20 replies to this topic

[spudboy]

In the early to mid-1980s we had a very active Gr12 racing program at MVH in in Ashland, MA. The class used production brass chassis - Parma BrassKar and a Champion unit, although no one ever really got the Champion chassis to perform well on our track and the vast majority ran the Parma chassis. We raced weekly and rotated through three different body styles. The first week we raced stock car bodies, the second week we raced vintage coupe bodies and the third week we raced sports cars with a full wing kit on them. If a guy was inclined he could run all three body styles with only one chassis. The cars were fun and the races well attended.

The chassis was a stamped brass anglewinder with plumber pans. They were wide, 3 1/4" I think. There were two lengthwise slots in the main section. We ran 1/8" axles with .900+ tires in the rear and articulated mini o-ring wheels on the front with the hinges parallel on the centerline. C-can Gr12 motors with brass pinions and plastic spur gear. Simple.

So, any former Brasskar racers out there? What became of your old BrassKar chassis? Do you still have them laying around? Good stories...?

I have seen some guys halve the chassis and modify the front section and pans for use in Retro racing. I have one of the Champion chassis which I never got to work well in the day and am considering doing the same.

[Ron Hershman]

I still have several BrassKar chassis... all the ones I won "Championships" with or my guys did.

In 1984/85 they used to run a Group 12 class in the Midwest USRA and pretty much everyone used them then. I won a few races and also won the points championship using them. We ran Group 12 motors in them, 3/32" axles and pro style bodies with no air control on them. The Camen '82 Ford was a popular body.

Then we ran them in Tri-State USRA with Gr 12 motors and the Parma Vette GTP and Fiero GTP bodies were the hot bodies to use and I think we ran a one inch rear spoiler on them.

Then we ran them locally with Gr 12 motors and full air control pro bodies on them.

Fun times.

[John Streisguth]

I still have one. In the early '90s I ran in some of the Keystone USRA races, Grp 12 outlaw which is pretty much what Ron described. Also in the couple of Zeppelin "500" races at Zeppelin Hobbies in NJ. I ran the Parma Flexi chassis but most of the competitive racers in the Keystone used the BrassKar. I tried the BrassKar and just burned up motors, so I went back to the Flexi which I think was lighter.

Still sitting in my box, pretty much unmolested.

[Mr. Frank]

Anybody have a picture of one they would like to share so we could see???

Mr. Frank

[Ron Hershman]

You ask... we deliver.

[Mr. Frank]

Thank you very much for the picture...

Mr. Frank

[Cheater]

Ron,

I have a never-run NOS BrassKar, as best I can tell. Any idea what a decent one is worth?

[The Bugman]

We ran them here in SoCal in the '90s, too. (Foamy and I used to race them in Vista, at Gary Cleverly's Place).

We had three classes of NASCAR and that was our BrassKar 12 class (with the Outisight slammed NASCAR bodies). They were a hoot to run...

Sure wish I still had one of them chassis. I'd build another to "screw around" with.

Anybody out there got one they wanna part with?

[Bill from NH]

Nate,

I wasn't racing when those chassis were around, but the story I hear is, Dick P. was very good at blueprinting them. Maybe he can get your Champion to work better for you.

[Dominator]

Dick added some "personal" touches to these chassis such as lowering the front tires and making them stationary, raising the pin tubes or adding higher ones, and reinforcing different parts of the pans. I have a copy of one somewhere in storage but will try to get a picture later this week.

[W. J. Dougherty]

Looks like a D3 RetroPro chassis to me...

Could they be resurrected to make such a class or are they too dated??

Thanks,

wjd

[slotbaker]

I have a never-run NOS BrassKar, as best I can tell. Any idea what a decent one is worth?

 

I bought a RTR on eBay last year for $15.00. It was sold as NOS, but not too sure when it arrived.

Still... I think it was worth $15.00

[Cheater]

I was just trying to figure if it was worth putting on eBay. $15, not sure I'd bother. Where's a good slot car swap meet when you want one?

[Rick]

Actually the Champion brass car worked much better but was also much more fragile. The Champion was lighter material. They would be a perfect RetroPro car. Quick and easy RTR...

[spudboy]

Ron, thanks for the photos! Enjoyed reading of your exploits.

Dom, if you get a chance to post a photo of the DickP modified chassis I'd sure be interested to see it.

WJD, could they be resurrected? Who knows. But everyone here seemed to have a blast with them. Seems to me that's the key to success. For me anyway.

[Rick]

Nate, I wasn't racing when those chassis were around, but the story I hear is, Dick P. was very good at blueprinting them. Maybe he can get your Champion to work better for you.

 

Dick P did one for one of my racers back in about '92 and it kicked butt in the Outlaw 12 Class in the Keystone Championship Series. Dick makes those things magic...

[4laneron]

I have one just the chassis with front wheels I will sell.

[The Bugman]

Ron,

Just sent ya a PM... I'd like it.

[MSwiss]

Thanks for the pic, Ron.

It reminded me the brass square upstop for the bite bar was the inspiration for the full width floating pin tubes I used on the first perimeter cars I built and raced in 1984.

Possibly the BrassKar wasn't the first time something like that was utilized on a chassis, but being back racing for only a couple of years, it was first time I noticed it.

[MrWeiler]

Looks like a D3 RetroPro chassis to me...

 

Fun to run but a bit too heavy for D3 RetroPro I think.

[macman]

Where I raced in Fl at the time all we ran was the Champion... it WORKED!!!