181 replies to this topic

[Big Durl]

HOORAY! HUZZAH! AMAZING!

What a fantastic report of a fantastic race! Thanks, Cheater.

I just knew it was gonna be great, and it was. And a great advertisment for next year, which I will break multiple bones in order to get there. I was worried I just wouldn't be skilled enough to hang. Then I saw Butch was going , but by then it was too late. Anyway, next year.

Congrats to everyone involved.


PS: MG, Montovani is Italian for ugly radio. Look it up. If you can find it, try Lagunitas' "Brother Thelonius" Ale. A tribute to Mr. Monk and that Belgian-style stuff that's very nice, and just a touch sweet, too.

[Pappy]

One thing's for sure, Durl, I didn't cheat. Either that or I'm a really crappy cheater. Now I know how Toyota feels in NASCAR.

[MarcusPHagen]

I just got home after driving back from the Sano. Hated to leave before it was finished, but with the rain during part of the trip, I only arrived with an hour to spare before Vicki needed the car to drive to work, so I guess it's a good thing I left when I did. First thing after I got back online, I checked the results. Congratulations to Dave Fiedler on a well-deserved victory. You earned it. I watched the competition, and nobody ever let up.

What a fantastic weekend! Even without a car or controller, I had a blast. Meeting people, taking pictures, buying stuff to use in preparation for the next Sano... it was all a MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. Can't wait for next time, and I sure want to drive that flat track when the opportunity comes.

Highly recommended to all - Chicagoland Raceway does it right, with a well-run, friendly, and FUN program.

Now I'm going to bed to catch up on some sleep!

[Pappy]

I thought there was, but then I found out it was just Cheater farting.

[Pappy]

It's back to the drawing board for me. My creations with double pans and cross-over pans didn't work. Not to mention my Can-Am car weighs 137 grams and my F1 car weighs 119 grams. My cars were built just like me, too heavy and too stiff. I'll be building two new cars for our race in Richmond, IN, on November 3rd.

The Sano was without a doubt the most fun I've ever had at a slot car race. The time really flew, we'd get to the track first thing in the morning, and it seemed like an hour later it was 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Never met a nicer bunch of "old" guys in my life. I don't think there was anyone there even in their 30s.

I'd like to thank Mike Swiss for a great event and Cheater for all the lap by lap commentary.

Can't wait till next year.

[TSR]

Seriously Larry- have you ever been to a classical music concert in your LIFE?

I did not know that there was anything else and when I was eventually forced to listen to it I had to puke.

Was there Grateful Dead music playing the whole time???

I thought there was, but then I found out it was just Cheater farting.

That's what I thought it was too when I listened to that cr*p the first and last time. Now wherever I go, I am forced into being assaulted with this garbage? I have to wear ear plugs to go race? I don't think so.

[Mark Wampler]

I kinda like some of the old Cowboy music, ya know. Ernest Tubb. No country western at racing events?

[tonyp]

Congrats to all the winners!

[MG Brown]

That's what I thought it was too when I listened to that cr*p the first and last time. Now wherever I go, I am forced into being assaulted with this garbage? I have to wear ear plugs to go race? I don't think so.

Gawd forbid that we in an unpopular, dwindling, and cultish hobby/sport have some sort of popular culture associated with it.

[Roger U]

I'll second what Mike Steube said: thank you to Mike Swiss for all your efforts in putting together and running "The Sano", thanks to "Cheater" Greg for all the great photos and descriptions of the cars and activities, and congratulations to Dave Fiedler for taking the overall win. Hope everyone enjoyed the event.

Let's keep up the interest and fun in retro racing.

[CruzinBob]

Ditto.

[TSR]

Looks like everyone had a great time. Thanks to Mike for what appears to be a great organization and to all entrants for participating in this neo-retro race. Hopefully some West-Coasters will be able to make it to the next such event.

Congratulations to all and to Dave Fiedler for defending the locals's honor!

[TSR]

Gawd forbid that we in an unpopular, dwindling, and cultish hobby/sport have some sort of popular culture associated with it.

Would be nice if the reverse would be true... unfortunately as basic civilization is going down the drain to be replaced by institutionalized barbarism, it is very unlikely that it will ever happen.

However, D3 slot cars are very cool indeed.

[gascarnut]

From my perspective, some quick comments:

1) As an event, the Sano was a spectacular success due in the most part to Mike Swiss' hard work and great management of the program, but also due to the spirit of fun and cooperation from the racers. Everyone had a ball, everyone was positive, no one cheated (or if they did it didn't help anyway). It truly was "a party with the lap counters turned on".

2) This kind of racing is getting bigger faster than any of us had ever hoped or dreamed. It is amazing how wide the appeal is, and the only concern is going to be how to attract a younger crowd.

