122 replies to this topic

[sportblazer350]

​I really enjoy this type of racing. I too have been watching these German/Euro posts for a few years now. I like what and how they race. That is why my favorite type of slot car racing now is the Hardbody series at The Race Place in Farmingdale, NJ USA.
 
We race scale model cars: 1/24 scale plastic model kits with scale brass chassis, wheels/tires, 26K motors. So our cars are similar to what is raced in Germany, but not to the degree of detail nor performance. That is why I also liked racing Scaleauto 1/24 hardbody cars. I am one who does understand and believe that the "slot car hobby" encompasses all things related to slot cars: building, collecting, and racing. whether it be serious racing or for fun (hey - can't we do both at the same time: race and have fun??!!), any and all scales, from HO to 1/24, wing cars to scale model race cars. Racing today's 1/32 plasticars is also another form of hardbody scale racing that is enjoyable.
 
To me, I think that hardbody scale model car racing, if organized, can bring much needed life into this hobby at commercial raceways. I know that this type of racing is not for everyone, especially if speed is your only desire. I find the same at the radio controlled plane club: some like 3D flying with planes that are nowhere near scale, while others like to relax with their detailed scale planes. But in that hobby, everyone respects what the other flyer is doing and enjoys. If we slot car enthusiasts could only embrace the overall hobby, meaning that this hobby is not only about racing, and racing as fast as possible, and give everyone involved the support to help keep it alive.
 
I started in this hobby back around 1970, when I got bored with HO scale trains and I discovered slot car racing at commercial raceways and at hobby shops. The Aurora Thunderjet HO cars and home tracks is what got me started, and I still enjoy both old and new HO cars today as well. For a few years I was part of a vintage slot car club and we actually raced 1/24 scale real vintage mid 1960s cars, and had a blast! I was really surprised that more vintage slot car enthusiasts did not join in to race with us, as I know there are a lot of collectors out there - just look at eBay and all that is being bought and sold.      
 
​And to keep on topic here - I would really like to see this type of racing here in the USA. With all of the plastic model kits available, both new and old, and lots of different scale chassis makers to choose from, there is no limit to the types of cars to build, race and enjoy. Oh yeah - and to have fun doing so!

[Cheater]

If we slot car enthusiasts could only embrace the overall hobby, meaning that this hobby is not only about racing, and racing as fast as possible...

If only... sigh.

[SlotStox#53]

Cars are absolutely gorgeous. 

Just like the realism of the 1966 Rod & Custom series racers Just with modern chassis and hardbodies.

How fast slot/model cars go and how fast you drive them is all relative. Personally it's just a case of what you're used to and drive 'em like you stole it!!

Whether it's a Hawk Retro, multi-mag open, 20K Slot.it, period rewind, and anything else in between you bolt it in a car and drive it as smooth, steady, and as fast as you can!

All equally fun and enjoyable whatever the scale, just because of all the model detail and hardbody doesn't mean the cars are slow, need to be driven carefully, or any less fun than anything else.

Bring on some Can-Am Thunder series over here. 

[MSwiss]

If only... sigh.

 

Uh-oh.

The "This is the way you should be enjoying slot racing" police is on the prowl. LOL.

[Bill from NH]

Some of the "True Scale" home/club groups in Oregon run cars that will rival these. Perhaps other parts of the country have them too.

[MattD]

Bill,

 

I don't think I've seen anything that nice and scale in America. The guys at MESAC hit that level. All the pictures I've seen of their cars are very nice, but they must have relaxed their rules about tires, as a lot of cars I've seen have small out of scale tires.

[Bill from NH]

Matt, look at some of the Rosebud, OR race reports that James Wendel or Rich Vecchio have on here. Their cars are pretty nicely detailed. I don't know what their tire rules are right offhand, but I don't think they allow small diameters such as MESAC did.  Todd Messinger,, a former MESAC racer, now races at Pelican Park Speedway in Eugene, OR.

[MSwiss]

Bill,I don't think I've seen anything that nice and scale in America. The guys at MESAC hit that level. All the pictures I've seen of their cars are very nice, but they must have relaxed their rules about tires, as a lot of cars I've seen have small out of scale tires.

 

Some of the "True Scale" home/club groups in Oregon run cars that will rival these. Perhaps other parts of the country have them, too.

 

No offense to any US racing groups, but I have to agree with Matt.
 
I've haven't seen anything, recently, that can rival something like the #16 cars, below.
 

[Cheater]

The "This is the way you should be enjoying slot racing" police is on the prowl.

Aboslutely not and I am surprised you've expressed this viewpoint, Mike.

The quote in my post was this:

"If we slot car enthusiasts could only embrace the overall hobby, meaning that this hobby is not only about racing, and racing as fast as possible..."

Is this sentiment not inclusive, and respecting of every other aspect? It doesn't 'diss' the slot racing area of "as fast as possible," but rather suggests that's only one aspect, but not the only aspect...

[Samiam]

I think the guide shoe ties us all together. Under every slot car there is a guide shoe of some sort. These gorgeous model race cars have one. So does butt ugly lexan blob bodied flexi racers. It is our undeniable common ground. Next time you break one make a pin out of it and wear it as a way to show your "colors". 

 

Speaking of guide shoes....I propose all event shirts show a guide under the cars and the words " slot car" somewhere. Just sayin'.

