TSRF 1

TSRF 1/24 Scale races, June 18th, 2005

Buena Park, CA

Paul Sterrett back on top after terrific inter-pro battle.

Paul Sterrett did not exactly walk away with this one as he had fierce competition from old pro racer "John" Tore Anderson and Mike Steube. Last week's winner and top amateur Sam Brown was also close behind. Wing-car pro-racer Mickey Johnson was betrayed, as Philippe de Lespinay, by the same mechanical failure: a forgotten axle spacer allowed the gear to move, causing a lack of... drive. Mickey was good for a possible second place when this happened, causing a loss of 8 laps that were an un-surmountable handicap.

Mike Steube continues to improve and set fastest lap.

Beginner Rick Salvino greatly improved, while Jim Watterson lost it too many times to keep up. Barry Obler was hampered by a slow motor from a former Uncle Kal's rental car, but soldiered on 30 laps from first place. Newbie and drag-racing parts manufacturer Oscar Smith had a tough time of it, at one time relieved from driving duties by Philippe de Lespinay, but enjoyed himself nonetheless with his Carrera-bodies injected Audi R8, the only injected car in the race (these benefit from an automatic 10-lap bonus).

Scott Corwin had some technical problems quickly resolved, but too late for a good placing: someone had replaced the TSRF contact brushes by some thinner home-racing examples, and there was no electrical contact as not enough pressure was applied by the guide holder. Quick replacement by the correct proprietary parts solved that issue.

Main event results:

Pos

Driver

Body type

Laps

Fastest lap

1	Paul Sterrett	Porsche 956	201	6.699"
2	John Tore Andersson	BMW V12	199	6.808"
3	Mike Steube	BMW V12	194	6.613" *
4	Sam Brown	Porsche 956	191	6.921"
5	Mickey Johnston	BMW V12	190	6.820"
6	Rick Salvino	Porsche 956	184	7.136"
7	Jim Watterson	Porsche 956	183	7.026"
8	Barry Obler	Porsche 956	171	7.198"
9	Philippe de Lespinay	BMW V12	150	6.921"
10	John Emmons	Porsche 956	148	7.082"
11	Oscar Smith	Audi R8 **	105	7.472"
12	Scott Corwin	Porsche 956	84	7.250"

Post-race online comments (courtesy Old Weirld Herald Forum):

John Emmons
IMCA Worlds Survivor

Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
Posts: 557

Another fine race...

with the TSRF cars on the Hillclimb at Buena Park.

The interest just keeps growing and the racing just keeps getting better and better, except for my own, I really must learn how to put that motor screw in...

I think we have at least another convert too, my home-set racing club friend Daniel got there in time to see the race, he wants a TSRF car now too along with his new/used Flexi Deathstar that we build for him to try out.

Hope to see you guys again next weekend.

John Emmons

rmick15
OWH Talkaholic

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 391

TSRF race at BP

I had a great time racing today. Very closing racing that comes down to driving. The cars handle great and there are no "special setups". IMO these cars are the best cars I've seen to get people in to racing. We ran 3 min heats with a crash and burn format, at one minute intervals we but the cars back on that came out. While racing you have to find that 95% of the car without coming out. Towards the end of the minute interval you work closer to the 100% of the car. Don't be fooled, this is truly a drivers race.

The nice thing about this crash and burn racing is you have to be constant along with running good lap times without crashing. Kinda like real racing. One mistake can cost you 1st place.

Secondly, there is no yelling at turn marshals because when you are off you wait for the next 1 interval to be put on. Think how it looks when people "off the street" walk in to a raceway and everyone is screaming and yelling at each other. Who really wants to subject there child to that? Trust me I'm no saint while racing, put a controller in my hand and I would probably yell at the pope. But that's how I was "slot car raised". I'm a product of the slot car society.

I'm getting a car of my own and looking forward to more racing. Great cars, Great racing, Great concept.

Mickey

CruzinBob
Model Car Racer

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Ventura, CA & Chandler, AZ
Posts: 511

Good post Mick

It's good to hear your comments Mickey and BTW, you are missed when you leave slot racing.

It's true that this style racing is best not only for new racers but for spectators and potential racers. I enjoy the C&B format except when someone gets nerfed off or a rider takes another car out. When I run C&B I allow any car that gets knocked off to be re-slotted.

rmick15
OWH Talkaholic

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 392

The TSRF cars don’t really nerf the cars on the outside. I seen many cars run together in turns, I was too scared to pass on the outside. But this should be a part of the learning curve of racing. It’s present in real racing also. You have to pick your places to pass. I understand your comment about the cars flying straight our of the slot, but these are predictable and run well. I enjoy all forms of slot racing like you, I do enjoy wing racing the most. But I personally don’t see how it would appeal to the general public. Whenever I can, I invite friend’s family or neighbors to come watch me race. Hoping they would want to get in to it. This one guy I ride with is a machinist and coming from a background of precision I thought he might be interested in slot racing. He was impressed with the cars and seemed to enjoy the race. He even took video. But didn’t show any interest in trying it. The TSRF cars have a lot to offer. You’re not racing against the cubic dollar. The learning curve isn’t outrageous. And the cars are low maintenance.

Yes with the crash and burn format you may get taken out but that happens in real racing also. It even happens with our standard way of racing. I think this TSRF style of racing will be fine with or without crash and burn racing.

I just thought I would post about my experience of racing these cars and what I feel they have to offer to slot racing. I’m a wing racer at heart, running in glue. Slot cars could always use another option to draw people in the door. The two things that drive people to quit wing cars is time and money. I read an article in the paper months ago that said the average white-collar worker puts in more hours then ever before addition to traveling on business. Now combine that with the cost of living, it makes it harder for the blue-collar racer to afford wing racing.

Think of this, to compete in wing cars at a national level and be competitive month in and month out. A person has to have:

1. A fair amount of extra money to send.
2. A fair amount of time.
3. Be single, or have an understanding wife.

And that’s just to get in to it. Now you have the learning curve to deal with. Make no mistake, to compete at that level in RC’s the same applies. Since we like to compare RC racing at times.

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