did that proxy race ever happen?someone started a thread on getting one going,but i didn't hear much about it....i think it would be a good test of my building skills,and i would love to see how one of my cars would stand up against some real builders!

I think you might be referring to the thread I started.. It really didn't generate much discussion, so figured it would probably not be well received. I was kind of hoping one of the HT elders would pick up the idea and run with it.

-Robbie

we shall see...

I seen the post. I'm not an HT elder as such but have been racing slots since 1963, thru the hayday and beyond.

Proxy racing is one of my "pet peeves".

Being a racer and builder, I'm inclined to think that you should look for local racers and race shoulder to shoulder. This proxy stuff is for the guys that go Vroom , Vroom when there car goes by. The guys that have the fast cars as they have no other to compare them to.

Here's the deal, they build the car, test it on their track which is who knows what layout and that's way different than the one his car will be racing on. Looks fast to him. Hmmm, no other cars for comparison .

When you send your car off to Vroom Vroom,

What about gearing ?

Voltage ?

Clearence ?

Tires ?

Pick up shoe settings ?

Get the drift. All these things are part of racing and whos going to do the preparation once the car gets to the track it's to be raced on ? Vroom Vroom ? I don't think sooooooo. I'm sorry , but proxy isn't racing in my opinion.

It's settling . Settling for a chance to run your car against ???????

Why not take this approach. Have a race at your track. Invite prospective racers to attend. Prepare 4 , or how many lanes your track is , identical cars and have an IROC race with your guests. Try to inspire them to get into the hobby. To build a track and build their own cars. Also , your promoting the hobby at the same time.

If you go about it in that way, you too will have different tracks to race locally and local competition to race against. We call them " garage circuits". We have races at a different track each month with test and tune time before the race to get your car set up for that track. I race in the Yahoo Group : VASCRA

Where do you get the prospective racers ? Your local mens church group. Friends that share your interest for auto racing. Co-workers. Relatives. Place a poster at your local super market, hobby shop or auto parts store and show and tell what your hobby entails.

Also remember this. When you build a car , it's not anyones toy to break but your own. Who's going to be at the controlls of your toy car when you mail it off to a proxy race ? Could be Mr. Magoo. Oh , you'll get it back , in a lot more pieces than you send it maybe.

I'm sorry to be so negative. However, that's probably, the racers already know all this and shy away from Proxies.

No disrespect intended, just trying to make a point.

Gonzo

point taken!never thought of it that way,as i am fairly new to slots.i mean,apart from the old 1/32 strombeckers i destroyed as a kid in the 70's...i will stick local.thanks for the input!and i checked out ratrodbikes!cool site!heres one i built for funs an old raleigh folder from the 60's
http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj434/slotnewbie69/DSCN1718.jpg

I happen to love proxy racing. It's just another form of competition. I send cars to Rogers proxy races all the time. It's more of a car builders type of racing. You have to know the track, the controller, the driver etc... It;s a difficukt way to compete. On Roger's track you don't want to send a car that is blistering fast as his track is small and tight. You also want a car that is fairly neutral in the braking dept. Most important is you have to remember it's just for fun. Roger also has a theme to each race and there is a modeling contest. In the old days it was a peoples choice but now he has a guest judge. As for how to win that one I cant tell you but again just knowing what the person holding the race likes goes a lond way. Myself, I like to actually modell the cars, as in cut and modify them untill they are unique. But that doesn't mean you have to go all out to win. Sometimes a simple clear coat and some numbers on a stock car will do it. Bottom line is I think it's another great way to enjoy this hobby. On a side note, as long as we are showing off our Kustom bikes I'll show you mine.

Being a racer and builder, I'm inclined to think that you should look for local racers and race shoulder to shoulder. This proxy stuff is for the guys that go Vroom , Vroom when there car goes by. The guys that have the fast cars as they have no other to compare them to.


Many well respected racers and chassis builders, have been known to supplement their local HO activities with an occasional proxy race. I like to think I fit in there somewhere and in the past I have sent cars in for 3 proxy races. 2 I got killed and the 3rd I won. Matter of fact the first 2 the cars were returned running better than when I sent them. Participating in a proxy race is not meant to be a substitute for local racing and it can be fun with or without the "vroom vrooming". Simply put... If you have time to prepare a car, want to participate, and trust the person running the race... why not?? nd

thanks for all the info and opinions/insights!
oddrods:sweet old cruiser!i saved a 1938 phillips english roadster out of the morning glory and weeds at a guy i mets house,and had it rebuilt with vintage drum brakes with a 3 speed internal hub!rides great,with the old wing bars and messinger saddle from an old harley bike...

Thanks Newbie. There is alot more to that bike than meets the eye. 20"Schwinn frame stretched 6" in the front and 6" in the rear. 24x3" wide tires on alumminum rims laced to JC higgins finned hubs. {the outside diameter of the tire is the same as a 26" fat tire cruiser}JC higgins Beehive front end. JC higgins ladies skirt guards and sheet metal. profile aluminum chainring modified for inch pitch chain. 1 piece crank recontoured. plus a ton more with more to come.

did you do the work?if so very impressive.i don't do any metalworking,so i just get old parts and slap em together.have you seen dave stromberger's site?he restores old heavywieghts like schwinn and jc higgins and whatnot.

Dang it Offutt, see what you started? Hay, I'm all in if you are. I'd jump at the opportunity to host a proxy here at Harden Creek.

We got enough pro drivers that can fix about anything. So I ain't worried about broken cars. Any reason to race slot cars is better than finding time to do house chores.

;-))

i won't let the wife see that post!lol!
hey riggenracer,do you have any info on the 1/32 riggens?i just won one on ebay...

Newbie: yah i did the work myself.
RRacer: One of the things I would avoid in hosting is adjusting/tuning the participents cars. The whole purpose of a proxy race is for the entrant to tune the car to their best assesment of the conditions. If the host tunes the car, other than a drop of oil when ness or clean the shoes, it's not fair to the others.

Newbie: yah i did the work myself.
RRacer: One of the things I would avoid in hosting is adjusting/tuning the participents cars. The whole purpose of a proxy race is for the entrant to tune the car to their best assesment of the conditions. If the host tunes the car, other than a drop of oil when ness or clean the shoes, it's not fair to the others.

I agree. The only thing that some proxy races allow is for people to put replacement parts in their box so that if something happens to a tire, wheel, guide pin, etc., the parts are there to replace them and the car can still race without being sent home for repairs.

While a proxy race does have its merit and car builders LOVE this sort of racing, GoneGonzo is definitely not to be ignored. That's why I do like tjd241's response where there are many that do exactly what GoneGonzo does, but then have a proxy, car building race going too. As I mentioned before in the other thread that got started, I never personally submitted a car to a proxy because I just did not have the time to work on and build up a car. I would love to try it out one day, but it will never replace finding guys locally or just going to the local track and racing my car next to other guys.

PD2:thumbsup: