Northeast style Dirt Modifieds

[slothead]

One of my favorite things about slot cars and HRW is it gives everyone a way to display their passion for the kind(s) of racing they love. Back in the 60’s I knew the names and numbers of every car in the Indy 500 starting grids. I followed the Ford GT’s at Lemans and Sebring, and the muscle car wars in Trans Am.

But, dearest to my heart are the short track dirt modifies that race in the NY-NJ-PA area. I’ve been racing slot cars patterned after these Saturday night heroes since the late 70’s and continue the tradition on my small wood oval – Shepherd Speedway (named after `Christmas Story’ author and radio personality, Jean Shepherd). Here are some photos of my track, cars, and chassis.

Racing action –



First infield building –



Victory lane photos –









All my modifieds are 2” wide with a 3 1/4 “ wheelbase and use the same basic chassis design, though I’ve used a range of materials from styrene plastic to circuit board stock from Radio Shack. I started out using any motors I could find and many cars still have toothbrush motors in them, but I now use Professor Motor’s PMTR1500 in new cars. Most of the bodies are made from heavy paper with a glazing on one side, or are printed on thick photo paper.



I’ll gladly share more info with anyone interested.

Slothead

[HomeRacingWorld]

Very nice indeed. I really enjoyed this one. From the cars to that track.

Glad old HRW is a place you visit.

[chris]

Love the cars and really diggin' that track.

In the top photo, do the lanes tighten up through the corner or is it just the angle?

Chris.

[LAMing]

NICE!

What kind of printer are you using and what software for the graphic manipulation?

[slothead]

My track is a 4' wide by 14' long paperclip oval. Built it as a test track in 2005 and have been racing on it so much I never got around to building another, yet. The track was built in sections so it can be taken apart and put back together like a plastic track. The lanes are evenly spaced at 3 1/2 inches all the way around, something I would change on a rebuild. I'd also play with the entry and exit radii at the corners and create real life driving lanes. Adding the scenery has made a big difference (will show more soon) as the track lighting, signs, and grass make racing so much more fun. I never finished the infield because I keep building new cars and don't have enough parking space using my original plan.

I use a regular $59 color printer (Epson?) that I got at Walmart a few years back. I layout my bodies and signs using Microsoft Word and print on the thickest photo paper I can find at Walmart or Staples (11 mils I think). I can layout a whole car plus a few signs on a single sheet, then cut the pieces out using templates I made and glue it together. If I'm patient and let the glue dry between steps I can do a car in a day, switching off between chassis and body. I use Parma parts for most of the running gear, but also have a class of cars using RM Greenwood Corvette axles and wheels with MaxxTrak silicone tires (as on the #1). The cars with Pro Track silicone over foam tires are the fastest and stick to the hardwood track enough for great traction while also allowing real-life slideways action in the corners. I can spend an hour finding that perfect speed where a car goes through a corner at a 20 - 30 degree angle and then straightens out down the front or back stretch. The 12A (Jack Johnson) is one of my fastest cars and is addictive to drive.

Slothead

[DixonJohn]

I love it. I want some more of it!!! Really neat looking stuff

[Rooster]

Those builds are just flat out cool slothead! I really like those and the track. Thanks for sharing!