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Randy
In deciding on what slot cars should be eligible for a series, and matching them to historically correct 1:1 races, there are several factors involved. What models are actually available as kits or slot cars, how available and how expensive are they, how difficult to build, and how competitive will they be, are all factors to consider. If possible, we would want to avoid a series where one or two cars were clearly faster than the rest. Limiting the cars to 1963 would eliminate a number of cars, including the Ferrari GTO64, the Ferrari 250 LM, the Porsche 904, and the Cobra Daytona.
A number of the eligible cars are only available as resin kits, primarily MMK, PSK, and GP Miniatures, many of which are difficult and expensive to get. The resin cars are heavier and are typically set up for MRRC/PCS type adjustable chassis, although there may be some 3D chassis available. I think it would be difficult to make any of these cars competitive, and I would fear that the series would end up comprising mainly GTOs and XKEs. I would love to have a series that would have Lister Jaguar coupes, Aston Martin Project 214s, Bizzarrinis, and Ferrari SWBs, but I don’t think that would happen. Perhaps, a best livery/build award would encourage members to race some of these resin cars.
Opening up the slot series to 1964 includes more regular (plastic) slot car models that have a realistic chance of being competitive. I did stretch things a bit to allow the Cheetah, because it did not race in Europe, but the Alan Green Cheetah, the red #8, was given HTP eligibility status by the FIA, and I guess if we allow it in the 64 race option, we should also allow the Corvette Grand Sport roadster. Or, maybe neither should be allowed.
To my knowledge, all of the Tourist Trophy Revival races have been 1960-1964 except for one year. The Kinrara Trophy Revival (now Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy), which started in 2016, has been for pre-1963 cars.
The 63 289 Cobras that raced were all technically roadsters with removable hardtops, although there may have been some open 289 cars that raced in the expanded 1964 race. To my knowledge all of the Cobras that raced in the Revivals were either the hardtop coupes or Daytonas.
The Ferrari 250 LM is not a GT car and perhaps we should not run it. I am reluctant to exclude cars that members may have already purchased or raced (except for the overscale Racers), so we will soon need to make a firm decision on what cars we will allow.
I would appreciate as much input as possible on what everyone thinks.
Thanks
Russell
Mark
I do not have a lot of experience with the NSRs. On the chassis I would be OK with stock or harder chassis.
I would prefer the stock red motor pod.
I am not familiar with the various NSR motors. I will probably use the stock Shark-25 motor myself, but I would not object to allowing any short can NSR motor up to 25K
I would also be in favor of allowing changes to the cars between races. That is, that we could change motors, tires, gears, and other parts between race days. In various series in the past we have allowed members to change what car they want to use on any given race day, but I don’t think we have had the option as part of the rules.
Russell
Mark
Thanks for the info. I have never had a problem truing F30s (F15s, yes. F 22, sometimes) but in checking my supply I see that I have older F30s, some dated 2015 and some 2012. Are all the 2018 and later tires the new, problematic compound?
Russell
I would love to have a one off race with this cars. My preference would be to run it later in the year when we could all participate.
Russell
Well said, Marty. That catalog was indispensable and Kovaleski was a real character at the track.
Russell
Randy
The Shelby Mustangs were 1965 cars. I think Falcons may have run but I don’t know of any 1/32 sources.
I met Bernard back in the pre-internet days, late 80’s, early 90’s, at collector shows. At the time, he just had a handful of slot cars. We visited his warehouse/home back then to see his then-current museum quality collection of televisions. He had warehouse shelving 10 or 12 feet tall, with hundreds of televisions, from experimental German televisions from the 30’s to all manner of furniture televisions from the 50’s and later, and lots of space-age televisions. There were more styles and types than I ever knew existed. He also had a couple of Messerschmidt micro cars. Soon after we visited, he sold all his televisions and began collecting slot cars, building the fabulous collection shown. He seemed to be a regular guy with a regular job, but was the most thorough collector I had come across.
I have updated the 2021 Trophy Series rules page, with additions and deletions. The Cheetah will be allowed. Wheel track will not be an issue, being limited by the body width; the same goes for rear tire width. Normally, for 1/1 cars, wheel track is measured by wheel center to wheel center, but, generally, for slot cars, we have defined it as outside tire width to outside tire width.
