PDL, I agree completely with you. But at least the Flexi system does offer the novice a chance to see whether or not he or she may like the hobby. If we could pull the youth off their XBOX and Wii or their cell phones text message sytem, they actually might learn a little manual dexterity and theory of electronics and magnetism. Hope your trip was great, and I am looking forward to racing with all of you in D3.
Why did slot car racing fade so quickly in 1967-68?
Started by
Vay Jonynas
, Nov 23 2007 11:33 AM
537 replies to this topic
#226
redbackspyder
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Posted 15 May 2008 - 07:08 PM
Mill Conroy
AKA : TWO LAP CONROY, Anointed Trigger Monkey by Mike Swiss
Deal me life's toughest cards, without chance for hope nor fame, just let me play this one last hand, and I'll win this whole damn game.
Second Most Interesting Man in the World.
#227
TSR
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The Dokktor is IN
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Posted 15 May 2008 - 07:09 PM
Mill, that would involve WORK. The concept in itself is very foreign to most youth today... 
Philippe de Lespinay
#228
n9949y
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Checkered Flag in Hand
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Posted 15 May 2008 - 07:52 PM
Rocky, your somewhat cynical assertion re: clubs, "... the vast majority... are closed shops... always one or two dominant guys who run the program and decide who is allowed in the sandpile” is remarkable. I’m not aware of your “vast,” to use your term, club racing experience is. My experience with club racing appears quite unlike yours.
I was a MESAC member in the '60’s and '70’s, a club that its charter members wisely promulgated a body of rules that were permanent and immutable. The Rule of Law was inviolate; thus race activities for a decade were not subject to individual whims and fancies no matter who would have been “dominant” at any given time.
I am an active member of Pelican Park Speedway, a club that’s been thriving for over 21 years. Like MESAC, PPS rules are immutable, designed to insure all members have equal opportunities to be winners.
Members, because we all share a deep love and appreciation for a sorts of motor sports, 1:1 and 1/24, are friends first. We are also uniquely hobbyists which is, as we all agree, is a shared activity involving oneself in a creative process. It doesn't matter if the final result is "museum quality" or "rough and ready", it is the act of being creative that makes a hobbyist... and the creations you make... will become the "artifacts" of our lives, that bind us.
Creativity is the fuel that has kept the furnace glowing at PPS for 20 years. It's been proven: you can't keep 15-20 people involved for decades, simply racing RTR cars around a slot car track. Looking at a shelf full of "perfect" unraced factory built slot cars is also not going to sustain a group's interest for long. We have found that involvement in a creative process... whether it's building a chassis, detailing out a resin body, or building a nine foot Le Mans replica pit building... creating something, where nothing existed before... is what stimulates the imagination, satisfies the soul, and holds a group of creative people together.
With so much diverse activities surrounding the PPS experience no one can dominate-anything. For 52 weeks a year we race 12 different classes of cars, each class presenting different challenges that allow each member a way to excel. The way we run our races makes for equal opportunities and as luck, as in real or 1:1 racing, is a component, sometimes luck, or as we say, the Slot Car gods have a tendency to smite a too prideful soul hip and thigh- “chicken one week, feathers the next.”
It’s our belief that among us who get the most attention is the least among us- the back markers. The fast ones take care of themselves. Two members who’ve suffered grievous injuries arising from auto accidents are paraplegics. Our expectation that they have opportunities to do as well as the rest of us is paramount.
Yes PPS competition is fierce, but, oh so much fun. I can’t think of any activity that week to week provides me as much entertainment as does racing at PPS. Even if I loose and wind up dead last in the Hooligan race (for the 4 least quick-Main for the 4 fastest, the Consi, for the next 4) in a Wednesday program the extremely close competition makes for an incredibly exciting time- especially since I’m sharing the same experiences with my long term friends.
I’m really quite sorry your club experience has proven so unpleasant. Long surviving clubs, Like On the Hill gang in Southern California, the group in St Louis, and others that I know of by way of their web sites appear to offer its members and participants experiences quite the opposite of yours. Eugene, OR, is but a day's drive from Salt Lake City. Come on over; we've got plenty of loaners. Share a good dose of sheer fun- with slot cars yet!
I was a MESAC member in the '60’s and '70’s, a club that its charter members wisely promulgated a body of rules that were permanent and immutable. The Rule of Law was inviolate; thus race activities for a decade were not subject to individual whims and fancies no matter who would have been “dominant” at any given time.
I am an active member of Pelican Park Speedway, a club that’s been thriving for over 21 years. Like MESAC, PPS rules are immutable, designed to insure all members have equal opportunities to be winners.
Members, because we all share a deep love and appreciation for a sorts of motor sports, 1:1 and 1/24, are friends first. We are also uniquely hobbyists which is, as we all agree, is a shared activity involving oneself in a creative process. It doesn't matter if the final result is "museum quality" or "rough and ready", it is the act of being creative that makes a hobbyist... and the creations you make... will become the "artifacts" of our lives, that bind us.
Creativity is the fuel that has kept the furnace glowing at PPS for 20 years. It's been proven: you can't keep 15-20 people involved for decades, simply racing RTR cars around a slot car track. Looking at a shelf full of "perfect" unraced factory built slot cars is also not going to sustain a group's interest for long. We have found that involvement in a creative process... whether it's building a chassis, detailing out a resin body, or building a nine foot Le Mans replica pit building... creating something, where nothing existed before... is what stimulates the imagination, satisfies the soul, and holds a group of creative people together.
With so much diverse activities surrounding the PPS experience no one can dominate-anything. For 52 weeks a year we race 12 different classes of cars, each class presenting different challenges that allow each member a way to excel. The way we run our races makes for equal opportunities and as luck, as in real or 1:1 racing, is a component, sometimes luck, or as we say, the Slot Car gods have a tendency to smite a too prideful soul hip and thigh- “chicken one week, feathers the next.”
It’s our belief that among us who get the most attention is the least among us- the back markers. The fast ones take care of themselves. Two members who’ve suffered grievous injuries arising from auto accidents are paraplegics. Our expectation that they have opportunities to do as well as the rest of us is paramount.
Yes PPS competition is fierce, but, oh so much fun. I can’t think of any activity that week to week provides me as much entertainment as does racing at PPS. Even if I loose and wind up dead last in the Hooligan race (for the 4 least quick-Main for the 4 fastest, the Consi, for the next 4) in a Wednesday program the extremely close competition makes for an incredibly exciting time- especially since I’m sharing the same experiences with my long term friends.
