23 replies to this topic

[Mike Wurn]

Thazer is holding a Retro Race day, May 26th 2012.

The track will be open at 10:00am

Classes:
Formula 1: Falcon only allowed
GT: Falcon only allowed
Can Am: Puppy Dog allowed

All other rules per IRRA.

Thazer is located at 2925 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615

You can contact Dave Geehring at the track phone 574-232-2118, please leave a message if no answer.

Hope to see you there!

[John Miller]

I'm in!!!!!

[Indiana Outlaw]

Best time to call is Wednesday evening, or Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

[JohnnySlotcar]

Wanker is in! Will get some of my racers too! Save me a pit space, LOL!!!!!!

[Bernie]

I would really like to make this one but will be out of town that weekend ! Hopefully the next one.

[Mike Wurn]

Bring the sledgehammer John!!

Hey Bernie, it seems Dave has been trying to have one Retro a month, so there should be more to come. Hope you can make it in June. You guys gonna be at Mid America on the 19th?

[Bernie]

Ezra & I are planning on Mid America on the 19th. Looking forward to making a future race at Thazer. I like the idea of Falcon motors in F1 & Coupe.

[rav7kaa1]

This is going to be a blast.. I can't wait.LOL

[JohnnySlotcar]

I raced in 1968 while at college at Springfield Model Raceway, an American hillclimb! Also at Lee Richardsons original hillclimb with cars up to semi-pro wing cars.Cant wait for the fun. Any tips for falcon gearing and preferred tires? Thanks, John

[Mike Wurn]

I think most of us are running 8-28, and the small hub Pirahna's work a little better than JK's on a stiff chassis. If you have a really good Falcon, you may want to try 8-27. Dave has been playing with tires so you may get better advice from him.

[rav7kaa1]

Looks like we are going to have a good turnout or this event. Everyone is invited. Its going to be alot of fun. Please join us in the excitement. See you there.

[JohnnySlotcar]

Loading up the box. Let's race!!!!!!!

[Bernie]

Loading up tonight. Ezra is in as well. Just a reminder for any Chitown racers, time is Eastern time. Plan accordingly . John reminded me. Never thought about it.

[JohnnySlotcar]

Ray and I just finished testing at Wanker Valley.Waiting to hear from a prominent racer to see if he can make the trip with us!

[rav7kaa1]

Have a safe trip everyone. See you guys in the morning....Lets go racin boys!!!!!!!!

[John Miller]

We all had a great time today. I am sure that the results will be posted soon.

I'll post the pics as soon as Forest sends them to me.

[MantaRay]

Ditto.......the track and facility were in great shape. Dave and Doug did a great job running the races.
The track is a wild one. Look forward to returning with a little added time for practce.
Thanks for a great time.

[JohnnySlotcar]

Had a great time! Thanks, next time will spend the night so we can go out together. Love the track.

[John Miller]

Dave Geehring had the facility ready to race. Also, there was no need to break out the sledge hammers as the local racers were very courteous and pitted downstairs. What a great bunch of guys, they allowed their guest to use the trackside pit space! I wish that I would have taken my camera. Thazer has a well-stocked parts area with a little bit of everything and a few things that I have never seen.

We started the day with F1-fk, followed by GTC-fk and we finished with Can-Am.

Since this track has two cross-over sections, it really plays tricks on the mind when you are familiar with conventional slot car tracks. Although, by the time we got to Can-Am the newcomers were getting around much better.

Let the racing begin. . .

F1 was a bit of a disaster for several us, but Ron Hershman, John Austin and Dave Geehring all drove around the carnage for the podium spots.
GTC had enough racers for qualifying with two bumping up to the A-Main. Rick S. laid down the first hot lap in qualifying, but Ron Hershman does what he does and stepped up to lay one down a tad quicker. Although, Rick and a few of the locals are using Parma Turbo’s with a 3-ohm resistor!

