Yee Haw - It Was a Day, But What a Day It Was!

[Florida_Slotter]

Yesterday was another of my trips to DeBary Glen. Here in Florida we have to do it early, or the heat will drain you. Of course, some of us "very mature individuals" (nice way of saying Old Fart) have come up with an idea. We are thinking of using the same logic the Polish Solar Expedition used during it's attempt to land a probe on the face of the Sun. They were told over and over that the heat is so terrible that any material they used would simply be consumed by the heat of the Sun. Did they give up based on the comments of others? No, not at all. They simply told everyone that they were going to land at night. How did that work? I'm not sure as they have never been heard from since. But we might just have to start racing at night - all night. When the sun goes down, it's not bad without A/C. But during the middle of the afternoon, especially with the "Heat Index" is 110 or greater, you feel like a biscuit in the oven.

We had a grand time yesterday. ModlerBob was there as was his brother, Scott. Chuck Eakin joined us for some time and it was just enjoyable "running" our slot cars around the Palm Bay facility at DeBary Glen Raceways. I think everyone wins in this type of slot car activity as there is never a declared winner, but everyone knows who got to the line first, second, third or fourth. I think we all put too much emphasis on fast lap times (please understand that I like to know what a car can turn a lap in as that is my true measure of how well I have done my tuning job) rather then the pure joy of playing with little toy cars.

The process is simple: grab a car out of your slotbox, put it on the track and all of a sudden you will see similar cars pop up and join in on the fun. With ModlerBob's vast collection, anything you can pick up out of your box, he can match.

We got into a "Freaky Fast" mode yesterday. I won't lie, I do know how that happened. The track had a lot of traction and the fast cars ran well. I got my NSR Mosler out and it was joined by two others and we started running about the track in the usual pack - something that always happens when you have the same manufacturer / car type running together - and it was just FUN! The best part is that you could visually observe how one person would get a lead on the others. If someone used too much throttle too early and their car "fishtailed" down the straight, the cars that came off the corner just digging were out in front by several feet. I'm sorry, but I truly like this type of racing whether it is at DeBary Glen Raceways or at our commercial track in Holly Hill, The Race Place. I've spent many hours at both fine establishments having a load of FUN playing with my little toy cars.

I'm already looking forward to next Sunday when we can get together again with our friends and have more FUN.

Of course, I hope to have something to surprise everyone with. I have a Revell-Monogram Chaparral 2A that I want to make run "like a Slot.It car does". I've gotten close with the Sebring chassis, but I am just "this close" to the performance of the Slot.It "Classics" cars. When I can run or slightly be ahead of one of those cars when we run down the main straight, I will have achieved my goals with this car. It is along the same lines as my Revell-Monogram Lola and McLaren. Kind of like jacking up the body and replacing the entire underside with Slot.It / HRS-2 components. Yes, speed is not free, but it is so enjoyable to do just this. Reminds me of the time we put a 440 6-bbl motor into an old Plymouth station wagon. The look on many people's faces was worth all the effort expended into doing that swap.

Enjoy and have a super week.

[FootScoot]

Just running cars and having fun is what it's all about. It's always fun to get a group of cars of the same make together, and just run them. The night racing may be a good thing to cut the heat of the day out. :)

[HomeRacingWorld]

Yes sir, pretty much describes our meets.

Sounds like a great time.

[Modlerbob]

I was there and can confirm that even though it got pretty darned hot by noon we had a blast. This is the first time in years that I have seen this particular brother three weeks in a row. Once the track is in air conditioned comfort I may not be able to keep him away.

[HomeRacingWorld]

"Yes, speed is not free, but it is so enjoyable to do just this"

I have to comment again on this as I am guilty of the same in many ways. Actual speed is not always my goal, but I am not racing. Sometimes it just to get the model as smooth and quiet as I can get it. Until I can get it that way I am usually not happy. If that means a trip to the SCC hardware store then that's what means.

Good luck with the Chappy.

[dreinecke]

Hmm... I seem to remember all of your guys' cars being smooth and quick...