I'm not sure how many of you know what Burning Man is, but living in the SF Bay Area and working in an industry that is largely populated by people younger than me, I have been familiarized with it. It is a festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada over the Memorial Day weekend that is full of art cars, semi- (or fully-) naked people, techno music, art installations and a giant wooden man that is burned in effigy to all the problems the people at the festival have in the real world. The population at the festival makes it the 3rd largest "city" in Nevada for a week or so, behind Las Vegas and Reno respectively. So many people from around San Francisco attend the festival that traffic in the area is markedly less.

I equate the drop in email and message board traffic during the Fray to that of foot and automobile traffic during Burning Man. It sure gets quiet on HOWL and the HO sections of Hobby Talk, SCI and other message boards.

I also equate the re-entry into the regular world after the Fray to be like olympic athletes following their performances every 4 years. I once heard Jonny Moseley talk about his life after winning his gold medal in which he wanted to do ANYTHING but go skiing. He had spent every moment of his life for many years working to that point in his life. Having won a gold medal, he put up his skis for a long time before even thinking of hitting the slopes again. I imagine many Fray competitors suffer from T-Jet fatigue after running their 45 year old toy cars for 2, 3 or more days straight, especially after "training" and preparing for the event for weeks and months.

There are few people who stay active in this here slot car hobby of ours for decades. I can think of a few, Curtis Adams, Rick Philis, Bob Lincoln, Bob Beers and Henry Harnish come to mind immediately. I know there are many others, but they're escaping my brain at the moment.

I am a prime example of someone who has come and gone from the hobby a couple times. I started with slot cars back in the 70s with my Jackie Stewart set. That lasted a few years until junior high school when I needed money for bikes, movies and other new interests, so the slot cars were sold at a garage sale.

Then in the 90s, The Phantom Surfers released their "The Exciting Sounds of Model Road Racing" LP just as I was moving to San Francisco. I found a cool HO scale set at a sidewalk sale, set it up in the living room, Phantom Surfers blasting, and I was hooked again. However, I couldn't find any HO scale tracks, hobbyists or racers in my area, but about 10 minutes away was Slot Car City in Colma, CA. I ran there for a few years, enjoying 1/24 scale stock cars, sprint cars, can-am cars and drag racing. With the closure of Slot Car City, I sold my slot car stuff for a ridiculously low price and my interests grew in scale to RC cars. I tried that for a couple years, but due to living in one of the most expensive cities in the country, traveling to tracks on a regular basis was cost prohibitive.

Now in the early 2000s, I picked up a Super International track with cars, some other HO cars, pieces, parts, bits and bobs, as well as a wealth of information from those that I met online.

Where am I going with this? Well, as people fal out of the hobby for one reason or another (financial reasons, interests change, wives clean out the garage, kids grow up, etc), it gives us a chance to enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor and efforts, as well as introduce it to others who show interest.

While it sometimes might feel like pulling the boots of a fallen cowboy, I think it's more often appreciated by the person getting out of the hobby for carrying on their interest. Many times they may be able to continue to offer information and insight into their collection, as well as hints and tips for racing, painting, construction and collecting.

We are standing on the shoulders of giants and continue the lineage of slot cars, be they HO, 1/43, 1/32 or 1/24 scale. We are rich with information, historical vehicles, tools and equipment, as well as racing venues and competitors.

Watch this space for updates from the Fray in Ferndale as they come in.

Feb 29, 2012 8:27am Pacific from Mitch Valder of Sacramento, CA.
Biggest news early in the Fray Week is that the heaters are ON in Belotti Hall. It was a welcome surprise to enter a . . . well, I wouldn't call it WARM, but a pleasantly comfortable room.

Nice contrast to the driving rain just outside.

Back to it . . .

Mitch


Feb 29, 2012 9:30pm Pacific
No new news from the Frayers. I can only presume they are busy testing, tuning and shooting the bull. As soon as I hear from anyone in Ferndale, I'll be sure to post it here.
-Cory


Feb 29, 2012 10:26pm Pacific from Jim Rose of Sacramento, CA
Just practice today.  Team IROC tomorrow.  


Mar 1, 2012 6:29am Pacific from Dave Parker of Hunstville, AL
Heat? What Heat?
Maybe in the morning... but by the time the sun fell, so did the heat.  Oh well... it was time to head to the brewery anyway.
 
Day one was practice/practice/practice.  9 tables... 54 lanes... 54 different perspectives as to how badly I sucked. 
 
But I got to shake Rick Jocham's hand, so the day wasn't a total loss!  LOL
 
Lots of fast drivers with faster cars than I have ever seen on a t-jet track.  A virtual Who's Who of t-jet racers/dealers (no offense to those on the East Coast who couldn't/didn't make the trip).  Really great to put a face with so many names.
 
