1275 replies to this topic

[Gator Bob]

Jaak, with the race on Sunday there still is today and tomorrow (Saturday) to arrive. Our postal service is still 6 days per week....

As far as the power - it is what it is .... or will be. Smoke or be smoked is what will happen.

Personally I think giving a complete outline of requirements and expectations to the race directors in advance would keep the drama to a minimum and make the experience less stressful for all.

These kinds of cars didn't handle great back then and will not handle like a Flexi or a Retro now. That is why thy were run on BIG tracks with tall banks to blast the straights and tip-toe through the flatter corners. As Jairus said that is how these cars will have to be driven to survive.

Good luck to all the entries !

[JohnnySlotcar]

It's time for just fun!! Can't wait to see the drivers reactions, most should be " you actually raced these?" LOL

[Jaak]

I do not blame anybody but myself, i was at fault myself, should have checked the voltage and not assume...you know what they say about assume

[havlicek]

"was the voltage announced four months ago?"

No. It was announced 16 September, 2012, and you waited twelve days to complain.
Fact.

Fact...after everyone has already long ago built their cars and motors, they announce this a week and a half ago.
Fact...after months of talking and prep and hashing-out the rules and conditions, they announce this a week and a half ago.
Fact...long after everyone thought they "knew" what this was about, they announce this a week and a half ago.

Then you say "I waited 12 days to "complain". Well gee whiz, my car was built and probably mailed out by then as were others. I also don't read every thread I'm interested in here every day...nor should I have to when all this was supposedly worked out months ago. Again, I'm not "complaining" or looking to change things, just trying to figure out how anyone thinks this is a good idea (other than those who built a slug).

Like you Pablo, I call balls and strikes like I see them. The more you explain it, the worse it gets. Jairus says that the cars will only be "sucking 14.3V on the straight", well, that probably isn't true, but even if it is true...that should be enough. I remember discussions here about the longevity problems of some "retro" motors. In one of those discussions, Philippe (I believe) chimed in to report that when the power was dialed-back, suddenly the motors started holding up just fine. This now seems even dumber than it did this morning.

-john

[Gator Bob]

I'm pretty sure the voltage is the same all around the track.
It's the amps that suck(ed up) in different places.

Now..if everyone lets off all at the same time some will go back.

[boxerdog]

Can't worry about it. It's in the capable hands of the drivers and the guys that prep the track. Let's roll!!!

[Pablo]

dc-65x has run vintage cars at Eddie's, I think .
Has anybody thought about PMing Rick T. and asking about his experience in this matter ?

[redbackspyder]

Why do they call this a Balls Out Race, if you left your balls somewhere else ? ? ? Wind them up, epoxy the crap out of the arm, bullet proof them and race them.... The Arco Thingie Race at Don's Raceway in the late 60's, we had guys running 23 single winds, and they not only finished the race but were rockets. We ran ultra light weight chassis, just used the aero side dams to help the down force, and these things jetted for the day. Nobody worried about a motor....... Why didn't they call this the TEA AND CRUMPETS EXTENDED PINKIE RACE FOR CHOTI STYLE BODIES ??? Pablo, you and I are together in this attitude when it comes to the race...... I am going to watch them at Buena Park, just to see the unique cars, and watch the carnage....

[slotbaker]

No way would you ever want me to host a proxy race, because I have zero tolerance.

I reckon that would be good. How about running it in 2014, seeing there might already be one being drafted for 2013?

dc-65x has run vintage cars at Eddie's, I think .
Has anybody thought about PMing Rick T. and asking about his experience in this matter ?

Too late for that.

Lets race.

[Jaak]

I am in *


*if the post people do there Job...my car was send with Priority on 15 September to the US

[Pablo]

I work at a HUGE data center. One day I came in to work, after a storm, I noted we were on generator backup power instead of commercial power.
I asked, "Why are we on gererator power, the power outage is over?"
Answer: the commercial power was still dirty.
They test the quality of the power before switching back to commercial.

