390 replies to this topic

[Clyde Romero]

Well it’s official 

It’s just like I have always said 

it keeps you young 

hobbies reduce heart disease and strokes( unless your racing in the A main!) 

Improved cognitive performance and neutral efficiency 

it’s right there in black and white 

so keep racing its not just a hobby it’s a healthy lifestyle!

it’s the best hand eye coordination I know of other than flying! 

[Clyde Romero]

Well wishing all those who read this message a safe and enjoyable thanksgiving.

Clyde Romero

[MG Brown]

Hey Brother, would you re-post the info on the SERRA December race at ASCR for those who missed it?

[Clyde Romero]

Question for you racers out there...

 

Which ball bearings are the bearings of choice for you retro racers?

[Clyde Romero]

Well the 2022 slot car season has come to an end.

Wishing all of you a happy Holiday season 

See you at the track next year.

 

Clyde 

[Clyde Romero]

So, if you have not gotten this book yet, get it! 

It's a great insight on our hobby, and

you can get it on Amazon.

 

Merry Christmas to All !

[MG Brown]

Does Amazon have autographed copies available?

[eshorer]

Does Amazon have autographed copies available?

 

No, they don't. The way Amazon's KDP program works is the author (me, in this case) uploads the cover and inside content as PDF files, and they print each one and send them out with each order. I don't believe they keep any "on the shelf" so to speak. I've been able to sign some copies when I've been at a raceway, but that's about it. I hope you'll enjoy the book.

Eddie

[Clyde Romero]

Happy New Year

So, Denise and I were in Paris France for the New Year celebration

and I have always heard that there was this avid slot car collector who just happened to live in Paris

you can read about him in this book

his name is Don Siegel, so I contacted him, and he gracefully invited Denise and I to his home in Paris so I could see his collection

and what a collection it is.

Don on the left

this is just a very small sampling of what Don has collected over the years

tried as I might to stump him, by saying hey do you have a ......

yep, he had it. No, really, he has EVERYTHING

if it's in the book Slot Car Dreams, it's in Don's collection, and then some I might add

he even has, what I consider a chassis that I never saw in the flesh an ULRICH full suspension chassis

no matter what I brought up, Don had it. 

it was an incredible experience to say the least

So, if you are looking for an excuse to go to Paris with a loved one

 well, you have one now!

Next big trip

 

RETRO TOKYO!!!

 

 

 

[NSwanberg]

Retro Tokyo?? I like  that!

[Richie]

Yes Retro Tokyo would be amazing!

[eshorer]

 

Next big trip

 

RETRO TOKYO!!!

 

Nice to see my book in France!  I've had the pleasure of racing with the guys from Retro Tokyo in Japan. When are you going? You'll love it!

Eddie

[NSwanberg]

I think I might starve if I had to use chopsticks.

 

https://bigglobaltra...851766082440328

[Bill from NH]

Nelson, chopsticks come in very handy when chassis building.

[Clyde Romero]

Well what a way to start the year in retro racing apparently there are racers out there experiencing failures of the CR-102 motors in certain lots.

 

As for my self and my track to my knowledge we haven’t had any failures with the new motors. Those of us who have been around mechanical things for a while can attest to occasional issues such as these. 

 

Lets just look at my old industry, the airlines. I was a captain on a B-737 all models for well over 15 years before leaving that piece of equipment and going to the Airbus and never experienced a major issue with the airplane, no engine failures or major malfunctions of critical systems which effected safety of flight, which by the way is paramount!

 

Yet when Boeing made a substantial change to the flight control system they had two major crashes which caused huge issues to say the least.

 

And yes I was a check Capt on the Boeing I am very well versed on Boeing systems.

 

And let’s not forget the Firestone Tire problem which killed hundreds 

 

https://en.m.wikiped... Motor Company.

 

So what I am getting at is that if it can happen to a major manufacturer of airplanes and tires where people’s lives are at stake it can surely happen to a slot car manufacturer of toy motors and no body is dying using these motors!

 

Put this is perspectives and move on gentlemen, beating up the manufacturer of anything doesn’t solve the problem. 

 

Remember gentleman these are just toy cars at best. We are few in numbers and as slot car racers and we need to solve problems cohesively to keep what little of us racing.

 

As we used to say in combat "this too shall pass."

 

See you at the track.

 

Clyde Romero 

Retro Racer/ track owner 

[MSwiss]

Clyde,
I'm obviously now aware of the situation and been trying to nail down the problem.

A big user of the 102, Matt Sheldon/Duffy's Raceway, has been particularly helpful, in trying to figure this all out.

I have a lot more to add, but I have to shift into husband and raceway owner for the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon.