Okay, so it likes like at least Q1 and H1 will be proxy series, so this will likely mean series where we don’t mind someone else driving our car. For new series, we will (hopefully) be able to drive our own cars. For Q1, Group C should fit the bill, but we will need another “old” series for H1, and possibly, Q2
Given that, and input so far for proposed series, our schedule might look something like this:
Q1 Slot.it Group C
Q2 Group 5?? RevoSlot?? BRM Group C 1/24??
H1 BRM Group C 1/24?? Group 5?? RevoSlot??
Q3 NSR Porsche 908–both tracks??
Q4 Tourist Trophy?? BRM Mini Cars 1/24?? RevoSlot?? NSR GT3?? BRM TransAM??
Rally series?? NSR Formula Cars??
H1 NSR Formula Cars?? BRM Mini Cars 1/24?? RevoSlot?? NSR GT3?? BRM Trans AM?? Rally series??
As you can see, the Q2 and H1 options are more limited and I think we need to decide those two series first, then see how we will fill out the year. Once we decide these two series (and Q1 Group C), that will cover the first six months of the year. That would give us time if we need to change any of the series for the second half of the year.
Also, as Marty posted some pictures of the Policar F1 on the NSR Formula 86/89 forum, I would say that, for now, I am much more in favor of the NSR F1. Several of us already have cars. I especially like the generic design of the NSR, which lends it to a greater range of liveries, including 80’s and 90’s Indy cars. The Policar is a more accurate modern F1 car, but that gives narrower options. There also looks to be a lot of parts that could break off, and the double rear axle gearing is an unknown.
I will be sending out an email tomorrow as a reminder for the Annual Zoom Meeting this coming Saturday, after the Houston proxy race.
Russell
About the rear tires of the NSR Formula cars, I don’t see a problem with the stock assembly. There seems to be plenty of clearance out of the box, although I have not trued them yet. There is much more clearance than with the Thunderslot cars. Unless the tire formula has changed, there is a lot of history with the NSR Supergrip tires; we have used them in the past, as well as the softer Ultragrip tires.
Russell
I am really getting excited about the NSR F1 series for next year, although nothing has definitely been decided. I am really an open-wheel guy and I love having the opportunity to build some open-wheel cars. I already have several liveries in mind……
Eric
Good to hear from you. I fully understand you aversion to proxy racing; I suppose it’s like kissing your sister. I am really looking forward to the time when we can all get back together at HQ.
Russell
My preference would be to use the stock supergrip tires. I like having the Goodyear Eagle sidewalls, for more realism. It would also save members from having to buy more parts, including inserts.
Russell
Although nothing is definite, it would seem that we have at least two races series for next year set: Group C as usual and NSR F1. There has been a lot of interest in the NSR Formula cars; six members have ordered or bought cars so far. I think we could pre-select at least these two series, leaving four choices to be made.
There has also been good interest in finishing the NSR Porsche 908 series that we started last year. This series would be run on both the main track and the rally track.
Other series mentioned, either in the Forum or to me, by three or more people include:
· BRM 1/24 Group C scheduled for last year.
· Group 5/Recer Sideways
· Tourist Trophy (could have rule on track width or overscale cars)
Series mentioned by two or more people:
· BRM Mini 1/24
· RevoSlot GT1
· Thunderslot
Series mentioned by one person:
· Spec BMW E30
· Spec Slot.it GT40
· BRM 1/24 T/A
· Targa Florio Rally Track
· Group B Rally Track
· T/A—Gumball
The sampling of comments for proposed series is fairly small. It would be very useful to have comments from more members. I would like to pre-select at least two series with strong enough interest before the annual meeting , leaving a smaller number of series to discuss during the meeting.
Russell
The BRM Mini 1/24 cars come with a vast array of options, and I do not know where to get all the info online. Parts catalogs come with the purchase of a car, and I am posting some of the info below. Some cars come with negative camber front wheels, some come with negative camber rear wheels, some have straight front axles, some have independent front axles, some are ball bearings, some are not. The Alfa has independent front negative camber wheels. The parts catalogs come with listings of all available parts; I can list those if desired.
