34 replies to this topic

[Mudhen]

Howdy folks,

I stopped racing back in the early 2000's (kids, life, etc.), and like an idiot, sold all of my stuff. I want to start up again, but looking at what is out there, it seems that I am limited to either brushless motors or gutless looking Mabuchi lookalikes. What happened to all of the various types of motors. Part of the fun to me was putting together a killer 16D Nascar Flexi, or C can, with all of its possibilities from Contender, to Wasp, to X12. and a high downforce body. I even got my hands on a Lee Gilbert Eurosport car with a  tired C12, and I could run 3.1's on Downtown Don's Kingleman, (a REALLY bitchin' track). Are these classes all gone now? I understand keeping costs in check, but Hell, compared to even the cheapest "real" race cars, slots were a bargain. Is this the new reality? And are there private clubs who still go for it?

[Dave_12]

Go to the track that you intend to be racing at, to find out what classes they race there

. 

[Alchemist]

Greetings and welcome Frank!

 

Having lived in the bay area for many years (but no longer), the closest commercial tracks that are still in operation, that I could recommend to you are an hour's drive.

 

Fastrak Hobbies in Rocklin, CA is one:  https://www.fasttrac...es.com/slotcars

 

The other is Motown Raceway in Modesto, CA.:  https://motownraceway.com/

 

Perhaps a "field trip" to these tracks might help you to get reacquainted with the hobby.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Ernie

[zipper]

Slot Car Raceway California, a smallish 4-lane track in Frank Sarkela's garage is at  Rohnert Park, CA  https://www.facebook...100057076406952

[Brian Czeiner]

You can also look at the track locater here on the Slotblog home page to potential tracks.

 

http://slotblog.net/...4-raceway-list/

 

or this one for clubs

 

http://slotblog.net/...e-raceway-list/

[Bill Seitz]

The classes you mention are not all gone, but less popular. We seem to be in a period where building motors is unpopular. Cheap, 'run till they quit' Chinese motors are generally what's in use, and some of those are quite fast, but the others are still around in some places. The brushless motor crowd would like everyone to think they've taken over the world but haven't gotten there yet.

[Ramcatlarry]

Once you find a Raceway to race at, you may find that other racers like those 'good old days' of building motors.  They might only race them infrequently and are looking for more racers.

[Alchemist]

Hi,

 

It seems the link I posted above for Fast Track Hobbies is not working, try this link instead please:

 

https://www.fasttrackhobbies.com/

 

Thank you.

 

Ernie

[Mad Mark]

I’m from that same era too. A bit has changed with controllers and everything being china sealed motors and now brushless is starting up. I used to race champion turbo flex’s with S16D and the new flexi chassis with the China motors handle amazing! (Jk Aleos)

[Samiam]

Howdy folks, Is this the new reality? 

 

 

Yes. 

[Ken Lenz]

The classes you mention are not all gone, but less popular. We seem to be in a period where building motors is unpopular. Cheap, 'run till they quit' Chinese motors are generally what's in use, and some of those are quite fast, but the others are still around in some places. The brushless motor crowd would like everyone to think they've taken over the world but haven't gotten there yet.

No there are some old dogs hanging on to those brushed motors.

Attached Images

• 

[MSwiss]

The brushless motor crowd would like everyone to think they've taken over the world but haven't gotten there yet.

Bill,

Brushless has taken over in the Euro classes in Europe, but very little interest in the U.S.

 

I know it hasn't impacted my motor business.

 

I can't think of any U.S. orgs that have switched from their brushed motor to brushless.

 

I hear of a few weekly series that run them but that's about it.

 

I sell quite a bit of drag parts these days and I've had zero inquires about brushless with that crowd.

 

I think part of that is that they launch so slowly compared to brushed motors, running similar ET's, one would have to adjust their brain to cut good lights, and certainly couldn't enter a mixed bag of cars in a race.

 

Maybe the apathy for brushless in the U.S. will change once the technology stabilizes and there isn't a perpetual line of new versions..

 

The term most common for brushless seems to be "new & improved".
 

[Mr. M]

A theory, if Koford or Proslot ever close their doors for making motors, the G12 and up crowd will move on to brushless once the inventory gets used up. Track record for someone buying the business does not seem good, about 50/50 if they would be forced out for health reasons or retirement (Alpha and Camen for instance). Thoughts?

[Ken Lenz]

“Maybe the apathy for brushless in the U.S. will change once the technology stabilizes and there isn't a perpetual line of new versions..”

