24 replies to this topic

[Noose]

Great host, great format, great racing, and most of all, great people. Southern hospitality at its finest in my book. If you can make this race next year you have to. The track is a blast to drive and the raceway has abundant pits and power. You feel right at home with the Holtsclaw family and I don't know where Roger gets his energy from.

It was great to meet more folks from the blog and share some great laughs together. Us older guys have to watch out because the young guns, meaning Spencer and Skylar, are coming gunning for us. I know Greg is going to post something on Spencer but I will add my own. This is a fifteen-year-old that reminds me of me since he's about the same size I was at his age.

This kid can drive. Not only that, he is building his own frames! He ran great. Skylar got a last-minute loaner from John Streisguth and made the A Main!

Congrats to everyone and especially to the podium guys. Ron Hershman showed he can run on any track IMO with anything. Super congrats to my traveling buddy John for his two podium finishes this weekend. It was fun to have Mike and Cindy McMasters with us while they were finally on a vacation.

We are leaving in the morning so we got to have a nice BBQ dinner tonight before we head out.

I have lots of pics of all the cars when I get back.

[Pablo]

Count me in next year.

[Rick Crutchfield]

What a great time we all had this weekend at the first Shootout! Cool to meet all the Retro racers that I have seen posting here on Slotblog! All of them were really great to us Southerners!

Ron Hershman, Noose, Brian Cox, Chris Radisich, John VW, Hip Culy, Mike McMasters ,and Ken Bryan (all the way from Washington) were great to meet and all helped answer mine and others questions.

Also thanks for the other racers that I had met from other races in the south! Greg Wells, Jay Guard, Ralph Thorne, James Merriman, Chris Barnes, Bobby Robinson, and Tommy Flythe. Glad to see you guys again.

Thanks to all the guys from ETMR. You are the friendliest racers, I always enjoy racing with ya'll. As for the younger racers, Cody, Spencer, and Skylar... all us oldtimers are going to be in trouble when these guys get some more experience.

Thanks for the racers from Central TN Raceway that showed up and raced, Mac, Tom, and Gil ( Boola) thanks for supporting Retro and Roger.
Even Wally Fleming showed up to see all his old racing friends he raced with in the past!

Lots of thanks goes to Roger's wife Sue and daughter Angelina, and to Randal and Mick (Roger's righthand men)!

All you racers that didn't make it this year need to make plans to race on the Shootout next year. Bring the wife or girlfriend and take them to Gatlinburg, they will love it!

Where else could you have Carey Underwood sing the National anthem?

Hope I haven't left anyone out; if I did I apologize. Just wanted to spread the word on what a GREAT time was had by all this weekend!

Rick.

[Ken Bryan]

I agree wholeheartedly with Noose. The Holdsclaws were great hosts. We started calling Roger the "Energizer Bunny" because he seemed to have boundless energy and was everywhere at once. He put on a great race. Food, lodging, and amenities all well planned and first rate. Those who did not come missed out on a great experience.

Thanks to John S. for the loaner Stock Car and for helping set up the F1. Thanks also to Jay Guard for soldering the lead wire at race time (and to everyone else for patiently holding up the start of the race). Rick Crutchfield. from Cenral Tennessee Raceway, was great (and patient) leading up to and throughout the weekend. Especially enjoyed visiting with local racer Barney Bradley, a kindred spirit.

For me the times visiting with other racers was the best part. (Watching me race, most people would agree I am better at visiting.) Saw some old acquaintances and met a bunch of new people. Enjoyed every interaction. Too many people to name but thank you all.

If no one else comments... Roger, I really appreciated the national anthem opening. It was awesome.

If I am fortunate enough to make another of these, I look forward to seeing you all again.

Ken

[Catch22]

I had a great time. Getting to meet alot of the big name Retro guys. Everyone was nice.

A huge thanks goes to Chris Radisisch, Thursday night he noticed a few issues with my Can-Am and showed me what to fix to make it better. I was seeded fourth in the Main and finished seventh. All thanks to Chris, the car was junk before he helped me.

And to all my new Northern friends, "Track Rat" .

I can't wait until next time.

[Catch22]

Oh yeah, congrats to Jay Guard on winning the Third Eye controller and to Mark Griffith for winning the Manta Ray chassis.

[Cheater]

Mark,

How cool was it to talk to Ray via cell after winning the chassis?

The Retro world isn't that large right now, but that could change...

[Noose]

BTW, we concluded that this was a "two blink" track for Ron. On Kings he blinks three times per lap in the same exact spots. Here it was only two and in again in the exact same spots. LOL.

[MantaRay]

Thanks to Greg Wells and Mark Griffith for the call. Hope to see some pics after it's built.

Sounds like a good time was had by all.

Hope to make it next year.

[Spencer26]

Mark isn't goint to build it. He is going to put it in the case at the track to show!! He is one happy camper!

[brnursebmt]

Just a few words to say what a great time I had at the Shootout. It was really good to put faces to names. I finally got to experience getting booted from tech by Noose. Not once but twice!