I’m really quite sorry your club experience has proven so unpleasant. Long surviving clubs, Like On the Hill gang in Southern California, the group in St Louis, and others that I know of by way of their web sites appear to offer its members and participants experiences quite the opposite of yours. Eugene, OR, is but a day's drive from Salt Lake City. Come on over; we've got plenty of loaners. Share a good dose of sheer fun- with slot cars yet!
Todd Messinger
8/9/38-1/9/20
Requiescat in Pace
8/9/38-1/9/20
Requiescat in Pace
#229
CruzinBob
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Posted 16 May 2008 - 02:45 AM
Hear, Hear! Go for it Rocky, you would really have a ball with their program. Come to think of it...this is a program any avid slot racer should participate in at some point in their lifeEugene, OR is but a day's drive from Salt Lake City. Come on over; we've got plenty of loaners. Share a good dose of sheer fun- with slot cars yet!
Bob Scott
Cruzin' Mobile Slot Car Racing
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. - St. John Climacus
Cruzin' Mobile Slot Car Racing
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. - St. John Climacus
#230
Prof. Fate
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a dearly-missed departed member
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Posted 16 May 2008 - 01:47 PM
Hi,
Todd, "most" doesn't mean "all" in this discussion. You know I have raced with some of your guys and I am friends with a reasonable portion of MESAC.
And the point I keep trying to make is that MESAC was unusual even THEN.
I have actually raced with BOTH St. Louis clubs. The one you know of is at war, locally, with the other. And...
Well, I won't speak out of class on that.
The point is that one of the groups is a "big frog" situation, the other is semi-limited.
In the day and since, I often travelled on business and took cars. So, I think I do have a lot of experience. When LA was dead, I was involved with Lee Stokley's group! You remember Lee, one of my favorite people. Rich keeps insisting I need to go to Oregon as well. My current road trips usually involve business(lets me deduct the costs) and I don't work for anyone in Oregon!
But I have, in the last ten years, raced coast to coast at the club level. Raced with "Gorp" in Ohio, raced with the Baltimore crowd (one of the niceest groups ever), and on. Bob and Rich are friends and say nice things about you and I accept that you guys are one of the good groups.
The "bad" groups are ones you don't normally hear about. No group publicises that ONE guy runs the place and you WILL race as he dictates.
Not the issue.
The point I was trying to make is the deceptive nature of the hobby. For instance, Flexis are deceptive. One may buy a Flexi and perennially finish last and break down a lot. Running in any A anywhere with a Flexi requires a level of expertise that means you can scratchbuild. Go read any tutorial on how to prep a Flexi and tell me some 10 year old who just bought the car is going to run.
Arguing about motors. We are racers, and... Let me put it this way, I am just admitting to my own flaws. When I hit the track I MUST think I can beat Steube. Honestly, I know I will not. Too often I will hand Mike a car, and he is instantly two tenths faster. That simple. Outside of Jeff Easterly, I don't think we like to admit that the other guy is better. So, we obsess over the motor and the "secret parts" and the tires, and blame everything except MY LACK OF TALENT.
In the early '60s, my building better motors made me race above my pay scale. So, I see motor building as a skill that lets ME compete.
Jeff and I share the trait that we just enjoy the hobby. I have accepted that I am not "Team Checkpoint". But that is a digression.
The basic point is that winning is what people expect to do, slots seem easier than they are. And we lose a lot of people who buy ONE car and even when a Sterrett tries to help, have NO CLUE and never will.
The post about entry level Flexi is a proof, to my mind, of that.
Fate
Todd, "most" doesn't mean "all" in this discussion. You know I have raced with some of your guys and I am friends with a reasonable portion of MESAC.
And the point I keep trying to make is that MESAC was unusual even THEN.
I have actually raced with BOTH St. Louis clubs. The one you know of is at war, locally, with the other. And...
Well, I won't speak out of class on that.
The point is that one of the groups is a "big frog" situation, the other is semi-limited.
In the day and since, I often travelled on business and took cars. So, I think I do have a lot of experience. When LA was dead, I was involved with Lee Stokley's group! You remember Lee, one of my favorite people. Rich keeps insisting I need to go to Oregon as well. My current road trips usually involve business(lets me deduct the costs) and I don't work for anyone in Oregon!
But I have, in the last ten years, raced coast to coast at the club level. Raced with "Gorp" in Ohio, raced with the Baltimore crowd (one of the niceest groups ever), and on. Bob and Rich are friends and say nice things about you and I accept that you guys are one of the good groups.
The "bad" groups are ones you don't normally hear about. No group publicises that ONE guy runs the place and you WILL race as he dictates.
Not the issue.
The point I was trying to make is the deceptive nature of the hobby. For instance, Flexis are deceptive. One may buy a Flexi and perennially finish last and break down a lot. Running in any A anywhere with a Flexi requires a level of expertise that means you can scratchbuild. Go read any tutorial on how to prep a Flexi and tell me some 10 year old who just bought the car is going to run.
Arguing about motors. We are racers, and... Let me put it this way, I am just admitting to my own flaws. When I hit the track I MUST think I can beat Steube. Honestly, I know I will not. Too often I will hand Mike a car, and he is instantly two tenths faster. That simple. Outside of Jeff Easterly, I don't think we like to admit that the other guy is better. So, we obsess over the motor and the "secret parts" and the tires, and blame everything except MY LACK OF TALENT.
In the early '60s, my building better motors made me race above my pay scale. So, I see motor building as a skill that lets ME compete.
Jeff and I share the trait that we just enjoy the hobby. I have accepted that I am not "Team Checkpoint". But that is a digression.
The basic point is that winning is what people expect to do, slots seem easier than they are. And we lose a lot of people who buy ONE car and even when a Sterrett tries to help, have NO CLUE and never will.
The post about entry level Flexi is a proof, to my mind, of that.
Fate
Rocky Russo
3/6/48-1/1/12
Requiescat in Pace
3/6/48-1/1/12
Requiescat in Pace
#231
n9949y
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Posted 16 May 2008 - 03:32 PM
...... Come to think of it...this is a program any avid slot racer should participate in at some point in their life
Hi Bob,
We really enjoyed your guest appearance last summer, and your racing performance was so impressive.
Here's Bob racing last summer during a scheduled Jalopy race.
(Bob getting ready for a heat race)
(Bob off the starting grid.....)
(Bob into the first turns-he's in the dark jalopy, in yellow lane, door handle to door handle for 2nd)
Bob on the "hotseat" turn marshal position- he has to cover the Union 76 turns and the entrance to the pit straight)
(Bob's ride- #53)
Todd Messinger
8/9/38-1/9/20
Requiescat in Pace
8/9/38-1/9/20
Requiescat in Pace
#232
68Caddy
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Posted 16 May 2008 - 11:06 PM
Hmm, let me put on my big scholar hat here - well, for me at least - there was this thing called puberty that hit and well chicks seemed waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more interesting than slot cars. You know - what they say - sex, drugs, and rock and roll. what more is there to say... Hmm - you're sixteen with a choice - babes or slot cars? The decision seems pretty clear to me.