Rick Phyllis let it be known he is here for more than serving as race director as he won an impromptu practice race with about 25 racers.
 
Maybe today the lanes will look more familiar.  Or at least maybe the heat will be back on! ;-)
 
Dave Dave Parker
"Nothing is foolproof, to a sufficiently talented fool!"

Mar 1, 2012 7:33am Pacific from Rick Phillis of Ferndale, CA
About fifty have arrived so far. The other half will be here by
Friday. There have been two practice races so far with first being won
by Chad Trump. Some of the new faces are from St Louis, Huntsville
Alabama, Salt Lake City, Eugene Oregon and the East Coast.

Today's event will be the team IROC race with five teams signed up so far.

That's all for now,

RAP

Mar 1, 2012 8:00am Pacific from Dave Parker of Huntsville, AL
Junkabilly's Question: Do they race only fray cars or are there other classes as well?

Dave's Answer:
Nothin' but fray.... individual race tomorrow, team races (16 or 17 of them) on Saturday.  10 lap heats for each racer on the 5-person team on each lane.  So 60 laps times 16 races... around a 1000  laps of intense racing. 

  Dave

Mar 2, 2012 7:04am Pacific from Dave Parker of Huntsville, AL
Fray - Day Two - "I can't see!!!"
Well, now I feel like less like a rookie.  I almost feel comfortable on 3 of the 54 different lanes.  Only 51 more to go!  
Still meeting lots of the "old hands"... still learning tons of ways to go fast.  15 minutes of time with xxxx was worth the price of admission.  (trying not to list names... there really are many... many notable t-jet racers and builders  here and would hate to mention someone specifically and not mention everyone else.  suffice to say, I am humbled... and not worthy.)
 
A "practice" IROC race yesterday.  My team "Inland Empire" finished well... 4 wins and 3 losses (after one team called in some ringer replacements.) I think I finished 35th out of about 46 racers.  I seem to recall RAP at the top of the list.  (dang it... I said I wouldn't mention names.
 
Gotta tell you... if you have never been, mark your calendars for nest year!
  Dave

Mar 2, 2012 7:20am Pacific from Rick Phillis
I just got a phone call from Rick Phillis. He reports:

There were 46 drivers on 8 teams in the Team IROC races yesterday. Here are the results.

Team IROC Competition Results

Everything is running smoothly and looking good. Today is the individual competition. Should be exciting.

(I'll do my best to get you the full list of drivers that were on each of the teams. If you can help me out, please email or leave a comment. -Cory)


Mar 2, 2012 2:39pm Pacific from Jim Rose of Sacramento, CA
Qualifying is over. NorCal did great....10 in the top 18. 

3. Glen Schneiderman
4. Paul Josefy
5. Jeff Hurley
6. Jim Rose
7. Rick Voeglin
8. Mitch Valder
12. Curtis Adams
15. Paul Leuty
16. Ken Stephens
18. Ron Coaxum

Mar 2, 2012 10:09pm Pacific from Dave Parker of Huntsville, AL
(In response to Greg Carpenter wishing and hoping the best for people in Dave's area of the country due to the hurricane outbreak)
Greg,

Thanks for the thoughts... all the family is fine, but the exact same subdivision that got hit last year just north of our house got hit again this year.
 
Dave


I'm very relieved that Dave's family came through the day unscathed. I wonder how his cars and trigger finger did today. -Cory

Mar 2, 2012 10:36pm Pacific from Dave Parker of Huntsville, AL
More from the Fray - the individual event.
Just a short update... it's been a looooong day.  I think we had every letter of the alphabet for the mains... 81 racers... but in the end it was Adams, Boswell, Hurley, Jocham, Lincoln and Voeglin making it to the A-main. Holy crap did those guys put on a show with some incredibly fast cars.  But it wasn't much of a surprise when the computer popped up the results and RC Lincoln had won the individual competition.  He dominated many of the heats leading up to the main.  Adams was second, Jocham was third, followed by Voeglin, Hurley and Boswell.
 
Another long day tomorrow... 18 teams, so 17 races.  But the cars are impound, so nothing to do tonight but sleep.  :-)


  Dave


The Fray in Ferndale Individual A-Main results

Congratulations to RC and the rest of the A-Mainers. You guys totally Frayed it up. - Cory 


Mar 3, 2012 7:40am Pacific from Cory White
Today is the team competition. Eighteen teams have entered to claim their place in history. Best of luck to all the racers.

-Cory

Mar 3, 2012 12:21pm Pacific from Greg Kondrek
In response to my request for some information about what's going on at the Fray and how things are going.
Sorry, Cory...a little busy here!