It was a pleasure meeting Noose and John S. Chris Radisich, Ken Bryan, Ron Hershman, Hip, and so many more. Finally got to meet Brian Cox who was a big help to me getting ready for this race. Got to catch up with Wally Fleming and relive some old wing car races.

It was good to see many Southern racers make the trip. I think we may have converted John Martin over to retro! J.C. had a good weekend.

Roger had the track in perfect shape. I'm sure next years race will be even better.

Now where exactly is that track in Chicago?

[compva]

To say I was "one happy camper" is an understatement. The "Manta Ray" chassis is a work of art. I have been soldering for 35 years and only dream of being able to product a fine handling chassis as beautiful as the "Manta Ray" chassis. As for putting it in the display case at East Tennessee Model Raceway, this is true. It is a, once in a lifetime, piece of Southern Shootout memorabilia and deserves to be preserved. It would be a crime against slot racing to treat it as an ordinary chassis. Many, many, many thanks to Ray Price AKA Manta Ray.

I also want to commend Cody (the star of MGM racing), a young racer who seems to have the talent to become a "Great One". He makes me proud to be helping him in his racing efforts.

I'd also like to commend Skylar and Spencer for doing a great job. It appeared that all three of these young guns gave the "Experts" fits on the race track.

This weekend was a tremendous event and I had a great time. Roger presented a world-class race and should be proud of his efforts. Roger can count on me to race and help out where I can at the next one.

[Jay Guard]

What a great event!! The Holtsclaws (the WHOLE family) really worked hard to make this an enjoyable event and they succeeded beyond all expectations, especially when you consider this is their first really big IRRA™ event. Roger is one of the hardest working track owners I've ever seen and worked tirelessly to promote this race. In additon he and Mick were excellent race directors and really kept the event moving at a good pace.

The Kingleman was in great shape and it was a perfect venue for some super competitive racing. I know that in few races, and after hundreds of laps, several positions were determined by just a few sections! The generous pits were some of the best I've ever seen, clean and well-lit to boot.

As always it was great to reconnect with all of the other racers and a special thanks (even if he did bounce me for a .81250001" diameter tire ) has to go to Noose for manning the tech table for the whole event.

If you missed this event you really need to do yourself a favor and make room on your schedule for next years Southern Shootout. I believe it will be even better than this years event and is destined to be one of the premier IRRA™ events.

SEE YOU THERE NEXT YEAR!!

[Hipsticker]

Ihad a very good time last weekend in eastern Tennessee..always fun to be with the greatest characters on earth a few days.Thank you Mr.Holtsclaw in having a awesome raceway and southern hospitalty is not a myth..all the amenities a racer could want and more.Specially liked the breakfast on saturday morning,,very cool!I am sure i will return next year if not before if another retro race is scheduled.
Thank you STAFF for making me feel welcome and letting me tell stories and make you laugh a bit..im a herky-jerky dude but never boring..lolHope everyone reading the blog will see how much fun and FAST RACING we had and come on down next year!

Hope this race lays to rest that Hershman is the man in ANY retro car,,not just his own stuff....HUGE congrats to Jay Guard who won the overall points ..this man is awesome in any type racer....a nice guy to talk and shot the breeze with too ..great job Jay! Thanks Chris Radish for helping me all weekend, i learn so many small things from this man he has helped me become a better racer from the start..thank you Chris...Special thanks to all the guys that let me bug em all weekend with goofy questions, and basically putting up with me and my odd nature..i have more fun being at retro races more than anywhere.Great to meet new people and talk slots.i enjoyed everyones company and stories that will last a lifetime,,we will meet again friends.
RETRO-TIZED HIP

[Ron Hershman]

I can only "second" what has already been posted by everyone that was also there.

The event was well planned and there were no "glitches" that were not overcome quickly by Roger, Randall, Mick, staff ,and family.

Da young kids were fun to race with and are quick learners... they will only get better and faster over time. So beware and you have all been warned... LOL.

Like always it was great to see everyone again and ever better to meet all the new people that one has never met before at the other races. It was a pleasure to finally meet Rick Crutchfield, another great raceway owner.

It was great to see many "old wing car" racers there... Gil "Mr Boola" Gundersen, Tommy Flythe, Wally Fleming... Wally, you better get to building and join in the fun we Retro racers are having. It would be great to have you in the mix with us.

The two characters of the weekend..... JC Martin and Tom Harrington...... what a hoot the conversations and actions between those two were....I am still laughing over some of the things those two said to one another....of course all in good humor. But they both need to "pay better attention" when they are turn marshaling....LMAO Seriously....they did a great job.

The story of the weekend... Hip Culy and John Strieguth... both ran great and had great finishes... way to go, guys!!!!

As usual it was great to race with Chris Radisich, Jay Guard, James Merriman (I would call him something else but I may get my warning level raised... LOL ), Chris Barnes, Ralph Thorne, Noose... the usual suspects at the "Premier" events. Missed James and Chris B on F1 day and missed racing with Chris R in the F1 main.

