275 replies to this topic

[Bill from NH]

Keep this up Bob & you'll become a wing car expert.     I last ran wing cars competively in 1980-81. Cars were Grp.20 & 22 arms in C-cans, brass/wire scratchbuilt chassis, & O/S Ferrari bodies. My two cars are just as they were the last time I took them off the track, except for the bodies. The orange rears are rock-hard.

[Anthony Grimaldi]

Has anyone every raced in international group 15 wing. at pj there is amateur and pro

[Gator Bob]

Yes ... but not me

[Anthony Grimaldi]

Lol

[Joe Mig]

Has anyone every raced in international group 15 wing. at pj there is amateur and pro

They have a onces a month "omg12" race there that my son competes in and they go 2.5's and it's a good starting point.

[W. J. Dougherty]

I've got good news and bad news...

 

The good news is that Port Jeff is one of the best raceways in the country and has a very helpful and knowledgeable staff with outstanding racing program.

 

The bad news is that to be competitive in any class, especially wing cars, you are going to have to spend a fair amount of money.  And as you go up in speed so does the cost.  Unless you can work on your own car, you will have to pay someone to maintain it for you, like change the gears, fix motors, etc...  You will need at least 1 pair of tires per race; several bodies, multiple motors, several chassis, braid, axles, guide flags, etc.  Then there is track time to practice, and I mean lots of practice on every lane, which means more motors, tires, gears, bodies, chassis, etc.  Lastly there is race entry fees. 

 

Slot racing can be a cheaper hobby than some other hobbies, but it still costs money to play...  

[Anthony Grimaldi]

With Doug driving it was 2.450 -2.550 I think I can get it to go faster

Dose that mean they would put me in with the group 12s

My dad can take apart the motor and do all of it but I'm trying to learn myself how to do it

I can buy tires every race but what's the reason for changing the motor so Many times

[Gator Bob]

What did your car run with the new 20 motor and you driving?

[Anthony Grimaldi]

I didn't buy a 20 motor

[W. J. Dougherty]

With Doug driving it was 2.450 -2.550 I think I can get it to go faster

Dose that mean they would put me in with the group 12s

My dad can take apart the motor and do all of it but I'm trying to learn myself how to do it

I can buy tires every race but what's the reason for changing the motor so Many times

It was unclear, did you buy an International 15 car or a GP12 car? 

 

If its a 15a car then you can not race it in the GP12 class.  Cars race in their own class as determined by chassis and motors.  12s and 15s are 2 completely different cars with different chassis and motors that don't match up. Almost all motors and chassis are not interchangable between the classes. 

 

If Doug is running 2.4-2.5 in that car, it's highly unlikely that you will ever be faster than him unless you become a superior driver with a much faster 15 motor and are are able to tune the car to get the most out of it.  It will take a considerable amount of practice to out drive him, if ever.  Additionally, he and his boys build some of the best 15a cars in the country; its their class.  So you will never be able to out build him.  As fo high performance race motors, they require constant attention to maintain their edge. I race with wing guys that tear down their motors after every race and send the arm out for rebalancing and to have the com cut.  Other guys take 8 $200 motors to run a race; 1 per heat for peak performance.

 

Just playing around is one thing, but to race at this level takes a major effort

[Anthony Grimaldi]

I bought a international 15 / i15 I hate to say but yes Doug has been doing this for a long time. Kid/ teens have better hand eye coordination then adults

[Mike Walpole]

I bought a international 15 / i15 I hate to say but yes Doug has been doing this for a long time. Kid/ teens have better hand eye coordination then adults

You would have been better off getting a Group 12 and running OMG12 to start than Int15.  Int15 motors are double what a G12 motor goes for and the chassis are double the cost too.  Plus, the I15 is a plated Aluminum chassis and if you doen't take the motor out correctly you WILL pull the plating off the chassis and it will be ruined.  For OMG12 you'd only need 2-3 motors, for I15 you needs at least 4 motors and 6-8 arms.

 

Do you have better reflexes - probably.  Just remember old age often beats youth with experience and treachery.

[W. J. Dougherty]

MIke,  You are right.  But he can't even change a spur gear on a flexi car...

 

 

Anthony, Yes, you are true about the reflexes.  But have you ever really raced before?  If so, where, for how long and with what kind of car?

 

Regardleass, unless you are running out of Doug's box...  Ain't going to happen...  JMHO...

