38 replies to this topic

[Larry Mattingly]

Wow...

What a weekend!

Hats off to Mike, Cindy, and the rest of the Tom Thumb crew. Everything went off without a hitch...

Over 60 racers, plus spectators. Space was tight, but I think Mike is already planning for next year. I'm predicting 80 racers...

I'm thinking with these numbers we have seen the end of multiple-classes racing on a single day...

Ron Hershman... What can you say? Anyone who thinks it is 'all' motor, do yourself a favor and watch the man drive the donut and lead-on. It's a work of art...

Shout goes out to R-Geo teammate Chris Radisich. Despite suffering jet lag after returning from New Zealand a day earlier, and suffering the ill-effects of a 'bug', he placed second in the F1 main. Personal thanks to Chris for helping me get dialed-in. Finished in the upper half of the field in F1, and would have had great runs (for me) in GTC and Can-Am, if we could have avoided some mechanical ills...

Super runs for fellow Western PA friends Tom and Jeff Lauterbaugh. They have only been at Retro a couple of months, coming from the scale side of things. Jeff finished third in F1, while Tom nailed down third overall in Can-Am...

Good time pitting with the Central PA crew of Mark Greene, Steve 'Poppa Rat' Smith, Billy Gerhart, and Dale Granger. Hope Randy Kohr had 'fun' playing golf at Myrtle Beach in the rain. ...

Talk about people getting along... I only heard three people raise their voices at the drivers station. Had to be some kind of record...

'Jersey John' Molnar brought down the house in his Can-Am main. Driving a dark-colored car on a black surface, John lost sight of it. After hitting the dead-man wall flat out, John calmly stated... "Found it". He then proeeded to keep everyone in stiches with his comments for the remainder of the race. At one point Mike McMasters said he might have to consider paying John to make sure he came back next year. Win or lose, John comes for the FUN. He should be the poster boy of Retro. Good job, my friend. They knew you were there. And it was fun dining with you, even though Bennardo took us on an excursion through three states...

The Chicago Gang is ALWAYS exciting. Their bag of tricks is unending. Good thing Ray Price is there to keep them somewhat orderly. And yes, Ken Swanson 'built' through the night...

Congratulations to Jack Beers on winning GTC and Can-Am concours. His GTC entry would have been a contender in a model car contest...

The moment of silence for departed BP track owner Chris G. was moving...

Congrats to Noose and Mike Swiss for winning this year's MAC awards. NO ONE works harder than Noose promoting Retro. He literally lives the hobby 24-7. Well done...

Thanks to my partner in crime, Rick Bennardo. It has been a struggle getting going again, but I think we have turned the corner...

Met many new people... Had a ball... If you missed it, start planning for next year.

LM

[MSwiss]

I want to be the first to thank Mike McMasters, his family, and employees for holding a great event. From the food, the atmosphere, the organization, and a perfect track for Retro cars, everything was terrific.

It was the first time I traveled out of town for a race since 2005 and I couldn't have had a better time, especially joking with Sano, Ray, Chuck, and the rest of the Chicago crew. I can't wait to come back next year.

PS: Kudos to Noose, Ron, and Cheater for all their hard work over the weekend.

Also to Malcolm Lovelace for his pit help and the great showing he put in, especially in the Can-Am race.

Special thanks to Rande Marshall for the chassis info so I could put a competitive car together.

[mam2f]

Hi... as an IRRA rookie, I'd like to echo Mike's comments.

Thanks to Mike, Cindy, and all of the Tom Thumb staff for their hard work and patience, to make this race such a special event.

The track was awesome...

My personal thanks to Noose and Malcolm Lovelace for squeezing me in at their pit table, and for their help and encouragement. My car was not working at all, and I was ready to pull out on Saturday morning. Without your help... I probably would have. Thanks so much!

I met many new friends at the race, and would like to congratulate all of the racers. I have a long way to go before I can run with this crowd... the journey begins.

Best regards,

[Lucky Me]

I would like to personally thank Cindy, Mike, Jessica, and Jason for working so hard to pull this event together and turning it into a huge success for everyone that was in attendance. This was my first R4, and first "big" race. Being new to retro and slot racing since 11/2008, I must say that there is one special ingredient about the R4, that is the people and how nice everyone was. I met a lot of new people that I hope to see again.

