Australian Slot Car Racers Association

Hi All

The 1st Round of the SRC Series started off with a bang on Tuesday 24th April at Hornsby Slot Cars with 14 starters for GT1 an the Big Track and 12 Starters for Retro CanAm on the Flat Track.

The tech bench was crowded tonight. GT1 Race 1

Cars and Drivers Left to Right
Bill, Wayne, Andrew, Paul, Ron, Neil and Stevo. Great to have Paul and Bill back with us and also some newcomers in Andrew, Wayne and Ron. GT1 Race 2

Cars and Drivers Left to Right
Darryl, James, Brad, Gregg, Mark, Joe and Matthew. Matthew and James duked it out with Matt being the better after the 3rd backet, they were superior to the field as can be seen. Gregg held off Darryl for 3rd by 4.364 sec. The Wash-up Newcomer Andrew drove well to break into top half of the places. Commiserations to Joe who had a rough time to bow out after the 1st bracket.

Retro CanAm Race 1

Cars Left to Right
Andrew, Neil, Wayne, Paul, Stevo and Bill. Wayne's car was a little beauty. Paul took out this one with a little hurry-up from Neil in the middle stages – good run fro Paul who has not raced much in the past year and good efforts from Neil and Bill. Stevo continues to improve and the newbies Andrew and Wayne also did well on their first out on this difficult track Retro CanAm Race 2

Cars Left to Right
Mark, James, Gregg, Brad, Matthew and Darryl. James started off flying and led early. Darryl started on Black and did not challenge for the lead until the 6th bracket. A bit of to and fro in the podium spots but at the tape I had secured the win with James edging out Darryl for 3rd by 0.179 secs. The Wash-up Cars in order of finish

Mark James Darryl Gregg Matthew Paul Brad Neil Bill Steve Andrew Wayne Best Tee Shirt (Neil) Remember the next round is at Luddenham - see ya there.

Was'nt it great to see good numbers turn up.Well done to all racers.Theres some fast GT1's and as usual the Retros were tough racing.You think your doing pretty good in this class then somebody puts you right back in your place.Thats why I luv em.And always friendly but hard racing.Another good report Mark.Regards Brad.

Thanks Mark
Brad, I could not agree with you more. It was a great night. Looking forward to Luddenham.
Swap the wires, swap the wires ...........

swap the wires.... check!

Good report as usual Mark.
Hope we get same sort of roll up on Tuesday.

Not another track that goes the wrong way.Swap the wires I will and thanks.Is that twin 14 gauge rails on some of these cars? (Stoo).We'll be pinning guides to steel pipe next.Amazing ridgiblyyyy-rigiglby er stiffness.Regards Brad.

Not another track that goes the wrong way

,

Gee,.. you know, that's rather interesting, 'Historically', perhaps Steve would know?
Waaay Back, ALL NSW Tracks were the SAME as HSC, as far as I remember, but I can't remember whether SSME was the Same, or Not!!??

Is that twin 14 gauge rails on some of these cars?

,... Yeah, I think so,..

Stoo, yep, all tracks were the same as HSC with right braid positive.

As commercial tracks dissappeared, then a few new ones started up again, they wired their tracks like the US, and homeset tracks, with left braid positve.

SSME and HSC were still right braid positive, and on the SSME open days, we used to get a few kids bring their homeset cars and want to run them, but they went the wrong way, so couldn't run them.

With a few more new tracks opening up with left braid positive, SSME club members decided to reverse the track over to right braid positive in December 2007.

That made SSME compatable with most tracks around Sydney, RTR cars and kids homset cars ran the right way.

All this left HSC on its own with right braid positive.

It would be nice if all tracks were wired the same, or have reversing switches so they could run either way without having to swap wires on cars. (I'm not suggesting to have individual reverse switches on each lane)

brady wrote:Not another track that goes the wrong way.Swap the wires I will and thanks.Is that twin 14 gauge rails on some of these cars?

Yep I'm on board to swap the wires - have already done so in fact as it it is the 'right' thing to respect the track by running in the 'correct' direction.

Thanks for the interesting history lesson Steve and Stoo - I certainly could not remember having to swap any wire around historically but my memory has been a little compromised over the years so it was good to hear that I remembered something from the mayhem

I am certain there are no double 14# rails here - which car(s) were you referring to?

Interestingly though I have been thinking along those lines for a while now - stiff cars slide whilst flex hooks up - get the balance right and either will work but its easier to get the slide to work - happy to discuss anytime as I have been thinking about this stuff for years.

See you all soon.

Thanks for the history lesson guys.Although that remark I made was sarcasm its always great to hear of the past,and may I say probably better days for our hobby.Foxy,there are a number of chassis above , James,Bill and Darryl.They look like .078 twin rails in the photo but it is hard to tell.Might they be .062?I am interestefd iin all this becuase my Warmack has been lifting the inside wheel on the donut everywhere else it seems fine but you blokes ars leaving me for dead around and coming of the donut.I ,know it could be other things as well.So the old girll no longer looks like a Warmack.Looking forward to your opinion.Yours also Stoo.Regards Brad.

Hi Brad

brady wrote:Foxy,there are a number of chassis above , James,Bill and Darryl.They look like .078 twin rails in the photo but it is hard to tell.Might they be .062

These are all definitely twin 16# (.063") rails.

