19 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

While mouring the loss and celebrating the life of Bob Emott, it occurred to me that many US racers might not have seen the race report in the Model Cars (UK) magazine telling the story of Bob's incredible success in what I think was his only race in that country.

 

So here are scans of the story, thanks to Don Siegel, whose collection of magazines covering the slot car and slot racing hobby is probably unequalled anywhere.

 

Be sure to click on the images, so they open to the more-readable larger uploaded sizes.

 

 

 

[Cheater]

Don subsequently emailed me a few more scans from the same November 1969 Model Cars issue.

 

It seems Champion wasted little time in leveraging Bob's win in their advertising. Power King, indeed!

 

 

 

[MSwiss]

Greg,

 

Thanks for posting and thanks to Don for sharing.

I remember having that issue, finding it in a magazine store in downtown Chicago.

Not sure about the cover, but it might have had a Tamiya Gold Leaf Lotus on it.

But I bet the back or inside cover had an ad for Riko-Tamiya, with a picture of a Tiger tank.

One thing I was curious about, was on this magazine and others like Model Racing Journal, there never or seldom was references to lap totals.

[tonyp]

Bob told me his car was so fast through the corners he drove the straights at part throttle as not to launch over the bumps and to just keep a little bit on front so as not to win by too much.

[MSwiss]

he drove the straights at part throttle

Good thing he had a terrific Gorski controller. LOL.

[Bill from NH]

In addition to this race report, Model Cars also published a "how-to" article on constructing Bob's winning Tottenham car, including the layout of his chassis jig. John Secchi faxed me a copy of this article in 2000. Later, I was able to get a copy of that particular issue.

[Cheater]

That "how-to" story has been mentioned several times in recent posts.

 

If anyone would like to see that article, I'll ask if Don is willing to scan it for posting here.

[Mbloes]

Half the field is can drive; the other half (which includes Bob) is endbell drive.

[TSR]

Not only that but the motor runs in the "wrong" direction... like a Lenz. 

[Mbloes]

Interesting, I didn't notice that. Bob's the only one.

[don.siegel]

Close Mike, but not quite: it was a blue Opel GT, and the back inside cover was "stick to with Humbrol!"
 

Not sure about the cover, but it might have had a Tamiya Gold Leaf Lotus on it.

But I bet the back or inside cover had an ad for Riko-Tamiya, with a picture of a Tiger tank.

 
PS: Be glad to scan the build article if anybody is interested... Oh, Rick...

[Cheater]

Heck, I'd like to see it, Don, even if no one else is interested.

 

Back in the day, I never had access to any of the non-US slot car mags.

[tonyp]

Bob Kean liked to use the Mabuchi/Champion style cans which did not lend themselves to can mounting.

 

The motor was wound Lenz direction so the chassis could be built with the can on the inside of the donut for handling.

[SlotStox#53]

Fascinating story and article! Thanks for posting, Don. Makes particularly good reading as my dad back then as an early lad raced on the very same Tottenham track. 

I even managed one lap with a crusty old rental car when the track was in Southend. Can't really remember much just that seeing the banking as a kid was like WOW. 

Would love to see the build article, as I feel a tribute build in the works later on, will look at dc-65x's threads as Rick has done a few Bob Emott recreations.

[don.siegel]

Coming up guys! It was in the following issue, December, so everything went very quickly! 

 

Don 

[don.siegel]

Close Mike, but not quite: it was a blue Opel GT, and the back inside cover was "stick to with Humbrol!"

 
PS: Mike, my mistake, didn't really read your sentence clearly enough: saw just Riko and not Tamiya - it's the back cover and indeed has an ad from Tamiya Riko, with the Leopard and Panther tanks... but no Tiger.

[Cheater]

And here's Bob's chassis building article from Model Cars and thanks again to Don for scanning this for us.

 

 

 

 

 

[don.siegel]

Thanks, Greg... but you guys get up way too early in the morning, especially on a Saturday. No wonder America's in trouble... (insert smiley face here...)
 
Don 

[Bill from NH]

Minor point, but if anyone is going to build a copy of the Emott jig, the location of the 'C' pins is incorrect. The drawing shows their outside edge to be 3/8" off the jig's centerline, actually they should be 5/8". 

[Cheater]

... You guys get up way too early in the morning, especially on a Saturday.

Don,

That's because Jay Guard (who bunked at our place last night) and I were headed to a Retro South race in Peachtree City today, which is about an hour's drive away, and we were trying to get there by 8 AM. We didn't make it...

Posting using the raceway's wi-fi...