Mitch Valder posted to the HOWL (HO World List on Yahoo! Groups) that there are odds on the Fray on Sportswire. Some of the odds seem a little skewed to me, but I'm no bookie. This has generate a lot of responses and speculation. First of all, the question came up as to the authenticity of the odds. It has been generally credited as Mitch's humor (good one, Mitch). Some of the comments have been about beer, disqualifications, beer, additions and omissions from the list. It's a good lighthearted way to head into a great race.

I put my money on the trifecta of fun, camaraderie and exciting competition. I think that's a 1:1 bet. No money won or lost, but something much greater earned.

Got anyone you'd like to add to the odds makers? Leave a comment.


Mitch posted:
"Pulled this list off of Sportswire. Couple of names missing. Maybe they signed up late.

Motorsports - Fray Ferndale
Odds to win the Individual event Friday, Mar 2
Driver Odds
Rick Jocham 2:1
RC Lincoln 2:1
Walter McClurg 6:1
Greg Davis 6:1
Travis Joop 6:1
Trek Lawler 8:1
Richard Phillis 8:1
Jeff Hurley 8:1
Curtis Adams 10:1
Mike Engelage 12:1
Rick Voegelin 12:1
Steve Godinez 12:1
Bill Lee 12:1
Steve Testerman 12:1
Mark Owyang 12:1
Jamie Jorgensen 12:1
Tim Leppert 12:1
Ron Coaxum 12:1
Rick Machado 15:1
Glen Schneiderman 25:1
Bob Raymond 30:1"

The on-track racing action is picking up in the HO scale, as well as the full scale cars and trucks. It's February and there's dirt tracking galore and cars zooming around Daytona in Florida. The Fray in Ferndale is just around the corner. The smells of burning rubber, spent fuel, ozone from electric motors and fresh coffee are in the air. The sounds of V-8 engines and pancake motors are within earshot.

Keep the rubber side down. Keep it in the slot. Say thank you to your turn marshalls. Help out a struggling racer. Support your local track.

The 2012 Fray in Ferndale is just around the corner, March 2 and 3. A lot of racers are focused on the preparation of their cars, teams, strategies and all other aspects of traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles to race highly modified Aurora Thunderjet slot cars. They are poring over the tiny mechanical and electrical components of their steeds with tweezers, magnifying glasses, desk lamps and any number of off-the-shelf and custom made tools. The Fray in Ferndale doesn't have the big money payout of NASCAR, ARCA or even IMCA. You get your name on the cow trophy, bragging rights and you and your teammates' names are splattered all over the Internet. In addition, whatever tools and products you were using get bragging rights and a likely uptick in sales.

Most of the racers are happy to help newbies and struggling participants. I'm sure the majority of them have a couple of secrets they keep hush-hush in an effort to have some sort of competitive advantage. Fray season is an exciting time of the year for HO slot car racers.

What's your favorite slot car race to attend?
Which race are you looking forward to most this year?
What's your best slot car racing memory?
Why not share a favorite Fray race memory?
If you were stranded on an island with one slot car tool, what would it be?

The rumors are flying about a new t-jet chassis and associated parts by Dash. The sources are reporting a post from Feb 10 that Dan (the Dash guy) says his t-jet pickup shoes, based on BSRT 504 shoes, will be pure copper and samples are expected from the factory "in a few days" and, if approved by Dan, will be available "by the end of February."

He's also quoted as saying another run of t-jet magnets will be completed within 2 weeks, but than Tom Stumpf bought the entire run, so see Tom for Dash Magnets.

The sources continue with information regarding a pancake armature. Dan is rumored to have said that the armatures will drop in to an Aurora, Johnny Lightning or Auto World t-jet, X-Traction or Magnatraction chassis (3-gear or 4-gear). Dan also mentions that the armature will come from the factory with multiple resistance values for varying levels of performance (vintage, Magnatraction, drag racing, etc). This has generated much conversation and speculation. Will they, in fact, drop right in? What will the performance be? What will the reliability be? Will it be legal for the various racing series? Will it cause all existing armatures to be obsolete? If the rumors prove to be fact, time will tell.

Finally, the big bomb-shell is that these components will lead to a full chassis production. Magnets are ready and proven. Shoes are nearly ready. Arms are in the works. Gears are at the factory. A source quotes Dan as saying "Needless to say, the armature will eventually lead to the production of the various chassis that use this arm."

Interesting times here in the world of scale motorsports.

UPDATE:
Tom Stumpf has confirmed with me that he will be taking possession of the Dash magnets. They will be $3 per pair. No volume price break was mentioned.

Feb 17, 2012
UPDATE 2: In addition to Tom Stumpf, Jerry Schmoyer at One Stop Slot Shop and one other unnamed person (possibly Jim Gase of JAG Hobbies) have split the most recent production run of Dash T-jet magnets. Wish I had gotten in on that order.

Feb 19, 2012
UPDATE 3: "From the horses mouth.This is to crush any rumors.I have purchased the entire run of Dash magnets..Dan has decided to come back and produce his great line of products again.New parts and new cars on the horizon.I purchased the magnets to help out.I am not in partners with anyone.Jerry Schmoyer has purchased a substancial amount of them.The price will still be the same $3.00 a pair.They should be here in 2 weeks.Anyone interested can contact me at Tomhocars@aol.com or at the shows..Thanks Tom Stumpf"

Feb 20, 2012
UPDATE 4: From HobbyTalk.com
Quote: Originally Posted by swamibob

Hello Dan;
I believe we've met, at least once, at the Midwest slot car show, probably when it was in Matteson.


I love your work and have purchased, in the past, a lot of your magnets. I've been contemplating building a new t-jet bare chassis myself. Is yours going to be an exact replica of the original T-jet chassis?

Tom (from Minneapolis)

Dash Dan's reply:
Exact? Nope. but it will have the same wheelbase and track. Magnets are already more powerful. shoes will be different. Arm will be similar but not 'exact'. Gears will be a low friction bronze alloy, not sure if the original used solid copper or an alloy. We won't be using plastic gears in the T-Jet , except for the crown.

Feb 22, 2012
UPDATE 5: From HobbyTalk.com
Dash Dan says...
Shoe samples arrived yesterday, they look great! we'll have them in a few weeks and Tom Stumpf will have them at the Midwest Slot Car show...

Slot cars are a community. Slot cars, like people, come in all sizes, shapes, speeds, attitudes and levels of professionalism. Often times the vehicle reflects the owner.

In order to be a community, several people are needed. As more and more people assemble to talk about, race and collect slot cars, their personalities come with them. Personalities, like the gears on your cars, don't always mesh. Sometimes a little lapping of the gears is needed in order to get a set that meshes correctly. Sometimes gears mesh perfectly right out of the box. Sometimes there is a set of gears that just won't ever mesh, no matter what's done, who's around and how long you try. I have found there to be a gear or two in my slot box that just won't ever play nice with the other gears. Those unruly gears would probably work well with a gear or two in someone else's box.

What I'm getting at is that we should all be able to enjoy our life, liberty and pursuit of slot car happiness. We all have something to contribute. We all will frustrate another in our community at one time or another. Take a deep breath and find your happy place.