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Wonderful - so, I will now throw the revell corvette that I have been sorting into the bin and cancel the back up revell mercedes 300 that is on its way to me from the states.
I now have to source yet another car and learn how to make it run - and it will no doubt need parts etc.

A costly decision this one.
As a non collector I have no old cars and so I am buying cars just for this event, instead of borrowing cars as per last year.

This really has made my effing day.
Just having a moan!

Mr Grumpy

 

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It seems odd to be asking your competitors for advice - so I will;
Of the F1 cars listed which do you think would be the best and are there any best avoided? Or are they all much the same?
Are they readily available?
I vaguely remember running these cars as a kid and they did not run well - or maybe that's just my failing memory.

 

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Thanks for the comments, very helpful for an old car novice!

Anyone looking for accommodation for the event may like to consider staying in my gites.(Other alternatives are available! - ) We are 6k away from the event.

At the request of Jean Mi I close the gite holiday business for the weekend of the event.
We have 5 rooms and so can take 12 people (if they don't mind sharing a twin room) or 5 guests with their own room.
The rates/rooms are purely for slot car racers attending the event.
The rates are 40 euros per night per person, sharing a twin room, or 50 euros per person per night for a double room, single occupancy.
We are not licensed for food but I will put continental breakfast goods into the gites included within the rate.
I only offer this because it helps the club - the rates are not "commercial"
Payment is cash upon departure, no deposits required, first come first served.

if you want to see pictures and customer reviews please see our airbnb listing (but don't book via airbnb)

Airbnb: Vacation Rentals, Cabins, Beach Houses, Unique Homes & Experiences

airbnb.com

If you want to book or have any questions send me a message.

 

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Jean-Mi spoke to me at clubnight in Confolens yesterday after I queried the decision on CSRC's Facebook page. He apologised for having forgotten that club members agreed on the 2022 format days after the 2021 event at which point I started this thread. The reason he gave was that he thinks it is difficult to police the Revell entries. I don't agree but the boss is always the boss even if the boss isn"t always right! We can always lobby for the return of the Revells in future during this year's event.

I jogged the memories about the other things agreed e.g. part laps to count so we need to mark up the track, Thingie original chassis - these are still on.

Ian I suggest your first port of call for vintage stuff you haven't got is me and my barn full of old slot cars and parts, far more than I am ever likely to refurbish. I personally wince at the expense and possible hassle of eBay delivery and import from the USA and even the UK now post-Brexit.

Richard

Richard - your on ! I will send you a list by email - thanks.
( Incidentally I have just been invited to be president of the "more money than sense club" following all my recent ebay purchases !)

I do understand JM's view. Its just such a shame because everyone seems to have these cars and the racing was close. It would be great if we could persuade him to bring them back for 23, or have a 7th race at the 23 event.

 

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Jean-Mi ('Geronimo') and I had a good chat over coffee at his place last Friday. Translating "both singing from the same song sheet" took some doing!

To precis, the Revell 1:32 race is back on, the Scalextric Sports/GT Endurance Team Race is dropped for 2022 but the cars may come back in a different race format in a future year, and we have a race for Scalextric Powersledge open-wheelers. These and all the other classes and regs. are posted on the club's Facebook page, in French. Jean-Mi has asked that I translate them for the English speakers here on the Forum, which 'tifosi' Peter Emery also requested. I'm on the case.

'Three Wise Men' - well, two plus me - will scrutineer. I shall ask via message the two guys Jean-Mi and I think are well qualified.

On whether to allow silicone tyres, Jean-Mi and I have different understandings of what was agreed last October, just before I started this thread. What we HAVE agreed last Friday, however, is that there will be a vote. If you have competed in the Confolens Classic before, or fully intend to race this year if the Covid regs. permit international travel, you can vote. Jean-Mi will conduct this for the French on CSRC's Facebook page; he asked that I do it for the English speakers on 'ere. So, gentlemen, do we allow or ban silicone tyres across all classes at the 2022 Confolens Classic on the 'Green Monster' wooden routed track at Champagne Mouton?

Cheers,
Richard.

Ban the slippery suckers!

 

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I have had to buy cars for this event.
Based upon the rules as they stood I have bought a 1/32 cucaracha and a 1/32 mini-dream intended for the standard 1/32 and scratch 1/32 respectively.
Can we please finalise the regs/classes as I want certainty regarding what is, and is not, permitted.
I was thinking about getting a 1/24 cucaracha for the production class as this was a commercially available, ready to run, production car - but now...?
Clarity required - quickly.

 

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Thanks Joel
Back to the drawing board for me then.
I knew I had a lot to learn...

 

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The idea of deleting the powersledge race - or any other race now for that matter - is disappointing.
I hope it does not happen.
As I have said before we need certainty about the classes/rules. They keep changing!
To re-iterate, having won last years race - due to people lending me great cars (and the bad luck of others) I decided to comply with the spirit of the event (and avoid a points penalty) and buy my own cars for this year. I am not a collector/old car fan and don't have a stock of old cars.
I think we must keep the classes as they stand .
If we must allow a silicones for the thingy race then the event must finish one hour later to accommodate them.