Now we're all old farts reminiscing about the old times - is this vaguely scary to you? It is to me. That's why I say, let's try to attract the young'uns ... maybe those guys will have their young female entourages with them --- babes - now that'll pump up the sport faster than you can say viagra
"
I'll serve the underaged hotties some POPS.
Nesta aka 68Caddy
Now we're all old farts reminiscing about the old times - is this vaguely scary to you? It is to me. That's why I say, let's try to attract the young'uns ... maybe those guys will have their young female entourages with them --- babes - now that'll pump up the sport faster than you can say viagra
"
I'll serve the underaged hotties some POPS. Nesta aka 68Caddy
- Gabriel
Nesta Szabo
In this bright future you can't forget your past.
BMW (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
United we stand and divided we fall, the Legends are complete.
I'm racing the best here at BP but Father time is much better then all of us united.
Not a snob in this hobby, after all it will be gone, if we keep on going like we do, and I have nothing to prove so I keep on posting because I have nothing to gain.
It's our duty to remember the past so we can have a future.
Pistol Pete you will always be in my memory.
Nesta Szabo
In this bright future you can't forget your past.
BMW (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
United we stand and divided we fall, the Legends are complete.
I'm racing the best here at BP but Father time is much better then all of us united.
Not a snob in this hobby, after all it will be gone, if we keep on going like we do, and I have nothing to prove so I keep on posting because I have nothing to gain.
It's our duty to remember the past so we can have a future.
Pistol Pete you will always be in my memory.
#233
CruzinBob
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 03:30 AM
Todd,
Thanks for the photos...wow, you was snappin, weren't ya!
I very highly recommend your race program. It's produces a quick race but with long heats. Lots of races can be run in a relatively short time. What a blast!
Dokk,
I think your assessment that todays youth don't know how to work skirts the issue that no adult is presenting the slot car hobby in a manner that would appeal to them.
Rocky,
It IS definitely very much more difficult than it looks!
I'm glad to see this thread getting some inspiring responses for a change....at least for me
Slot Racing IS A FAD, which is why Jim Honnecut does so well in a mall with his expertise in presentation which is not only focusing on entertainment but also manufacturing and using his own product. BPR has a large dedicated base of very serious slot racers who,even tho slightly fragmented would VERY LIKELY put together a commercial club facility in short order should their raceway ever close (not likely for quite some time)
Has anyone mentioned space rents may have risen considerably? Think about space cost vs amount of money generated by whatever occupies that space.
Recently several have mentioned how to reach the youth. No answers yet but there is a program that I've promoted herein more than once. Responses - yep, one that works in a school but has no time for promotion of a program. Understandable. Wayne Halabourda in Canada & Rich Vecchio in AZ initiated great slot car programs in schools. Me, in spurts in previous raceways but have not yet been able to take to a local school...California has many
Some enthusiasts take lots of extra time to help promote the program they're interested in. The programs that flourish are ones administrated by individuals who are basically fair and fired by a passion many of us share, degrees and detailed interests fragment the ability to become united.
How does one balance his desire to participate in the program while also trying to administrate it?
Thanks for the photos...wow, you was snappin, weren't ya!
I very highly recommend your race program. It's produces a quick race but with long heats. Lots of races can be run in a relatively short time. What a blast!Dokk,
I think your assessment that todays youth don't know how to work skirts the issue that no adult is presenting the slot car hobby in a manner that would appeal to them.
Rocky,
It IS definitely very much more difficult than it looks!
I'm glad to see this thread getting some inspiring responses for a change....at least for me
Slot Racing IS A FAD, which is why Jim Honnecut does so well in a mall with his expertise in presentation which is not only focusing on entertainment but also manufacturing and using his own product. BPR has a large dedicated base of very serious slot racers who,even tho slightly fragmented would VERY LIKELY put together a commercial club facility in short order should their raceway ever close (not likely for quite some time)
Has anyone mentioned space rents may have risen considerably? Think about space cost vs amount of money generated by whatever occupies that space.
Recently several have mentioned how to reach the youth. No answers yet but there is a program that I've promoted herein more than once. Responses - yep, one that works in a school but has no time for promotion of a program. Understandable. Wayne Halabourda in Canada & Rich Vecchio in AZ initiated great slot car programs in schools. Me, in spurts in previous raceways but have not yet been able to take to a local school...California has many
Some enthusiasts take lots of extra time to help promote the program they're interested in. The programs that flourish are ones administrated by individuals who are basically fair and fired by a passion many of us share, degrees and detailed interests fragment the ability to become united.
How does one balance his desire to participate in the program while also trying to administrate it?
Bob Scott
Cruzin' Mobile Slot Car Racing
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. - St. John Climacus
Cruzin' Mobile Slot Car Racing
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. - St. John Climacus
#234
Grammy Winner
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Mid-Pack Racer
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 03:42 PM
Todd,
Thanks for the photos...wow, you was snappin, weren't ya!
Dokk,
I think your assessment that todays youth don't know how to work skirts the issue that no adult is presenting the slot car hobby in a manner that would appeal to them.
Rocky,
It IS definitely very much more difficult than it looks!
I'm glad to see this thread getting some inspiring responses for a change....at least for me
Slot Racing IS A FAD, which is why Jim Honnecut does so well in a mall with his expertise in presentation which is not only focusing on entertainment but also manufacturing and using his own product. BPR has a large dedicated base of very serious slot racers who,even tho slightly fragmented would VERY LIKELY put together a commercial club facility in short order should their raceway ever close (not likely for quite some time)
Has anyone mentioned space rents may have risen considerably? Think about space cost vs amount of money generated by whatever occupies that space.
Recently several have mentioned how to reach the youth. No answers yet but there is a program that I've promoted herein more than once. Responses - yep, one that works in a school but has no time for promotion of a program. Understandable. Wayne Halabourda in Canada & Rich Vecchio in AZ initiated great slot car programs in schools. Me, in spurts in previous raceways but have not yet been able to take to a local school...California has many
Some enthusiasts take lots of extra time to help promote the program they're interested in. The programs that flourish are ones administrated by individuals who are basically fair and fired by a passion many of us share, degrees and detailed interests fragment the ability to become united.
How does one balance his desire to participate in the program while also trying to administrate it?
Bob,
I'm the director of a recording arts & technology program at a community college in San Diego.