The racing was awesome! and the atmosphere was simply "Retro". I cannot wait until next year as well as trying to get to more races and events. I am certainly hooked.

Thanks again to the McMaster family for all of your support and hard work putting this event together and allowing a guy like me the opportunity to "come out and play", and most of all to have "FUN".

I hope to see everyone again next year.

Sincerely,

[Noose]

Wow!

WOW!!!

Well, I'm finally awake. Drove the eight hours straight through last night after the Can-Am Main. Ditto to all of Larry's observations for sure.

This event was awesome. Many, many thanks to the McMasters family for putting on such a well-organized, terrific event. Thanks to all the racers that came and joined in this record setting three days of fun.

My special thanks to everyone for the Mac Award. Racing these type of cars back in the day was what it was all about back then and to have the chance to have the fun all over again is a blast.

As I said during the event many times and heard it it said by many others, "We get it... We got the Spirit".

[JerseyJohn]

Larry, as always no race would be complete wthout hangng wth my R-Geo crew!!! You and Rick really raced well and Chris is so darn good!!!!

It was great to meet all of the old and new legends of slot car racing; my picture with Howie Ursaner is priceless.

Grazie to...

The McMasters crew, an awesome job, great people, and real down home nice. If you were Italian you would be the sixth New York family PS Mike. I appreciate the offer but I don't mind paying a little for a whole lot a fun. Cindy, don't forget the macaroni promise.

Noose, glad to witness you gettng the Mac award. You work tirelessy for the sport and helpng others. Thanks, buddy.

Bob and Paula, great to see you both. Bobby, you are gettng your groove dude, clearly the "A" guys should be getting nervous. Paula, the prettiest pit crew goin.

Sharon and Bruce, a great team wth great skill AND good looks.

Jay "the Finger" KIsling, a pro's pro you never disappoint. Dustin, great runnng and thanks for...

Ray Price, thanks for the tricks, dude, great stuff.

To all my new friends and buddys from the blog, Cheater, Butch, Swiss, etc., it was an honor to meet you all. You guys are awesome.

Ron, the fast one. Wow, dude you can drive!!!

"Mad Dog Leoni", a true Zip. Great to meet the man...

Great to see PA Mark, Poppa, and the Skunk, great guys who love the sport. Too bad their goodwill ambassador Randy wasn't there.

The only bad part of the whole weekend was Sano Dave eating all of Cindy's Mac Salad.

Billy and Bruce, I missed my team..

Till next year WO WO WO...

[Larry Mattingly]

Forgot to give a shout out to Rick M. on winning concours with his gorgeous F1 car...

And, I thought the overall 'appearance' quality of the field was pretty good.

LM

[Lucky Me]

Forgot to give a shout out to Rick M. on winning concours with his gorgeous F1 car...

And, I thought the overall 'appearance' quality of the field was pretty good.

Thank you, Larry, and to all the other racers who voted for my car. It was truly unexpected, but made the event even that much more special.

Thanks again to everyone.

[Ron Hershman]

Not sure where to begin but here goes...

BIG Thanks to Noose... he worked his butt off and teched all 187 or so entries along with all the other stuff to deal with at the race.

The McMasters family... we don't have enough bandwidth here to thank them enough and for putting on a great show as well as making everyone feel like they are family and at home.

Bill Fulmer... takings 100s of pics, helping in tech, etc., etc.

Butch Dunaway... for helping tech.

Chris Barnes... for bringing his camera equipment and trying to race while doing his best to get interviews and everything else on video for the "soon to be released" R4/2 DVD.

Greg Wells... for all his race reporting and pic-taking and any other things he was called on to do.

All the others behind the scenes who helped make this the largest retro race to date...

The biggest thanks to ALL of the racers who traveled and helped make another "chapter" of slot racing "history". If you were there... you were helping to make and are a part of making history.

To all the turn marshals who volunteered to marshal the A-Mains... they were great and missed out on standing back and watching the races. We couldn't have done it without you guys. Thanks a million.

Thanks to all the companies/manufacturers who donated tons of great race prizes. There was enough for everyone to get something no matter where they placed. If you left early...call Mike at Tom Thumb to figure out a way to get your prizes....... the left overs are at the raceway.

