Are you running your own chassis?

[68Deville]

Well I noticed that very few guys on the top run their own chassis? Guys like Warmack, Cukras and Terry run their own chassis, not to forget Duran.
Buy it or build it and see how good you are!
What do you run?




Nesta

[68Deville]

Forgot to say that Retro is a builder class just in case you guys forgot?


Nesta

[Mid-Cal Racer]

Merry Christmas Nesta.

I really love to build. I always have since a teenager and I've learned extensively from the 'other' blog and from Mike Steube's video. In practice, mostly the hard way as evidenced by the pile of projects gone wrong. I like to do it all, from fabricating custom dimension motor brackets to thick guide tongues. Most of my stuff is 100% scratchbuilt from standard K&S brass and wire stock. I also do salvage work on cast offs that I think may have some promise. What I ran at Western States was probably the ugliest looking heap, but it did perform and I didn't have any expectations at the time. One of the many surprises is making a jet by accident.

[68Deville]

First of all Mark a Merry Christmas to you and the Family. I love to build scratch build stuff not because I'm not good at it, but it's sure fun to see how it does on the track.




Most of the guys go the easy way out, they buy the stuff and hope they bought a winner!
See ya at the Parma Checkpoint.



Nesta

[Sam pan]

I run my own builds.Some from scratch,others from kits or parts of kits. I just purchased a large lot of cars off Evil-bay.I re-worked a Stock Car and ran it last Wed. at Slots-A-Lot. It was set up for an Oval. Tom Calvert's name is on one car.Not going to change much on the others since the cars are well built.

As far as Retro being a builders class ....where does it say that ANYWHERE? You CAN build your own according to the rules but only materials and construction are stated.I have been building my own chassis since I began racing at 10 or 11 years old.My first one from total scratch I called "Sampan".......and so it goes.


I see Nesta let the cat out of the bag early.Nice build.

BTW Radio Shack still sells their nibbler for around $17

[Bill from NH]

Sam, if anyone is in the market for a nibbler, I'd suggest they spend the extra money & get a US made Adel. I've had one since the early 70's. It still cuts easier & cleaner than the Chinese made Rat Shack nibbler I bought about five years ago.

[Mid-Cal Racer]

I bought a cheapy nibbler only three years ago, but don't use it that often. Mostly to notch out for the guide tongue inset for my head pans. When this one wears out, the american made unit would be worth a look. You get what you pay for.

Nesta, I've only built one F-1. We don't race those here locally. Wish we did. We're lucky to get to run the CanAm's I'm with you on building. Its fun to do but my stuff tends to be on the the rough side. Beauty is nice and I admire a good looking chassis with invisible solder joints. To me, performance is 1st and beauty is icing on the cake. Still I'd rather have a fast ugly car than a beautiful slow car. -m

[La Cucaracha]

I assemble and prepare all my own cars but I could not care less about building chassis.
Same thing goes for motors, I buy the best ones I can get.
I really enjoy working on my stuff and I find it relaxing on a cold, dreary day in NY.
Mounting bodies and truing tires are some of my favorite chores.

My real satisfaction from Slot Cars comes when the monitor starts blinking and the lap times keep coming down.
When I have driven a clean race on all 8 lanes and I have won, that`s when I have done my job.

[D.Z.]

Wow! I'm impressed La C.. lol

[team burrito]

you mean this nibbler?



these actually work pretty good up to 1/32" brass. you still have to clean up the edges though.

[La Cucaracha]

Wow! I'm impressed La C.. lol

I think some guys must like building better than racing.
Looking forward to racing with you sometime.

[NGRDan]

Mike,
DZ is a pretty good racer and races a lot of Parma motors and FCR cars. Better break out a FCR car at North East and practice. Cause I bet he will be in Columbus, Ohio this year for the FCR Nat's.

[Mid-Cal Racer]

you mean this nibbler?



these actually work pretty good up to 1/32" brass. you still have to clean up the edges though.

Looks just like mine. I cut .032's ok, but yeah a little crinkle along the edges to dress up.

[Mid-Cal Racer]

I think some guys must like building better than racing.

I'd have to almost fall into that category. I like building equally as well as driving, but I'd give the better edge to driving performance over building. Nice when they both come together. More glory.

[68Deville]

I have been racing 97% of the time this year with chassis that I built, and the result has been I been back paddling!
The good thing is that if I need a new chassis I don't need to harass any one to build me one.


Nesta