 

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Thanks for posting this Richard ,
A couple of points:
1/ Would you be comfortable posting the list of permitted cars for the Thingy race ? If not could you send a copy to me please.
2/ Judging by the last paragraph It seems that the silicone decision for the thingy race is still not final, either way. If silicones are to be allowed, can this be announced well ahead of the event, not on the weekend of the event.?- thus allowing time to find silicone tyres.
I only have urethane tyres and I suspect this maybe the case for others. (I think if silicones are allowed then all entrants will have to run them, to avoid the problem of running urethanes in lanes previously occupied by silicone cars)
I am pleased the power sledge race has not been bumped, having just bought a couple of cars. The race will be like the french trotting races, were galloping is banned - slow but good fun!

 

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Thanks Richard.
I know it is not easy acting as the translator and go between for anglo/french relations for the event - and I know it is appreciated by many.

(In fact I think you should be allowed to run your cars with "CD" plates on them to reflect your diplomacy skills !)

 

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Well I can't say I am not disappointed...just got the Revell's running well!
Are there any modifications allowed to the cars apart from new tyres?

I suspect that there may be a strong smell of burnt motors on that long straight!
Anyone need a RX motor re-zapped?!

Mark

Hi Mark
I was just passing time scrolling through this thread and your post caught my eye.
What is "re-zapping", how is it done and what is the benefit?
( I know the powersledge class is now dropped but I bought some cars, hoping to make one good one. On 3 cars the rpm at the rear wheels varied from 6k to 8.4k - a big difference)
Just curious!
Thanks
Ian

 

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Interesting point about the tyres and grip at the CM track.
As a regular on this track I have noticed something which puzzles me:-
Not withstanding Richards' point above, when I run my modern cars, using modern tyres (Thunderslot/Revoslot/Slot.it/Racer sideways etc) I always have good grip. (unless its exceptionally cold). I just fit the tyres, keep them clean and away you go...
Having now had to go "old school" for the annual green monster event I have bought some pre 70 cars and new tyres from Ortman/Slotcar Tyres fr/ and others. I have yet to find any grip with these. In fact its like driving on ice.

I wonder if the "specialist vintage" tyre makers and the modern manufacturers use a different recipe - or something?
Or do you experts prep your tyres with some top secret magical process !?!...

So the best vintage car to run would be one with same rim size as Thunderslot - have not found one - yet...

 

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Ian, if silicone tyres have been run on the track during normal weekly race meetings then your urethane tyres are going to struggle for grip until the track is clean again. Rubber tyres NSR, Slotit etc) are less affected by silicone deposits, but will still need regular cleaning until the silicone deposits are removed. If everyone is using urethanes then the track will eventually get clean, but you have to run a lot of laps with regular tyre cleaning. Clutch and brake cleaner fluid is often used to clean the track surface and remove goop or silicone deposits. Perhaps this is planned for CM before the vintage meeting?
Mark

Ah. Makes sense.
Dunno what prep is done before the meeting. (However I know it's regularly cleaned with alcohol & cloths).
Ian

 

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Ian, I have seen people using silicones tyres on a number of Wednesdays, that won't help grip at all.
Modern cars/chassis have a way of getting their tyres to work that is nigh on impossible to reproduce with old stuff.
When you say driving on ice, what are the lap times with what car?

Joel

Hi Joel
You have to pay for such intel !!!!

Honestly I have not been able to set any decent times due to the grip issues.
(I did not realise that people were using silicones) - this explains a lot.
In fact as a newbie to this vintage malarky I could not spot a silicone tyre if it hit me in the face.

I reckon the track is currently 6/10 down on its best due to the grip issue

Some times - which are crap
1/24 Policar Alfa Periscopa 12.350 ( Standard car which is slow anyway)
1/32 Cuca 12.2
1/24 Viper thingie 10.8
1/32 minidream 10.5
Have not yet run a revell 1/32.

Of course these times will tumble with more work

These compare to a "modern" standard 1/32 Thunderslot time of 8.800 - easy

If we could keep the track clean it would give a sub 8 second lap.
Maybe you will do it with that orange Cucaracha of yours...

You make an interesting point about modern cars/tyres. This is causing me sleepless nights !
Ian

 

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Not sure, I don't think there is a sub 8 lap in the Cuc, especially with the standard motor, it has now been sprayed blue, only question: Is blue a faster colour than orange?
I'll pop along next Wednesday to find out.

Joel

Blue is faster, scientific fact.

 

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So who do I send the bill to for the cucaracha I have just bought?!
This becoming a bloody farce.

 

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Ian, if you want to send the Cuc back to me I can make a refund to you, but if you don't mind, less £20 to cover my time and expenses.

Thanks Phil, I will email you.

 

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It turns out that the axle holes in the vipers chassis are not drilled symmetrically and it is impossible to get the gears aligned correctly - hence the really noisy mesh - and high possibilty of a failure if i race it.
It is not an ideal situation for a race and I also like the cucaracha and have always been meaning to get one.
Is it clear now?!

 

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I hope JM goes for this idea (of a penalty for vac-form body "catalogue" cars). It's a good idea, even if one could argue it's unfair and even unnecessary.

At the moment I have yet another car, bought solely for this event, that is currently sitting in my "no longer permitted pile of cars"- because it came as standard with a vac-form body.

At the end of of the day we need to make it simple to choose/source your cars - especially for those people travelling a long way and spending a lot of money to attend this event.
This would also help "numb nuts" like me who don't really know much about the cars, what to run etc etc.

It's sad to read elsewhere that some people have already decided not to attend, because its a good event on a great track - but I can understand their frustrations

So, come on JM accept this sensible proposal - please !