:rolleyes:
You didn't talk to me, or anyone I talked to. Do you want people to show up or not? If you don't do it right nobody will show and to Toledo they will go.

Ben-

I ran at the Lowe's last year and as far as the surface is it is one of the best for racing outdoors on. The sealer that is on makes the surface less abrasive so tires last longer and also as it heats up it provides more traction then a unsealed surface. The surface is actually smoother then the one that they use for the Rider's in Canton, MI or the surface that Lansing, MI Hobby Hub uses. Plus it is an ideal location in that people can see what is going on but they can't get too close with the real cars. In reference to Toledo are you talking about the gas track?? That is a purpose built single use track and really can't be compared to any parking lot surface.

xpressman-
Did you actually run on it? I thought it looked good too, because you are right it's sealed which is USUALLY good for traction AND wear, but there is something about it that just doesn't grip. I would rather run on unsealed asphalt which is like sandpaper to tires because at least it provides adequate traction. Yes Toledo is single use, like electric cars couldn't handle the size, but the basic things like a good sealed surface, and wooden boards, and a drivers stand are things that any parking lot track should have. Most of the Midwest series races are in parking lots (Detroit, Chicago, Racine, Mentor) and they all have very good traction. Mentor actually sealed a big square of the Great lakes mall parking lot and it was great. All I am asking/strongly suggesting for is changing the lot to another one(or putting fresh sealer down at lowe's), I'm willing to help if Dale needs it, give me some sarc money and I'll help build a drivers stand and boards, or mix up some traction compound. However if my input is ignored I just will not bother to race there myself which is no big deal because I'll probably be traveling to race anyway, but for the sake of the people that do run there I would like to point out that the Lowe's lot is pretty dam bad and everyone would enjoy a different the consistent traction of a better lot. I mean I go to these sealed lots around my house to break in engines and tune my two speed and have infinetely more traction than I do at that lowe's lot after SARC has paid $$ to spray it with Soda.

What's going to become of the Gateway Plaza track this summer? I figured you'd find a couple of good aspahalt acres there and keep people coming to your business.

Exactly why not run there out near the edge where nobody parks. See if we can put fresh sealant down over the section we want to use.

Originally posted by BenPuterbaugh
xpressman-
Did you actually run on it? I thought it looked good too, because you are right it's sealed which is USUALLY good for traction AND wear, but there is something about it that just doesn't grip. I would rather run on unsealed asphalt which is like sandpaper to tires because at least it provides adequate traction....


...I would like to point out that the Lowe's lot is pretty dam bad and everyone would enjoy a different the consistent traction of a better lot.

Yes I did run on that surface. You can look back at the results from 7/13 and see. I actually ran faster laps with stock rubber then Carl did with foam gas. Unfortuantely my speedo puked at the end of the main. My car was hooked up and I could do anything I wnated to with it. It was actually the first time I had to take out rear traction because the car wouldn't turn. I ran Sorex 32r with HPI red inserts all the way around. I would have ran 36r but they were showing signs cord. Come and race at some places in MI and then you will be thinking that the Lowe's lot really isn't all that bad.

A bad surface is a new set of 36's a week, now that's an abrasive surface....... wekcome to Michigan in the spring...

Yeah I think you were just checking it out the one time I ran, that's why I asked. Your accomplishments as far as being faster than Karl illustrate how bad the surface is IMHO. I haven't raced at any of the lots in MI. Michigan must really succ (duh!). I have raced a couple times with CORCAR (http://www.corcar.com) in Columbus Ohio and they always have had much better lots than that Lowe's. I mean how hard is it to just go to the Lowe's on Lima instead?

Originally posted by BenPuterbaugh
Michigan must really succ (duh!).

I'm sure as far as surfaces go Walter Henderson and Josh Cryul con't have a problem with the ones in MI.

I don't know, all I can base my opinions on are what I know(lowes here, ohio tracks and MWS tracks) and what you say about the Michigan tracks. You said before you like Lowes better than the Michigan tracks. Yes I know Walt and Josh are from Michigan. My Michigan succs comment is referring to your comparison of our local track and there(MI). If they think your parking lot tracks are fine then I must be way off base about Lowe's, but I won't be racing at the Lowe's on Illinois Road unless Brad or Karl talk me into it. Like I said, it's pretty sad when I can go down the street to the nearsest blacktop parking lot and have 80% or more traction and have 10% at a 'treated' Lowes surface. If the sorex tires hook up for you there they will be that much better on a better lot surface. At this point I'm sure it doesn't matter because Dale will have to have it there because that's where he wants to have it and that's fine because it's his club. I just wanted to get the point across that I think there are better traction lots to be easily had.