As I said before, I'm sure Eddie Wong's power does not blow motors.
That would be counterproductive to his business.

Even a car battery is not 12 volts, it's 13.6

I understand your concern, John H.

My personal attitude towards racing slot cars is, when they break, it's not a bad thing......just an opportunity to learn and rebuild it better. That explains my position, strange as it may seem. Unlike my friend Bud Greene, who has been known to fold a flexi car into a taco when asked what caused his DNF He does not enjoy failure like I do. But I have to say, pablo built cars have always lasted the distance. You will not find many builders more anal with attention to detail than me. In ten more years, I'll be almost as sano as dc-65x

My motor may cook off first lap, who knows ? But I will tell you this:
I used a new S16C arm, new mags, conservative airgap, and a good blueprint job. I probably spent 5 hours on it, at least.
The gears ended up being taller than I wanted but oh well. I had three motors to test, and I ended up installing the SLOWEST one of them.

All we can do is pray. We are all doomed ......... One way or another

[endbelldrive]

I've pushed the envelope and blowed up real good two times (nearly burned down the North London track) with two different cars in these 1/24 Thingy Proxy Races...maybe third time lucky...or three strikes and I'm out.

[Lone Wolf]

Pablo, a 12 volt car battery has 12.6 volts at full charge, not 13.6. As the percentage of charge diminishes so does the voltage. Six cells at 2.1 volts each = 12.6. Alternator output is typically 13.8 to 15.3 volts although this can vary by a point or two. I knew 40 years of working on cars would come in handy some day

[Pablo]

Jaaaak, I'm confused about the race date.
In June, Jairus posted this :
"First race is not until Sept 30th"
So I marked my calendar. 30 Sep is a Sunday.
But Jairus now says the race is Saturday.

Jaaaak, time is getting short.....

[Gator Bob]

Pablo, get your paper bag out.....

you're not even in this race

[Pablo]

I'm just concerned for poor Jaaak, honestly.

I bow to the experience of Mr. Lupo

Bob, you are so right, I'm looking for my bag as we speak..... can't breathe

[Jaak]

Ah well that is a darn shame but out of my hands...send on 15 September priority the damn thing should have been there already,
if i see any post people now

[havlicek]

Why do they call this a Balls Out Race, if you left your balls somewhere else ? ? ? Wind them up, epoxy the crap out of the arm, bullet proof them and race them....

Apparently, they should have called it the "Brains-Out Thingie Race".

I'm pretty sure the voltage is the same all around the track.
It's the amps that suck(ed up) in different places.

A DC motor will draw as many amps as it "needs" depending on load, and will rev as fast as it can depending on voltage applied from the controller up to the limit the track is supplying. The controller doesn't limit amps, it limits voltage.

[Pablo]

C'mon, John, you build the best vintage motors on the planet, have faith in your works.

I am boxing up the Kim Lander F1 vintage car as we speak.......the Havlicek motor is so pretty, I didn't have the heart to hide it from view, so I drilled a hole into the top of the EB and installed a piece of 032 wire to mount a Jairus painted "head" only. That way, the motor is still visible.
Anybody can have a full driver cockpit. This car is special.....you can look in the cockpit and see the beautiful windings. The driver is mated to the Havlicek motor; how cool is that ?

[Jairus]

Don't listen to me Pablo, I don't even know what day of the week it is...

[Pablo]

I don't either. That's why God invented the paper calendar and the pencil.

[Jairus]

Can't afford a calendar. But I do have a pencil!

[Pablo]

Concours:

I would vote a tie between Eduardo, and chief32s.
With Mike K car very very close.
All three of those cars are so SANO, they are sick

[Gator Bob]

I = E/R

[Pablo]

When it comes to slot cars, forget everything you think you learned about electricity.
Your theories do not apply here.
Read Lee Gilbert's article from the 1970's.
Hershman would tell you, there is no valid test, other than lap times.