918 replies to this topic

[Lone Wolf]

Steve, Thanks for the detailed report. Seems my use of vintage Dynamic rears was a bad choice. I used some 45 year old tire sauce on them here in the states and they seemed quite soft. I guess without constant basting they hardened up. I feel the car is probably a piece of crap to drive as is. Since it makes it hard for the drivers, can my tires be updated? Points are not important to me. Just want to make it driveable. If possible, replace my rears with fresh wheel assembles. PLEASE do not "retire" those rear rims. They are OEM Dynamic and belong on my Renegade! If it's OK with the group, put some new tires and wheels on and make sure to put the current ones back in the box. I will pay whatever is necessary to get her going. Again, just trying to practice good racing. My first proxy and my cars usually look much better than they actually run. If the car should be removed from competition to preserve fairness I'm OK with that too. Let me know what everyone thinks.

[Lowrider]

Thank you, gentlemen.

Readjusting drive train issues will be done routinely on all the cars where required. I've already cleaned everyone's braids during the first inspection.
I'm a bit wary of the vintage Cox gears because I'm not a great fan of their tooth profile which seems shallower to my eyes than modern Parma ones. I might leave them a little tighter than my ideal if that's the way I find them. Steve King's method of setting the mesh is the exact same one that I use, by the way.

A new endbell has been sourced for Ralph's Budweiser car and is currently en route to Chief Engineer Secchi. A replacement threaded axle of the straight variety, along with some further spares, is on it's way to me from the same place.

I have time to fit modern rubber to Joe's car if that's what he wants and the rest of you approve of this? The drivers I've engaged are well capable of driving the car around the track sideways if required and as it's likely to be grouped with cars of similar performance, problems shouldn't arise. I can't speak for later drivers and with three rounds still to go after NL, it might be wise to help Joe's car now in the long run.
Someone who cares more that me can work out if there will be any points readjustments needed if a switch is made.

Don Siegel, you're a naughty boy! You are well aware that the Brits (even this imported one) are unable to resist any sort of bottom jokes. I asked you not to go there!

John H., don't worry about the gear cost. Perhaps you can mail me a replacement or two once this is all over and the cars are on their way to Ohio.

Barney, the container with your spare motor and other stuff is still in Orange Crate's box, along with two tubes of spare tires. You're set for the longest distance of any of us.

Bob I., it shall be so.

Steve King, no problem at all do do the things you mentioned. I have a large pair of tin snips that should fix your chassis problems in seconds. You know the way that dogs are sometimes said to be 'fixed'? The pleasure will be all mine.

In line with Jairus' suggestion, I'm happy to replace the rear tires on all the cars which supplied spares and are currently showing some wear. Any without spares in this situation I'll bring up here and a consensus decision can be made.

Regards,

[Jairus]

I have time to fit modern rubber to Joe's car if that's what he wants and the rest of you approve of this? The drivers I've engaged are well capable of driving the car around the track sideways if required and as it's likely to be grouped with cars of similar performance, problems shouldn't arise. I can't speak for later drivers and with three rounds still to go after NL, it might be wise to help Joe's car now in the long run.
Someone who cares more that me can work out if there will be any points readjustments needed if a switch is made.

In line with Jairus' suggestion, I'm happy to replace the rear tires on all the cars which supplied spares and are currently showing some wear. Any without spares in this situation I'll bring up here and a consensus decision can be made.

As was stated at the halfway point, check my half-time race report, all points are locked in. Replacing vintage rubber with modern is okay and effects the points none.
To simplify things... the Dynamic Challenge coffers has agreed to pay for all replacement parts short of a new car, should parts need to be sourced outside of the extras sent along.
So Joe, "I approve"!

[Pablo]

That's a lot of work !

I am tired of finishing mid-pack, please, if you find time, swap my motor to the spare supplied........current motor is stock. Spare motor is a HOT rewind. Getting desperate If it blows up, oh well !

[Lowrider]

The story so far.
I've contacted the best drivers available to me and I've found a good group of four people who can be induced to take part in the Dynamic Challenge for very little personal gain.