Greg Kondrek

Individual event qualifying took place on Friday, March 2 on the tan track.

Individual Competition Qualifying Times

Mar 3, 2012 10:35pm Pacific from Mark Owyang of Sacramento, CA
Courtesy of Mr. Owyang, here are the final individual and team results.

Individual Competition Results, 2012 Fray in Ferndale

All Fray IROC Team:

• Richard Phillis – Ferndale
• Jim Michael Jr – Southern Humboldt
• Jeff Hurley – South Bay
• Ken Stephens – South Bay
• Tim Lang – Sacramento

All Fray Team:

• Rick Jocham – So Cal
• Jerry Boswell – Texas
• Richard Phillis – Ferndale
• Mike Engelage – Inland Empire
• James Tindall – East Coast DMC

Mar 3, 2012 11:56pm Pacific from Dave Parker of Huntsville, AL
What a day in Ferndale!
Absolutely the greatest day of racing I have ever experienced.  Great teammates... great tracks... great competition.  Captain Mickey Hurtado had a great quote to start the day - When Chris "Action" Jackson asked about what to do about having butterflies, Mickey's response was "Get them to fly in formation."  That line helped me to deal with the chaos, carnage, and comraderie to come.  Just keep it together.
 
Saw one post already about the winners... listed the captains, but each team was full of great racers.  Also, there were 98 racers there today, including a few younger racers and some  local newcomers.  I'm pretty sure EVERYONE had a great time.  As for me, at the end of the day I got a little brass plate that says "The Fray in Ferndale 2012".  Most expensive plate I have ever bought, and worth every penny.  For those who have the opportunity, make the trip someday... you won't regret it. 

  Dave

Mar 4, 2012 12:22am Pacific from Cory White

Congratulations to Team SoCal for their win in the team race on Saturday.
Congratulations to RC Lincoln for his win in the individual race on Friday.
Congratulations to Team Ferndale for their win in the team IROC race on Thursday.

I'd like to take a moment and thank all of you who have contributed to this post, viewed this post or spread word of it. It's been a fun experience and I can NOT wait to see pictures and hear stories of the 15th annual Fray in Ferndale.

I know the information is a little incomplete right now. I will tackle that in the morning. I would appreciate any information you may have regarding yourself, your friends or teammates so that I can complete the final results info.

Safe journeys, racers. I hope you got seriously Frayed.

-Cory

Mar 4, 2012 11:04pm Pacific from Jim Rose of Sacramento, CA
Here are a few pics.  Feel free to repost.

Best line of the event.  "We should use the purple track as kindling to burn the red track."

My best memories of the Fray
1.  The whole atmosphere of the event.  Thanks Rick Phillis!
2.  Trying to learn 54 different lanes.
3.  Paul Josefy and Paul Leuty having great runs in qualifying.
4.  Almost making the A main.  So close.  Thanks to Rick Jocham for a great car.
5.  Meeting the manufacturers of the sport.  RC Lincoln, Greg Davis, Brad Bowman and others.
6.  Hanging out with our NorCal group and especially Team Sacramento.

It is reported by Dave Parker that the above picture of the purple track has the (mostly) headless Inland Empire team in practice mode.

Mat 5, 2012 at 7:29am Pacific from Dave Parker of Huntsville, AL
(In response to Alan VanDoren's (of TRACK) congrats on his third place in the IROC race.) 

Third?  Nope, we were 6th.  The 1/2/3 teams were very strong and smoked us.  They were the cream of the crop, and the racing among them was very close... 1st tied with 3rd, but beat 2nd, and 2nd beat 3rd (just barely).  One or two different placements would have changed the results.  But we gave 4th and 5th a good run, and upset a couple of other teams.
 
Sounds like you guys had a great time as well.  I'm looking forward to a nice "relaxing" club race later this month.  LOL
  Dave

oops... yep, we were 3rd in the IROC, but that was an 'unofficial' race with only 8 teams entering.  We tied for 6th (out of 17) in the team event, which is the focus at the Fray. 

Dave 
  
Dave Parker
"Nothing is foolproof, to a sufficiently talented fool!"
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:40am Pacific from Jim Rose of Sacramento, CA
Here are some of the tracks while they were bring loaded up for storage.

Mar 7, 2012 8:00am Pacific from Cory White
In a little bit of a backward move on my part, the qualifying times have been posted on the Fray site. They can be found here.
Qualifying times.

Also, the individual car pictures have been posted. They all look so cool.
Car pictures.

Mar 13, 2012 4:00pm Pacific from Cory White
Fray in Ferndale 2012 videos.

Individual Event A-Main uploaded by Lenjet1
No audio in the car, title or screen shots (first 12 seconds).

 


Ron Schmidt of the St. Louis team qualifying by Rondo1234560