hitcharide1

iTrader: (1)

Tom is trying to talk me into buying a bunch of lumber and stuff and either setting up a permanent track down here or at least coming up with a portable setup. If I were more physically active, I'd do it. We're going to talk to some of the hobby shops and clubs down here doing offroad and 1/10 electric onroad this winter, if we get enough people to commit, we may do it. Heaven knows we have enough empty parking lots around here with the economy the way it is...finding a spot is not the problem, finding the people may be, but we'll see.

hitcharide1

iTrader: (1)

I know Matt is going to have a go at building his own pan, and we're going to build ours, using a lot of the same parts and ideas. I figure it's the absolute cheapest way to put a car together, and no reason why it can't perform and be fun as well. I do like transponders, I remember what a pain manual scoring was so if we ever did a track down here, I'd have to get one of those systems. But I used to love the oval races, really fast laps!

aarcobra

iTrader: (12)

Unfortunately (for me) your explaination is the very best I've seen...too few hobbyists is the root problem. We dance all around what the RC thing is all the time. Is it a hobby? Is it a sport? Are we modellers? Are we racers? A pass time, not a passion, instant gratification, not building for future generations. That probably explains alot of the issues I have with how things are being run today. It doesn't make me feel any better, but it does help me see some things!

aarcobra

iTrader: (12)

I understand that a limited 4wd class was tried a few years ago. What happened to that attempt? Probably were not fast enough... lol

Das 1/8th Mopar

Several years ago there was a movement to run a 3-port motor in a 4wd car. All the reasons were right but the motor was wrong. The NR motors were to weak, mine didn't make it threw it's second tank while breaking in.( I'm thinking the 3-port we've been running in the pans could have filled the bill.) The idea died a swift death at that time. Still a good idea in my mind.

Das 1/8th Mopar

The club should lump open and masters (run same speed) together to make room for a slower 3-port 4wd car or limit 3-port to 1 speed and mix in with pans. Let the 1/10th go. Stir and stir some more!
Ned, you need to move back home!

hitcharide1

iTrader: (1)

It's not a sport..I figure a sport involves a ball and while I'd be happy to strap one to the top of my car, I suspect it wouldn't help the aerodynamics all that much...and passing would be a real pain.

I don't consider it racing since there aren't any humans in the cars...and there isn't anyone vertically challenged enough to fit anyway.

We definitely aren't modellers, at least most of us, since we're putting together kits made by someone else, and very few of us actually fabricate any of the pieces. I'm working on that issue tho, and Tom already crossed that horizon with pieces he made for his stuff.

That leaves hobbyists. Nothing wrong with that, but it does take a little of the fun away. Then again, this stuff hit the tech wave and made it to where most people don't have the ability to make their own stuff, we lost the KISS principle awhile back. From the attendance of the GLC, I gather a lot of people are quite happy with that and it works for those who either don't want to spend the time or don't have the knowledge to do their own thing. I've run plenty of that and currently do so, tho I made parts for the Super J way back, and still do.

I think pan is good because we can get the people who just want to run, but we can also get the people who want to fabricate their own stuff. Being able to make your own tweaks gives the hobby another aspect. I can appreciate the modellers with trains (tho I'd rather die than do it myself) and their attention to detail in what they build.

Any way you slice it, it's still 2012 and we have the hobby as it exists. And we have options, to RTR it, to buiding kits (remember, shameless plug, I sell 4wd kits at cost,) or to build our own. We do need RTR's and kits to get new people involved, and I still think we should have a class of "run what you brung," if nothing else, it's more club dues and membership for ROAR. Turning away people because they don't have exactly what we have is shortsighted..they don't have to run in the same heat as we do, but there's enough track time for all, and it's not to say a newbie wouldn't then move up to something else in order to run with everyone else.