I'm going to lock this thread until I have time to make that post, and then I'll reopen it for people's comments.

[MSwiss]

With the 11th Generation of the CR102's, when I received them, I did as always, I ground off the retaining tabs from a random motor and checked the resistance of each coil.The resistance readings were in the same tight range as the past 10 generations.I did notice the comm was a silverish color, as compared to previous batches. I thought possibly it was just oxidation but I went ahead and PM'ed my vendor, inquiring about it.

 

Their reply was this was the new plated replacement comm, and would be the ongoing standard for Asian motors of this type. They stated the plating was added to reduce arcing. I expressed my displeasure that I wasn't informed of the change. They apologized profusely, about the lack of communication, accepting all blame, but added it would be a superior product. I countered that I never requested superior, while thinking to myself, that in a relatively high RPM motor, how could the plating last very long.

 

When at the raceway, the next day, I took the arm I tested, and using an ultra fine, 30 micron sanding film, wrapped around the comm, I hand turned the arm a couple revolutions and was pleased to see the comm was back to it's normal copper color.I surmised the plating was destined to be short lived.

 

I then reassembled that motor with the sanded comm, tack soldered the endbell in place, and tried it in one of my drag cars.It performed well, just I would expect a STAGE 2 to run. I then moved on to test a few assembled motors. As I started to break one in, using an otoscope, I noticed early on, that within the width of the brush track, the exposed part showed coppery. I let that motor run for an hour plus, checking it periodically.I then went to a 2nd motor and decided to try a quick, wet break in, dipping it for a few seconds each, in Fabuloso, alcohol, and water. The brushes seemed thoroughly broken in so I put it my 3rd place Can An car from the last Sano. Using a $70 Koford rental/birthday party controller, and geared a conservative 11-27, I ran a couple of 4.32's and a 4.31, on Yellow. With the less than perfect track conditions, conservative gear ratio and rudimentary controller, I was quite happy with those times.

 

I then moved on to the other motor that was dry broken in for a long time and installed it the same drag car that had sanded comm motor in it. It ran real well, with a slightly better ET and higher top mph.I then a added a drop of Fabuloso and it picked up a notch, setting record times and continued to improve on those record times, these past few weeks, including today, running it's 2 best times.

 

At that I point I decided I would make up the labels that stressed to fully break in the brushes , which I was convinced would make the silver plating, a non-issue. Once those labels were made, I added them to the CR102 cards, and started shipping carded motors to the distributors, along with bulk motors to Piranha Speedway, that I assumed would be used for the Checkpoint Can Am handouts.

 

Continued in next post.

[MSwiss]

Part 2 - I had to go to a new post, as the length of this one, last night, eventually eliminated the spacing that made it more readable.

On the Saturday of the Checkpoint Can Am race, after a birthday party, and between other raceway business, I tried to watch qualifying on the Twitch live feed.Early on, I noticed Jim Lange went 3.35, which I assumed was a new record.Later on, I was shocked to watch Jeremy Marquette go an incredible 3.24, with 3.29 back up.

 

I wasn't entirely pleased as I didn't want racers thinking there was an occasional super-ringer of a motor in the mix. I don't think anyone has seen an indication of that in the first 10 batches. Knowing that he wouldn't have to race for quite awhile, I PM'ed Jeremy to congratulate him. He immediately volunteered that he ran a generation 11, and added that the racer he was pitting for, Jeremy Pyles, was also running a G11, and had won the F Main and was winning the E Main, with the same motor.

 

I was a bit confused that he was stressing they were both running G11's, as I assumed all the racers were, as I had shipped them 200 motors. A bit later Jeremy commented to me that Jeremy P was running another G11 in the D Main, looked to be moving up, and that that motor also looked to be good for 2 Mains, like the first G11. Jeremy P was out very early in the C Main, his 4th Main of the day.I never inquired on what happened as I got busy and I knew Jeremy M would be racing.

 

When I got back to watching the race, I saw in the A Main Jeremy went 49 laps the first heat, with a fast, but not incredible, 3.44 race lap.He never came out for the 2nd heat and I found out later he blew up.

 

The race wound up being a good one with about 4 laps separating, Dale Y, Chance, and Duran. In the process of congratulating 2nd place Chance, he mentioned how he was the only podium guy who ran an 11T tooth pinion, and the only one who didn't turn his wires black.He also added that he ran a G10 motor to which I was shocked, asking him "I thought it was handouts." He then clued me in that Rich gave out both 10's and 11's.

 

Later Dale Y answered my congratulatory email, mentioning he and Duran both ran 10's, and volunteering his 11 handouts were mediocre, and adding that some guys had motors that developed push starts or didn't turn over at all.I told him I was surprised that there were motors that didn't turn over, because I test 100% of the motors, personally, on a power supply. He also mentioned hearing something about the brush arm as a potential problem, but didn't elaborate.