Foremost will be Legendary Bob Hallums who's name might mean nothing much to US entrants but in British slot racing terms my use of the word legendary is no exaggeration. One of the best we've had and still one of the best we've got. I'm grateful to Bob for lending his prestige to the North London round.
Here's Bob showing retired pop star Tony James the quick way around our track last Wednesday after John Dilworth had dragged his long time friend Tony back to a slot track for the first time in 40 years. Tony and John were a pair of young tearaways around the London raceways together back in the early '70s.



And here's the podium photo at the end of the evening after Bob had showed John Secchi (in 3rd place on right) and me (left) how to race retro F1s properly. John and I have been doing it for three or four years now, Bob on the other hand dropped in two weeks previously, raced CanAms with us and enjoyed the taste. It's safe to say that I won't be loaning him THAT particular car again in a hurry.



The other three drivers are to be John Secchi, leader of the Wednesday Retro Gang at North London and a super competitive guy. Chris Musto, very capable driver in any slot racing genre (and rock drummer extraordinaire), and Matt Brice. Matt is a long time friend of mine who has a very good name in the wide world of 1:32 plastic car racing here. He's raced CanAm cars with us and picked up the track very quickly indeed, as one would hope with a driver of his calibre. Matt will be a safe pair of hands. Or trigger finger. Both.

Here's Chris receiving a prize at a race meeting from Newcastle's beloved Andy Brown-Searle.



Car repairs and alterations will be carried out in the next week and a half which will allow me to do some exploratory laps of the track on Wednesday week. As long as no major problems surface then my plan is to hold the actual race a few days later on Saturday 18th, Feb.
My family and I will go in early and I will pre-qualify the cars into three groups, as I believe Mike Swiss did in the first round at Chicagoland Raceway. The drivers can arrive later and do their thing while I ply them with food and mild drink. Four lanes, 26 cars should be over reasonably quickly for all concerned.
I'm hoping that Howmet and Al Bond will make it to the club to enrich the atmosphere and other NL regulars have expressed an interest in watching as well. Phil Smith has unfortunately informed me that he's got a prior engagement.

A web-cast is out of the question here, I wouldn't know where to begin to set that up. I'll be taking plenty of photos and some film clips of the racing that I'll post on YouTube as soon afterwards as possible.
Kathryn, Miss K, isn't a member of any slot forums but I'm hoping that she'll be able to make regular status updates on the Facebook Dynamic Challenge wall as the racing progresses. Perhaps Jairus or one of the other members of that group can relay them here for Facebook refuseniks.
As long as no serious issues with the cars arise they'll be in the mail to Ohio a few days after the race.

The North London track:



Any questions?
Regards,

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Thanks again for all your work on our baby's Steve-a-roonie!
Race'em dudes!

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[Jairus]

Perhaps Jairus or one of the other members of that group can relay them here for Facebook refuseniks.

I need a volunteer to do this please. I will be busy all day selling t-shirts at the Salem Roadster Show on the 13th. Anyone, anyone....?
Low, please tell Miss K that I will miss her comments.

[Jairus]

By the way gentlemen, I have been keeping post #1 and #2 updated since this whole thing began. The race reports follow the tracks so everything is there.

[Lowrider]

Saturday in question will be the 18th, Jairus. Is that the dat you meant to write?

[Jairus]

Maaabe....
Guess I will be around then.

[Lone Wolf]

OK, Great. Thanks J. If Steve or one of his boys would be so kind as to put fresh wheels on please go ahead. If any money has to be sent please tell me how and where. Steve,Please let me know you have received the go ahead on the switch and if you need anything else. Thanks, Joe

[Lowrider]

It shall be so, Joe.

[chief32s]

Steve,

It is with much regret that I will not be able to make Sat 18th as I will be in Portugal, which is considerably further away from Londinium than my present location, so a day trip is unlikely. hehe. But should there be some unforseen delay in proceedings I will undoubtedly endeavour to attend this prestigious event. Never say die!

ATB
Al... Bond

PS, Beyond this, All the best for the 18th, and good luck to all competitors.