As part of my recruitment program I speak to hundreds of H.S. kids every semester. I would really like to talk to you about promoting slot to this demographic as an alternative to street racing. I tend to disagree with the claim made by PDL that kids don't have technical proficiency. After all the automotive after maket industry thrives because young kids are building street rockets and drag racing them on city streets, which can have deadly results. Has anyone been killed by a slot car?
Jay Henry
???-2020
Requiescat in Pace
" First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi
Studio link
???-2020
Requiescat in Pace
" First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi
Studio link
#235
CruzinBob
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 04:20 PM
Bob,
I'm the director of a recording arts & technology program at a community college in San Diego.
As part of my recruitment program I speak to hundreds of H.S. kids every semester. I would really like to talk to you about promoting slot to this demographic as an alternative to street racing. I tend to disagree with the claim made by PDL that kids don't have technical proficiency. After all the automotive after market industry thrives because young kids are building street rockets and drag racing them on city streets, which can have deadly results. Has anyone been killed by a slot car?
Jay,
That sounds very good. We should get together when I come down for the San Diego Co Fair, it will be my 11th year there. The fair runs June 14 - July 6 and I will be there setting up about June 12.
I have faith there are some individuals that will step up and help put together an effort to revive slot racing in our youth.
I meant to mention also in reply to Dokk's statement about our youth - I posted a photo a few weeks ago that I took while doing the Santa Maria Strawberry Fest. Saturday morning I came in to see a very large group of kids on a concrete area in front of a stage. They were competing with robotic mechanisms in various classes. Santa Maria is not big but the population is around 80K. I thought it a very promising look into "getting the kids interested" in something constructive, literally.
My experience (although I don't have kids) in interacting with kids in raceways and while exhibiting is that they will listen, they will learn if it is presented in an appealing manner with a well directed and administrated program. It's (us) adults that have a hard time finding the appropriate means to gain their interest and methinks we 60's generation are a spoiled self-centered bunch that need to take a 2nd look at life.
Bob Scott
Cruzin' Mobile Slot Car Racing
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. - St. John Climacus
Cruzin' Mobile Slot Car Racing
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. - St. John Climacus
#236
Grammy Winner
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Mid-Pack Racer
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 06:37 PM
Looking forward to getting together with you. I agree, (I have two kids) the presentation is the key to comunicating with youth today. I've been involved in entertainment industry related education programs for more than 20 years, and the 18 to 24 year olds I teach are hungry for knowledge and will listen and learn if the material is presented in a appealing way. I just finished building a $ 5.5 million state-of-the-art recording studio in SD county to meet the demand for technical training in sound recording and computer technology. Now if I could only figure out how to combine slot racing with itunes.Jay,
That sounds very good. We should get together when I come down for the San Diego Co Fair, it will be my 11th year there. The fair runs June 14 - July 6 and I will be there setting up about June 12.
I have faith there are some individuals that will step up and help put together an effort to revive slot racing in our youth.
I meant to mention also in reply to Dokk's statement about our youth - I posted a photo a few weeks ago that I took while doing the Santa Maria Strawberry Fest. Saturday morning I came in to see a very large group of kids on a concrete area in front of a stage. They were competing with robotic mechanisms in various classes. Santa Maria is not big but the population is around 80K. I thought it a very promising look into "getting the kids interested" in something constructive, literally.
My experience (although I don't have kids) in interacting with kids in raceways and while exhibiting is that they will listen, they will learn if it is presented in an appealing manner with a well directed and administrated program. It's (us) adults that have a hard time finding the appropriate means to gain their interest and methinks we 60's generation are a spoiled self-centered bunch that need to take a 2nd look at life.
Jay Henry
???-2020
Requiescat in Pace
" First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi
Studio link
???-2020
Requiescat in Pace
" First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi
Studio link
#237
993
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Likes to left foot brake.
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Posted 20 May 2008 - 12:22 PM
Jay,
That sounds very good. We should get together when I come down for the San Diego Co Fair, it will be my 11th year there. The fair runs June 14 - July 6 and I will be there setting up about June 12.
Hi Bob, Yvonne and I hope to see you at the fair again this year.
Does the fair close for a day leaving you enough time for us all to meet for a cold one?
I'd be happy to switch on the Hillclimb if you are interested.
After running the slot car booth at the fair I can't imagine you would want to see a slot car on your day off.
June 21st and July 5th, Saturdays from 4 to midnight we should be racing on the Hillclimb.
Also July 7th a Monday eve we'll be racing.
If you can get away come join us.
I expect our race nights might conflict with your event's prime time?
Best,
Mike
Mike Gehgan
#238
Tim Neja
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Grand Champion Poster
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Posted 20 May 2008 - 02:19 PM
I'm also interested in reviving slot racing. That's why Joe Chevy and I have been talking about CnC routing a manufatured 1/32 slot track to be modular and go after the home plastic track market. I'd love to see a product the Bob could add to his quiver of products to help him make more money in the industry too!! Please call us Bob, I've had a few people get a hold of me that have said they would be very interested in buying a track like this IF we can produce it! So there is some interest out there--
Let's RACE!!
Tim
Let's RACE!!
Tim
She's real fine, my 409!!!
#239
Jay Mendoza
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- 27 posts Joined: 25-September 08
Rookie Keyboard Racer
Posted 25 September 2008 - 10:26 PM
Hi,
I'm Jay Mendoza, the Team Tekin Guys called me Jayman. Some of you 1/10 and 1/12 scale racers may remember me from R/C car racing as I worked for Tekin, designed their receivers, and was the race team manager. I got to know Big Jim, as he was a friend of Kevin Orton, and also the whole Associated gang, Provetti of Trinity, and I worked with Glenn Toma while at Futaba.
Anyway, I'll go way back to 1967, the place was Rolling Hills Raceway run by a guy and his wife, was it Herb and Karen? There was several tracks there, and it was the end unit of a larger building that was formerly a Renault and Peugot car dealership. As such it had high ceilings for the showrooms. The place was the scene of large sponsored races and championships. We would often go just to watch the "hot shoes" and see their awesomely fast cars.
We used to take our allowances and go there to rent a car, controller, and 20 minutes of track time. The cars were crummy stamped aluminum pans with a moulded plastic body, like Can-Am, or open wheel Indy/Formula styles. Making a complete lap without de-slotting was rare, and you could never hold the hammer down, the cars handling was not up to it. Most time was spent marshalling and before you knew it your time was up.