It was really great to meet, hang out, and race with a great bunch of guys. It's like a big family reunion when we all show up at the races. While we may have our "Jerry Springer" moments... it's all good at the end of the day.

My personal thanks goes to the following...

Rande Marshall... my friend... you build great cars for me to race with... they are awesome. While we may bicker and fight over things at times, we really know how to entertain anyone watching at times. I couldn't have done it without you.

Rob Garland... my "ace" car runner and pit man on Saturday for GTC and F1. Big thanks for driving to the race and helping Rande and I out. You could have raced, but decided to just hang out and help us all day. That is great of you to do that.

Terry Watson... thanks for being the car runner and helping out on Sunday. You did a great job.

Bryan Warmack... thanks for a great kit... I have won so many races with your kits.

JK Products....... thanks for the encouragement and great F-1 kit. Totally awesome F-1 car. Great tires too. It was great to see you at the race. Oh and thanks for lunch on Friday. It's always good when you buy.

Alpha tires...... thanks for the great rears and prizes you sent.

R-Geo and Rick B... all the winning cars were built using your jig.

Racers... to all the racers in the main for racing clean and helping to put on some great races. It could have gotten ugly at times, but you guys are class acts.

Jersey John and Mike Walpole... you too raced me and others "way clean" in the GTC main... real class gentlemen.

Howie... what can we say about racing with him? A legend from the '60s and a pleasure to race with.

Josh Crutchfield and Tom Lauterbach for pushing me in the Can-Am main....... you two gave me a headache.

Chris Radisich and and Jeff Lauterbach for pushing me in the F-1 main..... that was a great race.

Jay Kisling... my buddy you was really pushing me hard in the early going of the Can-Am main and if I had finished second to you in the race... that would have been a honor for me.

Mike Swiss... it's always great to race with Mike in a main event. He raced me clean and really is a nice guy no matter what Sano Dave says about him.

Tony P and Trinity... the best prize I won was the "radio" bags. Awesome prizes.

Everyone who used and uses Outisight bodies... thanks a million for using them and winning with them where ever you race. Same goes for those who used Fast Ones for getting their motors rebuilt.

A million thanks to everyone who has called, emailed, Pm'd, etc., congrats... It really makes me feel good and I greatly appreciate it.

[Rick]

I want to thank the Mac family too for hosting another great event. Special thaks to Cindy McMasters, who has to be the hardest working woman in slot racing today. She never stops from when they turn the lock opening until closing. Jessica needs huge kudos for all the great work she does for the races, always being there to help, always willing to jump in to turn marshall if needed, and Jason for the great race directing. Mike, thank you too, for just plain putting up with all of us and keeping the track readied for us.

It was one of the nicest slot events I have ever attended and nary a sour word was heard all weekend. The racers are just the best to race with, everyone is a true sportsman.

It was nice to see all the old friends and lots of new friends for me.

Thanks, Chris, for bringing the R-Geo Team an A Main racer, you drive the wheels off the car. We have just started, so looking forward to tomorrow.

Thanks to all the sponsors for your great prizes.

All the words have been spoken before in the thread, not much can be added to that.

The most thanks goes out to the people, that came out and entered, and had fun and made it fun for everyone else.

60 CanAm entries, WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO WTG R4/2!!!

Looking forward to R4/3...

[911GT3]

Plus a BIG Thank You to Ron Hershman.

Jersey John, thanks for the encouragement in the JK Spec race and the entertainment in the Can-Am race.

Rick Maynard, thanks for pitting for me in the Cam-Am race. You paint some of the best-looking bodies (look out Noose and Jack).

Earl Graybill, thanks for giving me a painted Ti22 body. Jason Vicars made look good in Can-Am.

Of course just to repeat it, THANK YOU Mike, Cindy, Jason, Jessica, Mike Denney, Jason Vicars, and Kyle (Skippy) for putting on a good show and living up to the Tom Thumb Hobbies tag line "The Fun Starts Here". It truly does.

Thank you to all of the sponsors for all of the great prizes.

There was at least one good thing about marshalling the A'-Mains. I was able to watch how all the "pros" take a corner on all eight lanes.

Paul Martin: now you know why I never played baseball.

Hope to see everybody next year.

