Could Be Racing

Another installment of "why am I so stupid?"

At least I didn't send my computer over there. I could have raced tonight, and probably could have done the last three races between tonight and tomorrow morning. But nooooooo....

So, I started window shopping again. I want a Matra, and a couple Group C cars. I found a site online that has them at good prices, so hopefully we could make that happen soon. I also found a commercial track near my new house, and I'll be checking that out soon. It's called Garage Racing Center and it looks to be pretty good. They even run some Slot.it races.

But that's not why we're here. We're here to talk about slot cars.

This is why I love slot cars. How cool would it be to own one of those 1:1 and drive it? A Ford GT40 all race-ready. It would be insane. I know for a fact that I'll never be able to achieve what is required to do something like that. And that's why I love slot cars. It doesn't have to be full size to be great. And the amount of mechanics involved makes it more than just a pretty car to look at.
My wife doesn't like video games because they don't allow the imagination to work, nor is there much in the way of hands-on. But what she likes about slot cars is they are a game you have to work on. The better a slot car is set up, the better it'll run. It becomes a series of achievements to get to the next level, or tenth of a second.
The car in this picture is barely bigger than a pack of cigarettes, yet is has loads of things to tweak and adjust. There's so much great detail on 1:32 cars that they seem bigger in pictures than they actually are.
Yellow might not be your thing, but I gotta say that it really helps see the car. The painted gray track makes a huge difference, and between the two there is no trying to follow a black streak around the track. This matters to me as I like to see my cars. Plus, look how damn pretty it is. I mean, seriously.
____________________

As I was shopping/picking my cars last xmas, I was under the impression that "a couple" was two cars, so that's what I went with. Two Fords, as I considered they would be pretty compatible with each other. But biting me on the ankles was this beautiful Alfa Romeo. It was driving me a bit crazy, and mentioned to my wife that I was having trouble deciding between cars. She made the decision for me in picking up both of them. I know the Alfa doesn't look like much to some, but this car is so addictive, and is the first car I put on the track during a session. I've mentioned here plenty of times its great handling, quickness and speed, but no matter what I would say, it would be an understatement. While a pretty car, this is actually a very well-made slot car, and that puts it into a separate category. Yes, the Fords are well-made, as is many Slot.it cars, but the length and balance of the Alfa is just fantastic. It's the car you want to RACE.
That doesn't make it dominant, however. It's only ahead by two points in the championship, and the Ford #8 could win it. While it explodes through technical sections, it's length becomes its weakness in faster sections, not getting as secure of a grip on the road as the Fords do. That makes it a tricky proposition to drive well, and requires care. Its rabbit-like reflexes will throw you off the track if you're not paying attention.
Oh, and by the way, that rear-view mirror hasn't come off yet, and it has had plenty of opportunities.
____________________

Prettiest car of the bunch? Possibly. Fastest? Could be. I haven't forgotten that this car largely ran perfectly right out of the box. I didn't have to do anything to it, and I probably screwed it up somehow tweaking it. Had I left it alone, it would probably be leading the championship.
There are times when my idea that getting two Fords so they would be competitive with each other really panned out. Problem is that they are usually competing for 2nd place. This Ford runs quieter than the other one, largely due to the motor on the #8 car riding loose in the mount.
As far a photography goes, this car is by far more difficult to shoot well. The other two step right up and photograph quite well. This one only gets good when all of the settings are manually adjusted, with flash and long exposure. I'll be making a lightbox soon to take proper shots, but until then this one will have to do.
____________________

The next race will be in my new house. Not sure when that will be. I'm hoping that it will be one night when I have the time to set it up and enjoy it. It won't be long and I'll have a semi-permanent track and will be able to go up there anytime and race on it. I'm looking at getting more track next. I have been unsuccessfully designing a track to fit my attic, but I think I need to run on a table for awhile until I find what's fun.
Funny part: I'll be taking the current carpet in my apartment and using it in the attic in the new house. So the rug-racing will not have gone far.