Like many here, my cousin and I received a Strombecker figure-eight set some years prior, but when we tried to take those cars to the track, they were even more miserable than the rentals, so we left them home. I was given a Jimmy Clark Lotus Ford, it was a plastic slot car kit, Revell, and sure looked cool. I remember the body was moulded in green plastic, and it had beautiful detail, chromed parts, and realistic-looking running gear and tires. The first time it flew off the high bank at Rolling Hills and hit the upper board, it disintegrated! So it was back to rental cars again.
The good-handling cars were all sheet and brass tubing, silver-soldered, custom-made. I do remember seeing the very first side angled engine cars there, and wondering how the gears ever worked as the angle of the meshing was such that the teeth only engaged partially. You could get pre-painted Lexan "wedge" or formula bodies, too. And then there was that smell of tire sauce, oil of wintergreen, it brings back memories, huh?
Yeah, you could buy a La Cucaracha, and other Cox cars, but unless you had a "Pan" style car with those purple, or yellow foam tires, it was going to launch off the track for sure and destroy itself. The price of the good-handling kits and ready-made customs were a bit out of the range of a typical 10 to 12 year old's allowance, so we had to wait until Xmas of that year until my cousin Walt got a Cucaracha!
The other thing was when the "big" guys showed up with their plywood race boxes, we would just be in the way, were out of track time money, and so we usually threw our junk in our makeshift Kinney's shoebox and left.
So was it price that killed commercial slot car tracks? I cannot say for sure, but it was very limiting factor for me and my cousin Walt at the time. We loved driving the cars, but we wanted and needed ones that would handle better than the rentals. Add to that the fact that many of the best cars were just a soldered-up chassis, you had to complete it with your choice of gearing, motor, rims and tires, body, etc. This again was a bit daunting for kids like me and Walt. To Herb's credit, he would turn down the track voltage when it was just us kids, he had us run the track up at the front of the store, that did help a little with the constant crashing.
By the time I had enough money saved for a decent car, most of the tracks had closed. Knappers (Artie Knapper, and Frank his brother; it was later called Franks Hobbies) in Orange kept a track in back set up for coin-op, and we would screw around on it occasionally if we could get our hands on a car... but like mentioned before, they usually were destroyed in short order and that ended that for the time being!
I think we would have spent more time and allowance money had the rental cars been more capable of staying on the track, and also if the scale cars were not so prone to damage... what turned us off eventually was we were spending more time doing everything but driving, which was the fun part, and we got too little of it. If we had the money to spend, it may have been different, but we were like most kids our age, and not poor, so I can see why it may have failed. There are only a limited amount of "big kids"/adults who have the time, means, and interest in hanging out at a track for hours on end.
Every time I went to Lomita and stayed at my cousins house, the first thing we would do was run across the field (now houses) to the car dealership and Rolling Hills Raceway, so it was surely not a lack of interest on our part, the fad never died in our hearts, it was the ecconomic and technical aspects that kept us from being able to participate as much as would have liked to.
In 1982, I moved from Orange to San Clemente, and there on El Camino Real was a Johnson's Raceway that had just opened. "Oh boy" I said when I saw it, and went in to see my first Womp Womp race. You know, those cars looked about the same as the rental cars of 1967, but had a bit better handling, it was fun. So some 15 years later as an adult going to college, I was able to finally to re-capture a long lost dream of my youth and actually get some good laps in. Just when I started to get good, the track closed, it is a fickle fad, especially the commercial tracks, it's not an easy business to run.
Who remembers the track at Del Mar, at the family fun center? It was really nice.
My twin boys spend hours with me on our four-lane HO track, racing formula and Indy style Tycos and AFX/Tomys. We sit down and re-build them, too. Too bad the hobby shops here in Mission Viejo have only new cars and track sets; we have to mail order everything. I can get the old Tyco X440s to out-run my new Super G+ AFX/Tomys, which seems odd, older is better?
Jay
I'm Jay Mendoza, the Team Tekin Guys called me Jayman. Some of you 1/10 and 1/12 scale racers may remember me from R/C car racing as I worked for Tekin, designed their receivers, and was the race team manager. I got to know Big Jim, as he was a friend of Kevin Orton, and also the whole Associated gang, Provetti of Trinity, and I worked with Glenn Toma while at Futaba.
Anyway, I'll go way back to 1967, the place was Rolling Hills Raceway run by a guy and his wife, was it Herb and Karen? There was several tracks there, and it was the end unit of a larger building that was formerly a Renault and Peugot car dealership. As such it had high ceilings for the showrooms. The place was the scene of large sponsored races and championships. We would often go just to watch the "hot shoes" and see their awesomely fast cars.
We used to take our allowances and go there to rent a car, controller, and 20 minutes of track time. The cars were crummy stamped aluminum pans with a moulded plastic body, like Can-Am, or open wheel Indy/Formula styles. Making a complete lap without de-slotting was rare, and you could never hold the hammer down, the cars handling was not up to it. Most time was spent marshalling and before you knew it your time was up.
Like many here, my cousin and I received a Strombecker figure-eight set some years prior, but when we tried to take those cars to the track, they were even more miserable than the rentals, so we left them home. I was given a Jimmy Clark Lotus Ford, it was a plastic slot car kit, Revell, and sure looked cool. I remember the body was moulded in green plastic, and it had beautiful detail, chromed parts, and realistic-looking running gear and tires. The first time it flew off the high bank at Rolling Hills and hit the upper board, it disintegrated! So it was back to rental cars again.
The good-handling cars were all sheet and brass tubing, silver-soldered, custom-made. I do remember seeing the very first side angled engine cars there, and wondering how the gears ever worked as the angle of the meshing was such that the teeth only engaged partially. You could get pre-painted Lexan "wedge" or formula bodies, too. And then there was that smell of tire sauce, oil of wintergreen, it brings back memories, huh?
Yeah, you could buy a La Cucaracha, and other Cox cars, but unless you had a "Pan" style car with those purple, or yellow foam tires, it was going to launch off the track for sure and destroy itself. The price of the good-handling kits and ready-made customs were a bit out of the range of a typical 10 to 12 year old's allowance, so we had to wait until Xmas of that year until my cousin Walt got a Cucaracha!
The other thing was when the "big" guys showed up with their plywood race boxes, we would just be in the way, were out of track time money, and so we usually threw our junk in our makeshift Kinney's shoebox and left.
So was it price that killed commercial slot car tracks? I cannot say for sure, but it was very limiting factor for me and my cousin Walt at the time. We loved driving the cars, but we wanted and needed ones that would handle better than the rentals. Add to that the fact that many of the best cars were just a soldered-up chassis, you had to complete it with your choice of gearing, motor, rims and tires, body, etc. This again was a bit daunting for kids like me and Walt. To Herb's credit, he would turn down the track voltage when it was just us kids, he had us run the track up at the front of the store, that did help a little with the constant crashing.
