by Florida_Slotter » Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:40 am
Harry,
I've been reading and actually comprehending some of the bits and tips you provide to us in your "Tuning Articles".
With our new track at it's location at DeBary Glen Raceways, it's now time to start learning what a car is going to need to make it run properly on this racing surface.
The new track has been primed with a magnitic primer, then painted with the same type of latex paint that was recommended to the builder.
When we traveled to evaluate the track for our club, we took several types of cars with us. One of the cars, my Lola B09/60 worked very well on the new track and I believe with some tuning, it would be outstanding. Rather then take a car apart and make major changes to one that runs on our other racing surface, I chose to leave the Lola alone and purchase the new Audi R18 by Slot.It. After chatting with Maurizio Ferrari and him bringing me up on the specs of the Audi's layout, the dimensions such as wheelbase and guide lead are very similar. So the decision has been made by me to purchase the Audi and make it an LMP project for the new surface.
Now, this might sound familar, but I'll share it any way.
The first thing I did was obtain a M/T-5 Long Can Motor to slip in place of the Slot.It Flat-6 motor. The M/T-5 is a 16,000 rpm motor with 240 grams/cm of torque. It should be a very smoooooth motor that will make that Audi a very controllable car on the wood track. Then I will add a set of 1408-RY tires on the rear, and it should have enough traction to make use of at least a good portion of that motor.
I've also ordered a set of Slot-It 17 x 8 set screw front wheels. Once I get the tires all glued, then trued on my Hudy, I expect that Audi to be one smooth piece on the new track.
Some other projects I have are to take one of my existing cars - it is a "1966 Rod & Custom Gran Prix Car" that was built to the original rules by that organization. The track on the car is 2.75 inches. It has a Ferrari 1512 body on it and I just ordered a set of Paul Gage tires to fit the Pro-Track .500 inch wheels. I think that with some urethane tires on the car, it might just work as is on the new track.
If that does happen, then it's testing time. If the testing turns out as hoped for, then we will be running some 1/24th scale scratchbuilts on the new track as well. I was taking a look at the M/T-1 S can motor and it appears that it is a simple 'bolt-in' for the motor brackets we use for the 1/24th scratchbuilts. If that's the case, we might just create a new category for racing at our club.
Stay tuned to HRW for more news as it happens.