[Mike Walpole]

Doug runs the OMG12 with 8/39 or 9/43-44 gears pinion instead of the usuall 9/39 and 10/44 we normally race with.  It's a lot easier on the motors and the cars are only about .1 slower a lap, so they are in the 2.6 - 2.7 range at Port Jeff.  Int15 is gonna be in the 2.2 range, which is a lot faster.  Shoot, if speed is all you wanted you could have gotten a 27 Lite for the same price as a 15, and they are stupid fast.

[W. J. Dougherty]

Mike, couldn't agree more.  Beginners should start in the beginner class, that why they have them.  I don't believe that people with more money than sense should come in and buy a car just because its fast.  They don't know how to drive, let alone how to repair the car, making the entire race experience miserable for all involved.

 

I race Gp12, tried C12 (and didn't like it), have raced 15a, raced 27L, and have a OMO car (which I haven't raced yet).  I made the progression naturally and think I am better for it.

 

Again, JMO...

[Mike Walpole]

Actually - I think $100 wing car is the place to start racing wings.  There's tuning and driving and race driving involved.  Contrary to popular opinion, you do have to drive the gutter lanes on a superspeedway king and you learn to deal with race traffic at a better pace.  YMMV.

[Anthony Grimaldi]

You guys told me from the beginning to go to port jeff and to see what they said and I did Doug brought out c12 and a I15 race both car and race them in front of me and I chose I'm going there tomorrow to practice. Every ones say I can't race the car I have know so I buy a car I can race and know ur all telling me I can't or because it's to advance for me. I'm not stupid I'm not 2 there's no guid lines I don't want to give my car away for someone else to work on it I want to do it

[Samiam]

Anthony,

 

The guys giving you advise have a few hundred years of combined slot car experience. I would take what they say as gospel.

 If all you are going to do is play with the car it's your choice. But racing is a whole 'nother ball of wax.

 

Good luck with your racing

Sam

[Anthony Grimaldi]

Do u guys really think I want to come in 123 place I will settle for last it just nice to see the same car and have people pick my car when I fall off lol

[Samiam]

Anthony,have you been in any races before?

[John Streisguth]

Anthony: racing is a learning experience...go, have fun, learn stuff.  It doesn't sound like your expectations are unrealistically high. 

 

But most importantly... have fun!

[Mike Walpole]

It's one thing to make laps with a wing car and it's a whole 'nuther thing to race with 7 other cars on the track.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard where did my car go.  (or said it myself LOL)  G12 is a good class to learn how to race wing cars including the etiquette that goes along with it.  Doug may have run a couple cars to show you how fast they are, and, yes, they are impressive, but a Int15 program is going to run $800 for 3 motors a chassis and a body.  OMG12 will be half that.  Port Jeff has a strong G12 program and you will get good equipment from them.  It's just going to be a lot easier starting out to run 2.7s on a spec tire and limited gearing.  Not to mention less expensive too.  Run the really fast stuff, without any experience, and you're going to be the crash and it's going to be expensive. It's your money spend it as you wish - just trying to help you out.

[Gator Bob]

So you want to marshal the A after they 'pick your car up and put it back on" ?

 

Last time for me, I got my own kids ... Save Yourself  the trouble .... Put the $55 Gr 20 motor in your car and learn to drive that first .. and how to change a tire.

[Anthony Grimaldi]

.... Never mind ur all rite I'm not ready for racing il just continue to practice. it was stupid of me to think anything of it. One of my other Hobbys is saltwater and freash water aqarium I have two reef tanks and 5 freash water tanks. And my mom and dad know nothing about fish keeping I stated the hobby let me tell u reef is the hardest thing I ever done and it's a thosened times harder then slot car racing it's not the money either it's the help I can go to a pet store form YouTube and get an answer. Slot car racing is a black hole u find something new u guys suck it up don't tell anyone and yes the reason why it's for competing yes I under stand the only people who under stand slot car racing are people from the old age it's still around because of the people from when it started and if Someone doesn't starts spilling the secrets were all going to be left with nothing u all look at me as a 10 year old running his mouth well I'm not and I'm F u kin done with people telling me I'm **** and that I can't race or I can't change tires or even a fu kin spur gear (fwi I never said that I asked for help to Aline it properly and gator bob suggest I ask pj and I will) gator bob I'm srry I didn't buy the motor my dad didn't want me to change it. Ur the nicest and lol the funniest person on this form and wish u the best. And if Doug or joe has seen this I'm srry for what I said and if I insulted u in any way.


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If any one needs help with wing cars don't look at my posts just go to ur local slot car store and ask them

[Gator Bob]

Think of it ... think towards it ....