Summit Raceway will be hosting a trophy race on Sunday, April 6th. That's the April Fools part... you probably thought it would be on April 1st.!!
Road racing classes will include:
1/12 Scale Stock
1/10 Scale Touring Car Stock
1/10 Scale Stadium Trucks Stock
Formula 1/Indy
1/10 Touring Stock Junior Novice

Trophies for Top Qualifiers, 1st thru 3rd A-main, 1st thru 3rd B-main

See our website for more info www.fswarc.8m.com

Oops, I see there is a separate thread for the April Fools race already started. See that thread for continuing info on the race. General questions regarding the track can be posted here.
Thanks.

Tracks like Toledo and most of the tracks in MWS use VHT. While this is provides great traction, it does harm the asphalt. From the times we ran it here, after the track was torn down you could see the racing line for a month and a half. Most landlords do not like that on their parking lots.

What we use hear is a really big push blower and several 3l bottles of Kroger Big K soda. It seemsa to work the best.

NTwigs,
That is what we used last year for the parking lot. The cheapest generic soda that could find, and a pump sprayer. I've heard there are better ways to apply it to the track, though.

Tracks like Toledo and most of the tracks in MWS use VHT. While this is provides great traction, it does harm the asphalt. From the times we ran it here, after the track was torn down you could see the racing line for a month and a half. Most landlords do not like that on their parking lots.

What we use hear is a really big push blower and several 3l bottles of Kroger Big K soda. It seemsa to work the best.

Actually, most of the gas tracks have their own mixes that use VHT as an ingredient. BTW VHT actually protects the asphalt/concrete by preventing wheelspin; that's what it was made for, most drag strips don't like resurfacing the launch area every week!

Actually, most of the gas tracks have their own mixes that use VHT as an ingredient. BTW VHT actually protects the asphalt/concrete by preventing wheelspin; that's what it was made for, most drag strips don't like resurfacing the launch area every week!

YES VHT DOES HARM ASPHALT. It does NOT harm concrete which is what the launch pads are at drag strips. Most often VHT is thinned with methanol or gasoline. Who ever said that about the wheel spin was talking out there butt. It does help prevent wheel spin but on unsealed pavement the tires will do little to now damage as long as it is a good surface to start with.

So when does everyone want to race Roadcourse this year? I'd prefer it to be one day only; not 2 days(Sunday; 2 days later; then 7 days, then 5 days, 2 days, 7 days; then 5 days( 6 times a month)) like last year (that just splits turnout; imo). I can't do Friday nights, that's my only limitation, I guess I'd like to see every Saturday or Sunday. I guess I've never understood why roadcourse couldn't be every Sunday except for big out of town road course races which would free it up for big oval races. My $0.02 (no disrespect)

Hi Ben. It looks like roadcoarse tuesdays ( $8 fee) and fridays ($ 12 fee) this year. Since you can't race on fridays this year would you consider geting a tamiya formula 1 and race with me on tuesdays. Maybe we can dig up some old 5 degree motors. :lol:

Why two days a week. That's stupid. It'd be one thing if there was a big enough local turnout to support that but now you're setting it up so that there's half turnout each time(of course I guess it takes 6 hours to run 3 heats/main for 5 guys right?) I'll race whatever class there would be good competition in(that ain't F1 walllybuddy). I think you should see when the fast guys want to run roadcourse because w/o them showing up nobody will ever come here from out of town (or some in town for that matter) because they're won't be good competition or because its a weeknight. Why don't you make Tuesday F1/truck if you have to run Tuesday? I don't see why you would set racing for a day where you're not goin to have good turn out from locals who will show up consistently week in and out.