[Poppa Rat]

I would like to thank everyone for a most wonderful time for my first National and to all who were involved in putting it on.

Special thanks to Mark Greene for taking me and to Noose, who saved my day with a loaner body.

Thanks to the drivers, for the chance to race them was truly a lot of fun.

Maybe by next year my skills will be honed alittle better. Was a great time for me.

THANKS!

Poppa Rat

[gascarnut]

Poppa Rat - good to see you here on this board too now!

I'm sorry I was not able to attend, it would have been good to meet you in person.

Hopefully next time...

[Lucky Me]

Rick Maynard, thanks for pitting for me in the Cam-Am race. You paint some of the best looking bodies (look out Noose and Jack).

Eric,

It was nice for a change to have a pitman for the Can-Am race. I look forward to pitting with you and for you in the future.

Thanks again for the paint comments.

[Poppa Rat]

Poppa Rat - good to see you here on this board too now!

Thanks, Dennis. Raced car in GTC and it's really nice. By next year I hope to improve even more.

Poppa Rat

[Chris Radisich]

Thanks to Mike and the team at Tom Thumb, a great race, and it all went off smoothly.

Noose, you are da man! and you put so much effort into Retro racing it's amazing.

Greg Wells, great job, your event coverage is great, but I still think you should be racing! And it was great to see you running on Sunday.

R-Geo Rick and Larry, thanks for the great cars. The new F1 chassis is killer. It was hard to choose which car I was going to run as they were all fast. Running the same chassis in GTC and Canam might have been a mistake, but we sure learnt a lot about what we need to improve, and your efforts in rebuilding it after the beating it took in the GTC race was appreciated. The new Canam chassis is fast and will be a race winner once we iron out the little problems. Those 4.7 second practice laps were as fast as anyone, so we are on the right track. It really is fun to be a part of developing race winning cars.

Proformance Dave, thanks for the great motors, they were fast and strong.

Jersey John, thanks for the late night dinner entertainment! I look forward to our next event. You're on the fasttrack to the front of the field. Keep learning and you'll just get faster and faster.

Ron, congratulations. You put in the effort and got the rewards. It was fun racing with you again.

Mike Swiss, it was fun racing with you in the F1 main with equal equipment, and hopefully I can get to race on the flat track at the Sano.

Howie, what can I say. You told me I'm tough, but you are one of the toughest I've ever raced. I waited and waited for you to crack in the F1 race when we ran side by side heat after heat and you didn't. That was some of the most amazing racing I have ever done. I can't wait to race with you again.

Dustin Morris, congratulations on the Spec result, awesome, and great effort to make the Can-Am main. You're going to do a lot of winning in the future.

To everyone else, great racing with you all in my first major Retro event. It was fun and I'll be back to race with you all some more.

[JerseyJohn]

Hay Chris,

It was great touring Michigan Saturday Night with you, Larry, and R-Geo. Maybe next time he could take us thru the Great Lakes LOL.

Seriously, your dedication ans skill to the sport sets a high standard of excellence. You race with style and class, Dude...

[Black Flag]

Chris moved to my old stomping grounds and the gain is to you guys our loss in the west. When they get their cars sorted out he and his team will be very tough.

[Matt Bruce]

What a huge event! Thanks to the McMasters family for hosting, and for all the hard work and planning that it requires. Also thanks to all the sponsors who donated merchandise for all in attendance. Retro is for real my friends.

Thanks to Jay Kisling for bringing my stuff out for me, and to all the Retro East guys and gals who made the trip. Thanks to Paula Young for keeping my wife occupied while I thrashed for three days. Meeting everyone at the R4 was great, and I hope we will see everyone back again next year as well. Congrats to all the podium winners as well as the concours winners.

I have to give a shout-out to Jessica McMasters who for all intents and purposes had second wrapped up in GTC. She drove awesomely and truly deserved it. Dustin Morris had a great R4/2 as well.

But nobody had a better R4/2 than Ron. He was on fire and drove like the champion he is. After his sweep I renamed the sweeper in my house. So when my son Ryan comes trouncing thru the house with his dirty shoes, I can tell him "HEY YOU, grab the Hershman and clean that up!"

