I finally got time to stop by. I liked what I saw. I talked with one of the owners, John Benedict. John has been runnng the oval for about 5 weeks now. Getting a small crowd without any advertisement. The oval is bigger than the old GMX in new Milford. Track is maybe 60' long, 15' inside radius banked corners. Surface is hard as concrete. Looks a little choppy / wavy in some spots, but John is aware of it, and intends to keep working at it. They run off-road & oval on the same night, but the layout is configured the right way to do that easily. LARGE pit area. Real nice. They have been running 1/10th Losi Sprints, 1/10 EDM (mostly converted buggys), some Custom Works Sprints. So far, no one has tried foams, but it looks like a foam tire track to me. The hobby shop is stocked with foam tires, oval conversion kits for buggies, EDM bodies, McAllister dirt oval coupe bodies, etc. Right now, John is happy to run anything class/car that is dirt oval, so the rules aren't real important yet. Just show up. Guys have been running 17.5 to 8.5 brushless. LiPo OK. I will be running at the Track tomorrow (Saturday) night to see how it all goes with my Putnam Pro-Car (17.5, 7.4 LiPo). Shop opens 9am, Heats start at 3pm.

CALLING ALL DIRT OVAL GUYS IN THE CONNECTICUT AREA THAT DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO RUN ANYMORE - Dust off your stuff and get to RCH.

John is very excited about the oval racing. He's really trying. Please support your local tracks / shops.

Note, if you go to their website below, track pics do not show the current "oval friendly" layout.

Radio Control Hobbies & Raceway
1258 South Main Street
Waterbury, CT. 06706
http://www.rchr.biz
rchr@att.net

Ill be there!

Well gents,seek and Dale will find!!!!! Lets see how the Czar makes out on the dirt tomorrow.Could be the new place to hang out...........;)
HHHMMMMMMMMM maybe an Oldies Dirt Mod class :thumbsup: anyone???

Dale,You home yet!!!??? How'd it go???

Not bad. Well, what looked like ripples & waves was worse once you are moving 25mph. At this point, my ProCar, and Mitch's B4 just didn't have the suspension travel to deal with the dips/waves. I bottomed out & got some aire here and there. But, the surface is fine for foams. The converted buggies were running fine with rubber tires. The straights were the tough part, but you could send it in the corners pretty good. You more pretty quick here. Once I found out how to tip-toe my way down the straights at full throttle, you can hit the banks, back off, set the car, stand on it & watch it slingshot around the corner (ie: Eldora style). They need to define the inside line with paint or something. It took two runs and I was probably the fastest car, but I couldn't put it through the pounding any more, so we headed out. John Benedict said we should have stayed, because we looked real good. I think the regulars saw that foams are the way to go. Right now, I think buggies with full suspension, EDM bodies & foams are the best bet, and will be very fun. After re-playing the afternoon over in my head, I think I am going to try to get more ride height out of my ProCar, and more travel & try it again. I am also going to build a regular "non-flopper" body. Mine shook apart a bit. I will also be building another B4.

If anyone wants more info, call me 203-240-6445.

Dale,So whats JB's plan?? Is he gonna work on the rough-stuff?? Keep us posted.Thanks :thumbsup:

Shark'

He said he was, and I believe he will. But, in my opinion I'm gonna change to the track vs. waiting for the track to change for my car.

I understand to be greatful for what is available,I'm anxious to get a chance to go.My outlook was that a bunch of us have the "purpose" built cars,and it would be awesome to get to run them as they can/should be is all.
High "5" to John Benedict and the crew.Hope that all the GMX crew can get it together and play in the DIRT real soon.;)


Shark'
M 87 Racing

I stayed till the end , The track was bumpy but I can be fixed Im sure . Its close and the people seemed real nice. the pits were large and well heated .the fastest cars on the oval were a b4 and a losi 1/10 slider. Im going to try to go wed and sat. this week. Im changing to softer springs , lighter oil ,mabe longer rear shocks or move them in a little. also mount a non flopper body higher on the car.

Get yer cars ready lets go Dirt racin !

I've been playing around with my Putnam car today. I relocated the existing shocks a bit. Using holes already provided in the mounts, I was able to get a higher ride heigth, and more a-arm droop. Don't know if it's enough, but it's way better than what it was. I am also 1/2 way done with a new EDM body (Dirtoval.com legal). The doors are no lower than the chassis. .030" deck, .020" panels, several braces to keep it from flopping around. Also ran the car with 2 degree rear toe, I didn't even try zero. Might try running the LiPo pack sideways across the chassis in front of the motor (old school). I also re-sprung the car to what we used to run on the old XRC track before we built the banked oval. (It pays to keep all your notes!). I will also be putting "full-height" RC4Less foams on the car (2.900"). If this combo doesn't get the job done, I am confident a B4 coversion will.