I built Jame's car and his is twin 16# wire augmented with 16# brass rod, Bill's is the same (without the brass) and I am positive that Darryl's is also twin 16#

Re lifting the inside wheel - it seems that you may be getting too much bite here - have you tried different tires? I generally use Alphas but I know that many of the Warmack chassis are shod with JK Big Boys or Big Daddys. I would try Big Daddys as they have a real low profile and thus don't dig in as much - this will let you slide a little more and maybe cure your problem.

Good luck with it.

Hey Brad,.... Others,...... a bit of a 'Rave',..

(Which perhaps, could/should be Moved to a more Focussed 'Thread',... on "Chassis Chooning", !!??,..

With regard to Wire Size,.. I had attempted to 'Post' a Follow-Up, but it dis-appeared into the Ether, as I WAS being,.. a Bit 'O a Smart A**,..lol

The Cars Are and DO in fact have Double #14 rails,.... AWG !!!!,.. ,..
BUT,...are #16 SWG !!!!
Sorry,... you'd think the 'Yanks' would have used "AWG", but is perhaps an 'Industrial/Historical' thing with regard to 'Specific' "Industry' Reference, a bit like BSW etc.

I don't think I have EVER seen ANY slot car with 2 x .078 rails,.. (Unless they had been 'Ground' or 'Flattened/Thinned in some way),.. would make for a VERY Stiff car !!!

ELSE, (regarding 'Flex'),...!!??,... What Fox Says !!!,...
In Some ways, LIKE how a 'Go-Kart' chassis works, they Do 'Flex' in atleast 2 x directions !!,.. LOL,... SO,.. as suggested, Like FOX Says,.. is and can be somewhat of a Fine-Balancing 'Act', finding and getting the 'Combination',.. Right !!

As an Example, My,.. "Old Faithful" Can-Am chassis, utilizes 1 x .062" and 1 x .055" Main Rail, supplemented by the use of .062" Brass/Bronze Alloy Half/Part Rails, at the Rear Axle/Motor area in a similar 'fashion', to some of the cars above.
Due to the Density when compared to the same Dia' Piano Wire, plus the fact the Brass, ISN'T 'Spring-Wire', it can at times, perhaps Help in Adding a slightly More 'Damped' and Softening Effect, whilst also adding Some, shall we say, slightly 'Squidgy' Extra stiffness, without the 'inherent' Piano Wire 'Twang' !!,..

Definitely Worth considering / Trying !!

Interestingly, as I was just looking at some Older Bob Emott chassis on SlotBlog and both Noticed and recalled how Popular the .055 x .047 rail Combo was Way Back in fact Even with Later 'Wing' cars (the Older Group 20 and Later Grp15), both Fox and myself, (let alone Others I am Sure), occasionally ran .055 & .047 railed cars, although often in Combo with .062 and like the Above mentioned Emott chassis .062 would often be used 'around' the rear axle/motor area.

I AM, I must admit, Surprised by How (apparently !!) Effective the almost 'Jelly-Soft', Super flexible, "Z-Rail", style cars are !!

I must say,.. "Old Faithful", has actually proven to be a Pretty damn 'Reasonable' chassis !!
In Fact,.. I'd Venture it is simply,.. close to being 'Just Right'!!,..lol, as it Works and Handles excellently on ALL tracks, (perhaps just a 'Tad' too Heavy,..lol, for Wayne's King), it's 120 something grams and Has Never seemed to Need or has run with ANY Lead added !!

Whilst perhaps NOT,.. Perfect, it's Close,..lol,.. AND,..
it Too can Exhibit 'Lifting' of the Inside Rear Tyre, especially around the Triangle area on the Flat Track at HSC !!

I usually Like to have and 'Try' a couple of Different Tyre choices,... depending on the Temp' and Grip etc
I DON'T often run Alpha's on "Old Faithful", (perhaps, just a bit Too Soft for the chassis), 'Big Daddy's", have often Proved to be a Winning combination.

One extra 'thing' about "Old Faithful", is how 'Narrow' the Rear Width/Track is and has pretty much Always been !!
It has NEVER been even remotely Near the 'Limit' and is actually, Well Under.
It seems ?, to work Better, Wider on the Big track!?? but have yet to Confirm that.

The 'Effective' Rear Width, is part of the Whole 'Pendulum/Triangulation' effect of a Slot Car, as a 'Package', IE; Overall Width:Guide Post Pivot Length.
The 'Narrower' Back End 'Moves' the Ratio about slightly and (in effect lengthens it), and has perhaps shown (as might be suggested), quite Good 'Traction', IE; the car does Not 'Flutter' through turns and with a Good Gear Mesh has and can be almost Silent !! No 'flutter' or Tramping.

Might Have to Try it Wider on the Flat Track when the traction causes it to lift to see if it Slides it Out Any??

Thinking of the above, Twice recently, I have Noticed and been Duly 'Impressed' by Two of Mark's more recent cars and how 'Audibly' And 'Visually' effective they were Through the Corners I was Marshalling at the time !!

Smooth !!??,.. Effective Traction !!??,.. Hmmm,.. Perhaps Just a ,... Bit !!,..

Like I said,..
"What Mark Said/Says",..

Thanks guys.I hear what your saying about the rear spread Stoo.I have been running short of full width myself which has been part of the problem I think.I also ran a bit narrower on my flexis on the Hillclimb for a long time.You know when I think of things like Womps and Scaleauto GT's with no flex at all it all seems to come down to 3 main things.Rear width,Chassis height and the right tires.These sleds dont have much else going for them do they,as far as grip and handling go anyhow.So I am thinking,especially when I consider that my new F1's have no flex that I'll stiffen up the Warmack even more and see what the tires do.May Bryan forgive me.Regards Brad.