Conference vmszoo::rc

    You may want to have him call Bill's Hobby barn in Salem N.H. 
    If Im not mistaken, he has a place to race indoors in the winter,
    and ouside when the weather gets nice. Im planning to stop in
    to the store soon and I'll try to remember to ask. There was a place
    in Wakefield not to long ago but I think it's gone now, they don't
    seem to last too long. Sorry  don't have any specifics.
    
                                                            Jim 

    I'd go back to Hobbies ETC.
    
    They used to have a great track when they were on ROUTE 2. This was 4
    or 5 years ago, maybe longer, time goes so quick these days ;').
    
    I'm sure they'll know where the racing is.
    
    When you go to your first race, don't be shy. Every racer likes to talk
    about their cars, what is the best car, who's the best driver, all
    sorts of helpfull data. Don't be overcome by data overload.
    
    Don't buy the first race car offered, check the whole scene out. You
    and your brother will be unhappy to find that there maybe no class for
    your cars. We run a "Fun class" this is for all the cars that don't meet
    the other class rules. I've never heard of any other clubs doing this,
    we do it for the new driver like you and your brother who have bought
    equipment then decide to race and are faced with buying a new car to
    compete. The competition is varied but you get the feel of racing and
    can decide if you want to spend more to go racing.
    
    You don't need the best equipment to win, in R/C cars the driver is
    90%. So don't be bothered to buy the best batteries, speed controls and
    motors. Once you stop hitting the wall then worry about the good equipment.
    
    If there is no racing in your area plan a trip to Ottawa for our Easy
    Street or Pay dirt series. Only 8 hours from MAS. or N.H. A nice summer
    vacation or a long weekend.
    
    Also you can check the internet, loads of clubs and tracks.
    
    Let us know how things go.
    
    Fred
                                                           

    Racing starts soon (this Saturday or next -- depending on weather) in
    Northboro, MA. (Rte. 20, next to the bicycle/hobby shop).  They have an
    outdoor paved oval.  Last year they ran buggies (tranny cars) and
    on-road stock and modified.  My son's JRxT truck was set up for
    on-road but couldn't compete with the lighter buggies.  THIS year we're
    running (I'm the crew chief :)) a Trinity Switchblade 10SS with all the
    racing goodies.
    
    There is an awesome indoor carpeted oval in Stafford Springs, Conn.,
    which is about 1.5 hours from the GMA.  They're holding one of the
    "Nationals" there in the fall.  The cars reach about 40 mph (which, for
    1/10 scale may not be realistic, but is incredible to watch).
    
    Tony

    Tony, Trinity switchblades go like a bat out of Hell,
    
    Did you have any problem with lost or wrong parts ? I tried a 1/12th
    Magic carpet and had a lot of problems. Once set up it went real good.
    
    How old is your son? I was wrenching for my son since he was eight.
    The first 2 years we were lucky to make the end of the race (he hit so
    many things). Now He's 18 he won't let me touch his cars and he's one 
    of the top runners here.
    
    Good luck with your racing.
    Fred                    

    Hi Fred,
    
    We didn't have any missing parts, but there were several aluminum
    standoffs that were not drilled and threaded deeply enough so we had to
    cut down the screws by about a sixteenth of an inch.  The clarity of
    the instructions, however, is very poor.  A first-time kit builder
    would have a very difficult time of it, especially since the pictures
    do not match the current design of the parts.  To their credit, Trinity
    has technicians available by phone in the late afternoon, and I took
    advantage of that a couple of times.
    
    My son is 13, and this is the first on-road car in the family.  He
    raced his monster truck about 5 years ago along with my older son (now
    in college) and won a trophy, but is still jealous of his brother who
    won about a dozen.  We went through many expensive repairs and
    modifications after collisions with walls or whatever else got in the
    way.  Getting the truck airborne was a particularly expensive thrill.
    
    Thanks for the wishes -- Looks like I have two more weeks to help him
    get the car finished.  He wants the body painted like Dale Earnhardt's
    #3. :-)
    
    Tony