A Christmas List

Charles Dressing gives us his Christmas list at ALMS.com.  It got me thinking of my Christmas list:

1 - confirmation that the new ALMS/GrandAm merger will embrace the technologies that make Le Mans prototypes so much fun.
2 - IndyCar to start opening up their rules as was the original plan with the new 2012 cars.
3 - SCX Slot car - 2007 Laguna Seca corvette Jake #3.  I have the #4 but the yellow nosed #3 is next to impossible to find.
4 - Wheels & axles for my collection of 1:32 Corvette bodies.
5 - an interesting web article or commentary that includes F1, Sports Cars, and slot cars.

Thanks Chuck! I can cross #5 off my list!

of SCX Digital, An Onboard Camera, & 3 Cars

This was fun.

BMW Z4 to ALMS

These are pretty cars and I welcome them to the ALMS in 2013!  Just look at a Z4 next to the M3.  Which would you want to drive in?

ALMS Story

of Aston Martin & TRG

Aston Martin and TRG are bringing Aston Martin Racing back to the US with programs from ALMS, GrandAm, and a single make series!  This is great news for 2013 and 2014!

ALMS Story

Indy Corn Heats

I am looking forward to this heat race format. I am tuned in for the Q heats right now. I hope it has the feel of a night at the local short track.

after watching the Q heats it is obvious that arules change is needed for next year. Something to maakes the heats worth something.

I'm all atwitter

I can barely keep a web log now I am on Twitter.

@DanniOLaisip

of Le Mans 24 Hours 2012

Quick, obvious thoughts before the race:

"Road to Le Mans" The Toyota documentary is very much worth watching.

LMP1 - An Audi diesel will win.  The Audi eTron's flywheel has more racing history than the Toyota hybrid but look for a tough fight.  I think the Toyota will finish, but even if they do not, they have something to be proud of - a brand new car in 9 months and a whole year ahead of schedule.

GT - You know I am rooting for the Corvettes.

Delta Wing - go Go GO!  What a cool story - an engineers doodles to mock up to reality!  It doesn't get better than that.

Let's have a safe race.

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UPDATES:

Spotters Guide
lemanslive.com

We are at 22:25 remaining.  I am VERY surprised by the strength and speed of the 4 hybrids in the top 4 spots.

Check this out Corvettes LIVE.

just under 21:00 to go.  The Hybrids are still up top except of course for the #8.  Unbelievable that no one was hurt.

Right Down The Middle

It took Sauber 2 years to make this.  You need to take 5 minutes and watch this.

of Nick Mason, a Hanger, & Cars!

Road & Track Blog: Inside a Hanger at Rendcombe Airfield with Nick Mason http://goo.gl/mag/6azyu
I can't think of a Pink Pun just read.

of Projects Delayed, Looming Deadlines, & a 34 Ford

I started with a Revell-Monogram 1/32 Snap-Tite Wind Chill '34 Ford Coupe
Not bad on clearance at $3!

The plan was to use this model to make the first known 34 Ford Coupe SCXd slot car.  Ah but that was not to be.  The front is too narrow for a standard chip and I didn't have any luck with the SCXd F1 chips either.  She sat lonely in a box for over 3 years.

Then the second Super Little Open Proxy (SLOP) came along.  The cars are due when?!? The car that I planned to repaint wouldn't give up its windows without a fight.  I had no time for a fight.  I needed something fast.  The day had come for the '34 Ford slot car.

The Daedalian Waxworks set to work on what would be a true chop shop hot rod pulled together with spare parts.

SCX motor pod
SCX RX-42 motor
Hobby Slot Racing guide
brass tubing
Rear SCX NASCAR rims and tires
Front Bburago BMW Z4 rims and tires
Evergreen Styrene
Krylon Fusion for Plastic rattle can paints
a resin driver
ink jet water slide decals on Bare Metal Foil clear decal sheets

The model chassis was mated to the SCX pod thanks to some 5 minute JB Weld.
To keep the car within the SLOP box (2 1/4" X 4 1/2") the front and rear fenders needed to be Dremeled away.  This gives it a chopped look while staying true to the car's shape.  The front axle was moved towards the rear to keep the tire under the new shorter fenders.  The axles needed to be chopped to fit under the fenders - I was almost successful.  Due to space constraints the guide sits behind the front axle.  We'll see how that works for me.

A resin Danni O'Laisip driver was fitted to the new interior made from the model's parts cut to fit and glued to Evergreen Styrene.

Water slide decals - blue fire was made from flames found at:
cgtextures.com > Fire > Flames
The GIMPs color inversion tool changed the orange on black flames to blue on white.  Making a Hot Rod gave me the excuse to put a War Era pin up girl on the car.  There was a pile of other decals to slide on but after the #114 and sponsor decal I decided to keep her clean and simple.  BRSHobbies was added to the car because Brian is always a huge help and came through with awesome prizes for our SLOP Bucket.  It was the very least I could do in return.

This is the first successful scratch built chassis from the Daedalian Waxworks to be fitted to a car.  The others have been complete failures, or built without the body in mind.

There was a huge "OH FEATHERS" moment once the front wheels were attached.  The original SCX guide sat higher than the wheels giving me about an 1/8" guide depth.  Might be OK for a short drag race but not so good for turning.  Turning is pretty important in a series that runs on 2' X 4' tracks.  Everything was glued in place.  "Who do I fire?" or something like that was heard echoing in the Waxworks.  When no one came forward to take the blame I noticed someone's reflection in the glossy Ford.  "Oh - never mind.  We got this.  No problem."  Luckily for that guy an HSR chassis was willing to donate its guide.  Luck was compounded when the new guide actually fixed the issue.  Oh and the deadline for SLOP has been pushed back.  Now maybe I can get that track done.

Gallery Pix

Slot Works Form Spain

He is prolific in the number of repaints that he is turning out and he does it so well.
SLOTWORKS

Just look at those dirt effects on some of those cars!

I discovered 13jandro31 at Slot Car Illustrated.

of Indy, Heat Races, & Iowa

I like the idea. Not for every race but this makes Iowa not just another race. Good idea by the promoters. Good job on IndyCar for allowing this creative approach.
The Full Story

of The Rolex 24 at Daytona & Two AJs

It was sad to see that AJ Foyt could not make it to this year's Rolex 24 at Daytona. Speed reported that he was too sick to give the call to start the engines. I hope for the best. He is one of the toughest Texans and a racer that should be admired by race fans of every type.

The race was fun. I saw several hours of it. The field was huge! Something like 114 cars in the field. Just nuts. Who didn't have a ride in this race?

The Grand Am Series finally got the DPs right - looks wise at least. It would have been great to see the new Corvette DP win but that Ford looked sweet, too. I'd prefer more than one GT class but who can argue with those numbers? I was really impressed with the restraint of the officials as they kept the race under green for the last 15 minutes. Cars seemed to be sliding off track or stopping everywhere in the final minutes except for the banking at the S/F line. Then Waltrip took his Ferrari into the tires. I was screaming at the TV 'knowing' that the NASCAR fix was in. It wasn't. AJ - The Dinger - Allmendinger won the race under green.

I seem to remember that kid, not too long ago, trying to find some shade under his team's Formula Atlantic tent at The Mile. Am I that old?