109 replies to this topic

[Marty Stanley]

The house Filet Mignon at Village Grill wasn't too shabby, either. Too bad Redbackspyder didn't make it I will buy him the meal I promised next time, I hope

Pablo,

Hey, all Redbackspyder had to do was get on a plane. Folks had already raised their hands to pick him up at the airport.

I volunteered to pay his race entries. You volunteered to buy him a steak. TonyP said he would buy him beer.

He sure did miss one whale of a race now, didn't he?

Oh well - perhaps next year!

[Cheater]

All I saw him do was eat pizza and donuts...

Tony, I had just one slice of that great pizza and one donut... LOL!!! I wanted more of each, but my waistline is expanding inexorably, so I exercised what little will power I have.

Greg, you lost me on this one...

Zip, believe me, Greg was a LOT busier than any racer.

Pablo, I meant I'm willing to go to two cameras, but probably not three... A body can only do so much on his own. Oops, I see now it was Vic who made that suggestion, not you. Sorry!

If it wasn't for Greg Wells, aka "Cheater", I don't think SERRA would move along as well as it does nor would the races be as organized.

When you stop and think about it, he does just about everything. He did show up a bit late, but I heard a lot of differing opinions on why that happened, so we won't go there.

Once he drove the almost hour and a half just to get to Abbeville, he was in constant motion. Heck, he ever wore his workout gear sweatpants and all. He was setting up the video feed, getting the tech table organized, taking pictures, checking on this, that and the other.

Really I don't see where he has the opportunity to race, which is really quite sad. Cheater is a good racer, but he is also a very dedicated co-director for the sport and is willing to sacrifice his wants, and take the hit so everyone can have a great time.

You have to salute that type of dedication to the hobby.

I for one, thank you, Greg - for all that you do.

Yes, I did see him walking around with pizza, donuts, biscuits, bar-b-cue, chicken wings, and all that other stuff as well, but he was working and needed to keep his energy level high!

Dang, Marty, you make it sound like all I did was eat (which is something I like to do, as should be obvious). LOL!! Why can't I get into most of the pants in my closet? I wore the sweat pants because they still fit and are comfortable. I'm past the age where I worry about my image!

The drive from Norcross to Abbeville is closer to 2-1/2 hours, maybe a little less. I gotta look at the short cut that Don Weaver told me about. He says it saves twenty miles...

I slept through about 30 minutes of my alarm, which is the real reason Jay and I were about 30 minutes later arriving than we had planned. Of course, if the late Jay Guard had arrived in Norcross at the promised 9:30 PM instead of after 11:00 PM, it might have helped! LOL!! He still can't get used to the fact that Anniston is Central Time and Atlanta is Eastern, even though he has lived all over the world...

But you are right about one thing: it has annoyed me for years that everyone just wanted to race and no one wanted to run the program at the level I felt it deserved. After racing pretty steadily for 20 plus years, I decided that I wanted the see the program done as right as I thought it could be. Thankfully, my evil twin Jay Guard is in sync with my wacko mindset.

And you are also correct that it really isn't possible for me to race and to help run the program as we wish to do. (Believe me, I have tried...) But please know that I do what I do by choice... no one forces me to do it.

Thanks for your kind words; they mean a lot. Jay and I continue to work to improve every race as compared to the previous one, and it pleases us both greatly when we are able to make that happen.

[Don Weaver]

I did notice that when Greg started in on the pizzas that Don Bernie started following him around the place... said he didn't want Greg to sit down on one of the work benches like he did at Thunder Road.

Don Weaver

[Kim Lander]

Greg,

Looks like all had a great time and you did a fine job with the reports... I think everyone had great-looking car , don't think I could have picked a concours. The chassis were also a thing to behold.

Can't wait to get my retros up and running, have them on order as we speak. I had too much fun turn marshaling for you guys to miss out on the racing. Maybe the idea of a Thomasville race would be good for a GA/FL bragging rights.

Keep up the good work, Greg...

Kim

[NJ Racer]

Congrats to all the racers for the big show, and to New Jersey's best racer of all time, TonyP.

[tonyp]

Ray,

You guys need to think about coming down for the Thomasville race. Blue King! Load up Jay's mobile home and make the trip down.

[Pappy]

I did notice that when Greg started in on the pizzas that Don Bernie started following him around the place.....said he didn't want Greg to sit down on one of the work benches like he did at Thunder Road

[Cheater]

No, Don Weaver, I don't know why you aren't able to post at Slotblog any more... I'll look into it when I have time... 2011 or maybe '12.

LOL!!!

[Cheater]

You guys need to think about coming down for the Thomasville race. Blue King! Load up Jay's mobile home and make the trip down.

Better retract that suggestion, Tony. Aaron Scott, owner of the Viper Pit has just put the King track up for sale at OWH.

HERE's a link.

[tonyp]

Well, that sucks...

[TallyBernie]

You guys have to come down. Jay and Greg are going to try to put together a King track race right on the GA/FL border.

Just spoke with Aaron Scott, owner of the King-on-the-border track mentioned and he is not aware of any plans for a SERRA race. Last week Aaron spoke with Greg who suggested Aaron's raceway, as beautiful as it is, is located too far away from the center of SERRA to be considered. Please contact Aaron at (229) 226-4447 or (229) 225-9224 if you have questions.

Nevertheless, Aaron welcomes all racers to his new raceway, The Viper Pit. Formal racing programs will be announced in a future post.