By the time I had enough money saved for a decent car, most of the tracks had closed. Knappers (Artie Knapper, and Frank his brother; it was later called Franks Hobbies) in Orange kept a track in back set up for coin-op, and we would screw around on it occasionally if we could get our hands on a car... but like mentioned before, they usually were destroyed in short order and that ended that for the time being!
I think we would have spent more time and allowance money had the rental cars been more capable of staying on the track, and also if the scale cars were not so prone to damage... what turned us off eventually was we were spending more time doing everything but driving, which was the fun part, and we got too little of it. If we had the money to spend, it may have been different, but we were like most kids our age, and not poor, so I can see why it may have failed. There are only a limited amount of "big kids"/adults who have the time, means, and interest in hanging out at a track for hours on end.
Every time I went to Lomita and stayed at my cousins house, the first thing we would do was run across the field (now houses) to the car dealership and Rolling Hills Raceway, so it was surely not a lack of interest on our part, the fad never died in our hearts, it was the ecconomic and technical aspects that kept us from being able to participate as much as would have liked to.
In 1982, I moved from Orange to San Clemente, and there on El Camino Real was a Johnson's Raceway that had just opened. "Oh boy" I said when I saw it, and went in to see my first Womp Womp race. You know, those cars looked about the same as the rental cars of 1967, but had a bit better handling, it was fun. So some 15 years later as an adult going to college, I was able to finally to re-capture a long lost dream of my youth and actually get some good laps in. Just when I started to get good, the track closed, it is a fickle fad, especially the commercial tracks, it's not an easy business to run.
Who remembers the track at Del Mar, at the family fun center? It was really nice.
My twin boys spend hours with me on our four-lane HO track, racing formula and Indy style Tycos and AFX/Tomys. We sit down and re-build them, too. Too bad the hobby shops here in Mission Viejo have only new cars and track sets; we have to mail order everything. I can get the old Tyco X440s to out-run my new Super G+ AFX/Tomys, which seems odd, older is better?
Jay
#240
Vay Jonynas
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Race Leader
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Posted 23 October 2008 - 02:42 PM
Hi Bob,
We really enjoyed your guest appearance last summer, and your racing performance was so impressive.
Here's Bob racing last summer during a scheduled Jalopy race.
(Bob getting ready for a heat race)
(Bob off the starting grid.....)
(Bob into the first turns-he's in the dark jalopy, in yellow lane, door handle to door handle for 2nd)
Bob on the "hotseat" turn marshal position- he has to cover the Union 76 turns and the entrance to the pit straight)
(Bob's ride- #53)
You call those "jalopies"?!!!
To keep the cost of racing down, has any track or sanctioning body tried "claims" races where, just like in horse racing, any racer or spectator can buy any of the cars being raced for a set price e.g. $100?
To reduce the "destruction" factor, which can certainly be off-putting to newbies, why don't sanctioning bodies reduce the voltages they mandate for each class of racing?
#241
Marty Stanley
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Posted 23 October 2008 - 05:29 PM
Do you really want to know why? Well then I'll tell you the God's honest reason!
Uncle Sam decided in November of 1967 that my services were needed to help with the conflict that was going on in Southeast Asia. I wound up in the Air Force and fought the war from the Pacific Theater based in northern Japan.
As soon as y'all didn't have me to kick around anymore.
So, now ya' knows the rest of the story!
Uncle Sam decided in November of 1967 that my services were needed to help with the conflict that was going on in Southeast Asia. I wound up in the Air Force and fought the war from the Pacific Theater based in northern Japan.
As soon as y'all didn't have me to kick around anymore.
So, now ya' knows the rest of the story!
Marty Stanley
1/24/48-2/18/16
Requiescat in Pace
1/24/48-2/18/16
Requiescat in Pace
#242
Vay Jonynas
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Posted 24 October 2008 - 01:27 PM
Hi Bob,
We really enjoyed your guest appearance last summer, and your racing performance was so impressive.
Here's Bob racing last summer during a scheduled Jalopy race.
(Bob getting ready for a heat race)
(Bob off the starting grid.....)
(Bob into the first turns-he's in the dark jalopy, in yellow lane, door handle to door handle for 2nd)
Bob on the "hotseat" turn marshal position- he has to cover the Union 76 turns and the entrance to the pit straight)
(Bob's ride- #53)
Boy am I slow these days. I initially thought it was the cars you were calling "jalopies"!
#243
Bill from NH
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Age scrubs away speed!
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Posted 24 October 2008 - 01:57 PM
Boy am I slow these days. I initially thought it was the cars you were calling "jalopies"!
Be nice Vay!
Bill Fernald
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
#244
Prof. Fate
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a dearly-missed departed member
- Gender:Male
- Location:Salt Lake City, UT
Posted 26 October 2008 - 01:17 PM
Hi
part of the story behind NASCAR was the fact that "jalopies" as in "modifieds were a lot faster than the more modern NEW cars. And Bill France realized the economic implications of dropping the modifieds off the circuit and emphasizing "stocker"....."Race on Sunday, sell on Monday".
In rural new mexico, the first "road racing" I saw involved "hot rods" versus "sports cars". And I was a HUGE fan of Max Bulkowski and his wife.
The above comment about a "claiming" rule failed in the day every time I was tried. In essence, it was this way. I built the cars such that it was a race to see if they would fail on the last lap or one past. Every car I did got torn down to the basic parts after every race and rebuilt. Thus, selling you my winner for some set price just simplified my life.
I was going to tear it down anyway. I was likely to replace stuff, and the tension was what NOT to toss in a box. So, what happened was that I sold a lot of semi-dead cars whose money let me buy the latest parts without concern.
A few years ago, driving flexis, they tried a claiming rule for the motor. No one wanted the whole car as everyone thought we were running the WRONG stuff. Note that we won 87 races out of 105 entered that year. Everyone was certain it was my "secret parts" in the motors. So, every race for about 20 races, my stock motor got sold for a new one.
Fate
part of the story behind NASCAR was the fact that "jalopies" as in "modifieds were a lot faster than the more modern NEW cars. And Bill France realized the economic implications of dropping the modifieds off the circuit and emphasizing "stocker"....."Race on Sunday, sell on Monday".
In rural new mexico, the first "road racing" I saw involved "hot rods" versus "sports cars". And I was a HUGE fan of Max Bulkowski and his wife.
The above comment about a "claiming" rule failed in the day every time I was tried. In essence, it was this way. I built the cars such that it was a race to see if they would fail on the last lap or one past. Every car I did got torn down to the basic parts after every race and rebuilt. Thus, selling you my winner for some set price just simplified my life.
