevailed beating Ron by about 2 laps. Gearloose and Dave were third and fourth respectively.
Semis
In the first semi, Bryan and Joe took first and second easily while Rich and Beau struggled to keep up. The second semi was much closer. Although Hanna's pink bird dominated, the race for second place (and the move up to the Championship) was hotly contested. Bob Scott started out by leading the first heat but a minor crash moved him to third place. The battle for second continued as Bob and John Gill swapped places several times during the race. No more than a lap separated the two for the entire race. In the end, Bob bested John and moved to the Championship.
Consi
The Consi featured a diverse field; two Camaros (Rich and Steve B), a Barracuda (John Gill) and a Firebird (Beau). The Barracuda and Steve's Camaro were about .1/lap faster than Rich's Camaro but this was Rich's home track and consistency paid off - Rich's Camaro finished first by about two laps. During the first heat, Beau ran very consistently and beat John and Steve. But Beau's second place evaporated in the third heat as Steve and John ran very well. At the end of the third heat it was Rich in first by three laps; John and Steve on the same lap and Beau just a lap behind them. The battle for second continued in the last heat but the Camaro prevailed over the Barracuda.
Championship
Championship cars were very closely matched. Only .06 seconds in terms of fast lap times separated the four. In the first heat Bob Hanna and Bryan turned 57 laps while Bob Scott and Joe turned 55. By the third heat, Bob Hanna led by less than a lap over Bryan. Bob Scott was about 2 laps behind Bryan and Joe a lap down to Bob. In the last heat, Hanna opened up his lead to about 2 laps. Bob Scott made a valiant effort to overtake Bryan for second place. On his favorite lane (black), Bob Scott turned a blistering 58 laps but Bryan held onto second by less than a half a lap. What a finish!!!!
The Trans-Am race at Electron Raceway attracted a small but competitive field. Of the eight entries, four were Firebird Trans-Ams. The race format was 5 minute heats, two times through but with a "heads up" format. Points were awarded by finishing order for each race. Bryan dominated the field with a great Firebird Trans-Am which was about .2 seconds per lap faster than his nearest competitor. The rest of the cars were quite evenly matched with best laps hovering around 5.2 seconds. Concourse winner was Gearloose with a Firebird Trans-Am. For details and images see below.
Editors Note: Below are images of the individual cars. Unfortunately I can match only a few with their drivers; Camaro Rich, Challenger Bob McFarland, Firebird #2 Joe Heartley.