The track... it breeds very close racing... he traction was good, no "quirks" on any lane, easy to drive and get up to speed. The layout makes it hard to build a big lead over anyone as the track is easy and good on all lanes. This is a track that one must really work at "staying out of trouble" as you can get behind real quick and hard to get back what you "gave away" or lost. While some may say... if the track was cleaned or something else... remember... it was the same for everyone and everyone got around it pretty darned good IMO. The power was good and we had no problem with braid or anything else. There was not a problem with the lap counter on Sunday in the first F1 semi... the names were simply entered "wrong" during the set-up and that was all that was wrong... every lap counted and that's the most important thing.

The "shock" of the weekend was Mike McMasters actually having a controller in his hand and winning a "consi" race in Can-Am then he had the "gall" to ask the race director if "he got the lap"when his car coasted over the counter during a track call... once a racer always a racer... LOL.

It was good to see Brian Cox, another ORS regular, make the trip and race... hope he has a good time in Florida the next week or so.

Thanks... to all the sponsors

Thanks to Noose... you da man when it comes to tech and keeping things going.

Thanks to Slotblog or Greg Wells for donating for those great burgers and fries on Sunday... not sure who else pitched in... but thanks.. .it was good. Hey "Somebody Had to Eat It" and we all did... LOL.

My Special Thanks goes out to Ralph Thorne and Noose for coaxing, convincing, and doing everything to get me to go to the race. The story goes... Rande, Terry and I were planning on going..... Terry couldn't get off work, Rande has some health issues so Rande had nothing prepped for me to go and race as of Monday before the race... Noose and Ralph both offered me cars and equipment to race with... so I thought... why not??? The least that could happen was going and just having a good time and a fun time... that happened and all was good and great. It was a nice drive to and from Kingsport, the weather was great, the company at the race was great.

Ralph Thorne... I can never thank you enough for prepping and supplying me with great and competitive F1 and Can-Am cars... it was all Ralph's stuff... all was well prepped and ran really good and fast. Ralph did all the work... changing stuff on the cars, truing all the tires, etc., etc. Thanks so much, Ralph!!!

Noose thanks for the "loaner" controller and everything else you offered.

Contrary to "popular belief"... I did mount my body for the Can-Am race, I guess I can still drive something different than a King track, I didn't have any "home track" advantage as I don't think I have ever raced on a Kingleman track in all my years and being that Kingport, TN, is six or so hours from me.

So again... I had a great time and thanks to all of you... that happened... not only for me... but many others that were there as well.

See you guys at the races.

[Howie Ursaner]

Nice job, Ron.

[John Streisguth]

I can only echo what everyone else has said. Great venue for a race like this, great people to be around, and Roger did an amazing job without losing his cool the entire weekend. I think everyone should try and make it next year, it would be pretty hard NOT to have a good time. It was great to meet up and race with a lot of the top racers.

Thanks to Noose, it's always great to have a wing man like him (as well as be one for him...) Special shout out to Skyler, who took my loaner (the Victory chassis contest winner from two years ago) and put it into the F1 main without the benefit of a "wing" body, and also to Randal (behind the counter) who is a fellow VW nut. Always great to talk shop with another who has "the disease" LOL.

See y'all next year!

[Noose]

So here I am trying to sort out cars for the Can-Am on Friday. I finally handed them to Ron and said go run these and tell me what you think. He runs them, looks at me and says to go put the motor from one to the other and to change to Alpha untreated tires. I do it and am 2/10ths faster at which time I made a statement that will now haunt me.

I proclaimed "Ron was right".

Of course I was asked to repeat this statement many times thereafter. LMAO.

Thanks, Ron.

[Cheater]

And I told you not to post that at Slotblog. We have standards, you know... LOL!

[Ron Hershman]

I proclaimed "Ron was right".

Of course I as asked to repeat this statement many times thereafter. LMAO.

Say it!!! Say it!!! Saaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy it!!! LOL.

[Cheater]

Where's that lock button... LOL!

[Ron Hershman]

I think the "discussion" went something like this....LMAO

[Pablo]

Hershman is The Man!

[Ralph Thorne]

Hershman is just the man, and that's all there is to it. He walked in the door Friday night, borrowed a car, a controller and hooked up to the track which he's never been on. Within ten laps he's turning laps faster than the track record, and does so for about 40 to 50 laps before ever coming out of the slot. Truely amazing! It was an honor to work with him the whole weekend, and have him "race out of my box". His feedback on the cars was amazing, and every change we made only made the cars faster. I learned a lot, that's for sure!

Thank you to Joe "Jobiwan" McIntosh for giving me awesome cars! They were on the podium in every class this weekend. I've said for a long time that he's the most underrated builder in Retro!

So are you wondering (cough* Howie cough*) what happens when you take Ron away from Tom Thumb Hobbies, Rande, his RPM cars, and away from lots of motors, and replace it all with borrowed cars and controllers? He's still the best there is. He still set the track record and was TQ in Can Am, then won F1 and Can-Am.

The haters just need to move along...

If you were wondering, yes, Ron does have his own slot box!

[Pablo]

Ralph,

I disagree that Jobiwan is underrated. Nobody I know has ever underestimated him.

Underadvertised, maybe. But not underrated. He's always been awesome.