I was going to tear it down anyway. I was likely to replace stuff, and the tension was what NOT to toss in a box. So, what happened was that I sold a lot of semi-dead cars whose money let me buy the latest parts without concern.
A few years ago, driving flexis, they tried a claiming rule for the motor. No one wanted the whole car as everyone thought we were running the WRONG stuff. Note that we won 87 races out of 105 entered that year. Everyone was certain it was my "secret parts" in the motors. So, every race for about 20 races, my stock motor got sold for a new one.
Fate
Rocky Russo
3/6/48-1/1/12
Requiescat in Pace
3/6/48-1/1/12
Requiescat in Pace
#245
Phil Irvin
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Posted 26 October 2008 - 10:25 PM
Hey PROF.FATE,
Where about in rural N.M. you grow up in? I was born & raised in El Paso and have been all over W. Tex. and S. N.M.
PHIL
Where about in rural N.M. you grow up in? I was born & raised in El Paso and have been all over W. Tex. and S. N.M.
PHIL
#246
Prof. Fate
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Posted 27 October 2008 - 12:40 PM
Hey PROF.FATE,
Where about in rural N.M. you grow up in? I was born & raised in El Paso and have been all over W. Tex. and S. N.M.
PHIL
Hi
By coincidence I was chatting with a new immegrant friend from Ireland who is a huge western fan. And I got all geeky about the land having hiked much of the south west. Talking about having walked places "no counry for old men" was shot, and how other movies were just wrong.
I lived in Clovis New Mexico 55-61. The longest I lived anywhere as a kid. In later years, often returned to the area for various things. I have chatted with Stan about this. One of my best friends then was the grand son or great grand son of Elfago Baca, and another friend namedJaramillo was the grand nephew of the woman Billy the Kid was sleeping with the night he died! I have never been sure exactly what I liked about the Llano Estacado, beyond the great flying fields.
Fate
Rocky Russo
3/6/48-1/1/12
Requiescat in Pace
3/6/48-1/1/12
Requiescat in Pace
#247
stumbley
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Posted 27 October 2008 - 01:28 PM
...and Elfego Baca himself is buried in the Socorro, NM (my home town) cemetery about a quarter mile from where I grew up.
Lew Wallace, author of "Ben-Hur" and former governor of NM, wrote the book in Socorro when it was the capitol of NM.
Any more useless New Mexico trivia?
Lew Wallace, author of "Ben-Hur" and former governor of NM, wrote the book in Socorro when it was the capitol of NM.
Any more useless New Mexico trivia?
Stan Smith
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"No one is completely useless - you can always serve as a bad example." -PartiStan
Democracies endure until the citizens care more for what the state can give them than for its ability to defend rich and poor alike; until they care more for their privileges than their responsibilities; until they learn they can vote largess from the public treasury and use the state as an instrument for plundering, first those who have wealth, then those who create it -- Jerry Pournelle.
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action. - George Washington
Things that are Too Big To Fail sooner or later become like Queen Bees, the Alpha and Omega of all activity, resulting in among other things, the inability to think of anything else but servicing them. - Richard Fernandez, The Belmont Club
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"No one is completely useless - you can always serve as a bad example." -PartiStan
Democracies endure until the citizens care more for what the state can give them than for its ability to defend rich and poor alike; until they care more for their privileges than their responsibilities; until they learn they can vote largess from the public treasury and use the state as an instrument for plundering, first those who have wealth, then those who create it -- Jerry Pournelle.
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action. - George Washington
Things that are Too Big To Fail sooner or later become like Queen Bees, the Alpha and Omega of all activity, resulting in among other things, the inability to think of anything else but servicing them. - Richard Fernandez, The Belmont Club
#248
sportblazer350
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Posted 02 November 2008 - 01:38 PM
Hi again fellas, wow this topic sure gets a lot of opinions! This time out, i will not get "on my soapbox", and try to convince anyone of anything, nor give opinions to the origianl topic about why the hobby died out back in the late 1960's. But, i offer a recent observation:
I race with a 1/32 scale club (NJ132) that strictly races today's plastic chassis and bodied cars, on plastic sectional tracks. They race along with other clubs around NJ and in the Philly Pa area. Weekday evening races get around 12+ racers, weekends can get up to over 20 or 30 racers. Most races are in member's homes, a few are at hobby shops, and that is strictly on plastic tracks. Just giving some history of the club racing activities first.
Recently, some of us 1/32 scale racers discovered the 1/24 scale BRM cars out of Italy. We raced them on our plastic tracks, and some of us began to embrace them. I finally got these strictly home based plastic track 1/32 racers to try out a race with these BRM cars on a commercial track, and they loved it! Already these racers are track testing their BRM cars (plastic chassis, plastic bodies, real SCALE quality and appearance, and yes- even with tracion magnets in the chassis!) on a variety of commercial raceway tracks! And we plan to hold more BRM races at commercial tracks, due to how well they perform on the bigger tracks. No, these cars are no where near as fast as a basic Flexi car, i think the motors are around 28,000 rpms, but the racing is great, these cars are so evenly matched. Even the raceway owner, who has no prior knowledge of these types of cars, really enjoyed running this race for us, he was quite impressed.
Looking at the details of such an event: these cars are expensive ($150 retail), hard bodied, plastic chassis, hard rubber tires, top quality scale appearance, and not very fast. Raced by home/club 1/32 scale racers, without any commercial track experience. @ vintage club racers wre able to race loaned cars, and loved it!
But there was nothing at the pasrts counters for this group of racers to spend their slot car money on, except for a few bottles of braid juice. And many of these racers are also collectors of 1/32 plastic rtr cars, and spend a lot of slot car dollars on their collection, race cars and parts for racing. Too bad for this shop owners, as he missed out of a lot of profits that day.
Remind you guys- just an observation of an event i participated in (and organised as well). Was i right? Did these 1/32 scale plastic car racers enjoy themselves? You bet they did!! Will they be back? You bet they will!
Overall, where is the most growth overall in the slot car hobby?? I'll let you guys answer this question for me.....
Asking me for any suggestions? I hear a few, so.....talk about ways to bridge the gap between home/club 1/32 scale plastic car/track racers and commercial raceways. then- act on it.
I race with a 1/32 scale club (NJ132) that strictly races today's plastic chassis and bodied cars, on plastic sectional tracks. They race along with other clubs around NJ and in the Philly Pa area. Weekday evening races get around 12+ racers, weekends can get up to over 20 or 30 racers. Most races are in member's homes, a few are at hobby shops, and that is strictly on plastic tracks. Just giving some history of the club racing activities first.