 

The term most common for brushless seems to be "new & improved".
 

 

Mike sounds like the 20+ versions of the CR102, huh?

[Hot Slots]

I hate my brushless cars, you never know when its going to spit and sputter after a restart, or why the car goes from the fastest car on the track to the slowest ,surging down the straights. I'm good for now.

Atleast with my brushed cars I know it's going to take off when the power goes back on.

As for version 20 it's the same motor as the other generations, it's the 20th batch he's bought.

The cr102 is the most consistent brushed motor I've used since returning to the hobby 6 years ago.

I'll stick with the brushed motors until yall figure out the brushless motor Ken.

[Ken Lenz]

I hate my brushless cars, you never know when its going to spit and sputter after a restart, or why the car goes from the fastest car on the track to the slowest ,surging down the straights. I'm good for now.

Atleast with my brushed cars I know it's going to take off when the power goes back on.

As for version 20 it's the same motor as the other generations, it's the 20th batch he's bought.

The cr102 is the most consistent brushed motor I've used since returning to the hobby 6 years ago.

I'll stick with the brushed motors until yall figure out the brushless motor Ken.

 

“I hate my brushless cars…”. right

[Hot Slots]

I didnt say I don't win with my stuff, and that's my do-slot setup that doesn't spit and sputter.

And when that setup takes a sh*t on me, I'll run my Retro eagles again.

[Ken Lenz]

I didnt say I don't win with my stuff, and that's my do-slot setup that doesn't spit and sputter.

Double post, please delete.

…well this sure is not a DoSlot set-up at P1

 

maybe if you didn’t oil the greased bushings you would have better luck.

 

Attached Images

• 

[Hot Slots]

After the first heat, it started surging down the straights , the car lost 5 tenths. Brand new x-89 esc.

Driving 2 hours to race, TQ'ing , on the same lap as the leader after the white lane and your car takes a fat Sh*t. Ya that's enough to make me hate Brushless cars.

But hey Ken, if you figure out all the kinks make them reliable like a brushed motor, and I'm back. But until then I'm not spending anymore money on brushless stuff.

[Brian Czeiner]

Well this sure veered off course from a nice "welcome back to the hobby.......

[MSwiss]

Brian,

Sorry, but I disagree with your characterization of this thread.

 

"I am limited to either brushless motors or gutless looking Mabuchi lookalikes."

 

Insulting and incorrectly characterizing the motors that dominate current  commercial slot racing isn't exactly "Hey, what are you guys using for motors these days".

[Brian Czeiner]

Brian,

Sorry, but I disagree with your characterization of this thread.

 

"I am limited to either brushless motors or gutless looking Mabuchi lookalikes."

 

Insulting and incorrectly characterizing the motors that dominate current  commercial slot racing isn't exactly "Hey, what are you guys using for motors these days".

I am in agreement with insults. They just aren't necessary.

[jimht]

There was a time when slot car motors were adapted from some other use...model trains for instance, and adapting ("building") was challenging.

 

After that era the term  "building motors" really only meant fine tuning motors specifically built to use in slot cars, not building a darn thing.

 

If anyone is "building" motors nowadays as we did originally, it's those making brushless motors designed for drones work in slot cars.

 

 Regardless, to the OP, there are all sorts of electric motors. You can try to herd cats motor-wise or you can go along with what's being used now until it changes...again. 

[Mudhen]

I am confused here. Are you guys telling me that a brushless motor, or a sealed Chinese unit can beat something like a Kofford G12 motor , or a pro slot blueprinted 16D in a scale class? I meant no insult, but you are mistaken about "building motors". I, and many of the rest of us, would start with a bare can of our choosing, and proceed to glue in the magnets that we chose, insert the armature and install the end bell,then use spacers for correct armature end play, brushes and springs. Even in a 16D, getting your spring tension right was important, and I spent a good bit of time getting the radius of the brushes right. After break in on a dedicated power supply I would run the car and then adjust the timing( if we could with the chosen end bell ) and sort out what gearing was required. If that's not building then what is? And this was for Scale racing. The G-27,G-7 and Eurosport guys made us look like newbies who used ready to run Parma Nascar stuff. And I am talking well into the 2000's. Excuse me for being behind the times.

[MSwiss]

I was just told my sealed CR206 Head Honcho is running 2.5's in wing on the Gerding King in Butler, Pa.