Matt is building his thing, and we're working on ours, and there is always Motonica. I plan to have something for handout next year, something to give to those who show up and want to know a little more about what we do...what's availible, some cost breakdown, etc. Give 'em options. I'll also see about doing what I said I would and didn't get to yet, putting a car together for anyone to drive that shows up, just to see if they get the "bug." I don't think we have much in the way of outreach and affordability. I've worked on the affordability aspect but there's only so much I can do from four hours away on outreach for Toledo, my only other option is to try to start a track here. But then I run into the same pitfall that many other clubs have, which is time/energy/involvement. Without a bunch of Ted's, races don't happen, and I'm sure Ned can attest to that. I'll see over the winter what I can do around here, but for now, I'm up for helping the Toledo club any way we can, be it donating prizes, money, volunteering to turn marshall, helping set up, and so forth. If anyone has an idea I can help with to grow our hobby, I'm in.

azeroth

iTrader: (21)

there has been discussion locally here about buggy motors for 1/8 4wd at the club level and i have to agree a spec motor for "sportsman' "club spec" lets look at say aGo Technology GXII-5RHO 5+2 Port .21 Competition Buggy Engine (Turbo Plug) $167. a replace ment rod is $18. a sleeve piston rod assembly is cheaper than just a rod for a pure race modded nova at $68 yes cheap motor fails quick but we all do maintenance put a good set of Bearings in it and have fun just a thought

aarcobra

iTrader: (12)

Anybody wanna see how much 1/8th scale Gas racing actually is going on? Let's make a map of the cities that have active 1/8th scale racing. (Defined as scheduled races at least once per month during "the season".)

I'd also like to include classes, number of racers per class, etc. Eventually I would like to do the whole US (Canada too?) but I'm really interested in "East of the Mississippi" 'cause I might stumble on somewhere to race!!!

Let's also include the clubs that are not around anymore for a complete picture of our history...

Here's a q & d idea of what I have in mind... Please add comments and info!

Taylorm

Lon....was it possible (sic) Novarossi had a bad batch of 3 port motors that the guys tried.?..I myself asked Hammer about the 3 port motors and he also said they died a quick death????...from what i can tell the 3 port and 5 port Novarossis that are currently being run in pan look like they would have enough longevity to last a while in 4WD.............And they can be had for 169.00 according to McNish.......We need a cheaper 4wd class for slow hacks like me.........I cant afford 3 700.00 motors a year...well i could......but the wife would be WTF!!!!...Never understood the whole open/masters separation???......Do guys magically get slow at 45 and now need their own class???.........We need open and (i hate to say it).............a sportsman/spec motor class.........

aarcobra

iTrader: (12)

LOL! You of ALL people! MR. RC 300. You bait me into this pan thing. Then you give up even trying. THEN you tell Phil you are going to scratch build a pan car (I never did believe that one! lol) NOW you want a spec class in 4wd! AFTER I got rid of a great, brand new X-RAY and two perfectly good Kyosho's!!!!!!

Thanks, Buddy!

hitcharide1

iTrader: (1)

Hey! I like the idea of scratch built!

aarcobra

iTrader: (12)

I like the IDEA too! I'm building a few myself, even have a lead on a machine shop that could make most of the parts. There are issues with some of the parts and I'm betting no one (except the Chinese) can make anything cheap enough to attract many racers.

Wishing y'all a lot of luck, It would be really cool...

hitcharide1

iTrader: (1)

That's part of the reason we're going with off the shelf for so much of it. I know it'd be a pain for most to make some stuff, lack of machining and such, so the critical items will be either really simple to make or we can make them for others, while the rest of it can be bought by anyone online for as cheap as possible. I figure if it's durable enough, one won't need many parts, and if the parts one does need are cheap enough, it won't matter. Being able to run 4wd cast offs will help too. The only part I can't do much about is the cost of engines and such, but this way, hopefully, it'll keep the price down enough to where we aren't chasing anyone out because they can't keep up financially.

Das 1/8th Mopar

Today my grandson, Noah Bellville, just plain beat me but only after he out qualified me first. It was a very fun race in which I passed him a half dozen time, he won't let go, passing me back or waiting for me to mess up. Talk about pressure!
GREAT JOB NOAH!!