Recently, some of us 1/32 scale racers discovered the 1/24 scale BRM cars out of Italy. We raced them on our plastic tracks, and some of us began to embrace them. I finally got these strictly home based plastic track 1/32 racers to try out a race with these BRM cars on a commercial track, and they loved it! Already these racers are track testing their BRM cars (plastic chassis, plastic bodies, real SCALE quality and appearance, and yes- even with tracion magnets in the chassis!) on a variety of commercial raceway tracks! And we plan to hold more BRM races at commercial tracks, due to how well they perform on the bigger tracks. No, these cars are no where near as fast as a basic Flexi car, i think the motors are around 28,000 rpms, but the racing is great, these cars are so evenly matched. Even the raceway owner, who has no prior knowledge of these types of cars, really enjoyed running this race for us, he was quite impressed.
Looking at the details of such an event: these cars are expensive ($150 retail), hard bodied, plastic chassis, hard rubber tires, top quality scale appearance, and not very fast. Raced by home/club 1/32 scale racers, without any commercial track experience. @ vintage club racers wre able to race loaned cars, and loved it!
But there was nothing at the pasrts counters for this group of racers to spend their slot car money on, except for a few bottles of braid juice. And many of these racers are also collectors of 1/32 plastic rtr cars, and spend a lot of slot car dollars on their collection, race cars and parts for racing. Too bad for this shop owners, as he missed out of a lot of profits that day.
Remind you guys- just an observation of an event i participated in (and organised as well). Was i right? Did these 1/32 scale plastic car racers enjoy themselves? You bet they did!! Will they be back? You bet they will!
Overall, where is the most growth overall in the slot car hobby?? I'll let you guys answer this question for me.....
Asking me for any suggestions? I hear a few, so.....talk about ways to bridge the gap between home/club 1/32 scale plastic car/track racers and commercial raceways. then- act on it.
Glenn Orban
NJ Vintage Racing
NJ Scale Racing
C.A.R.S. Vintage Slot Car Club
#249
68Caddy
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The Direktor
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Posted 02 November 2008 - 05:01 PM
Glenn, could it be the little cars I play with? BRM are releasing the new Toyota's and Mazda's with brass inserts for the chassis.
I think that 1:32 could bring in a lot of revenue for 1:24.
Nesta aka Bela
BRM are releasing the new Toyota's and Mazda's with brass inserts for the chassis. I think that 1:32 could bring in a lot of revenue for 1:24.
Nesta aka Bela
- Gabriel
Nesta Szabo
In this bright future you can't forget your past.
BMW (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
United we stand and divided we fall, the Legends are complete.
I'm racing the best here at BP but Father time is much better then all of us united.
Not a snob in this hobby, after all it will be gone, if we keep on going like we do, and I have nothing to prove so I keep on posting because I have nothing to gain.
It's our duty to remember the past so we can have a future.
Pistol Pete you will always be in my memory.
Nesta Szabo
In this bright future you can't forget your past.
BMW (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
United we stand and divided we fall, the Legends are complete.
I'm racing the best here at BP but Father time is much better then all of us united.
Not a snob in this hobby, after all it will be gone, if we keep on going like we do, and I have nothing to prove so I keep on posting because I have nothing to gain.
It's our duty to remember the past so we can have a future.
Pistol Pete you will always be in my memory.
#250
nomad2race
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Veteran Racer & Event Professional
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Posted 28 January 2009 - 07:52 PM
Mike, I agree with you totally on this, as this is what happened at Nomad.
Quadrophenia track was great for a while, and while there was good racing, the limitations put on the racers is what drove the majority of them to leave.
The reluctance of the owner to order certain parts forced racers to eBay or the internet. I tried unsuccessfully to order a tire truer for nine months, and finally gave up.
Hey guys, I'm busy running Nomad Slot Racing here in San Diego as well as CyclArt. So, as much as I'd like to, I don't get much time to get up to Buena Park to play with you. I also don't have time to follow SlotBlog as much has I'd like.
I very much appreciate the thought you guys have put in to your posts on this thread. I've read them all and find much to take to heart.
When I have caught up with the things I've neglected during the hours it took to read all this, perhaps I'll expound on some of my expereinces and observations, but most of what I would had has already been stated by others.
I would like to set the record straight on two things Mill has written above:
Mill, you asked about the best tire truer. At the time, I recommended either the Hudy which I use on our bench at the shop, usually stock and when out of stock can easily get, OR a new type that has advantages for plastic cars; from RSM in Germany. You indicated that you wanted the RSM. I made many, many attempts to get them, from their supposed US distributor, from RSM directly, and from the company that allegedly took over making them after RSM quit. I even explored making a similar type myself. There is "no reluctance to order certain parts" on my part. In a later post, you mantion that your ordered Hudy online. Your post implies that I blew you off or was unwilling to make the effort to get you a Hudy. Not at all the case. I usually had one on the shelf when you were here, you had the use of mine, and Hudy truers are listed, have been listed on MY web store the whole time! I think you forgot that I was trying to get you something else entirely. BTW, it's not like you had a depsoit on a special order or anything; I made all that effort at no cost or commitment from you. I still have a standing order for the RSM from three separate possible sources. What more can I do?
So for the record, I'll try very hard to accomodate special orders, I listen to what my customers want, and I work very hard to maintain a diverse and interesting inventory in my shop.
As to "the majority" of racers leaving, our race program has continued quite nicely and improved since you were last here 12 months ago. I have called and invited you back and even asked if there was something we did to discourage your return and you've consistantly told me you plan to return soon except for this illness, that injury or the other conflict. You never mentioned "limitations put on racers". What is that about and why do I have to read about it first a public forum? We have the most open and flexible race program I know of. Granted, you'd be limited by the track itself if you want to run Group 12 cars, or if you wanted to run a car in a race that does not fit the rules, but if two or more racers want to race and are willing to spend at least one 85 cent pinkslip each, hey... game's on...
I do remember Mike Chavez whining because I would not let him enter a car in a race with underscale-sized foam tires wider than the body, clearly against the rules. If there was anyone present that wanted to race him, fine, we'll set up a race for them on the spot. But when we're running a race for a specified class, the rules are rules. Eveyone else was on scale plastic wheels; if you mean that we enforce our published rules, sorry, about that! Also regarding Mike, when he did race with us, I noticed a distinct fall off in participation when he was present, perhaps it is his awsome talent, but whatever it is, I notice the he's still posting about how nobody wants to race with him...
Anyway,we'd like to have you back. Mike, too, if he's up for some fun and not addicted to speed and big woody tracks. ;<)
Jim Cunningham
Nomad Raceways
Racing fun anywhere,
anytime for anyone!