3) Motor choice is NOT the big factor that everyone seems to think or likes to make it out to be. Driving ability remains the PRIME factor for success in this class, followed by chassis construction, tire choice, and motor choice in about that order.

4) Finally - FLAT TRACKS RULE!! This is going to be the way to run these cars in the future. The more racing we can get on flat tracks, the more fun, the less the perceived dependence on motors, the greater emphasis on preparation and driving, and the closer the racing.

I'll post some detailed analysis later.

[MG Brown]

There were a double handful of locals easily capable of making it into the final, but for various reasons chose to not participate. I hope that there will be an effort on their part to show up next time even if it is a non-serious effort such as the one that I made.

Dave Fiedler is in my opinion the prototypical D3™ slot guru. A great builder, great driver, and great human being.

"Son Gun", if I was a wealthy man I would send Dave to the West Coast for you folks to witness his brilliance.

[tonyp]

Dennis,

Just curious. In your opinion how many came to race and win and how many to be part of the event? Looks like Mike did an excellent job.

[Big Durl]

Pappy, I think ya done purty good. Any time you don't finish dead last it's a good day. At least that's the way I race.

One of the things that makes/breaks ANY racing program is publicity. Philippe has done a remarkable job flogging D3 to death, making it seem an exciting, cool, and fun community of racers. I daresay that without his tireless reportage of the SoCal races, nobody else would know or care about D3. Letting the world know you exist is the first step to bringing more participants into the fray, regardless of how cool it might be. Mike's handling of the publicity for Da Sano sure made it seem like the place to be last weekend.

Having said that, am I crazy or did cheater drive all the way to Chicago from his secret naphtha-soaked bunker to spend a weekend reporting the action but not racing himself ??? Knowing how much he likes to race, I can only surmise he was either too drunk or too dedicated to his journalistic craft to put down the pen and paper long enough to race one stinkin' lousy little race.

I hope you guys gave him an extra slice for all his effort.

[gascarnut]

In your opinion how many came to race and win and how many to be part of the event? Looks like Mike did an excellent job.

Tony,

I think everyone came to race, perhaps 10 or 12 felt they had a good shot at winning. I think everyone who was there had a feeling for the historic importance of the event, and they were not disappointed.

Those who just came to race had a great time because they got to run against some of the legends of slot racing and to watch them race each other. Those who came to win and did not win were sportmanlike enough not to throw their toys around, and they had a great time, too.

Mike runs a very tight ship when it comes to races, and is especially strict on turn marshalling and not chatting while doing so - most of us got at least one verbal rap on the knuckles for engaging in chit-chat while turn marshalling, but as drivers we all appreciated his discipline.

[tonyp]

Dennis,

That was kind of the feeling I got looking at the entry list and results. Lots of serious and not-so-serious racers from the old days. It is hard to keep a balance between coming just to win and coming to be part of the event, and Mike sure seems to have done an excellent job in this regards.

The Sano will surely pave the way for more future events of this type. It was real important the first one went off well.

Thanks,

[Pappy]

Pappy, I think ya done purty good. Anytime you don't finish dead last it's a good day.

I did finish dead last in the Can-Am GT Coupe race on the King track. I got my front axle knocked completely out. I told Cheater that I knew I was asking for it when I built the chassis that way and he said "at least you got what you asked for".

I agree with Dennis, there was no clear-cut motor advantage. Both the Falcon 7 and the Pro Slot ran great and I don't believe anyone lost a motor and I don't think anyone had a super motor than just out ran everyone else either.

I also agree with him that the flat track is the way to go. I had a lot more fun on it than the King.

Like MG said, I'd like to send Dave Fiedler and about four or five other guys at the Sano to BPR and see what happens. I can't believe the guys at BPR are any faster than some of the guys at the Sano.

[Rob968323]

Great job, Mike Swiss. Looks like everybody had lots of fun. Hope to make the next one.

[One_Track_Mind]

Having said that, am crazy or did cheater drive all the way to Chicago from his secret naphtha-soaked bunker to spend a weekend reporting the action but not racing himself ??? Knowing how much he likes to race, I can only surmise he was either too drunk or too dedicated to his journalistic craft to put down the pen and paper long enough to race one stinkin' lousy little race.

I hope you guys gave him an extra slice for all his effort.

Big D,

I was thinking the same thing?!... wazzup, Cheater? Did they at least let ya make a lap?

[MG Brown]

I was thinking the same thing?!... wazzup Cheater? Did they at least let ya make a lap?

Having been down this road more than a few times - I feel that it is extremely difficult to be an in-race reporter to the internet.
Congratulations and thank you for the fine job that Cheater did... however I hope that there will be a chance next time to sit down and share some secrets of the trade that will allow him a better shot at reporting AND racing.