 

Later on, that night, I spotted a Jim Lange / Hi Tech post, on FB. In response to racers comments about Jeremy M TQ'ing with an incredible 3.24, but blowing up the first heat, with his G11 motor, Jim volunteered that he had 2 mediocre 10's, a dud 11, and the 11 that he qualified 2nd and finished 5th with, that was obviously good.

To be continued in the next post

[MSwiss]

Rich C. PM'ed me on Monday, explaining they had issues with the new batch of 102's. I requested that he call me so I could get some details, so I could try to figure what was going on. He was unable to at that moment and said he would get back to me when he could.

 

That evening, my helper at the raceway, Bernard, asked me for a motor to put in a customer's flexi GTP. I went to the small pile of remaining motors I had, and got my otoscope to see if there was anything different about the brush arms, as Dale Y had mentioned on Saturday night. The first one I picked up, I could see the brushes were hanging off the end of the comm. Everything now made sense. While the motors all ran before I shipped them, I could now see how they might eventually stop, getting hung up on the fiber washer washers, which at .158" dia., are slightly larger than the .150" comm.

 

I checked the remaining motors in that small pile, and the brushes were all positioned in the correct spot on the comm, and I gave Bernard one to put in the car he was working on, which he did. That car's been tested, runs fine , but hasn't been raced.Bernard has one in his GTP car, that started out OK, got better each subsequent heat, and finished the race a notch slower than the well run G10 motor Michael Iga is dominating Tuesday night, with.The race this past Tuesday, Bernard was even quicker, running just a hair slower than Michael. This is with a motor I wouldn't ship, because it was real "clanky" on the power supply. I get a few of these each batch, that he gets to put in his drag cars, etc.

 

On Tuesday morning, Rich called me with a race report, citing things I already heard, and explaining why they ran both G10's and G11's for handouts. He added that while he was one of the racers that had a problem with breaking them in, he ultimately put in a G11,  qualified 11th out of 38 racers, and ran fine until he  dropped out with unrelated issues. I explained that I figured out the likely cause of some motors stopping, or needing a push, and of course acknowledged that they were defective and should be sent back to me. He requested that I take them all back.I said sure, I'll take them back, go through them, and pull out the bad ones, and most likely sell the others to drag racers, where guys had already bought some, and reordered more.

 

As already mentioned, I've been talking extensively with Matt Sheldon / Duffy Raceway, a big CR102 user. When he placed a guide shoe order early in the week, I asked him about a G11 motor he mentioned that was in a new Flexi Retro coupe he had just built, using a new flexi chassis, that was a bit subpar.

He said that he went a aggressive break in, (as I suggest on the added labels on the cards) and that the motor was now performing well. He than added a couple subsequent motors, broke in with Simple Green, were also running well. He added that he had customers who had issues, but AFAIK, he also wasn't aware of the motors with the brushes hanging off the end. He attributed some of customer motor failures to lack of sideplay. I sort of dismissed that as most of the 102's I've sold in the last 2 + years, don't have sideplay, and they run fine.

Someone sent me a screenshot of Matt Sheldon being the voice of reason in the FB thread that most likely inspired Clyde to make his post. Matt cited all the above, mentioned the 3 he personally touched, were really fast(his exact words), and all had 400+ laps on them.He also offered the tip of the long/thorough break in.One hour dry, or 8-10 seconds in a break-in solution.

 

Bryan Warmack PM'ed me after he posted the results from the Can Am. He said while guys had problems with some of the motors, during break-in, and testing, he added that he only recalled 2 motors burning in the race, which included the TQ motor, that shattered the record. He also was now aware with the latest info making the rounds, that said TQ motor was geared 13-26. This is absolutely outrageous. A good portion of the post-race angst was based on the TQ racer not lasting one heat. Geared 13-26, IMO making 49 laps is a minor miracle.

 

In talks with Auburn Raceway, who I had dropshipped some motors, I explaining the possible issue, sending him the below pic.The owner said he witnessed his son-in-law trying 3. One appeared to be defective, while the other 2 ran normal.

 

I also heard 2nd hand, that at the NERR race at Bristol 1010, on Saturday, 2 or 3 guys had problems in pre-race testing, but that a returning top racer, Eric Gehrken, ran at least one that went the whole race, and performed OK.

I had contacted him prerace, also sending him the below pic, and he confirmed none of his motors looked that way / they appeared normal.

 

To be continued in the next post.