Is there going to be new carpet this year??? If so what type and form who are you getting it from????

yes, i heard there is new carpet coming, from frank at crc :thumbsup:

We,re ordering the new ozite carpet at the end of the month. Thanks for asking Xpressman. I hope you can race with us this year, we always welcome good competition. We also used the new scoring system saturday and it was terrific. It's going to be a big benefit to running our races this coming season. Should be another great year of indoor racing this season.:wave:

Maybe you could race your off-road touring car on tuesdays Ben. :eek:

When does the carpet racing start in Ft. Wayne? Please post here or send me an e-mail to fleetwoodracing@yahoo.com...


Thanks,
Rob Love

What are you guys using for the "newm scoring system", inquiring minds want to know!

Maybe you could race your off-road touring car on tuesdays Ben. :eek: That's probably what I'll have to do, run against the off-road trucks, and you can set up the track with 1 ft lanes so I can't pass your slow ***. :wave:

Greg Anthony,
The new scoring system is the AMBrc system, utilizing the personal transponders. The track also has a set of 10 rechargable digital transponsers for handout, heat to heat, for those not owning personal transponders. Along with the new transponder system, the software has been upgraded to Autoscore for windows. It was a natural choice after using and being familiar with the DOS version of Autoscore. The learning curve is very small, and we were up and running in no time.

Fleetwood,
The final off-road race of the year is scheduled for the first weekend in October. The latest the indoor racing would start would be the following weekend. We will get details posted on our website as soon as the actual starting date is finalized. Thanks for the interest.

Wise choice!!!! I hate j-crap....

Hi Ben. It looks like roadcoarse tuesdays ( $8 fee) and fridays ($ 12 fee) this year. Since you can't race on fridays this year would you consider geting a tamiya formula 1 and race with me on tuesdays. Maybe we can dig up some old 5 degree motors. :lol:
So what's with the $8/$12 split? Also what will be run on Saturdays and Sundays(Oval)?

Saturdays will be oval racing. Tuesdays are still club nights, and we run fewer heats, therefore less cost. This is a reduction from the club night cost from last year. Sundays will normally be practice, but special events, both oval and road course, may be scheduled on Sundays.

So practice on Sunday and roadcourse every tuesday and friday? Is Sunday practice because the 1/12 scale guys are going to Toledo, etc. on Sunday? If so why can't Sunday be roadcourse and the weeknights be practice? i.e. tuesday roadcourse practice friday oval practice, etc?

Ben, you mentioned last year that tuesday night racing was too expensive so I talked to Phil about lowering the price and he agreed. I know neither one us like to admit it when we agree with each other but there are two things we've always agreed on. Getting the new AMB digital scoring system and road racing RC cars. The reality is oval racers support the raceway much more than the road racers for whatever reasons. Phil and I give the oval racers first consideration on almost everything for this reason. Even though I don't race oval I have found them to be a great group of guys and really enjoy being around them. But the decision was made from the business end. I am truely sorry when I heard you were unhappy about this and hope one those nights will work for you. I plan on having my xxxs ready this season to give you and that TC3 of yours a good butt whoppin. :tongue:

Wallyworld, I understand your decision on the racing schedule. You have to do what is good for business. I don't have a problem with the schedule. I don't expect you, to just cater to me. It just doesn't fit my personnal schedule at this time. But, nothing is cast in stone, things change all the time. Bummer. It would be great if everyone did get along, and the road racers came out to race, supported the track, and had a good time. I would just like to see things get better. :thumbsup:

Oh by the way, I would love to see the race when you beat Ben.

Maybe I can help, I normally charge for lessons. But for you Dale I'd make an exception. Just kidding. :devil:

Driving lessons........................................... ....$10.00
Set up tips.............................................. ......$5.00
Dumb jokes and smart *** comments..................FREE :jest:

Thanks Karl. Oh by the way, to beat Ben I would gladly pay much more than that. The jokes and comments I'll be able to provide myself. :roll:

Any racers that would be willing to display their 1/12,touring and/or oval cars in our diplay case for customers to see and help generate interest for our indoor racing this fall would be appreciated. Only Phil and I have a key to it and it is always kept locked.