Dale, we just missed you Sat, Me and the little man stoped by to watch. We may stop by Sat morning to let him have some fun.

Aw, man. Wish I knew you guys were coming. I definately could have stayed longer. Build the kid a B4.

I bought him a Traxxas Slash a while back. We normally just run it around the yard or at the local BMX track.

I am going back to RCH&R this Saturday, as long as it's not snowing. I am trying my Putnam ProCar again. I did some work to try to get it more suitable for that track. I was surprised just how much travel you can get with the short shocks. I am cautiously optomistic. I did pick up a used B4, just don't have it done yet.

Czar,Gonna keep an eye on the weather for our ride saturday.Predictions are 9-16 inches of the white crap here.I'll be in touch.

Great to hear of yet another new indoor dirt oval -

Dale: there isn't a dirt oval out there that a Putnam car can't tame- lol - keep up the good work!:thumbsup:

Todd you are absolutly correct, That Pro Car can tame any oval, but a little rake work wouldn't hurt.

I hear ya Todd. I agree. Madball - that track needs your help. If you have the time, stop by, I bet John will listen.

Well, after 2 rounds of practice, the ProCar got a hold of the track pretty good. My suspension changes paid off. I was turning 5.9's easy with 17.5 brushless. Other cars 6.2 - 6.8. Too bad I broke in the first round. Got drilled hard from behind by someone running an 8.5 brushless, broke a shock shaft and messing up the shock body. Didn't bring any spares:rolleyes:. Right now, oval is pretty new to most of the guys at RCH. Some guys are running way too big motors and treating it like two dragstrips connected by a crash at each end. My car was pretty good, but a 49oz car on foams doesn't win to many shoving matches against 65oz buggy EDM's on rubber. I think that, for now, I will run my B4 EDM w/ 13.5 Brushelss. Looking forward to going back.

John here. Kevin Graves and I went up to the track this morning 12/28. We worked on the oval all day until @9:30pm. He built us a "cheese grater" that we draged around with my dingo. It leveled out all of the high spots at the same time filling in all the low spots. It did an awesome job. I even think that Mark was impressed! I can't thank Kevin enough! We rolled it out & gave it a drink. We like the way it turned out..any one out there wanting to run dirt oval..come check it out and tell us what you think. If I can get enough people racing dirt oval, I would prefer to host the race on a Friday night. I'm open for suggestions. For now we will be oval racing on Wednesday nights & Saturday's at 3pm with the off-road program. Kevin & I will be going back up monday morning to spend some more time watering and patch up some off-road divets. We will be open for business Monday & Tuesday, but not for practicing. The shop will be closed Wednesday & Thursday...Happy New Years!! This should be enough time for the new racing surface to absorb some moisture.

Awesome! I will be there Saturday. I will let the other guys know what's going on. Me, personally can't run on a weeknight. It's Saturday or Sunday only for me.

I got an idea. Keep dirt oval and off-road on Saturday nights. Run one class earlier in the day, and the other at night (back to back). Since you probably have more off-road guys than oval guys, let them pick which time slot they prefer. From my experience in the local dirt oval scene in CT, Saturday have always been the best turnout.

See you Saturday. I have my ProCar and the B4 ready to go!

Ill be there sat with 2 b4 edm's and 2 edm's cant wait!!!!!

Saturday is the best day . Its good to race off road and oval the same day because some people do both . I bought an off road car last week so I can do both.

Bonzai, I talked to John B. He is gonna do Saturday mornings for Dirt oval, followed by off-road. Sharkey & I will be there Saturday!

Ill be there a about 9 am. see ya

The track was smooth. It just wasn't packed quite enough. Live & learn. They are trying. The guys at RCH will get it right.:thumbsup:
John asked me to let everyone know that there is not oval racing this Saturday. They have a regional off-road event this Saturday. Today, John was resurfacing the track, the way he did it originally. That should get it back to the nice hard packed track that will blue groove.:thumbsup:

Regular schedule for the following Saturday.

FYI, the oval track is getting a small following if EDM's and Sprint cars. Looks like those will be the 2 classes that get poular.

here is some dirt oval video @ RCHR..

http://blogs-rccaraction.com/media/111/Dirt_Oval_Racing/

here is some dirt oval video @ RCHR..

http://blogs-rccaraction.com/media/111/Dirt_Oval_Racing/

... and that's from before they resurfaced the track. Better now.:thumbsup:

Dirt Oval Racing on Saturday!!! Bring your Putnam Pro Dale. The track is smoooooth...no more bumps or holes. I bet we might even see some 1/18 scale action soon. The track is staying together real nice. I painted up my EDM body & tonight I'm going to try to get'er going! What up Mike V? Hopefully we can get enough people to make a seperate class for EDM & Sprint. Got your sprint ready Dale!?

Dirt Oval Racing on Saturday!!! Bring your Putnam Pro Dale. The track is smoooooth...no more bumps or holes. I bet we might even see some 1/18 scale action soon. The track is staying together real nice. I painted up my EDM body & tonight I'm going to try to get'er going! What up Mike V? Hopefully we can get enough people to make a seperate class for EDM & Sprint. Got your sprint ready Dale!?

What classes are you running up there?

Sprint car isn't quite done yet (Of course I just HAD to make my own body and wings!). B4 is all set. I wanted to get new shocks on the ProCar before it sees the track again, we'll see. I will be there Saturday.

Classes? Right now they are running EDM (buggies converted to EDM), and Sprint cars (mostly Losi's and converted buggies). But, with the track getting better and better, I bet some "purpose built" cars will be finding their way to RCHR (Putnam, Terminator, Custom Works, etc.)

Sprint car isn't quite done yet (Of course I just HAD to make my own body and wings!). B4 is all set. I wanted to get new shocks on the ProCar before it sees the track again, we'll see. I will be there Saturday.

Classes? Right now they are running EDM (buggies converted to EDM), and Sprint cars (mostly Losi's and converted buggies). But, with the track getting better and better, I bet some "purpose built" cars will be finding their way to RCHR (Putnam, Terminator, Custom Works, etc.)

Thanks, maybe I'll take a ride up next weekend. We have a 2 day race going on at 360 this weekend.

John- awesome job with the track! Held up great. I think the way you prep the track between rounds, and between each heat paid off. If I had my ProCar with me, I think it would have been THE car to run.

Sea ya soon.

All,Is the track running Li-Po?? Dale?? Hope so..............

Right now, there is no motor or battery rule. That being said, I ran 7.4 LiPo and a Putnam Propulsion 17.5. More than competitive.:thumbsup:

NICE!!! Thanks Dale ;)

Is there oval racing this coming Saturday? Why time is it going to start?

Thanks.

There is racing this Saturday. I think they open up at noon, maybe earlier. Heats start around 3-4pm. They run off-road and oval on the same night. It's been working fine. After you race, you marshall. While the marshalls are waiting for everyone to get lined up & checked in, they sweep the track (There's like 4 or 5 brooms all around the track). So, the track gets swept every heat. Watered just before each round. Oval has been going first each round.

I won't be there this Sat.

There is racing this Saturday. I think they open up at noon, maybe earlier. Heats start around 3-4pm. They run off-road and oval on the same night. It's been working fine. After you race, you marshall. While the marshalls are waiting for everyone to get lined up & checked in, they sweep the track (There's like 4 or 5 brooms all around the track). So, the track gets swept every heat. Watered just before each round. Oval has been going first each round.

I won't be there this Sat.

Thanks ... I'll take a ride and check it out.

John / Mark, I had lots of fun tonight. Track's holding up well. Looking forward to coming back soon. Won't be until March. See ya!

John,and Mark You guys did a great job with the RCHR Shop,and raceway.I had a good time.Oval racing was NUTZ,but the fun factor was there.See yous soon.

Anyone up for running tomorrow night? I got a feva!

I'd love to, but no way I can run on a weeknight. Too bad, I really got a hold of that track last time...

I won't be back at RCHR until after the Winterblast on 3/1.

erich how the heck are ya?...it's the waterbury phantom that ran at a&d's....that may ring a bell...i'm digging my old toys out and may run sat night in the oval class..if you're going down wed night i'll swing in and say hello..

you guys running the 1/18 losi late model??? PLEASE LET ME NO/// pm me

How is the track? Some of us are always looking for a road trip...
What day/night do you race?

The track is pretty good, but it gets loose silt on top. The material isn't clay, but it does pack very well. I think there is a short video posted on HT somewhere. It does not have the bite that the old GMX had. They have been running rubber tire stuff only. When the track is swept and damp, I can run my ProCar w/ foams competitively, but when the track goes away (quick), my old B4 w/ rubber just gets faster & faster. I have not tried rubber on the ProCar yet.

But, TP, you proved me wrong at GMX (I never thought mid-engine would be quicker), so what do I know...

At this point, the owners feel that the oval crowd isn't big enough to put them on a separate schedule from the off-road guys, so they run a combined show. Wednesdays & Saturdays.

late model?????? mini??? anyone