 

[MSwiss]

So what I know about the G11's;

 

1A - There are motors with the brush arm assemblies installed too close to the endbell BB. They are defective and should be returned to me for future replacement or appropriate credit of other CR products.

 

1B - It should be apparent right away if you have a defective motor, both visually with using an otoscope, or in break in or early track testing.

 

2 - there are motors that are "really fast" and have run 400+ laps.

 

3 - there are motors that are performing well in my weekly GTP class.

 

4 - there are motors setting record times on my drag strip, and running well for other random drag racers.

 

5 - there are motors lasting whole races on medium speed King tracks.

 

6 - there are motors capable of winning lower consi's and lasting 2 races, on a super-fast King.

 

7 - there are motors capable of qualifying 1-2 at a big race (38 entries) and finishing 5th, again on a super-fast King.

 

8 - a 13-26 gear ratio, while possibly very fast in qualifying, will not work for any length of time in the race, no matter how experienced the racer, or how insistent they are, that they know how to keep their car "freed up". LOL

 

People always ask "Mike, why don't you buy bigger batches?" even having offers from people to finance bigger batches.

 

I would buy bigger batches, but I've been around slot racing long enough to realize things can go sideways with vendors, any minute, without warning, and not just involving Chinese vendors.

 

I've spoken to my good friend Jerry Kulich, many times, and remember him having to build laser cut Millennium and JRL chassis, upside down, to accommodate the Falcon motors he received that rotated the opposite way.

 

I knew this day was inevitable for me. I'm just thrilled it took 2+ years.

 

I had a raceway associate insist that I should laser mark all the batches the same, so his customers won't just want to buy a certain batch.

 

They asked that as if they didn't remember how the IRRA had to eventually "unapprove" use of the ink stamped "MADE IN CHINA" and the laser "R Made in China" motors, when racers felt they couldn't  compete unless they those older circa motors.

 

The IRRA has to know what motor is which, in case they have to take appropriate action.

 

Luckily, racers are competitive and winning with many circa's of motors, from the first , to the last..

[MSwiss]

I'm done posting.

 

Topic is now open.

 

If someone can please text Clyde and tell him his thread is reopened, as I am currently phoneless and need to ship some orders before the PO closes.

 

I got the impression he had more comments to add to his original ones.

[Richie]

Msg sent to Clyde

[Tim Wood]

I will be sending 2 motors from Checkpoint Cup race CR102 Group 11.

 

One had very little brakes the other might not be bad just very slow performance. Only break-in was about 20 min. on 4 volts. I was able to purchase 2 more motors Group 10. I ask around if anyone else had problems with the motors, that's when I found out from Dale Yamashita that there having trouble with the Group 11 motors with silver plated coms. 

 

I am sending these to you if you want them to look over. Not expecting to get replacements for them. Just thought you might want to evaluate them. Sounds like you already have your hands full with Richard sending back motors.. Didn't notice any comments on no brakes with the Group 11 motors like I had . 

[Clyde Romero]

I want to thank Mike Swiss for his detailed analysis on the CR-102 issue and his unheralded approach to the motor issue.

 

You will always have your detractors in a situation as this, but when it is all said and done those who look at thing’s clearly will see you did the right thing based on the information you had at the time.

 

All one has to do is look back at the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster where they knew not to launch in those temperatures and did. And we all know the outcome of that.

 

You had no knowledge of the CR-102 issue until it was too late.

 

Huge difference.

 

Once again Mike thanks for taking this issue head on and working with the tracks and customers involved.

 

Clyde Romero 

Track Owner / Racer 

[usadar]

Happy New Year

So, Denise and I were in Paris France for the New Year celebration

paris.jpg

and I have always heard that there was this avid slot car collector who just happened to live in Paris

you can read about him in this book

book.jpg

his name is Don Siegel, so I contacted him, and he gracefully invited Denise and I to his home in Paris so I could see his collection

and what a collection it is.

CDG Don Siegel.jpg

Don on the left

slots CDG1.jpg

slots CDG2.jpg

this is just a very small sampling of what Don has collected over the years

tried as I might to stump him, by saying hey do you have a ......

yep, he had it. No, really, he has EVERYTHING

if it's in the book Slot Car Dreams, it's in Don's collection, and then some I might add

he even has, what I consider a chassis that I never saw in the flesh an ULRICH full suspension chassis

no matter what I brought up, Don had it. 

it was an incredible experience to say the least

So, if you are looking for an excuse to go to Paris with a loved one

 well, you have one now!

Next big trip

 

RETRO TOKYO!!!

download.png

 

 

 

Hi Clyde,
You are most welcome to Tokyo.
Looking forward to racing with you and your friend.
Good Racing,
Haruki
Retro Tokyo