135 replies to this topic

[mjsh]

I do know Pelletier won the Semi-Pro race. Lap counter was BS, could be manipulated at the race director's podium. Crapped out, replaced for the Pro race.

[tonyp]

This is an interesting chassis. When Bob quit building we collaborated on chassis designs until the time I stopped building. Bob used to cut some of the steel center sections I used for my production chassis. This is a chassis I built with a Bob Emott cut and designed center section.

This appears to be one of the first six-rail chassis. The center is .032" steel, pans are .025", and the split pans are .032". I am sure I recycled the guide tongue for another chassis.



All the wire for the uprights and bracing for the rear axle are flat wire.



The pans are engraved: "Another Original Tonyp Bob Emott Pre-Production East Coast All American X-Mas Party, Winning Faster Than A Speeding Bullet $50.00 Super 6 Railer"...

[TSR]

Circa 1977 or 1978?

[tonyp]

I would think. Maybe a bit later...

[TSR]

Yes, we have a few cars from that time with laser-cut steel center sections and lifting split pans attached to the front half axles. Pretty neat engineering.

[Ron Hershman]

I would say "circa" '81 or '82. By '83/'84 most cars had steel bat pans on them instead of brass.

The "split" type front pans were often referred/called "Herman" Pans. I remember some USRA rules that didn't allow "Herman" type pans to be used in some regions and classes.

Anyone know who Herman is or was it Herman developed these or why are they called Herman pans???

And no, it was no one related to me or Butch.

[Slotgeezer]

Anyone know who Herman is or was ?

Nope, ain't got a clue... :think:

But, after buying a set of Parma "Herman pans" at Speed & Sport Dist. in 1990, I've refered to them by that name, ever since!

Thanks, Ron!... and good racing! :dance:

[Cheater]

Lap counter was BS, could be manipulated at the race director's podium. Crapped out, replaced for the Pro race.

 

Mike, I sat in that race director's stand with Ray Gardner for every day of the '90 Nats at Georgia Hobby except for Friday (I simply had to take a day off to get some sleep!) and I certainly don't recall any lap counter manipulation being done except in the normal way one adjusts laps with an SRT system.

I do recall some lap counter troubles but not any unwarranted manipulation.

Going back to Asher's I-15 win, I cheerfully admit I wasn't at the raceway on Friday when he won that race. Asher's on the blog and maybe he'll chime in to correct my recollections.

[TSR]

Anyone know who Herman is or was it Herman developed these or why are they called Herman pans???

 

It was Herman Finklemeyer, the inventor of the split drop arm. :mrgreen:

[Jairus]

I think it was Herman Munster... 

[mikea]

Ron and Mike,

 

I did win that race. Jan gave me the tires for my 15. The reason I was wearing a Walkman is because I was freaked out having to race against Jan. I was hoping it would calm my nerves!

I TQ'd International 15 and Outlaw 12 that weekend. Jan beat me in the 12 race by just a couple of sections due to the motor given to him by Bob Cozine. Prior to that, I had him covered. I also made the main in Group 12 that day and finished about mid-pack.

Fortunately, Bob and Bill Temple didn't race that day. Bob Cozine was the best slot car driver I have ever seen. It was rare to see him de-slot. Most of the time he ran clean in our weekly races. I really miss racing with those guys.

[Ron Hershman]

You're talking about the Parma Challenge Cup race in 1990 on the Purple Mile right??? Not the USRA Nats held later on the Purple Mile.

[Bob Emott]

Just a note... The center section of the "Another Original Tonyp Bob Emott Pre-Production East Coast All American X-Mas Party, Winning Faster Than A Speeding Bullet $50.00 Super 6 Railer" chassis was hand-cut using my trusty Dremel tool... and a couple of disks. On a real good day, I would cut four or five center sections. My record was ten center sections in one day... Wow, what a mess I was when I finished.

 

The nastiest part was that for a day or so later, whenever I would blow my nose, it would come out rusty... YUCK!

[Jairus]

TMI.

[tonyp]

Bob,
 
I promise to look for the picture and get it up later this afternoon if I can get caught up here.

When are you coming down for lunch?

[TSR]

The nastiest part was that for a day or so later, when ever I would blow my nose...

Replaces good iron in your daily Vita-meata-vega-min... 

[tonyp]

Bob,

I looked throught the briefcase of pictures but the chassis-cutting picture is not there. I am going to have to figure out my scanner so we can get all those papers scanned before there is nothing left.

Found a cool picture of Upper Saddle Rivers track and a bunch of inline pictures.

[Cheater]

Ron, I am virtually certain Mike is talking about the '90 Nats at Georgia Hobby.

Too bad you didn't post a little sooner, as I just had lunch with Mike. (He actually lives in Watkinsville, GA, over by Athens, but as luck would have it he sometimes works in Lithonia a few blocks from our warehouse.) I could have asked him about this in person, right before I ran out and left him to pay our tab!! :mrgreen:

[mikea]

Ron, Yep... still have my Parma Cup T-shirts. They don't fit anymore.

Speaking of your memory recollection, what do you remember about Nashville?

[mjsh]

Greg,

Scott Anderson (Orlando track owner) won the Int 15 race at the Nats. Rich DeMondo was second.
I raced on the Purple Mile when it was still in Douglasville and for years in Fayetteville.

I know what I am talking about. If you'll remember each lane had a counter with a reset, all that had to be done is reset to zero after a couple laps to tighten the laps up. Not saying this happened at the Nats; wish we had video.

I remember Mike and the headphones; I'm sure it was another race.

Hi Mike!

[Ron Hershman]

Ron, Yep... still have my Parma Cup T-shirts. They don't fit anymore.

Speaking of your memory recollection, what do you remember about Nashville?

The "stripper"???

[mikea]

Yeah, Mike, you're right. I've suffered the effects of a memory upgrade. It was good while it lasted.

Remind me to tell you about some of the fish I've caught.

[Jon Laster]

First, Herman pans. Larry Herman was an East Coast racer (NJ I think) who finished fourth or fifth at the 1980 Cincinnati Nats. His car had quite large split pans as so described, and it was clear that as the car would tilt, the outside front would unload the weight of its split pan; the car would effectively feel only the weight of the inside split. They work well at keeping a car flatter-handling without costing bite, the trade-off is a reduction in braid contact. After that Paul Pfeiffer and I started running them; only when cars got really light did they disappear.

Back to the archives... I want to see Jairus or Rick Thigpen do an Emott. They'd need counselling after having to make those big solder joints!

Jon

[TSR]

If Rick wants to make an Emott replica, we would be pleased to give him all the info he needs. We have a few of "Phil Enot's" chassis and cars and will soon attack their restoration for the museum.

[Jairus]

Jairus already did one...