Ben, you mentioned last year that tuesday night racing was too expensive so I talked to Phil about lowering the price and he agreed. I know neither one us like to admit it when we agree with each other but there are two things we've always agreed on. Getting the new AMB digital scoring system and road racing RC cars. The reality is oval racers support the raceway much more than the road racers for whatever reasons. Phil and I give the oval racers first consideration on almost everything for this reason. Even though I don't race oval I have found them to be a great group of guys and really enjoy being around them. But the decision was made from the business end. I am truely sorry when I heard you were unhappy about this and hope one those nights will work for you. I plan on having my xxxs ready this season to give you and that TC3 of yours a good butt whoppin. :tongue:
Apparently from what Scott said a few post ago Oval is on Saturday; so what does running roadcourse on Sunday have to do with that? When I race, I want the best turnout possible(having roadcourse 2 nights a week won't help) and I want to be able to work on the car/motor etc which means Tuesday is out not to mention we're usually there to ten on a weeknight. Nobody has porvided any reason for not having roadcourse on Sunday! I got news for you Dale; I won't race more than once a week, and probably not 4 weeks a month, and if you guys don't race on Sunday and have oval practice instead I mean I spend $20+ a day to race in Toledo when I want to race and you won't see any of my money. Yes I'm just one person, but when I don't show it brings the overall competition/number down and others won't race. The track could host a fairly good a-main every week with me, Karl, Brad, and that guy from Lima, Jeff Switzer. Karl won't like spending $8 to whoop on you week in and out for long, Brad won't show, etc. YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE RACERS WANT!!!!

YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE RACERS WANT!!!!

so, you sir were racing a toy car, and your sir were also racing a toy car....

Remeber r/c racing is one step away from a Star Trek convention.

Leave the egos at the door guys. We are all here to have fun. If what the owners do is not what you like then that is the way it is. It is very hard to establish a track when your local guys get mad when you don't do what they want. There are actually a lot of tracks in the area that race once a week on sundays and setup and cleanup all in the same day. Hey remember how it used to be when we only raced on tues and had to do setup and cleanup???? Come on guys things are so much better now and yes it WILL take a little getting used to but everyone needs to be flexible. The track owners understand that this is a business based on us the racer but they also need to do as they see fit. Just because a comment might have appeared to be over looked I'm sure it wasn't.

Now lets go race some toy cars.

Brian Anthony

Star Trek convention!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me. I can think of a lot of other things that are closer to a Star Trek convention. How about lawn tractor racing, Yugio conventions, Pokimon conventions, etc. RC car racing is misunderstood. Most people do think of them as little toy cars. Then hand one of those people a transmitter. You know what I mean. You have got to admit, if it was that simple, most of us wouldn't be racing them. They are very sophisticated little pieces of machinery. That take a certain amount of skill to operate well. Anyone can drive one. But it takes years to get to the upper level of this sport. I do agree they are miniature cars, but close to a Star Trek convention. PLEASE. :D

I think Brian was referring to himself; if he's not racing toy cars you can find him at the Star Trek convention.

Now lets go race some toy cars.

Brian Anthony

OK; see ya in Toledo on Sundays this fall/winter.

Ben,

Actually you will see me in Indy at the new track that is going to be built down there. I know a lot of fast guys down there and also I am going to try to make it to Ultra more often to race with the guys from there. And I will be here in Fort Wayne depending on weather, racing schedule, and oh yeah that thing called a job.

Brian

NEW TRACK IN INDY????????????? :D
WHAT NEW TRACK???? DETAILS, DETAILS.
INDOOR, really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last I heard from the talking at the on-road nats is it should be ready to open in oct. And this is form Sonny and there was a thread on the oval fourm a while ago about it too.

The name of the track is "Indy Hobbies and Raceway"

www.indyhobbies.com

contact:

Sonny Brown sonny@indyhobbies.com

or

Kevin Koback kevin@indyhobbies.com

Ben,

Actually you will see me in Indy at the new track that is going to be built down there. I know a lot of fast guys down there and also I am going to try to make it to Ultra more often to race with the guys from there. And I will be here in Fort Wayne depending on weather, racing schedule, and oh yeah that thing called a job.

Brian

That's cool. It should be an easier drive than Toledo too, and it's only 90 miles or so farther than Summit and probably worth every drop of gas too because I'm pretty sure Sonny will be racing on Sundays and he knows how to run a tight program.

You are so right, Sonny always runs a great program. Good luck this comming season Ben. :thumbsup:

toy cars ha ha ha

Ya, so go tell all your "Team Drivers" that!!!! lol :D

you are a funny guy I should tell terry you said that. hay I was just looking at a new car for the upcoming season what you doing. toolbox hehe

hay you running the MARS stuff this year?

tracey