 

Now back to drooling over those amazing German slot cars.....

[Dennis David]

I agree. You can't take the "slot" out of slot cars. Don't forget for this race st least concourse points counted in the overall results.

I think more people should try racing the 1/24 Scaleauto cars. They are a blast and run real smooth on sponge tires.

[Tex]

I agree. You can't take the "slot" out of slot cars. Don't forget for this race st least concourse points counted in the overall results.

I think more people should try racing the 1/24 Scaleauto cars. They are a blast and run real smooth on sponge tires.

 

We run Scaleauto and BRM hardbody cars once a month at Dallas Slot Cars. The BRM's are harder to drive(plastic chassis) but fun nonetheless.

[rvec]

These cars are very well detailed and take the modeling to a whole new level. I love the hard body concept with scale wheels. Here at Electron Raceway in Roseburg, Oregon we race 1/24 scale hard body cars with scholer, Scaleauto, or slotting plus chassis. All are reasonably priced at about $50. By the time you we add wheels, axles, guide, motor (either Proslot 16 or Hawk 7 depending on the class), body, etc. the cost is about $100. Our models are detailed but not to the extent of cars shown in the this thread. Wheel sizes are a bit smaller than scale but realistic. One inch rear and 15/16 fronts. For the Can-Am and Gran Sport (GT40, Porsche 917 etc), rear wheels min. .925, fronts may be cut to fit the wheel opening. Below are a few images

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[Dennis David]

Rich runs a great series. These cars use parts that are not too hard to source. Other possibilities revolve around a spec chassis class with a minimum weight for the hard body excluding ballast.

New BRMs have metal / plastic chassis.

[rvec]

Thanks Dennis

I forgot to post images of two of my favorites - 917s The red and blue ones are mine, the green one belongs to a prolific builder, Ron Leuenberger

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[sportblazer350]

What is being built and raced in Germany shows us the full extent of high quality building to detail AND the best quality SCALE chassis that makes for the best in real SCALE model car racing!  I applaud what the German racers are doing, and wish i was part of that group. There is a growing interest in SCALE hardbody racing around the USA: BRM, Scaleauto rtr cars and Hardbody cars with plastic model kit bodies and various chassis. It brings me back to 1965, especially when i can build a new car with a reissue Tamiya slot car Can-Am body with an H&R Racing chassis, or an AMT reissue model kit and a repro AMT chassis from Prof Motor, big can 36d motor. Time to build some more cars   

[Dennis David]

I think we in America must impart our own interpretation of Scale racing for it to be successful. I would love a US manufacturer of similar chassis that we can place under models that we have available to us. Even if some of the parts are foreign made.

To that end our metal chassis choices have a long way to go. If we can make flexi chassis you would think it possible to make Scale chassis were the demand acknowledged.

[MSwiss]

I agree 100%.
 
While we have the B & E and now, the JPM, for Hardbodies, while not nearly as hard, as converting an FCR, you still need to have a fair amount of slot car skills, including a real hot iron, to get them to the point of an operating, and competitive slot car.
 
The latest mini-fad at Chicagoland, is to convert the JK 2500 stainless steel, inline chassis, for Hardbodies.
 
Brain surgery is probably easier. lol
 
I finally had to put a ban on guys narrowing them, during birthday parties.
 
Too much noise, and too many sparks, especially when they use an angle grinder, instead of a Dremel.
 
I've mentioned before, it's a shame the H & R wasn't designed by someone who understood a little more about usable ground clearance, and proper guide depth.

 

BTW, here's some the cars from our last Saturday night race.

 

 

 

[Dennis David]

Nothing wrong with those cars. We just need better performing adjustable chassis.

Brian does a good job with his chassis but I am not a fan of the lexan bodies they use.

While most of us are ok with soldering i wonder if that is a hinderance for newer racers?

[MSwiss]

Brian's chassis are not for Lexan bodies.

They are for model car bodies.

Part of the problem with newbies and soldering, is they wind up buying an iron from Radio Shack (when they were still open) or Home Depot, for $25 or $30, they don't get hot enough, and the newbie gets discouraged, thinking they are doing something wrong.

[Dennis David]

Must be the other chassis.

 

[MSwiss]

That's the DLM.

That's a newer car that is only raced on ovals.

The bodies are vacuformed, but definitely not from Lexan.

They are so thick, they essentially are hardbodies, also.

[n9949y]

Resilient Resin Bignotti Lola T-70, w/Quad Cam Ford engine, Academy Minicraft McLaren M8A

 

 

 

 

 

 

Racing 1/24 hard body Can Am's on a fully landscaped track- a rare occurrence in the US

[n9949y]

Brian's chassis are not for Lexan bodies.

They are for model car bodies.

Part of the problem with newbies and soldering, is they wind up buying an iron from Radio Shack (when they were still open) or Home Depot, for $25 or $30, they don't get hot enough, and the newbie gets discouraged, thinking they are doing something wrong.

 

I'd recommend the Weller D650 "Industrial"  gun rated at 300 Watts which I've been using for 30 years. Gets very hot very quickly.

[MSwiss]

2 problems.

They are not $25.

They are too heavy.

For newbies willing to invest $60-70. I can get them an Ungar, or point them to a Hakko.