July 2, 2020
#394
Gentle reader,
Thanks to finding and thoroughly enjoying YouTube channels devoted to racing (usually downhill) 1:64th scale diecast cars, my wife and I went on a binge (it was mostly her, I swear) buying track and equipment and way too many cars.
For a weekly wrap up of many of the racing channels, view DSPN, The Diecast Sports Programming Network, by clicking on this link:
(13) DSPN Diecast Sports Programming Network Weekly Wrap Up 20 June 2020 - YouTube A pair of gents from the land down under, Australia, run the "network" and start with coverage of races in the last week (including their own track: Chaos Canyon) and other popular channels. One can learn quickly about channels and types of racing this way.
For a look at the cars we had gathered up as far as a couple weeks ago, click on this link:
One hundred ninety four 1:64th scale diecast cars from at least* twelve brands were chosen to run qualifying races.
*Some cars had no maker’s name or any information whatsoever on their chassis. Some we recognized as "Cheap Chinese" which are often sold in sets and barely recognizable as to the cars they are supposed to represent. Many NASCAR® miniatures had no info.
The majority of “play cars” (verses cars collected but never played with) were of unknown age having been bought in bags from thrift stores in recent weeks. Many were purchased new in the last few months.
*Some cars had no maker’s name or any information whatsoever on their chassis. Some we recognized as "Cheap Chinese" which are often sold in sets and barely recognizable as to the cars they are supposed to represent. Many NASCAR® miniatures had no info.
The majority of “play cars” (verses cars collected but never played with) were of unknown age having been bought in bags from thrift stores in recent weeks. Many were purchased new in the last few months.
We constructed a two-lane drag strip which is 1,181
scale feet long. We used a double Hot Wheels® brand start-gate which
launches two cars by tension simultaneously. Think of a double slingshot
or double crossbow, for example.
Near the end of the track a finish line was marked with blue painters tape across the tracks and extending to the sides (not shown in the photo).
A US Polo Association® Digital Chronograph was used for timing. While this leaves some wiggle room as to accuracy, it was what we have available. Practicing I was able to press the button on the watch simultaneously with the release lever. By the time all of the qualifying runs were finished, I was stopping the watch right as the car reached the blue line.
The cut-off time in seconds from dead-start to the finish line was 2.20 seconds. Eighteen cars, all Hot Wheels® brand, were the only ones (less than one per cent of all entered) to post times quicker than 2.20 seconds. At least five were older cars.
Due to the large field of candidate vehicles, it took several days to run qualification races. Cars were run one at a time using alternating lanes each time.
Some cars were flipped on their roof or sides upon launching. Each was given two more chances to qualify. Some cars failed to reach the finish line. In each of these cases, instead of their time, DNF* was listed. *Did Not Finish.
Some cars which were made by Hot Wheels®, Matchbox® or other makers were too wide to fit in the launch gate either by body width or track (outer-tire-sidewall to outer-tire-sidewall width) and thus could not race. The large bodied cars were not listed nor were trucks which would not fit the launch gates.
The cut-off time in seconds from dead-start to the finish line was 2.20 seconds. Eighteen cars, all Hot Wheels® brand, were the only ones (less than one per cent of all entered) to post times quicker than 2.20 seconds. At least five were older cars.
Due to the large field of candidate vehicles, it took several days to run qualification races. Cars were run one at a time using alternating lanes each time.
Some cars were flipped on their roof or sides upon launching. Each was given two more chances to qualify. Some cars failed to reach the finish line. In each of these cases, instead of their time, DNF* was listed. *Did Not Finish.
Some cars which were made by Hot Wheels®, Matchbox® or other makers were too wide to fit in the launch gate either by body width or track (outer-tire-sidewall to outer-tire-sidewall width) and thus could not race. The large bodied cars were not listed nor were trucks which would not fit the launch gates.
The cars in the back row are, left to right: Speed Spider™, Sharkruiser™, Howlin' Heat™, Cloak And Dagger™, RD-03™, Torque Twister™, Fast Fish™, MX48 Turbo™ and Pony-Up™. All names are trademarks of the Mattel® Corporation and are used for illustrative purposes only.
Cars in the front row are: Exotique™, Midnight Otto™ (a 1932 Ford Sedan, 1963 Chevrolet® Corvette® Stingray™, 1964 Chevrolet® Nova™ Station Wagon, Scion® FR-S™, Dodge® Intrepid™ NASCAR® race car, a generic open wheel racer, and Nitro Scorcher™.
The car front and center is an autonomous electric race car which may be a reality in the not so distant future, called Roborace Robocar™.
We have two of: Exotique™, Torque
Twister™ (plus a third which is red), and three Fast Fish™, one of
which is decorated completely differently than the red one seen here.
Of the pairs or triples, these three were quicker.
Unlike traditional (in other words, real) drag racing where the cars are accelerating all the way to the finish line, these cars are decelerating from launch due to friction and aerodynamic drag.
A quote from a recent drag racing article:
"Brittany Force has not driven the fastest Top Fuel dragster in 2019. Her
David Grubnic-tuned Carquest Top Fuel dragster has been to the winner's
circle, a more important distinction, certainly, but it is deep down
the sheets when it comes to speed. Force averaged a speed of 318.96-mph
entering the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, making her first-round pass at
335.15-mph all the more impressive."
That is from a dead start to over 300 miles an hour in well UNDER four seconds! Most drag strips are one quarter mile long from start to finish (some are 1/8th mile) which is 1,320 feet.
Our track is 1,181 scale feet long. So, these cars had a launching speed of nearly 300 scale miles an hour! Keep in mind HO slot cars which are closer to 1:64 scale than 1:87, as is HO trains, routinely run over 400 scale miles an hour.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article. Stay tuned by clicking FOLLOW located at the very bottom of the page after the long list of dates.
Feel free to leave a comment below or on Facebook.
Scott
July 2, 2020
#394
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