Second race down, lots of fun, more to learn...

Jobe Tuesday, 6/1/2010

Had my second official race last night at my local car night haunt.

Pretty good turn out, ran three classes this time which was fun and made for more racing.
Ran a total of 48 cars, including some of my own.

Stock class I have 26 cars, out of the package with graphite allowed only.
Modified has only 4 entries, mods allowed like weight, axles, wheels etc...
HAMB class had 18 cars and was open to stock cars modeled on 1964 and earlier cars, hot rods and customs (HAMB is a website devoted to traditional rods and customs)

Stock went well with some close cars, ended up having a slight cheater in the final (sanded wheels) so he was disqualified and his car smashed with a 5 pound hammer! it was awesome. Resulting re-race of the final was almost too close to call but went to a late model gt350 shelby mustang, just edging out a FTE Boneshaker
Modified was short and sweet with my FTE Ambulance taking the win.
HAMB was great with the final win a 32 coupe edging out my FTE Way 2 Fast.

Some interesting matchups of similar or same cars, two boneshakers with a primer one winning over painted, then the primer one against the FTE boneshaker with the FTE barely edgeing out the stock car. Also heads up of two Ford Tunderbolts in white.

I needed to take more pics of the cars running, but too busy running the races.

Here are some pics of the track and set up before it got dark. Notice the memorial track lanes for Gary Coleman and Dennis Hopper...everyone said the Hopper lane was faster although I leveled the track! Who knows.

I think i'll take myself out of racing though, felt like I was cheating since I have the track at home. Maybe stay in the modified class...I think it's going to take off.

Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox


Discussion

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redlinederby 6/1/10
Site manager

That looks great! Nice photos. Makes me wish I had a regular bar that I could drag the track to.

A Boneshaker FTE...I need one of those. I love that car, might just have to make my own.

Love the memorial lanes. I'd have wanted to run on the Coleman track but it wouldn't surprise if the spirit of Dennis Hopper made his lane faster, leveling or not.

Oh hey...noticing that support board at the transition...is that connected to the other boards, or just freely staying there? Just wondering.

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Bandeezee 6/1/10

Very nice looking track. I like the transition piece in the middle, but I'm betting that favors the heavier cars since they are still technically going down hill until it flattens out. Does your wood support fold up or is it just pieced together for the day?

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Jobe 6/1/10

Thanks for the compliments guys. Here is how I set up the track...

The wood design is based off redlinederby's design, but I cut down the start to 36" tall instead of 48".
I was having issues at the transition so I put a 1x6 block in there, it's just wedged between the boards and stays in there nicely. The track is held on by velcro and the start and finish lines. I just unhook and roll up the track and put it in a bag, then fold up the boards and put it in the back of my truck...longest board is the last at 7'. The wood divider just below the start gate is for when I fold up the boards, it protects the start gate from getting smashed. I recently added springs to the underside of the launcher to keep the start tabs up as high as possible, works great.

Yeah, due to the parking lot set up the entire track runs downhill, but there isn't a place long enough and level to set it up so I take what I can get I guess...when it's at the house and level I run about 36" of track past the finish line and set up vintage 180 turn arounds and some more track for a return lane!

It was really interesting to watch cars that got the hole shot at the start to loose on the end of the track, lots of upsets that way.

That's about it for now...need to get to work on some sort of points series for awards. All the finishers last night got a Mystery car in the package, but the scoring last night was all messed up due to my winning, a kind-of cheater car, etc...I have to have a better plan and better rules and inspections ready for next time....all while keeping it fun!

Nice looking set up.

I was thinking I might have been off a little early on monday, but ended up working late. Oh well, shit happens. I definitely do want to make it down there one night though, anything with classics and rods gets my attention.


I'll still be in your neighborhood on the 12th. we may have to wait till then to meet up. Bring the supervan, I got a couple of modded cars to test, lol

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redlinederby 6/1/10
Site manager

I always wondered about a return lane! Ha! You need to get a shot of that when you have your track setup at home.

I had a thought of doing a curve for each lane, then get one of those battery-operated shooter things so it just takes the cars race momentum to get around the curve, then blast them back to the start for pick-up. A lot of extra track and trouble, I know, but you gotta admit that'd be pretty bad ass.

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JDC442 6/7/10

Love the track, long and seemless is awesome, and the memorial lanes are hilarious! Have you had any problems with your starter not giving the cars an even go? If so, I built a two lane plexi-start I'm no longer using.
Check it out...

http://redlineracing.ning.com/forum/topics/my-track-is-finished

If interested in using this for your track let me know.

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markkaz 6/7/10

I always wondered about a return lane! Ha!
I had a thought of doing a curve for each lane, then get one of those battery-operated
shooter things so it just takes the cars race momentum to get around the curve, then
blast them back to the start for pick-up.

You may be able to use the current curve system available at Toys R Us but the older
'Hot Curves' won't work for all of the models. Top heavy models will fly over the edge.
As for the power boosters, they will cause damage to the wheels/axles and reduce
their performance for downhill racing. They will keep working in boosters though
since they are being pushed from booster to booster.

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redlinederby 6/8/10
Site manager

Hmmm...I think some experimentation on sanding/grinding wheels is in order! I have a lot of ideas for comparison tests this summer, just gotta find some time to try them while also keeping v2 of the league moving forward.

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Jobe 6/10/10

I did have some issues with the starter but I think I've fixed them by putting springs under the starting tabs so they stay all the way up to help stage cars, but when I push the button they both drop out of the way. I had to do some additions to the starter for both sides to go down at the same time...tape, popsicle sticks, zip ties and more tape...!

Thanks for your offer of the gate, looks awesome...I've been thiinking about building something similar myself.

If interested in using this for your track let me know.

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Jobe 6/10/10

I'll set up my track this weekend with the return lanes, using 180 turns from a late 60's set I guess...but yes the top heavy cars go flying right off the curve. I also have two motorhouses but like was mentioned they can mess up the cars.

I always wondered about a return lane! Ha! You need to get a shot of that when you have your track setup at home.

I had a thought of doing a curve for each lane, then get one of those battery-operated shooter things so it just takes the cars race momentum to get around the curve, then blast them back to the start for pick-up. A lot of extra track and trouble, I know, but you gotta admit that'd be pretty bad ass.

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