[RapidRobert]

While on travel in Columbus this past June 3, Paula and I thought we'd stop in at this "Tom Thumb" place and check out slot cars. I mean, I hadn't seen an original American King since I stopped racing in 1971. The place was dark (literally... no power) but Mike and Cindy were there and super-friendly. Mike and I got to chatting and he mentioned that I might be interested in Retro slots...

Fast forward to March 13^th. OMG!!! What a race!!! The R4 felt like the races I could only read about in Car Model magazine back in the day. And, what the heck, there's Howie Ursaner!!! And Noose! Now, all we need is TonyP, MikeS, JohnC, et al, and the time machine will be complete. Mike, you were SO right!

Thanks to:

Brian and Malcolm for such a warm greeting early Friday morning.

JJ for pitting for me in the F1 and GTC and for his irrepressible personality. I think 'Vegas is in your future, buddy.

Cheater for his fabulous race reporting (and administering the best blog in slots).

Matt for being an awesome marshall (and not a ½ bad driver, either). You saved my bacon a number of times.

Dustin for saving me a space... next time, buddy.

Jay for the encouragement.

Rick for the chassis building info (what's a "bite bar," again?).

Paul Martin, Rick Maynard, and Darren Toman for the box tips (and to JK for the nice blue box!)

KenS for the joke and the invite.

Mark Greene for saving my car (the real one).

Noose – Mr. Retro East. Can't think of anyone more deserving of the "Mac."

To Sharon... you're the best.

To all the folks who stopped and chatted with Paula... you made her feel like part of the family. Thanks.

To Dale and Bill... for the tips, help, friendship, and constant entertainment. Next time I'll bring a fire extinguisher. Sheeeeesh!

And, finally, to Mike and Cindy. You've created something historic. We're proud to know you and look forward to seeing you often in the future.

'Till next year...

[M. Lovelace]

Thank you...

What a wonderful event!

Thanks to the McMaster family for putting on an outstanding weekend of racing. Cindy, the pulled pork sandwiches were the best that I have ever had.

Congatulation to Ron Hershman for your outstanding wins and showing the rest of the field the way around.

It was a pleasure meeting some new racers and great to see all the others that I've met over the last year.

I would like to thank Ken Swanson for allowing me to drive one of his fine cars Friday night in the JK Spec class and all of the help and advice over the last year.

Congrats to Jack Beers on your wins, you know how to make them look real. I wish I could make my cars look as good as yours.

Thanks to Mike Swiss for all of your help over the last year and for helping me during the Can-Am semi.

I would like to thank Bob Young for looking after my car during the Can Am final. You are a great guy and I am glad I had the please of meeting you.

Thanks to Josh Crutchfield for all of your help and being a great friend. Congrats on your second place finish, you almost beat Ron. Not a bad showing for a couple of boys from Springfield.

It was a pleasure working next to Noose, what a great guy and thank you for all that you do.

Last but not least, thanks to Cheater for the all the work you put into making the slot blog a great place for sharing information. Without the blog retro racing would not be what it is today.

I can't wait until next year.

[Howie Ursaner]

I had a great time at R4 and it was all about people. The ones that got me there, Dave, Bryan, Tony, Philippe, Chuck, and helped me there, Dude, Jay, Noose, Dustin, Ray. It took the efforts of many people to actually get me to the R4 and thanks guys, I wouldn't be there without you, and it means everything to me.

Then there is the enormous effort to put this on and the McMasters treated everyone like family. I recognize this effort and it can be thankless, so THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU.

To every racer there I can say thank you for the memories and making me want to come back next year. I would never be racing again if it wasn't for retro and all of the amazing people involved in it, many my life-long friends. The comments that so many people said to me are just the most unbelievable things and makes me glad that I did slot race when I was young, and to make that real now is something I never dreamed would happen. I am excited and motivated and I am ready to race.

[flea]

I sure wish I could have been there, but it wasn't in the cards this year. Money is tight, but as it ended up, I scored a big BBQ order! So needless to say, the customer (and his money) comes first!

I'm glad it was a huge success... with 60 Can-Am cars, that must have been awesome!! Hopefully, I can make it next year...

Anyone want BBQ?!

[JerseyJohn]

Howie,

It was great meeting a lifelong hero in racing. You are awesome.

Please don't forget to post some of those rod pictures we were talking about.



Regards,