[32Deuce]

Thanks Low, for everything. 1st class job as expected. I know you have a lot to do. If the Scorp can go the distance on those tires that's fine. Just in case, there is another set with the car but, you probably knew that.
Cheers,
Z

[Lowrider]

You're welcome, Z.

Pablo, I'll swap your motor if you wish but our track is tight, flat and short. Getting around it quickly is more about acceleration, brakes and grip balance - not sheer horsepower. You might consider keeping your mild motor for our race and letting me put in your Saturn V motor before I mail the cars off to the big commercial tracks where it can stretch it's legs properly?
Let me know.

I've started working on the cars in preparation for first track tests.
Phil Smith's Banshee only needed the lock nuts moving inboard slightly but Gary Vogeler's Rocket 88 is needing more work. I've cut new (and better) axle spacers for the rear and replaced his 29 tooth Parma crown. While doing this I noticed that his motor brushes are much more worn than Manta Ray's. Beyond half way would be my guess.
Gary's worn brushes are the small size 'pigtail' variety, of which I have precisely none. I think they do need changing and I propose to take the regular pair out of the Ziploc bag marked 'Junk' in his car box and fitting them, hopefully with the motor still in situ on the chassis.
Photos have been taken and I'll post a report this evening.

Regards,

[Pablo]

Steve, concur, Thanks !! Pablo

[garyvmachines]

Hi Steve

Thanks for looken at old Rocket-88....
Do your best with what you have , use the old brushes if they look beter . Mike Z got those maybe he has a pair of
shunted brushes for after NL ??
Shuld be a new set of rears in the box , Put them on please .... We all need to buy LOW a BEER ........
Thanks Man GAV

[Lowrider]

Hold that beer for a moment, Gary. It's not all good news for you, I'm afraid.
I sorted out the rear axle assembly, as I mentioned above.





The short life brush.



Then I changed the brushes to the older pair from the 'Junk' bag alright but I noticed while I was doing this that your brush holder on the side of the motor marked + had started to melt it's way into the endbell.



That's obviously not a good thing at all but the motor still ran strongly on the power supply when I gave it a couple of moments at low voltage to help bed in the new/old brushes. I'm tempted to let it race like this here, unless you disagree, but you should consider having a new motor ready to be fitted in Ohio. How does that sound?
The endbell bushing housing is also cracked, but I understand that motors can run happily like this for quite a while without protest.



Wave Maker has been serviced and has only required an internal clean up and fresh oil.

The next batch will be some cars needing work on their tires.
I pulled Titanic's body and had a closer look at the tires that first surprised me by being harder than I'd expected. On second inspection, while they are firm, they're not at all rock hard and rather than consume time gluing and truing new tires on replacement wheels, I'm thinking of putting your original wheels on my truer and exposing some fresh rubber. You have plenty of ground clearance so that won't be an issue. With some of the series ZipGrip, I think you might be okay, Joe.

Marvin got uncovered ready for his new low riding life and unfortunately I found some more body damage that had evaded my notice first time around.





Sigh ...
Pass me the body armour ...

[Jencar17]

Hi racers,

two of the participants got "The Movie" and seem to be happy with the content. Ten more CDs are on its way and I'll continue sending copies.

Best, Jens

[Mopar Rob]

Jens:


Recieved mine Friday. Haven't had the time to watch, but thanks for the effort and disc.

[garyvmachines]

Lets Go For IT LOW !!!!

Put it back in & drive it like a rental car....... I will get to work on a new old motor
Thanks for all your time LOW

GAV Rocket - 88

[Jairus]

Don't worry about a purple can either Gary. Points are locked in on everyone's car.

[Lone Wolf]

Steve, Go ahead and cut if you think it will help. As I stated in an earlier post I used some ancient "sauce" here in the states and they were pretty soft. Here is a pic.



I have no idea whats in this stuff. Does not smell like Wintergreen. Whatever it is it burns your nose hairs when you take a whiff . Notice the medicinal Blue bottle. This stuff is full of toxic compounds I'm sure. I spilled a few drops on the floor, my dog walked through it and now has grown two extra legs

[Jencar17]

Wonderful! Could it cure my partial bald head, too?

[Lone Wolf]

Jens, Don't know about the hair thing but you will get superior "Cranial" traction