47 replies to this topic

[DOCinCanton]

I must say that it is great to be back in Columbus, OH, for the R4. Mike and Cindy are awesome people and they help make me feel at home. This year it seems that I have something to prove to myself since my heart surgery. I guess I want to prove to myself that I can still do a big event like the R4 spread over several days. So please forgive me if this seems personal.

 

I decided to leave Florida at 7:30 PM Monday and was determined to drive through the night and get up here by noon Tuesday. It was tough but I did it, in fact, arriving at 11am this morning. 15-1/2 hours including 1-1/2 hour downtime and 950 miles; not bad for an old guy.

 

I was able to get in three hours of practice, mainly just trying to get the timing down on a blue King track; running only on red and black. We do not have a King track in Florida so it's a slow learning session when I come up here. I was pleased with a new TonyP Can-Am chassis and a new one that I built a week ago. I want to thank Tony for all the help and assistance that he has provided me over the last eight to nine years. Thank you, Tony! However, a trashed my best F1 car and might need to run my Duffy F1 car (not a bad thing at all). 

 

All in all, the best part of the day was dinner with Bobby Robinson at the Olive Garden. Jay Guard came up from Florida also bringing Greg Wells and Bobby Robinson. Jay and Greg optioned to go elsewhere for dinner. The Olive Garden is two blocks away; I could not pass that up after such a looonnnggg day.

 

I hear that the usual R4 racers will be in on Wednesday and Thursday, with many coming in tomorrow.

[JBProducts]

That's awesome, Doc!! Glad you made it safe and sound. Have an awesome time up there and good luck. 

[Pablo]

Go, Doc. 

[tonyp]

As long as you have fun it will be worth it.

[Racer36]

Best of luck to all my slot car friends at the R4. Have fun!

[Tampabay racer]

Doc is having all kinds of fun. Its not cheap fun though. Two cars trashed. LOL. Ouch.

[brnursebmt]

While there are some who wouldnt walk across the street for Olive Garden.

Doc and I know good food when we see it! Doc, lets drag Greg over there before we leave for some good food and drink!

[Don Weaver]

When Greg is on SlotBlog's expense account there ain't gonna be no Olive Garden!  A Brazilian steakhouse maybe but no noodles!

 

Don

[Pappy]

I think the reason Greg doesn't go to Olive Garden is because he has been banned from there for telling the cook how to cook. 

[Cheater]

I truly feel sorry for people with less than discerning palates... LOL.

The prime directive for me when traveling is no chain restaurants if at all possible.

Bobby, theres a trivial way to get me to go to Olive Garden with you and Doc. Just say the magic words: Our treat.

[tonyp]

Bob Emott once told me if you are going out and paying for food, dont order what you can make at home.

[tonyp]

With Greg in Columbus racing through the Slotblog expense account I better get some chassis up on the blog to help replenish funds. LOL.

[Cheater]

My approach to food when traveling to races is a response to my traveling partner’s preference for eating only at Taco Bells and Subways. It’s taken me years to expand his culinary horizons...

[old & gray]

Rules  for life:

 

2. Never eat at a place called "Mom's"

3. Never play cars with a man called Doc.

[John Streisguth]

What's #1?  

[old & gray]

Depends who you ask. Either...
 
Never sleep with a woman with more problems than you.
 
Or...
 
Always keep your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark.

[DOCinCanton]

All this talk about food. Come on, we are here to race slot cars.

 

A lot of racers came in today and are running very fast times. The track got cleaned and re-glued last night and is in great shape. This is going to be great!

 

The field of drivers is very impressive; gonna have some real good racing tomorrow. The GT Coupe Pros got their hand-out motors tonight; us other guys get our motors tomorrow.

 

I figured out one thing today. The softer chassis that we have been building in Florida for the lightly-glued tracks do not work at the R4. I could not figure out for awhile why my cars were bogged down in the high bank. When I added a top rail to one chassis the high bank bog went away. Go figure.

[Mike Patterson]

When I added a top rail to one chassis the high bank bog went away. Go figure.

 

Clean track + fresh glue = bog. It will loosen up tomorrow.

[Tom Eatherly]

Mike, I figure you're pretty busy. But, did you get my PM regarding guitars and such?

 

Alright, continue with race prep. Looks to be a damn good event. You guys have fun now; ya hear!?

[DOCinCanton]

Today was a great day. We ran GT Coupe cars with hand-out motors. It seemed that I got one good motor and an average motor; not bad at all. We had 15 racers in GT Coupe Pro and 27 in regular GT Coupe. I managed to qualify fifth out of the 27 and drove fairly decent in the A Main to finish fourth overall.
 
The races were run very well by the race directors. Thanks to Mike and Eric.

[race301]

That's awesome!

[Eddie Fleming]

Great day, Doc.

[tonyp]

Good finish for the Geezers. Congrats.

[Pappy]

"Geezers Rock"... that's why we hold on to things when we stand. 

[tonyp]

I still think there should be one geezers class at the big races. Over 65. Might make some older guys come out to race.