Now that we all had a few laps behind us, this race had less carnage with some great racing being laid down. The top three spots went to Ron Hershman, Rick and JP.

We set-up a 12 man round robin for Can-Am and by now all of the newcomers were “getting the hang” of the cross-over sections. The racing was getting clean with very few fall-offs. Ron Hershman, Dennis and Dave Geehring took the top three spots. Ron drove a smart race and stayed out of trouble. Although, if Rick and JP didn’t break, I think it would have been a very interesting finish.

Once you get the hang of this track the “now you see’em, now you don’t” racing is a blast. Thanks for the great day of racing guys, I cannot wait to come back!

Disclaimer:
My apologies to the Mod’s as I do not have everyone’s complete names. If you leave the post up I am confident that one of the participants on this thread will provide a complete list of first and last names.

Attached Files

•  F1.jpg   52.96KB   1 downloads
•  GTC FK B-Main.jpg   48.65KB   1 downloads
•  GTC FK A-Main.JPG   48.72KB   0 downloads
•  Can-Am Round Robin.jpg   55.67KB   0 downloads
•  Portage-20111217-00244.jpg   57.81KB   0 downloads
•  Portage-20111217-00245.jpg   52.05KB   0 downloads

[Ron Hershman]

Awesome "retro" track.... almost 50 years old and built like a "piece of furniture". Dave Geehring did a fantastic job of rebuilding this track from the condition it was when he got it. Dave took almost two years to restore it to new 1960's glory. Great Job Dave!!!

The Thazer "group" of racers are a blast to race with and a plain good time to hang with and race with. Oh the stories and history with some of them......lol

While the raceway is a bit "cozy" at times it was nice of the "home team" to pit downstairs leaving us "visitors" to pit upstairs while they had it about 10 degrees cooler downstairs in the "Man Cave" LOL

Everyone is looking forward to their next visit to Thazer and Thazer will be having a monthly retro race in June, July and August. Maybe we can get Dave to post the dates soon? I know the next one is June 9th.

Everyone kept their cool and raced well and many guys who found it was their first time on a American Hillclimb with crossovers found it to be a challenge and many stepped up and got a handle on it rather quickly. Not the easiest track to race on at times, but fun to race on. The first time I ever raced on one 28 years ago..... I hated it, but over time figured it out and found out they are lots of fun to race on.

Thanks to Dave, Forrest, Doug for race directing during the day. Thanks to Dennis and Fred for marshaling the races they didn't race in....that was greatly appreciated.

And to my long time racing buddy Rick Stagen who had some bad luck at times yesterday...... it's hard to believe that these two "clowns" below both won their first National Championships 25 years ago.

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[Ron Hershman]

Pics of the winning cars

F1 RPM built JK chassis, Outisight Mc Laren M9, FK motor, 8-27, R-Geo Fronts, Mid America Rears

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GTC FK RPM built JK chassis, Outisight Chevron B-16 R, FK motor, 8-27, JK Fronts, Mid America Rears

 DSCN2137.JPG   62.4KB   1 downloads

Can-Am RPM built JK chassis, Outisight TI-22 R, P-S motor, 7-27, Chicagoland Fronts, Mid America Rears

 DSCN2139.JPG   63.35KB   0 downloads

[John Miller]

[Bernie]

We also had great time. Struggled a bit with the track but will go back for sure. Thanks to Dave for hosting the event and all Indiana gang for making us feel at home. I hope Thazer will be included in next year's Illinois Retro series, great group of racers. BTW, Dave's Dad is quite the character not to be missed!

[Mike Wurn]

Great that everyone had a good time, sorry I missed it, rained on and off all day where I was. Had to go though, my street rod buddies thought I died since I've been slotting.

How many guys understand what Fred means by "F"ing blue? LOL

Sounds like some great races, congrats to Ron, JP and all the visitors who got a taste of the old hillclimb, it will be that much easier next time!!! Great to see Ron, Dave and Rick getting back together, I've heard some of the stories, now we'll make some more!!