[tonyp]

Keith,

It was discussed at the race this weekend about trying to do a race there as it is around halfway between the FL and GA guys... I am sure since Saturday no one has time to do anything yet. It was just an idea we were kicking around...

[Marty Stanley]

Aaron,

Keep the King...

Keep the Engleman...

Make room by selling the orange!

Please!

[Cheater]

I think it was Jay and Marty Stanley who first started kicking the idea around a few weeks back, and although I heard about the brainstorming, I really wasn't in on it. I didn't correct the above "Jay and Greg" citation above, as it just didn't seem important to do so.

And the combined race being discussed was going to be outside of the regular SERRA™ schedule, not a part of it.

Guys, The Viper Pit still has two excellent tracks and it could still be a place for the jousting between GA and FL to happen...

I really wish we could add the Thomasville tracks to the SERRA™ schedule, but they're at least a four hour drive south of Atlanta and we have a number of our racers who are a couple of hours drive north of Atlanta. It's just not feasible...

[tonyp]

I'm still up for it. Engleman looks fine to me.

[Marty Stanley]

Yep, Jay and I were talking about that very same thing.

As Chris Barnes pointed out, "it's a 'tweener'" It's between Florida, Georgia and I-10 west folks. All have about the same four hour drive to get there.

That could make it a single day racing experience and it could become a pretty popular place.

I can envision the "Southeast Retro Series" happening there at least twice each year and hopefully more.

My opinion of course.

Hey, running on an Engleman is not bad either. I was just looking forward to that beautiful King track!

BTW, were those 'stock' photos that are posted in the Raceway List or actual photos of the tracks that are in The Viper Pit?

[Cheater]

Marty,

The track pics were supplied to me IIRC and therefore I don't really know the answer to your question.

[Don Weaver]

IMHO a King track would go a long ways towards drawing the SERRA™ crowd... more so than another Kingleman/Engleman/Grandstand style of track. Keep the King!!

Don Weaver

[Marty Stanley]

Don,

I guess Cheater got his "round to it" even quicker then I was hoping for! LOL!!

Glad to see you back on Slotblog!

I fully concur - the blue King is the track of choice. Keep the King and lots of folks will want to come there and race!

H'mm a great Hillclimb in Abbeville, a beautiful King in Thomasville... does anyone have a black?

[TallyBernie]

Tony P, gang,

Understood. SERRA scheduling notwithstanding, I look forward to seeing many of you again after many, many years (this includes you, Tony P) while meeting new faces.

Within this thread, the one question that sticks out in my mind is, are those stock photos?

Answer: NO. These tracks are the real deal! I took the pictures myself just weeks before The Viper Pit opened.

Also, I appreciate and in some regards share sentiments about the King and Engelman, but do not sell the orange short! The orange is an elongated 120' with no esses. All three tracks are in exquisite shape and very fast!

Aaron has spared no expense in bringing to the deep South perhaps the finest collection of tracks <in recent memory>, all located in a brand new building! Aaron also owns a 1/4 mile dragstrip for which currently there is no room. He also has an Olgilvie King up for sale.

Permit me to also place a well-deserved plug for crosstown raceway, Tim's Slot Car Raceway.

Yes, these are VERY good times if you are a slot car racer and live in this area..

Take care,

[mjsh]

Hey guys,

Reading is fundamental. The King for sale is an Ogilvie, the one set up is a Tunkel. He bought the Ogilvie first, wasn't enamored with it, so he purchased another. Now that's a track owner after my heart.

[Marty Stanley]

Michael,

Thank you for clearing that up!

Hey, when you see a King track in the photos and that same guy has a King for sale... well, you know what happened.

It sure does sound like Aaron is one all-together track owner.

I'm looking forward to the four hour ride to see what y'all have up there.

BTW, do you have a regular racing program on the weekends? Let us know about classes and times and we might just run up and have some fun!

[TallyBernie]

Marty,

No racing programs yet. Probably a couple of more months before things are set.

Aaron realizes he must first cultivate some local talent. Considering the challenges these tracks provide, it will take a while for newbies to become good on these tracks.

Aaron realizes patience is a virtue.

Regardless, all are welcome - come and play!

['Slots of Fun']

Ready for some pre-race pics?


Rick Moore, a great guy, knocking some of the rust off.


Tony P. and Marty Stanley. Tony is the one with the hat on and Marty is the other one with the hat on!


Marty's pit space.


Tony's pit space.


Micky Radford with Marty and Pablo chatting in the background.


John Clow, Tony, and Micky getting in some track time.


John waits as Micky marshalls his car.


A great friend and big Teddy Bear, Marty Stanley.


Tony chatting with Ralph Thorne and Joe McIntosh.


Marty looks tired after his long trip to Abbeville.

More in next post...

V/R,

Don

['Slots of Fun']

Some more pre-race pics.


Rick of 'Team CMF' smiles for the camera as he gets ready on race day. Want another cup of coffee, Rick?


Tony explaining to Ralph that he didn't mean to run him into the wall! Joe and James Merriman discuss strategy.


Marty doing some tweeking.


Does the camera make Tony's butt look big?!


Marty Cwiakala helping out with the marshaling during practice.


Micky getting some tuning tips from Pablo.


James Merriman, Jim Beasley, Ralph Thorne, Joe McIntosh, and Marty Stanley loosening up their trigger fingers.


Tony P. joins in. Don Weaver and Jerry Richie in the background.


Marty and Dan Parker checking out the competition during practice.


Some of the competition.

More pics to come.

V/R,

Don