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Well it certainly has not been the most positive last few days has it?

Losing a fellow enthusiast hurts and we all will miss Marty. If you are new to our forum, he was a great slot car guy all around. Old school knowledge, yet adapted to modern times and could tune just about any car. He was different than most as he shared just about everything he knew with all of us within the pages of this forum, as well as others. And he did it in a polite and easy going style. Too few people like that around anymore and to say he will be missed is a grand understatement.

Another person many of you knew from Facebook is Clem Ojevich. Clem's model shop had a fire and the loss of it is devastating. You have all walked into a good old hobby shop where history literally surrounded you. Well, I never walked in but the photos and feedback I have seen told me he had one heck of shop.

I know there are more going through challenging times. No offense intended.

As a community we all get to "know" one another through time. I never met Marty in person but it felt as if I had. The many hours we spent on the phone trying to solve all the slot car riddles of life are great memories. And as a community, all we can do is move along and keep doing what we do. Sometimes just reading a post, or seeing some photos of folks having fun is some of the best therapy a person can ask for.

I hope all of you can find time to play with a slot car this weekend. Something we sometimes take for granted, yet there are others who would in a second if they could.

Race a few laps. Tune a cantankerous car. Maybe try your first repaint or even a chassis build? Paint some figures or get those trees planted on the layout. Just enjoy the hobby for a few hours.

It helps more than you think.

My first slot car since the mid 70's arrived today. Carrera digital Corvette C7R. Plan on entering the upcoming digital proxy.

Like Harry, I never had the opportunity to meet Marty in person. However, I've "known" him for several years thanks to the internet, email and phone calls. Marty was a great guy and always willing to share his considerable knowledge. Behind the scenes he worked with us making recommendations on scratch building supplies. What a fitting tribute to rename the Scratchbuilding forum in his honor and memory.

I've never met Clem in person either but like Marty, I've gotten to "know" him over the years as a longtime customer. Clem is a breath of fresh air and is truly passionate about slot cars (and trains). Very sad news about the fire; however, it sounds like no one was injured which is always a good thing. Let's hope Warrior Run Locomotive Works is able to re-open soon.

Marty and Clem are in our thoughts...

Thanks Harry, been a gloomy couple of weeks in our part of the world too. Brother in law passed away, just two weeks after the big C diagnosis. Kind of in shock it happened so fast.

I've kept a non stop run of projects on my workbench, it's been a nice relaxing escape so to speak.
And me and my grandson will be doing some therapy at the annual Bullitt 500 tomorrow at noon.
Heck of a fun event, probably some 25 racers, takes about 5-6 hours to complete, much fun.

Trigger time, it does a body good.........

Yesterday was really hard on me also. I only knew Marty from his posts here on HRW but I felt as though we had known each other for life. I really admired how he encouraged me with my builds no matter how crazy the ideas and even though it was in plastic. A big thanks must go to Harry for renaming the Scratch builders area because I always went there first to see what Marty had to say or was constructing. Anyway I have some supplies due in today from SCC which should be used up fairly quickly this weekend with the projects I have going on my workbench and computer. Hopefully everyone has fun this weekend slotting and building slot cars.

I was also fond of Marty. I felt such respect for the guy from the first time we connected, and also, he had a similar history in slot cars to mine, as well as our ages being so close. I am going to chicken out on saying more just now. I knew what it meant when he was getting evaluated for Hospice. I've just gone through that twice with my parents. Its still tough to hear that its over.

Will be racing the ROAR Cars this weekend with a lump in my throat. Going to miss Marty.
Richard

We'll have a moment of silence tomorrow night before we race up here in N.H.. :pray: